Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do declare That no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God. These and others too many to be here inserted being the Proceedings in order to the Proclaiming on the 13th of February the Two Houses went to acquaint the Prince and Princess of Orange in the Banqueting-House with what they had done and having received Their Consent thereto the Lords and Commons about Eleven of the Clock went down to White-Hall Gate where the Officers at Arms Serjeants at Arms Trumpets and other Persons concerned in the Solemnity being assembled by order of the Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England St. Thomas St. George Knight Garter Principal King at Arms having received a Proclamation and the Officers at Arms being Ordered by the House of Lords forthwith to Proclaim it York Herauld after the Trumpets had thrice Sounded Proclaimed it at White-Hall Gate Garter Reading it to him by Periods in the Presence of the Lords and Commons and a great Concourse of People c. and at the end of the Proclamation the Palace and all the adjacent Places resounded with the Eccho of a general Joy and loud Satisfaction and from thence in Excellent Order they proceeded to Temple-Bar where as the Ceremony is in this Case according to Custome finding the Gates shut two of the Officers at Arms attended by a Serjeant at Arms and two Trumpets knocked and thereupon the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex being informed of the Occasion of their Coming Ordered them to be opened and the whole Proceeding entered except the Bailiff of Westminster and his Men who returned as being obliged not to pass the Bounds of their Liberty and here the Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen received them in their Formalities and a second Proclamation was made between the two Temple-Gates in the same manner and order and the Lord Mayor Sheriffs Aldermen c. falling into the Proceding they passed to Wood-street-end in Cheapside and there made a third Proclamation and a fourth before the Royal Exchange in Cornhill every time concluding with Shouts and Acclamations of the People who filled the Streets Balconies and Windows in great multitudes and to prevent any Disorder such an Excess of Joy might occasion four Regiments of the City Militia were in Arms to line the Way for the better conveniency of Passage The Pomp of the Solemnity being over and night coming on the Bells and Bonfires made a second Proclamation of the Peoples Satisfaction and the news by the Thundering of the Cannon was in a short time carried by taking the fire of the Guns from one Ship to another beyond the Island it self nor were their curious Fire-works and Devices wanting on this Occasion and the Solemnity was more especially concluded with Magnificent Entertainments at Court and soon after their Majesties with the like Demonstration of Joy were Proclaimed in all the Cities and Principal Burghs Towns of England and Dominion of Wales On the 15th of February His Majesty returned both Houses a very Gracious Answer to their Declaration wherein he expressed Himself highly satisfied with what they had done and was pleased to promised them the utmost of his Care and Protection for the preservation of their Religion Laws and Liberties and that He would be willing to concurr with them in any thing that should be for the Good of the Kingdom and to doe all that in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of the Nation About this time a Complaint was made that divers disorderly Persons notwithstanding a former Declaration strictly enjoyning the contrary continued to destroy the Deer Timber and Underwoods in divers Chases and Forrests Farther Notice was published Commanding all Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and others whom it might concern to seize or cause Persons found offending therein to be seized and proceeded against according to Law without expectation of Pardon if found guilty And farther considering that divers had attempted to escape to Tyrconnel in Ireland to aid him in oppressing the Protestants of that Kingdom Orders were taken for stopping the Ports of Chester Beaumaris and Holy-head and other Ports and Creeks on the Irish Sea and not to susser any Person or Persons whatsoever to go for Ireland unless those by whom a Pass was produced from his Majesty or one of his Principal Secretaries of State. The Recorder Sheriffs and Common Serjeant of London having been to wait on their Majesties by Order of the Lord Mayor and Common Council to beg leave from them to attend their Majesties to Congratulate their happy Accession to the Throne the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons went in a Body and had the favour of Waiting upon their Majesties in the Banqueting-House and were Graciously received being admitted to Kiss their Majesties Hands And now we received continual Relations of the Joy that was conceived throughout the whole Shires of England c. Upon the several Proclaimings of King William and Queen Mary Expressed by Ringing of Bells making of Bonfires and drinking their Healths On the 18th of February in the morning the King went from White-Hall in his Barge of State to the Parliament-Stairs where he was received by several of the great Officers and others the Yeomen of the Guards and Gentlemen Pentioners making a Lane from the Water-side to the Door going up into the Prince's Lodgings the Proceedings being in this manner First went the Officers at Arms then the Noble-men bearing white Staves and after them Serjeants at Arms the Garter King at Arms between two Gentlemen-Ushers immediately before the Sword of State which was born by the Duke of Somerset having on the Left hand the Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England with his Marshal's Staff next went the Marquess of Winchester bearing the Cup of State then the King followed by an Officer of the Guards and other Persons of Quality the Gentlemen Pentioners closing the Rear and his Majesty being come into the Prince's Lodging was invested with his Sur-coat and Mantle of Crimson Velvet bordered with Gold-Lace and furred with Ermins as also with the Collar of the Order of the Garter and as soon as the Crown was placed upon His Head the Officers at Arms and the Serjeants at Arms entered the House of Lords and the Noblemen who preceded his Majesty having placed themselves on each side of the Throne and his Majesty whose Train was born up by Noble-mens Eldest Sons being-seated on the Throne the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was commanded to summon up the Commons who being accordingly introduced into the House of Peers and their Speaker conducted to the Bar with the usual Formalities and the Lords being in their Robes His Majesty made a most Gracious speech in which he was pleased to let them know how sensible he was of their Kindness and how much he valued the
making good his Post drew off under the favour of the darkness of the Night in much Silence and Confusion and took a new Post nearer Mons covering his Army with a Wood on the one side and on the other it was secured by a River leaving behind him most of the wounded Men with many Tents and much Baggage and Ammunition The Prince upon this advantage would have pursued the French to have given them a total Defeat and free the Town of Mons from the apprehension of Danger But whilst he was preparing to make a second Attack an Express was sent him that the Treaty was signed between the States and the French King however they congratulated his Highness upon this Success in an extraordinary manner intreating him to be more sparing of their safety than to hazard himself in the midst of danger and the better to demonstrate at how dear a rate they esteemed his preservation they sent to Mr. Owerkirks a Person who had enterposed himself between the Prince and a French Captain that in the heat of the Fight was in a full Carier to charge him at adisadvantage a Sword whose Hilt was of Massy Gold a pair of Pistols inlay'd with Gold and a pair of golden Horse-buckles Upon the News that the Treaty was signed a Cessation of Arms ensued and upon the Duke of Luxemburgh's drawing off to the Country between the Muse and Sambre the Prince marched to Escousines upon the Road to Nivelle and there being no farther Business in relation to warlike Action he came to the Hague where he was received by the People with the highest demonstration of Joy and Acclamation and this last success no doubt hastened the Conclusion of the Treaty between France and Spain which was agreed on the 17th of November following yet it lasted not long before the French King upon the claiming several places in the Spanish Netherlands as Dependencies blocked up Luxemburgh which obliged the King of Great Britain Guarrantee of the Peace to interpose his Authority as likewise did the States by way of Mediation but the French King would not hearken to the quitting the claim he had laid unless the City of Luxemburgh might be put into his Possession with all its Dependencies three Leagues round it which being long debated and the time the French King gave to come to a Resolve being expired without concluding any thing of that Affair the Mareschal d' Humieres fell into the Spanish Provinces with a numerous Army and put them under Contribution making great spoil and ravage in many places and not so contented but upon the Prince of Chimai's Governour of Luxemburgh acting some Hostilities in their Territories the Mareschal laid Siege to and took Courtray burning many places of lesser note constraining others to pay a Ransome for saving themselves from Fire and in conclusion the Mareschal d' Crequi came before Luxemburgh with an Army of 30000 Men and cast a great number of Bombs into that City which burnt and demolished about Five hundred Houses and so retired to put his Army into Winter Quarters and in the mean while the Negotiation continued between the Arbritours to settle the Differences between the two Crowns nor did they spare any Diligence to create a good understanding by proposing Equivalents but the Spaniards at that time were so much averse that the Mediatours began to give over the hopes they had conceived of accommodating Matters in dispute nay the Spanish Ambassadour proceeded so far as to press the King of Great Britain to send over Forces to the Assistence of his Master but the King told him That the urgency of his Affairs at home could not admit of sending Forces abroad but that he was willing to doe the King of Spain all the good Offices that lay in him c. as also to use his utmost Endeavours for the Peace and Repose of Europe But not satisfied with this Answer they again applyed themselves to the States General but they being not willing to enter into any new Engagement of War with France the Ambassadours could not persuade them to make new Levies or to send any Forces to the Assistence of His Catholick Majesty nor could the Emperour give any assistence by reason of the storm that threatened him at that time in Hungary so that indeed the whole State of Europe being unwilling or not in a condition to enter into a new War it was greatly hoped that this would oblige those that stood out to a compliance And the better to perfect an Alliance a general Congress was held at the Hague where it was thought somewhat reasonable that the True of Twenty years which the French King had offered should be accepted including the Allies on all parts which coming to a Resolve and the Articles of Treaty agreed amongst other things it was thought fit that the French King should restore to the King of Spain Dixmuyden and Courtray with their Dependencies having liberty to demolish the Fortifications as likewise the other Places taken by force since the 30th of August 1683. and that in consideration thereof the King of Spain should Surrender to him Beaumont Luxemburgh Chimai and Bovines with all their Dependencies and to this purpose the Articles between the two Crowns were concluded on at Ratisbon And now the French King being at leisure began to grow exceeding troublesome to his Protestant Subjects having during the former Transactions put a very sensible Affront upon his Highness the Prince of Orange for whilst the Differences lasted between the French the Spaniards they extremely wasted his Patrimony in Brabant Burgundy and Luxemburgh where the Prince of Isenguyn supported by the French Interest and Arms had seized upon his Possession of Warnesson Desburgh Vianden St. Vith Budgenback c. yet out of a generosity to his Country in preferring their Peace and Tranquillity before his own interest he forbore at that time to put in for Reparation nor could the Violences the French King unjustly offered in entring upon his Principality of Orange be less resented by which Act he seemed to have this farther design viz. To hinder the Protestant Religion from flourishing there for upon the Persecution he raised in all parts of his own Territories many of the Protestants sent their Children to this Sovereign Principality to be Educated in Learning but this greatly displeasing him he sent his Orders to Monsieur Moran Super-intendent of Provence to March a Body of 2000 Men thither under the Command of his Lieutenant-General in Languedock to command the Magistrates of the Principality of Orange to send away all the Children to their Parents and not for the future to receive any more into their Schools or Academies To this unjust and unreasonable Demand they found themselves constrained to consent promising to give notice to the Parents of the Children that they might send for them home hoping by this means they had given the King satisfaction But what can satisfie an ambitious spightfull Mind for
of Orange having taken upon him at the request of the Lords and Commons the farther Administration of Government in Civil and Military Affairs proceeded to the most effectual meanes for the better setling the Army and taking care for their Payment and the better to assure them and encourage men of worth and true Valour the sale of Offices or Military Employments are laid aside And now the Wisdom of the Nation having thought it as we head necessary to have the presence of her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange in England upon this great juncture of Affairs thereupon a Convoy of Men of War as well English as Dutch was ordered to wait upon her till her Equipage could be got in a readiness and the Wind served to bring over her Highness c. During the Joy of the People in expectation or the Arrival of her Royal Highness and the preparations for her Reception we had News from France that the King and Queen of England were frequently visited by the French Nobility and entertained with the accustomed Grandeur and that the French King gave out that he would have extraordinary Forces in the Field early in the Spring to oppose the gathering Armies of the Confederate Princes and States of Holland promising to himself those advantages which only Time can make out or determine In opposition to which and to disable him in the lessening his Revenues an Address was agreed on by the honourable Convention Assembled at Westminster upon the great emergency of Affairs to desire and intreat his Highness the Prince of Orange to issue out his Proclamation for the prohibiting the Importation of French Commodities and the going out of any Ships hence for France farther recommending the State of Ireland as its present Condition requires to his Care. On Wednesday the 30th of January being the anniversary Solemnity for the Murther of King Charles I. Dr. Sharp Dean of Norwich Preached before the House at St. Margarets Westminster and on Thursday the 31th of January the day appointed for Thanksgiving in the City of London and Ten miles round it for the success of his Highness the Prince of Orange in the miraculous Deliverance he brought this Kingdom c. Dr. Gilbert Burnet now Bishop of Salisbury according to the desire of the House Preached before them in the same Church there being a numerous Assembly who at the close of that Sermon expressed an extraordinary satisfaction the whole course of it being managed with much Learning and Prudence in every respect suitable to the occasion of the day and the Prayers appointed were read in the other Churches with the same acceptation And because the sixth of February was at hand to prevent the Thanksgiving formerly appointed to be held on that day an Order of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal bearing date the second of the same Month was made publick in these words Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster that the Day of Thanksgiving on the 6th of February Instant on which Day the late King James II. came to the Throne shall not be observed in this Kingdom Things being in this forwardness a great many Citizens of London and Westminster appeared in the Court of Requests with two Petitions one to the Lords and another to the Commons both to this Effect viz. That they most humbly desired that his most Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange might be speedily setled in the Throne by whose Courage Conduct and Reputation the Nation and the Protestant Religion might be defended from Enemies abroad and at home That Ireland might be rescued from its deplorable Condition and finally the Kingdoms setled on a lasting foundation in Peace and Liberty These being received and many weighty Considerations urging it her Royal Highness's Coming over was hastened and being on her Departure for England the States General the States of Holland the Council of State the Courts of Justice and all other Colleges either in Body or by their Deputies made their Complements to her on the Occasion and the like was done by foreign Ministers and all other Persons of Quality and at her Leaving the Hague the Magistrates entreated that the Burghers might attend her in Arms but She excused it however the States of Holland appointed three of their Body to wait upon her Royal Highness to the place of her Embarquing sending Orders to the Sieur d' Allemonde and the Ships under his Command to joyn Admiral Herbert who from England attended her with a Squadron of Men of war and sundry Yatches for the better conveniency of Transportation and having a prosperous Gale on the 12th of February in the afternoon She safely arrived at White-Hall having been saluted by the Guns of the Forts Ships in the road and those of the Tower where the Royal Banner was displayed and by that Example the Ships likewise had put out their Flags and Streamers Great was the Joy upon the safe Landing of her Royal Highness as appeared by the repeated Acclamations of the People and other publick Demonstrations and that Night She received the Complements of the chief Persons of Quality And now the Two Houses thought it no longer necessary to delay Proclaiming the Prince and Princess King and Queen of England so that having at large declared the Reasons for the Abdication of James II. laying down therein the Illegalities in former Proceedings and Miscarriages in Government c. they came to a Resolve That William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange should be Declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland with all the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms Dominions to them during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them and that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the Prince in the Name of Himself and the Princess during their joynt Lives and after their Deceases the Crown and Royal Dignities of the Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the Princess and for default of such Issue to the Princess Ann of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the Prince of Orange And praying the Prince and Princess to accept this accordingly the following Oaths were appointed to be taken by such Persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law and farther that the former Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be Abrogated After which the Oaths were Enacted viz. I A. B. do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be faithfull and bear true Allegiance to their Majesties King William and Queen Mary So help me God. I A. B. do Swear That I do from my Heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be Deposed or