in me which I take very kindly and shall endeavour by all my Actions to confirm you in it I assure you That my own Ambition shall never be an Argument to incline me to ingage in a War that may expose the Nation either to Danger or Expence but in the present Case I look upon the War so much already declared in effect with France against England that it is not so much an Act of Choice as an inevitable Necessity in Our own defence I shall only tell you That as I have ventured my Life and all that is dear to me to rescue this Nation from what is suffered I am ready still to do the same in order to the preserving it from all its Enemies and as I do not doubt of such an Assistance from you as shall be sutable to your Advice to me to declare War against a powerful Enemy so you may rely upon me That no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with Success shall by Me be diverted to any other use And that the World might see the King was in earnest he put out a Declaration to encourage the French Protestants to transport themselves into England by which those large Territories must of necessity be weakened they making no inconsiderable number Also a Proclamation prohibiting the Importation of all sorts of Manufactures or Commodities whatsoever of the Growth Product or Manufacture of France which were as the Lightning forerunning the Thunder-bolt viz. Denunciation of War and His Majesty going to the Parliament House and seated in the Throne he gave his Royal Assent to an Act for raising Money by Poll and otherwise towards the reducing of Ireland and an Act for preventing Doubts and Questions concerning the Collecting the publick Revenue also a Private Act He likewise settled the Judges of the several Courts of Westminster c. the Chief Justice of Chester Attorney-General Solicitor-General c. During these happy Transactions in England things went with a high hand in Ireland on the Popish side though the Protestants few in number were not wanting to make all the Resistance they could whilst the more Timerous such as could get off left the Kingdom and the greatest parts of their Effects behind them though the Masters of Ships on pain of Death were commanded not to carry them off Monsieur d' Avaux and the French Generals bearing all the sway in the Army and Councils of the late King but a Squadron of the English crusing on the Coast pursued the French Fleet standing that way and followed them till they found they were got into Bantrey Bay on the Irish Coast being about 44 Sail whereupon the next Morning the Fight began we continued battering upon a Stretch till Five in the Afternoon when the French Admiral tacked from us and stood farther into the Bay In this Action Captain Aylmer of the Portland with a Lieutenant and 94 Seamen were killed and about 250 wounded and the Enemy according to Computation lost a far greater number About six days after this Sea Encounter their Majesties were pleased to denounce War against the French King the Declaration bearing Date the 7th of May declaring the Reasons Necessity and Justness of the War most of the Confederates now in Alliance having done the like before On the 11th of May his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act for the better securing the Government by disarming Papists and reputed Papists with divers other Acts and a Proclamation was exhibited for amoving Papists and reputed Papists from the Cities of London and Westminster and ten miles distant except such as were qualified to stay by reason of their Places Stations or Vocations as specified by an Act Entituled An Act for amoving Papists c. The Commissioners from the Estates of Scotland being now arrived viz. The Earl of Argyle Sir James Montgomery and Sir John Dalrimple to offer the Crown of that Kingdom they waited upon their Majesties seated on the Throne under a Canopy of State in the Banquetting-house and first presented a Letter from the Estates to his Majesty then an Instrument of Government and Thirdly a Paper containing the Grievances which they desired might be redressed and then an Address to his Majesty for turning the meeting of the Estates into a Parliament all Signed by his Grace the Duke of Hamilton President of the Meeting and read to their Majesties upon which the King was pleased to return a favourable Answer After this the Coronation Oath was tendred the Earl of Argyle speaking the words and the King and Queen holding up their Right hands after the manner of taking Oaths in Scotland repeating them after him Their Majesties having Signed the Coronation Oath and the Commissioners and the Scotch Nobility present had the Honour to kiss their Hands About this time the Duke of Schomberg and the Earl of Devonshire were installed Knights Companions of the Noble Order of the Garter The Fleet that had engaged the French being put into Portsmouth his Majesty went thither being every where received with all the Demonstrations of Joy where he was pleased to dive on and declared his Royal Intention of conferring the Title of Earl of this Kingdom upon the Admiral and accordingly he was afterward created Earl of Torrington Baron of Torbay c. Captain Shovel and Captain Ashby were then Knighted and such as were engaged with the French had Ten Shillings a man bestowed on him as a Donative On the 24th of May his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act for Exempting their Majesties Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Laws c. The Estates of Scotland meeting on the fifth of June the Duke of Hamilton acquainted them That His Majesty had been pleased to send him a Commission to represent his Royal Person in the ensuing Parliament and that the had received Instruction from His Majesty to give His consent to an Act for the turning the Meeting of the Estates into a Parliament and then to Adjourn to the 17th all which was performed and exactly observed and the English Forces under the Command of Major-General Mackay and others being entered that Kingdom the D. of Gourdon who till this time had possession of the Castle finding no hopes of Relief surrendred it upon divers Articles to Sir John Lanier and so that important place that had for a long time been a Terrour to the City of Edinborugh as Commanding it with its Cannon was put into safe Hands the Duke casting himself wholly upon the King's Mercy without making any Article for himself although he took care to do it for others saying He had so much respect for all the Princes of King James the Sixth's Line as not to make Conditions with them for his own particular Interest so he rendred himself entirely to King William's Discretion and the Parliament meeting according to appointment passed an Act for Recognizing and Asserting Their Majesties Authority and
advanced nearer and our Cannon began to Play so that for about two hours they made no Motion but about six they came down from the high Ground in several Lines and when they were within the reach of our Cannon they left the middle of the Plain and caused their Infantry to File off to the Right towards Winden and Larre and on the Left towards near Landen sustained by Horse marching on both sides of the Plain causing a Body to pass on the other side of the Rivulet of Landen to make a shew as if they would fall on our Left Wing whilst they should make the greatest Effort on our Right Which about seven hours after they Attacked The Fight for several Hours Lasted with doubtful Success the Enemy advanced and were three times repulsed and some Squadrons that got over the Rivulet below Larre and came into our Camp were mostly cut off whilst these things passed the Elector of Bavaria gave order to the Right Wing to charge advantageously so that thereupon the Enemy gave way and were driven into the Plain and Brigadeer Ramsey who had been forced to give Ground regained his Post as did the duke of Hanover with his Infantry also the Prince of Brandenburg with his Foot The French never theless remained in some parts of the Village of Winden but finding they could not force the Right Wing they Attacked near Landen on our Left where having been beaten back after a very furious Fight they renewed their Attack with fresh Troops which obliged the King to come from the Right to give the necessary orders at the Left where the Fight was Renewed every warmly with small shot which continued about an hour and then we became Masters of the Village so that the Enemy beaten out carried their Troops to their Left and our Right yet keeping part of the Village of Winden and the Hedges of the rising Ground which laied the Flank of our Retrenchement open to them The King who was in every place where his presence would be useful after having given necessary Orders on the Left returned to Winden and brought up twice to our Retrenchments the English and Scotch Foot where they behaved themselves as they had done every where else with great resolution and Courage The Elector of Bavaria the mean while disposed two Battalions on the Enemies Left Flank whilst three others Attacked them in the Front but before this could be put in Execution the Enemy strengthned with new Forces became masters of the Passage into the Village and made an overtur through which the Horse began to pass sustained by the Foot that lay behind the Hedges the Horse that passed that first were beaten back but our Foot at the Retrenchment not being able any longer to endure the Fire in their Flank retired and our Cannon on that side abating its Fire the Enemies Horse crouded through the passage and began to extend them towards their Left all along the Hedges which were possessed by their Foot As soon as they had formed their Squadron they Attacked the Troops of Hanover and Brandenburg on the Left of the Right Wing and forced them to retire by taking the advantage of the Motion of part of them as also they did the Spanish Troops and Hanover Horse His Majesty to rectify these disorders caused part of the Left Wing to Advance but being far off the Enemy did not give them time to form themselves but having beat the Dutch Horse on the Left before the English had got into the Line they after having fought desperately were quire Encompassed So that the King finding the Enemy over-powered us himself this day having led up nine times the Battalions and Squadrons to Fight and wonderfully Preserved among showres of Bullets He sent Orders to the Generals of Foot and those of the Left Wing to retire to Leewen a Fort near the Camp and the King's Dragoons and Granadiers made their Retreat through Dormel the Foot and part of the Horse Right Wing by Orsmel The King by this time having given the necessary Orders and finding himself in a manner Encompassed on all sides thought fit to go over the River and passed with great difficulty the Bridge that had been made near Hespen where he found his Guards and other Troops Rallied by the Elector of Bavaria In this great and long Continued Battle the Enemy lost about 13000 Men of their best Officers and Soldiers many Persons of great note our loss being Computed about 6000. The Renowned Duke of Ormond was taken Fighting Valiantly and we took the Duke of Barwick for whom he was afterward Exchanged and so our Army retired towards Brussels Upon this Retreat the Duke of Wirtemberg was immediately sent for with the Forces under his Command and other Recruits coming in the Army was made up to near 80000 Men so that the French having had a fatal Experience of English Valour durst attempt nothing further on that side yet in Savoy Monsieur Catinat gave Battle to the Dukes Army where in an obstinate sight of 7 hours a great many of the French Nobility were slain and some on our side especially the Valiant Young Duke of Schomberg who being perswaded to retire would not leave the Head of his Battalion but charging into the thickest of the Enemy and doing wondrous Acts of Chivalry was at last over-powered with Numbers and slain and though the Duke of Savoy's Army retired from the Field the French bought the Bloody Victory at a dear rate and in repassing the Mountains late in the Season many thousands of them perished in the Snow with some Waggons Canon and Ammunitiou-Carriages And thus as to what is memorable concluded the Campaign of the year 1693. In the opening the Campaign 1694. the Enemy by reason of their great Losses and Diseases among their Horses were slower than usual in taking the Field so that the Confederates had time to get together and become very formidable and his Majesty on the 5th of May embarqued Fubs Yacht attended by 8 Dutch Men of War and sailed for Holland and from thence passed to the Army in Flanders where he was joyfully received About this time the Elector of Saxony dyed at Dresden by whose Death the French gave out they should reap great â—â—nefit but were disappointed for Prince Frederick Augustus his Brother succeeding him in that Principality confirmed to the Confederates all the deceased Elector had agreed to and entred into a strict League with them and the great Master of the Teutonick Order who stood in Competition with Prince Lewis of Bavaria for the Bishop of Liege dying the French Party at Rome endeavoured to hinder the Confirmation of the lâ—tter But the Pope to whom it was referred declared in favour of that Prince and our Naval Forces being abroad under the Command of Admiral Russel destroyed a great Fleet of French Ships in conquest Bay laden with Corn and Naval Stores from Sweden Denmark c. and the French main Fleet being gone into
the Streights to favour the Duke D' Nouailes Warring in Catalonia the English Admiral joyned by divers Dutch Men of War followed and blocked Tourville up in Touloâ—n altogether disappointing him of his Design In the mean while the Lord Barky with a Squadron and some Land Forces on Board Commanded by Lieut. General Talmash made a Descent at Cameret Bay under the favour of 7 Men of War battering the Fort but the French being strongly entrenched with Horse and Foot they were constrained to Retreat the Lieut. General being wounded in the Thigh which gangreening he dyed of that Wound soon after at Plymouth yet our Canon ruined the Enemies Batteries and killed them a great many men But about the middle of July Diep a considerable Sea-Port in Normandy was bombed by the English and Dutch almost all consumed by Fire the great Magazine being blown up and some Ships in the Harbour were burnt On the 17th of July they came before Hacerdegrace an other eminent Sea-Port Town and found the Shoars strongly guarded and although the Enemy fired furiously from their Batteries the Bomb Boats stood in and burnt with their Bombs a great part and the rest had followed the same fate had not the Sea grown high by reason of a strong Wind. The next day the Lord Berkley sailed towards La Hogue alarming all the French-Coast Towns in his way and soon after he made an Attempt upon Dunkirk with a great Machine filled with Bombs and Carcasses which being fired rent and shattered their Out-works in a dreadful manner and afterward bombed Callis not any of the French Men of War daring to stir out of the Harbour Whilst things passed thus at Sea the King took Huy in Flanders and Prince Lewis of Balen Commanding the Imperial Army on the Rhine together with the Saxon Troops entered the French Countries forced their Army to a Retreat cutting off many in the Rear and brought away a great Booty having put the Country for many miles under Contribution and to strengthen the Alliance the Elector of Bavaria Marryed the King of Poland's Daughter After this happened many Skirmishes by Parties during the Campaign in which the Enemy for the most part were put to the worst â—nd many of the French deserted and came over with Horse and Arms declaring the great Scarcity that was in the French Camp The French this year set upon the Island of Jamaica but were beaten off again by the Inhabitants after they had surprisingly committed some Outrages hoping at this time for success upon the Account of the ill condition they supposed the Island to be in by the shocks of a violent Earthquake that had ruined Port-Royal and destroyed many People and the Vaudois in the Valley of Lucern and other places falling on the French that came to surprize them killed many and took more Prisoners The Turks and Tartars that came with a great Convoy to the Relief of CÃ menic were overthrown by the Poles losing 5000 Men and 5000 Wagons laden with Oyl Rice and other Provisions Our Fleet in the Streighâ—s pressed hard on the French blocking them up in their Harbours so that they could not get out to sail for Brest the great Ships were disarmed and the Seamen compelled to travel over Land leaving only a few to Man some Cruizers And thus as to Material Action this Summer ended and the King returning by way of Holland having received the Thanks of the States General returned for England and was met by the Queen with unexprerssible Joy But as all things on Earth are Transitory so this hâ—ppened But in the mean while the Parliament sitting the King told them among other things that a stop had been this Year put to the Torrent of the French proceedings which had altogether put them to a stand and was a happy Omen of Future Success and that nothing might be wanting on his part to oblige his loving Subjects an Act passed for the frequent meeting of Parliaments to the high satisfaction of the Kingdom But now a sad and Melancholy Cloud of Sorrow Over-spread the Nation for on the 22 of December the Queen was taken with a Vomiting and Pain in her Back and Head which soon after turned to the Small-Pox of the worst sort upon which she was Prayed for in the Churches and Chapples But the prevaling Disease to Rob three Nations of so Vertuous and Pious a Princess deriâ—ing Art she much lamented Died on the 28 of the same Month and was laid in State at White-Hall her Corps being brought thither from Kinsington and a considerable time after was with all Funeral Pomp conveyed to King Henry the Seventh's Chappel and Intrered among her Royal Ancestors a stately Mausoleum being raised for her Remembrance in the Abby of Westminster where it was observed that a Bird called a Robin-Red-Breast perched daily on it and at certain Hours Sung Melodiously to the Numerous Spectators and to shew their Affection to the Deceased Queen not only ours and most People of note in the Nation went into Mourning but all the Courts of the Confederates In the beginning of the Year 1695. the Parliament having given the King Liberal supplies greater Preparations than the last were made and the Confederates were in a considerable Posture so that the King early in the Spring went by the way of Holland to Flanders attended with divers Nobles and put the Army in such a Posture as not to fear the Attacks of the Enemy but rather to seek them and dare them to Battel Indeed the Duke of Luxenburg was dead however the French King Nominated the Duke de Villeroy in his stead as General of his Army in Flanders though wanting his Experience in Martial Affairs Therefore the French Court doubting the success of their Arms in the open Field underhand Treatchery at the beginning of the Campagne was used Dixmâ—yde and Demse was thereupon surrendered to them contrary to the Minds of his Garrison Officers and Soldiers in General for which Monsieur D' Ellenburg was afterward Beheaded and others concerned in so base an Action suffered disgrace However the French for a time retaind the Garrison Soldiers and compelled most of them to Enter into their Service against their minds This much dissatisfied the King of England and thereupon after many Skirmishes that happened between Parties he laid Seige to Namure a City that Commanded a large Province where the French had geathered great Riches and accordingly on the third of July it was Invested and the Siege carried on with all imaginable Vigor by the Duke of Bavaria and other Princes so that the City was taken but then the Marsschal de Boufflers who had thrown himself into it retired to the Castle on the other side the River upon Articles signed the fourth of August by the Elector of Bavaria and Count Guiscard Governour of the place a Second Siege in a manner was laid to the Castle being very strongly Fortified and in it a numerous Garison yet such was the Courage
When we reflect says he upon the horrible Methods put in practice by this Embroiler of Christendom meaning as we suppose by the foregoing Paragraphs the French King to rid himself of those he fears there are to be found in all the Steps of all Illustrious Life some of the brightest Rays of Benign Providence that in an especial manner watches over Kings If a certain great man says he late in their Majesties own hearing had not given a hint of a singular piece of Villany designed against their wonderful Life I should not have ventured to mention it here though acquainted with it before Yes to the Eternal Infamy of the Apollion of Europe be it said That sacred Life was in equal hazard from the Cannons and from the Poniard and from a Poniard employed and payed by France what all the Engines of Death were not able to do in the field was to be supplied by an Assassinate at home and the thred of a glorious Life which stood proof against all Efforts of open War was designed to be cut off by a secret Treachery Let then this designed Parricide be ranked amongst the rest of the inglorious Actions of a Reign fatal to its own Subjects to its Neighbours and to Mankind in general and if there be any knowledge of Humane Affairs in another World let the Manes of the Illustrious Duke of Lorain rest satisfied with the approaching Revenge of a Prince his Friend upon their common Enemy that had doomed them both tho' with different Success to the same dismal Fate And thus far this Author in this Matter to whose judicious Papers in other cases we refer the Reader as approved and applauded by most By this we may see the persons of good Kings are Sacred and above common Danger the Eyes of Providence ever watching over them and the Guardian-Angels ever hovering round about them that they may remain in safety even when the greatest Dangers threaten About this time the Dutch English Privateers made great prize of the French three Dutch Privateers arriving on the 16th of September with seven Prizes at Mounts-Bay where they had been cruising and some of the French Privateers thinking to fetch them up and recover the Prizes were put to flight upon the appearance of Sir Clously Shovel with the Squadron of English Men of War under his Command who sent two of his Frigates to give them the Chace and three Flushing Privateers one of 20 another of 16 and the third of 14 Guns brought into the same Port Nine Prizes several of them laden with Sugars Indico and Tobacco from the West-Indies and some with Wines and Brandies and the rest were bound for Ireland with Necessaries and Provisions for the supply of the Enemy and Captain Young in the Graefton Frigat having notice that a French Privateer of six Guns and two Pattereroes and fifty Men had taken about Portland a Vessel belonging to Pool he immediately sailed out of the Harbour of Weymouth and being got up with the Frenchman after some dispute took him and carried him into Dartmouth and a Dutch Caper brought in a French Vessel of Forty Tun and soon after the Grafton Sloop brought into Dartmouth a French Privateer of six Guns and two Pattereroes with forty eight Men belonging to Dunkirk which she took after running Fight of three hours in which the French had nine Men killed and as many wounded and on our side only four wounded so that by this we may see if so many be taken in a short space the French Trade and Piracies at Sea are in likelihood in a fair way to be weakened and in a short time may be brought to nothing though their Confederacies on the Coast of Barbary so often sollicited should joyn with them in all their Designs to interrupt the Trade of the two Nations All this while the Affairs of Scotland went on very prosperously and the face of things of that Kingdom looked very pleasantly the King's Forces prevailing in all places and even those that headed the Rebels were disheartned upon notice the French Fleet was gone home and that no Commotions happened in England to favour their Design but that which disquieted them most was the disappointments of Ammunition and Provision without the latter especially they knew they could not subsist the Rocks Mountains afforded little the barren Islands less to which they had reserved their last Retreat in hopes to be fetched off but when they were certainly informed that the late King and the French had left Ireland and Boisleau the Governour of Limerick had quitted that place many threw away their Arms and went to their Habitations resolving to live privately others who were sensible their Characters would make them be taken notice of came in and submitted They had notice our Fleet was abroad upon some extraordinary Design and knew not but it was to attack them in the Rear and by that means they should be barred of any Retreat but the Design of the Fleet which made many wonder to think whereto it would tend was otherways disposed for it stood away to the Coast of Ireland so unexpectedly to those that were in Arms there for the late King as to startle and put them into Confusion especially on the Sea-Coast and immediately roused those out of their Security whose incredulity only imagin'd it at first a Fantom or a Fleet in the Clouds only Imaginary and not Substantial but the loud roaring of the Cannons to give notice of their coming to our Forces Quartered thereabouts soon convinced them of their Mistake The Lord Marlborough arriving with the Fleet in Cork Harbour resolving to attack that place Major-General Scravenmore with 1200 Horse and Dragoons who together with Major-General Tetteau and two Battalions of Danes who were posted near the black Water marched to joyn him and soon after several Detachments out of the Dutch and French Regiments which with those Danes the Prince of Wirtemberg Commands in Person made a Body of about 4000 Foot and although a strong Party of the Enemy were gathered under the Duke of Berwick who stiled himself General Commander of Ireland they upon the News of this important Conjunction of our Sea and Land-Forces retreated from Bri and were followed by Lieutenant General Douglas with a resolution to attack them but were hindred in that design by the Bogs and Defiles that covered the Enemies Camp And about this time we had notice that the Earl of Tyrconnel and the Count De Lauzun were gone for France with the French Forces as despairing of maintaining the Interest of King James in Ireland having set sail two days sooner than was designed upon notice that a squadron of English Ships were coming that way and therefore their hasty flight occasioned them to leave many of their Sick in the Suburbs of Galloway The Fleet as is said arriving the 21st of September before Cork Harbour came to an Anchor the Floud being down and little Wind and the next day
was dismissed from before that honourable House and this Lord as is said having timely notice of his Tryal before the Commissioners of the Admiralty was carried on Board the Kent â—ing in the River Medway where he was tryed by a Jury of Sea Captains who after a long hearing of the Witnesses and what he had to say in his own defence upon a long Debate he was acquitted perhaps contrary to his own Expectation The Parliament still Sitting his Maâ—esty came to the House of Lords and gave the Royal Assent to an Act For Granting their Majesties a certain Impoâ—tion upon all East-India Goods and Maâ—factures and upon all wrought Silks and â—veral other Goods and Merchandize to be Imported after the 25th of December 1690. An Act For continuing several former â—â—cts therein mentioned for laying several â—â—ties upon Wines Vinegar and Toâ—â—ce An Act For punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall Muting or Desert their Majesties Service and for punishing false Musters An Act For reviving a former Act for regulating the Measure and Price of Coals An Act For Paving and Cleansing the Streets of London and Westminster c. with 16 private Acts And his Majesty was pleased to constitute the Right Honourable Henry Lord Viscount Sidney one of his Principal Secretaries of State and at a Chapter of the most Noble Order of the Garter held at Kensington in the Presence of the Sovereign his Highness George William Duke of Zell eldest Prince of the most Serene House of Brumswick and Lunenburg was Elected a Knight Companion of the said Order And now his Majesty being intent on his Voyage for the Hague the Parliament hastened to dispatch the Bills before them the Chief of which we have lately mentioned at what time his Majesty made the following Speech to both Houses My Lords and Gentlemen I Must repeat to you upon this occasion how sensible I am of Your good Affections to me and of Your sincere Endeavours to promote the true Interests of Your Country in continuing to provide further Supplies towards the defraying the Charges of the War and as I am very secure that you will not fail on Your part to do all that shall be necessary in order to that end so I assure you I shall not be wanting on mine to see that there be a diligent and strict Application of the Supply you gave to the Vses only for which you intend them I have lately told You that the posture of Affairs abroad would not admit of defering my Journey to the Hague much beyond this time and I put You in mind of it again now in hopes that Consideration will prevail with You to use all possible dispatch in what still remains to be done for the more vigorous Prosecution of the War I must not conclude without mentioning to You Gentlemen of the House of Commons that if some annual Provision could be made for the Augmenting of the Navy and building of some new Ships of War it would be a very necessary Care at this time both for the Honour and Safety of the Nation Upon this Gracious Speech the Commons returning to their House made a further Inspection into the Accounts of the publick Charges by their Committees c. and in fine found them stated to their Satisfaction Whilst these things were in hand his Majesty's Equipage was preparing for Holland and several Troops passed over to be in a readiness against his Arrival so that things being now come to a ripeness for that Glorious Undertaking His Majesty on the 5th of January being seated on the Throne in the House of Lords the Commons attending gave the Royal Assent To an Act For Appointing and Enabling Commissioners to examine take and state the publick Accounts of the Kingdom An Act For raising the Militia of this Kingdom for the Year 1691. Although the Months pay formerly advanced be not â—â—paid An Act For Relief of poor Prisoners for Debt or Damage An Act For preventing Vexations Suits against such as Acted for their Majesties Service in defence of the Kingdom An Act For the Encouraging the Distilling of Brandy and Spirits from Corn and for laying several Duties on low Wines or Spirits of the first Extraction An Act For Granting their Majesties several Additional Duties on Beer Ale or other Liquors for four Years from the time that an Act For doubling the Excise upon Ale Beer and other Liquors during the space of one Year doth expire An Act for the more effectual putting in Execution an Act intituled an Act For prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France and Four private Acts. His Majesty after this made the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen HAving lately told you that it would be necessary for me to go into Holland much about this time I am very glad to find that the Success of your Endeavours to bring this Session to a happy Conclusion has been such that I am now at â—iberty to do it and I return you my hearty Thanks for the great dispatch you have made in finishing the Supplies you have designed for carrying on the War which it shall be my Care to see duly and punctually applied to that Service to which you have given them and I do likewise think it proper to assure you that I shall not make any Grant of the forfeited Lands in England and Ireland till there be another opportunity of settling that matter in Parliament in such manner as shall be thought most Expedient My Lords and Gentlemen AS I have reason to be very well satisfied with the Proofs you have given me of your good Affections in this Sessions of Parliament so I Promise my Self the continuance of the same at your Return into your several Countries and as every day produces still fresh Instances of the Restlessness of our Enemies both at home and abroad in designing against the Prosperity of of this Nation and the Government Established so I do not doubt but that the Vnion and good Correspondence between Me and my Parliament and my earnest and constant Endeavours for your Preservation on the one hand joined with the Continuance of your Zeal and Affection to support 〈◊〉 on the other will by the Blessing of God be at all times too strong for the utmost Malice and Contrivance of our common Enemies After this gracious Speech had been received with much applause the Lord-Chief Baron Speaker of the House of Lords declared to both Houses That it was his Majesties Pleasure that they should adjourn themselves until the 31th of March ensuing and that if his Majesty should think fit the Parliament should then sit he would give them timely notice thereof by his Proclamation and accordingly both Houses of Parliament did adjourn to the time mentioned The King having all things in a readiness for his Voyage left White-Hall on the 6th of January about Noon attended by the great Officers of his Houshold and divers others of the Nobility and Gentry and lay that night at Sittingborne
a Prisoner The Week following Mr John Ashton was Executed at Tyburn dying resolutely and appearing by Words and a Paper he delivered to justifie himself in the Wicked Undertaking But the Lord Preston on his humble Submission found gracious Mercy and Elliot also escaped Nor was this any shallow layed Plot many Persons of Note being concerned in it â—oâ— upon the Discovery of it Francis Turner late Lord Bishop of E'y fled as it 's thought beyond the Seas it since as credibly reported appearing he had writ a Letter to the Late King to encourage him to make an Attempt on the Kingdom as also did one Graham and others whereupon the King issued out his Proclamation to apprehend them and so for this time their Projects failed and the great Expences in managing the Plot were utterly lost This seems to have been earlier begun and consequently as deeply layd as their Policy cou'd contrive for a good while before one Mr. Crone a Retainer to the Late King was Tryed at the Old Baily for High-Treason and there it was proved against him That he with divers other wicked and disaffected Persons had held a Correspondence with the French to subverr the Government c. of which upon a fair Hearing he was found guilty of High Treason but Reprieved and so plain it early appeared That Heaven declared again â— the Enemies of this Nation and securely guarded His Majesty's Sacred Life as appeared by a wonderful Preservation for the King going early over in the Spring to give necessary Orders and head the Forces in Flanders the Season being advanced and he in the Field in sight of the Enemy as he stood under a Tree to view them they supposed by his Attendants it must be the King and therefore levell'd a Piece of Cannon against him taking the better Aim by the help of the Tree when to save the most Precious Life in the World Heaven so ordered it that it came into his mind to step from thence and give some necessary Orders which he had not done above a Minute before a Bullet came and split the Tree in the Place where he had stood So exceeding is the Care of Providence over Good Princes And now finding their main Designs would not take they began to practise small Games of Treachery for their Confederates the Turks being routed by Prince Lewis of Baden in Hungary Ten Pieces of their Canon taken with all their Baggage and Ammunition and about 23000 of them killed with the Loss of about 4000 Germans the Mareschal of Luxemburg finding his Success likely to be little this year in Flanders if he relyed on main strength proceeded to stratagem viz. To Bribe some of the Persons attending our Ammunition-Waggons to set them on fire and by that means destroy the Bombs and Powder and accordingly it was begun by Lighted Matches being put among the Bombs and Barrels of Powder but so timely prevented that only two or three Bombs went off and so luckily a Design of this Nature fell out that one of the Parties concern'd in it was apprehended who confessed he bad been a little before in the French Campaign was hired to do it by the Duke of Luxemburg and thereupon was sentenced to have his Right Hand cut off half strangled and then burnt Which Sentence was put in Execution to deter others from this or any such Treacherous Attempts After this the French sustained considerable Losses though no great Action by Land presently ensued But this discouraged not their Designs on England as longing to reap the Spoils of so fair a Harvest whereupon in the Year 1692 the late King was encouraged to make a Descent and in order to it he publish'd his Declaration dated at St. Germains the 20th of April wherein he promised great Advantages to the English that should submit to him yet excepted divers from the Lord to the Fisherman who misused him on his going from Whitehall to Feversham But on his departure conferred Honours on divers Persons Knighting the Pretended prince of Wales and inversing him with the Order of the Garter and so on the 24th of April arrived at Cane in Normandy where he stayed some days and so departed to Haverdegrace in the Company of the Mareschal d' Bellfonds The Randevouz of the Souldiers that were to embarque were appointed between Cherbourg and La Hogue which he found to be about 20000 Men 15000 of which were to make the Descent and the rest to Guard the Coast The Duke of Berwick Colonel Graham Buchanon Cannon and some Scotch Lords came to the Camp on the 29th and on the 30th the Souldiers began to Embarque but the Vessels that crossed from Haverdegrace to La Hogue meeting with foul Weather were many of them driven on shoar and suffered much damage yet the Forage Places were made for four Regiments of Horse counting into the Number one of Dragoons but they were not to set sail till D'Estres arrived with his Squadron and Monsieur Torville had fought some of our Squadrons of the Lesser Rates which they thought only abroad and that the greater Ships being deceived by their Advice could not get out in any considerable time They flatter'd themselves likewise with some part of our Fleet coming over to them and as it is said had a Dependance on Rear Admiral Carter on that occasion but he gave them an unexpected Welcome in the Language of his Canon as will appear hereafter Whilst these Projects were in hand D' Estres's Squadron was disabled by stress of weather and could not suddenly joyn them On the Third of May Tourville was in the Road of Bertaume not being able to stir out and other ships were forced to put into Bell Isle by stress of weather and the ship Le Mode Villete of an hundred Guns was so rudely handled by the Tempest that she was looked upon as unserviceable for that year Monsieur Nesmond being put to Sea with his Squadron was driven in again and two of his ships ran foul one losing her Boltsprit and the other her Mast so that they were constrained to put into Harbour and refit Two long Barks laden with Canon were funk and about Thirteen other Transport Vessels laden with Provision and Ammunition are said to be lost passing from Grandville to Haverdegrace insomuch that the Officers and others had Orders to leave the greatest part of Horse and Baggage behind them But this vast Preparation was disappointed by Heaven and came to nothing For though the King was Warring in Fâ—â—nders the Queen having the power of Governing in his Absence had no sooner the News of this intended Invasion but disdaining to fear she prepared to oppose it sensing Orders to all the Ports to hasten out the Fleet and to the Deputy Lieutenants to have the Militia in a readiness and six Regiments of Regular Troops not yet gone over Count râ—manded and Reinforcements sent to the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey to oppose the Enemies Attempts on that side and
many other necessary Orders were given and upon some buzzings abroad by Disaffected Persons to raise ajealousie of the Commanding Officers in the Fleet as if there was some Design to betray it to the Enemy A very Loyal Address was signed by them and sent to the Queen promising all Constant Fidelity and Loyalty which much rejoyced her so that she was pleased to say the had always this Opinion of the Commanders but was glad this was come to satisfie others And indeed they made good their Promise for our Fleet being well Mann'd and timely getting out under the Command of Admiral Russel Sir John Ashby Sir George Rook Sir Cloudsly Shovel Mr. Carter c. being joyned by the Dutch Squadron under Admiral Allemond On the 19th of May out Scouts gave the Signal for seeing the Enemy and very early in the Morning we made the French Fleet in a Line Cape Baresleur bearing South-west and by South so that about Eleven a Clock they bore down and Engaged Admiral Russel at some distance Tourville commanding as Chief on their side and the Engagement continued with great Fury till Three in the Afternoon and something more at what time the French began to bean away then it grew calm till six at what time a Fresh Gale springing up the Blew Squadron renewed the Fight and continued it till Ten at Night during the Engagement three Ships were heard to blow up concluded to be French because we wanted not one of ours then It was calm all the Night and foggy next Morning but about eight of the Clock clearing up the French were discovered about Two Leagues off very much lessened not above Thirty Six Men of War who were flying and so closely they were pursued that running on their own Coast Vice-Admiral Delaval burnt under Cape H. the Royal Sun wherein Tourville was Embarqued carrying 104 Guns being the bravest Ship that ever Sailed from France Also the Admirable his Second of 102 Guns the Conquerant of 80 Guns and 3 of lesser Rates The Prisoners declared That during the Fight four or five of their bigger Ships were destroyed In the mean while Admiral Russel came before le Hogue into which many French Men of War were gotten and sent Vice-Admiral Rook in with his Boat who burnt six of them as also the next Morning seven more with seven Transport Ships and Ammunition Vessels 6 of them being of 3 Decks and afterward many others were destroyed so that their Loss was very great viz. about 36 Capital Men of War besides many of small Note some thousands of the Enemy perishing in the Fight and Waves to avoid the Flames and this was done in the sight of the Late King and Land Forces that were to make the Invasion We lost not one Ship and not many Men of Note only Colonel Hastings who Commanded a Marine Regiment and Rear Admiral Carter who failing the Expectation of the French fell on with great Fury and having his Leg shot off dyed through the great Effusion of Blood This Glorious Victory made King James send a Melancholy Letter to his Brother Lewis the Fourteenth excusing it on his hard Fortune that his Forces fighting in his Interest had caused the Current of his Victories to turn against him desiring that himself and his might retire to any Corner of the World that upon the account of his Ill Starr'd Fortune that an always before Victorious Monarch might not have his Glory ecclips'd but the French King by a surprizing Advantage having in thirty days taken the Town and Castle of Nâ—mure was so puffed up that he seemed to lay little stress upon this great Loss and Disappointment in his Expectations of carrying England by Invasion and therefore sent the Late King a Consolating Letter to raise his drooping Spirits However there was great Joy in England and all the Confederate Countries for this Seâ— Victory and the great Disappointments our Enemies lay under by it The King of England soon after their taking Namure being desirous to engage the French to Battle pressed them to it often but they used all possible means to avoid it but his Majesty being informed that the Duke of Luxemburg was upon the point of Marching to Enguien he decamped from Genappe thinking to prevent him but did not so that Luxemburg being first there posted himself in such a manner between Enguien and Sâ—eenkerken that his Majesty thought he might be able to attack him and on the second of August he put all things in a readiness so the Execution of the design and about one in the Afternoon our Men were fully Engaged with the Enemy so that the Duke of Wirtemberg pushed them so vigorously with his Infantry that he seized on several pieces of Cannon in the mean time some of our fresh Foot coming up there began a terrible Fight for some hours so that many were slain on both sides and many brave Commanders fell especially in the marrow way where the Enemy flanked our Men through the Hedges and behind cast up Banks so we lost Lieutenant General Macay who had before Reduced the Rebels in Scotland the English and Scotch Colonels Douglass and the Lord Angus Colonel Gees who commanded the Regiment of Nassaw and others of note the Enemy doing the like on their side The King in this brave undertaking exposed his Penson amidst the Firing from the beginning to the end riding continually in the hottest of the fight to give every where the necessary Orders and having led on himself several Battalions against the Enemy he was also the first at the head of the Troops and the last in the Rear upon the retreat so that his preservation was looked on as a Miracle and had not the disadvantage of the Ground hindered the French had been certainly beat out of their Camp however we took several Colours and Prisoners of note Yet against this brave and generous Prince who has so often outbraved their Swords and Fire in the head of his Army a place where Lewis the Fourteenth never appeared in Fight they had again bent their Treachery to take away his Life by base and Cowardly ways which in the Field they Trembled to Assault The Scene of Villany was laid at the French Court and divers Desperados bribed and maintained to take an opportunity of Assassinating his Majesty when he should ride out of his Camp or otherwise as they found it convenient The chief under Agent in the wicked Conspiracy was a French Knight of desperate Fortune viz. the Sieur Grandval But the managers of greater Rank as the Marquiss of Barbesieux the French Kings Secretary of State who no doubt moved by his Masters directions this Wretch upon the design being discovered by one of his Confederates was apprehended and Examined where there being a strong Proof against him he was brought to his Trial before a Court Martial at his Majesties Camp at Limbeck where divers Noble-men and great Commanders being assembled it was charged against him that he
Correspondence with him and engaged him by Letters of April 20th 25th and 12th of May to meet him at Vden in order to make their final Resolution That the Prisoner Leefdale and Chamlays agreed on the manner to perpetrate the Assassination viz. That when the King should pass along the Line or ride our to take a View of the Army or when the Army should decamp Dumont should lye in Ambush and when the King should come within 100 paces he should fire upon him and that Chamlays should be ready with 3000 Horse to bring him off This may be supposed to have encouraged him on but whether he had come off or not 't is ten to one whether the French Court had ever regarded so that they had got their wicked Ends which God forbid by sacrificing a desperate Villain But nearer to the purpose That Leefdale and the Prisoner left Paris the 17th of April last and soon arrived at Mons where they stayed for Chamlays but he failing they resolved to go to the place of the general Meeting but the Business having took air Grandval and Leefdale were made Prisoners at Eynhoven All the Matters maturely deliberated and considered the Court adjudged the Prisoner guilty of High Treason and sentenced him to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd his Eâ—tate to be Confiscated and to bear the Cost and Charge of the Tryal which Sentence was pronounced in the Head Quarters of the Army by the Earl of Athlone President General Van Scravenmore Lieuâ— General Talmash and divers other great Officers After this he was on the 13th of August 1692. Executed according to Sentence in the Camp owning the Fact and desiring the Prayers of such Roman Catholicks as were present for his Souls Health appearing by dying very sensible of his Crime and expressing some Reluctancy for undertaking it In Prison he drew up two Petitions to the King wherein he declared That he Acted by Barbesieux and Chamlays Orders and being told the former would be sure to dissown what was said He Reply'd He had an Original under his hand which was lodged with a Friend who would deliver it to none but himself and in that it was plainly made out The Morning before the Execution he wrote to Madam Jure to go to the Arch Bishop of Rheims to get him prayed for and let him know it cost him his Life for obeying Barbesieux Orders The Malice of the French Court being thus happily defeated by a Miraculous Providence it will not be amiss to remark another signal Preservation of His Majesty's Royal Person and the Care Heaven has over it viz. On the 8th of September this year an Earthquake happened almost general throughout Europe giving a considerable shock in England This happening between two and three in the Afternoon His Majesty was then at Dinner in an old decayed House in Flanders which shaking with great Violence not a Tile fell from it till His Majesty at the Persuasion of his Nobles were retired from the danger and soon after concluding this years Campaign and giving necessary Orders for Winter Quarters he came by the way of Holland for England where he was received with great demonstrations of joy and found all things in a good settlement by the prudent care and management of his Royal Consort whom the City by the hands of Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council had humbly Addressed with Thanks for the Princely Regard she had to secure their Trade abroad and at home in ordering a Committee of Council to hear all Complaints and Grievances relating to Abuses in Trade and to redress them as far as in them lay The Parliament likewise thanked her for the prudent Management of Affairs The Winter passing over and the Parliament giving large Supplies towards the carrying on the War for the year 1693. His Majesty sent over his Orders and hastened to make an early Campaign going on the 30th of March for Gravesend where he embarqued and sailed for Holland and the Elector of Bavaria being by the King of Spain appointed Governour of Flanders during his Life he sent the Duke of Arco to Congratulate His Majesty's safe Arrival at the Hague and to open the Campaign with Action 80 French were taken Prisoners by 100 Newburghers to a Village called Maltern yet this did but lead on to greater Actions For the Vadois in the Valleys fell upon the French and killed a great Number of them taking many Prisoners of Note and a great Convoy going to Pignerol however the French getting their Forces together in the Palatinate ravaged and burnt divers places as Frankendale Spires and the Famous Town of Heydleburg hlowing up the Castle and demolishing the Fortifications ravaging the Country and plundering the Poor Inhabitants in all places where they came but the Governor of Heydelburg for cowardly surrendering it no sooner arrived in Prince Lewis of Badens Camp on the Rhine but he was put under an Arrest and the French finding the Spaniard strong in Flanders to prevent his sending any more Forces made a War in Catalonia where with much difficulty the Duke De Nouailles took Roses but in the mean while the Duke of Wirtemberg with a Considerable Detachment of Horse and Foot from the King's Army in Flanders forced the French Lines and marching without Opposition put the Country under Contribution raising a Million of Livers sacking divers small places and taking very much Booty Whilst these things happened at Land Fortune was something unfavourable to us at Sea for our Streights and Turkey Fâ—eet convoyed by Sir George Rook with about 20 Men of War Dutch and English near Lagos-Bay sell in with the French main Fleet but whilst some of the Men of War disputed it most of the Merchants creeping under the shoar got into divers harbours as Cadiz Alicant Lagos and some into the Tagus so though the Enâ—my's Design was fairly laid yet in the main miscarryed and our Men of War being of the lesser Rates finding they were unable to resist so great a Fleet made a safe Retreat and Returned into the Channel The Campaign in Flanders passing over in Bickering and Skirmishes taking some small Places and Booties on both sides a bloody Scene of War came on for the French commanded in chief by the Duke of Luxemberg being privately reinforced by suddainly draining their Garrisons and they having Notice That a good part of our Army was absent with the Duke of Wirtemberg framed a Design to Attaque the Confederate Camp near Landen and accordingly they prepared for a secret March all night on the _____ of _____ The King had by his Scoutâ— notice of their March with a Resolution to attack the Considerate Camp so that the Foot were ordered to their Arms and the Troopers to Mount in which Poâ—â—ure they remained all Night At break of day the Enemy appeared in two Lines upon the higher Grounds of St. Gratruden-Landen and an other Body advanced towards our Retrenchments on the side of Winden at Sun rise they