making good his Post drew off under the favour of the darkness of the Night in much Silence and Confusion and took a new Post nearer Mons covering his Army with a Wood on the one side and on the other it was secured by a River leaving behind him most of the wounded Men with many Tents and much Baggage and Ammunition The Prince upon this advantage would have pursued the French to have given them a total Defeat and free the Town of Mons from the apprehension of Danger But whilst he was preparing to make a second Attack an Express was sent him that the Treaty was signed between the States and the French King however they congratulated his Highness upon this Success in an extraordinary manner intreating him to be more sparing of their safety than to hazard himself in the midst of danger and the better to demonstrate at how dear a rate they esteemed his preservation they sent to Mr. Owerkirks a Person who had enterposed himself between the Prince and a French Captain that in the heat of the Fight was in a full Carier to charge him at adisadvantage a Sword whose Hilt was of Massy Gold a pair of Pistols inlay'd with Gold and a pair of golden Horse-buckles Upon the News that the Treaty was signed a Cessation of Arms ensued and upon the Duke of Luxemburgh's drawing off to the Country between the Muse and Sambre the Prince marched to Escousines upon the Road to Nivelle and there being no farther Business in relation to warlike Action he came to the Hague where he was received by the People with the highest demonstration of Joy and Acclamation and this last success no doubt hastened the Conclusion of the Treaty between France and Spain which was agreed on the 17th of November following yet it lasted not long before the French King upon the claiming several places in the Spanish Netherlands as Dependencies blocked up Luxemburgh which obliged the King of Great Britain Guarrantee of the Peace to interpose his Authority as likewise did the States by way of Mediation but the French King would not hearken to the quitting the claim he had laid unless the City of Luxemburgh might be put into his Possession with all its Dependencies three Leagues round it which being long debated and the time the French King gave to come to a Resolve being expired without concluding any thing of that Affair the Mareschal d' Humieres fell into the Spanish Provinces with a numerous Army and put them under Contribution making great spoil and ravage in many places and not so contented but upon the Prince of Chimai's Governour of Luxemburgh acting some Hostilities in their Territories the Mareschal laid Siege to and took Courtray burning many places of lesser note constraining others to pay a Ransome for saving themselves from Fire and in conclusion the Mareschal d' Crequi came before Luxemburgh with an Army of 30000 Men and cast a great number of Bombs into that City which burnt and demolished about Five hundred Houses and so retired to put his Army into Winter Quarters and in the mean while the Negotiation continued between the Arbritours to settle the Differences between the two Crowns nor did they spare any Diligence to create a good understanding by proposing Equivalents but the Spaniards at that time were so much averse that the Mediatours began to give over the hopes they had conceived of accommodating Matters in dispute nay the Spanish Ambassadour proceeded so far as to press the King of Great Britain to send over Forces to the Assistence of his Master but the King told him That the urgency of his Affairs at home could not admit of sending Forces abroad but that he was willing to doe the King of Spain all the good Offices that lay in him c. as also to use his utmost Endeavours for the Peace and Repose of Europe But not satisfied with this Answer they again applyed themselves to the States General but they being not willing to enter into any new Engagement of War with France the Ambassadours could not persuade them to make new Levies or to send any Forces to the Assistence of His Catholick Majesty nor could the Emperour give any assistence by reason of the storm that threatened him at that time in Hungary so that indeed the whole State of Europe being unwilling or not in a condition to enter into a new War it was greatly hoped that this would oblige those that stood out to a compliance And the better to perfect an Alliance a general Congress was held at the Hague where it was thought somewhat reasonable that the True of Twenty years which the French King had offered should be accepted including the Allies on all parts which coming to a Resolve and the Articles of Treaty agreed amongst other things it was thought fit that the French King should restore to the King of Spain Dixmuyden and Courtray with their Dependencies having liberty to demolish the Fortifications as likewise the other Places taken by force since the 30th of August 1683. and that in consideration thereof the King of Spain should Surrender to him Beaumont Luxemburgh Chimai and Bovines with all their Dependencies and to this purpose the Articles between the two Crowns were concluded on at Ratisbon And now the French King being at leisure began to grow exceeding troublesome to his Protestant Subjects having during the former Transactions put a very sensible Affront upon his Highness the Prince of Orange for whilst the Differences lasted between the French the Spaniards they extremely wasted his Patrimony in Brabant Burgundy and Luxemburgh where the Prince of Isenguyn supported by the French Interest and Arms had seized upon his Possession of Warnesson Desburgh Vianden St. Vith Budgenback c. yet out of a generosity to his Country in preferring their Peace and Tranquillity before his own interest he forbore at that time to put in for Reparation nor could the Violences the French King unjustly offered in entring upon his Principality of Orange be less resented by which Act he seemed to have this farther design viz. To hinder the Protestant Religion from flourishing there for upon the Persecution he raised in all parts of his own Territories many of the Protestants sent their Children to this Sovereign Principality to be Educated in Learning but this greatly displeasing him he sent his Orders to Monsieur Moran Super-intendent of Provence to March a Body of 2000 Men thither under the Command of his Lieutenant-General in Languedock to command the Magistrates of the Principality of Orange to send away all the Children to their Parents and not for the future to receive any more into their Schools or Academies To this unjust and unreasonable Demand they found themselves constrained to consent promising to give notice to the Parents of the Children that they might send for them home hoping by this means they had given the King satisfaction But what can satisfie an ambitious spightfull Mind for
although this gave the Citizens hope they were in Peace yet it proved not so for soon after Orders came to throw down the Walls of the City and the French Dragoons Quartering upon the Inhabitants committed many Indecencies and Disorders compelling the People to Work in ruining their own Fortifications which being undermined were blown up This News no sooner came to his Highness's Council but they complained of it to the States-General as a breach of the last Peace urging that Reparation might be required for such unjust Proceedings against the Subjects of his Highness in the midst of a general Peace Nor were the States wanting in Writing to the King and letting him know their Resentments for so great an Injury contrary to the Treaty of Nimeguen pressing him for Reparation of the damage his Highness had contrary to Articles sustained in the Violence done to his Subjects But they could get no other Answer from the French Court but that as for the Money extorted from the Inhabitants those that extorted it had no Order for it and he had commanded Restitution to be made and upon the Peoples submitting to his Pleasure he had withdrawn his Forces and restored the Inhabitants their Commerce according to their Desires but as for the rest he alledged he had reason for what he did This Answer though it was neither generous nor pleasing was all that could be got at that time and so the matter continues to a more favourable opportunity The Face of Peace now appearing amongst the Christian Princes and Hungary being the greatest Scene of War the States thought of Disbanding their supernumerary Forces and in order thereto advised with his Highness who assured them that there was no Person more desirous than himself to ease the People of their Contributions and Taxes but in consideration things were scarcely settled and that the nighbouring Countries had not yet Disbanded but were in Arms he thought it the safest way to continue them till they might be assuredly free from the fear or suspicion of any sinister event c. And according to this prudent and grave Counsel they were continued it being resolved by the States-General That the Extraordinary Forces should be kept up to a farther time And now his Highness being more at leisure and desirous to promote the good of his Country betook himself to the reforming the Government of Vtreicht in which during the Series of so tedious a War some Disorders and Irregularities had happened which he redressed by prudently altering such of the Magistracy as were looked upon unfit Persons to manage the Government and put such into their places as he found better capable of managing so weighty a Trust striving to promote and advance the welfare of the People at no small expence of Pains and Treasure contrary to the Methods of the French King who was then Dragooning his Subjects of the Protestant Religion and using all manner of ways to ruine them by Tortures Confiscations and Imprisonments and many such unchristian-like Proceedings And since we are come to this part pardon the Digression if I conceive it not amiss to expose the Methods France has of late years taken to bring over Protestants to the Church of Rome that the Reader may the better distinguish between the Actions of a vertuous Prince who makes it his utmost care and study to preserve and promote those that are under his Jurisdiction and a Prince that labours to ruine and destroy his Subjects I shall not trouble you with the Declaration put out against the Protestants in the year 1669. or hardships they suffered before and since that year in particular till I come to the year 1680. In this year the King issued out his Order thereby depriving them in general of all manner of places of Trust Offices and Services reducing the meaner sort thereby to great distress and disanulling the more wealthy of what they had purchased with their Money and the price of their Bloud And the next year 1681 by a Decree of their Council all Notaries Attornies Solicitors and Sergeants which made profession of the Reformed Religion were rendred uncapable of their Employments and the next year the Lords and Gentlemen were commanded to discharge their Protestant Officers and Servants and in Eighty three all Officers of the King's Household and those of the Princes of the Bloud were commanded to give place to the Roman Catholicks and in a word all manner of Persons of all Professions that were of the Reformed Religion had a Prohibition by those strict Decrees under severe Penalties And so strict were they that the Midwives unless Roman Catholicks durst not but by stealth perform their Office and by this means some were constrained to suffer their Tongue to give their Heart the Lye. These for the encouragement as they pretended of themselves and others being called new Converts were discharged from the Payment of their Debts for the space of three years and this was done the better to disappoint their Creditors of the Reformed Religion with whom they had mostly dealt Nor content with this by another way they quite discharged them of such Debts as those of that Religion had contracted in common These Proceedings served only as a Prologue to that which was afterward acted on the Unchristian-like Stage of France for the Councils influenced by the Priests who aimed more at the Estates of the Protestants than their Religion finding these ways not so effectual as they expected and perceiving that many of the more wealthy made over their Estates and left the Country exhibited a Prohibition of selling or alienating any Estates whatsoever the King annulling and breaking all Contracts and other Acts relating to such Sale or Alienation if it did not appear that after any such Act they did not stay in the Kingdom a whole year so that being deprived of all means to transport their effects and yet not suffered to enjoy them with any quiet many preferring a good Conscience before worldly Riches proposed to leave all they had and with it the Kingdom but this took no effect for hereupon they were forbidden it under severe Penalties which drove them to so great a strait that they knew not what offer or proposal to make finding every thing hazardous and uncertain But they were not long without new Proofs of Roman Severity for though they had already fleeced them yet not so contented the Intendents in their Districts had orders to weigh them down if possible with heavy Taxes by charging them with those of the new Converts who were discharged from paying any in favour of their pretended Conversion or by laying others on them which they termed Duties so that he who was before assessed in the Roll for 40 or 50 Livres escaped well if he came off for 5 or 600 and those that delayed or had not the Money were obliged to quarter Dragoons and suffer Imprisonment till they had made payment And to pass over many things of the like Nature
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
the French King to Reason the English Parliament at the same time declaring strongly for it and offering the King considerable Summes of Mony to carry on the projected Design against the Disturber of Christendom The Alliance was to be carried on in order to the recovering a satisfaction by such means as should be thought most expedient and best agreeable and indeed for a time it was vigorously maintained the Parliament of England pressing it with a more than ordinary Ardour and the King sent the Lord Montague his Ambassadour to France once more to press that King to a Compliance making at the same time new Levies of Horse and Foot However the French King rejecting the Propositions was not idle but made great preparations for War whereupon the King of Great Britain recalled his Forces that were in the French Service who were sent home without their Arrears But whilst the Confederates were agreeing about their Quota's or Levies the French early in the Spring besieged Gaunt which being taken by reason of the insufficiency of the Garison to maintain a place of that vast Circuit they sate down before Ypre which after a resolute defence surrendred These Places thus lost for want of succour made the Confederates draw out from all Parts the Prince of Orange being the first that took the Field and the Duke of Monmouth arrived at Bruges with about 3000 English Horse and Foot but the French King having done as much as he thought convenient at that time putting the greater part of his numerous Armies into Garisons to refresh them he retired to Paris but hearing the League against him continually strengthened by new Alliances and a Prohibition of the growth of his Kingdom he thought it no longer convenient to delay but formed himself a Project of Accommodation to this purpose viz. That the Prince and Bishop of Strasburgh should be entirely restored to all his Territories Honours Prerogatives and Goods and Prince William of Furstemburgh his Brother be set at Liberty That in relation to the Emperour he would stand to his Declarations insisting upon the Treaties of Westphalia offering to restore Philipsburgh or Friburgh That to the King of Spain he would restore Charleroy Aeith Courtray Gaunt Oudenard and St. Guilain together with Chastlerains and all their Dependencies but reserve to himself Conde Bouchain Air Cambray Valenciennes and Saint Omers with all their Castles and Dependencies with La Frenche Conte entire That he would restore Charlemont or Dinant to the Spaniard with the Emperour and Bishop of Liege's consent That the Confines between Spain the Low Countrys from the Sea should be the Meuse Newport Courtray Aeith Dixmund Mons Oudenard Namur and Charleroy and those Bounds to be assured by those Places That moreover to the States General he would restore Maestricht and allow the Commerce as formerly granted That he would restore to the Duke of Lorain according to the Pyrenean Treaty or surrender to him excepting Nancy all his Territories and in lieit of that City he would give him Toul thereby only reserving to himself a free passage into Alsatia And farther demanded satisfaction for his Allies The proposals were not generally liked yet after many Difficulties and Refusals the Treaty was at length signed by the Plenipotentiaries of France and Holland on the 11th of August 1678. yet the delays of the French King proved extremely prejudicial to his Affairs especially in lessening the Reputation his Arms had gained for whilst the Treaty held with indifferency and wavered without any certainty of coming to a conclusion the Prince of Orange having joyned the Confederate Forces they called a Council of War in which it was concluded that seeing Mons a City of the Province of Hainault had been a long time Blocked up by the French and that the Duke of Luxemburgh was on his March with the Army under his Command to prevent any Succours being put into the City that it was convenient to intercept him and with this Resolution the Prince and the Confederate Army set forward about the beginning of August and was joyned in his March by six thousand Munsterians and Brandenburghers under the Command of General Spaen The French upon notice of his Approach removed from Soignes where they had lain for some time encamped where the next day the Prince decamped with the Confederate Army and from thence marched toward Rockless advancing the left Wing as far as the Abby of St. Dennis that Place being the Duke of Luxemburgh's chief Quarters facing with his Right Wing Casteau possessed likewise by the French and although the Passes were extreme difficult which rendred the French more secure yet the Army being embatteled his Highness commanded a Party to drive the French from a Hillock they had possessed which was performed with little difficulty and then he caused the great Guns to play upon the Enemy that had posted themselves near the Cloister adjacent to the Town and though they strove to defend it with their Cannon yet after a considerable Battery a Party of Dragoons advanced and after a sharp dispute drove them thence and possessed the Place when in the mean time Adjutant General Collyer seconded by General Delwick passed the Defiles or narrow dirty Lanes with admirable courage contrary to the expectation of the French and drove them after a strenuous resistence into their own Lines when the Prince accompanied by the Duke of Monmouth who fought by his side that day fell in with great resolution and bravery encouraging by words and actions the Regiments that were advanced and signallizing his Valour above Report which so animated the Regiments of the left Wing that they followed each other till the Evening charging with great resolution and Count Horn bending the Cannon under his Charge against the Battalions of French that were drawn up in the Valley it greatly endamaged them by battering their Ranks The Fight being thus begun was carried on and maintained with much resolution and bravery the Prince forcing his Passage to Casteau which had been Attacked by the Spaniards in the right Wing where his Regiments of Foot-Guards had the Van-Guard under the Command of Count Solms and was seconded by the Regiments of Holstein Roques Sereres and they supported by the English who through the natural aversion they had to the French charged with such fury that the obstinate resistence the Enemy made could not sustain their impetuosity for after five hours dispute the French were driven from their Post by the Regiments of Guards who pursued them to the River Haines on the other side of Casteau And in this Battel it was that the renowned Earl of Ossory who commanded the English signalized his Valour and indeed the whole stress of the Battel lay upon the Infantry the Cavalry not being very serviceable in a Place of such narrow access and so full of precipices Night putting an end to the Slaughter the Duke of Luxemburgh finding his loss great and that he was no longer capable of
Faith is to be kept with Hereticks as they call the Protestants for the same cruelty and inhumanity continued with as great Rage and Fury where there was any plunder to be had or people of Note dwelling In Picardy Normandy Le Berry Campaigne Orleance Neivernois Belessois and the Isles of France nay in Paris it self after the Edict was published the Procurator-General and some other Magistrates sent for the Heads of divers Families and declared to them That it was the King's positive Will that they should change their Religion and that if they would not comply they should be made to doe it and so proceeded by Letters under the Princes Seal to banish the Elders of the Consistory and such persons as they found or at least conceived inflexible One thing is remarkable viz. Monsieur Saignelay Secretary of State having sent for to his House under divers pretences about 100 Merchants and others he caused the Doors to be shut upon them and instead of the business they expected presented them with an Abjuration commanding them in the King's name to sign it declaring with a stern Countenance they should not stir out at the Door till they had done it The purport of it was this That they should not only abjure the Heresie of Calvin and enter into the Catholick Church but declare that they did it voluntarily or without being forced or compelled to it and although they many ways excused it yet being sharply reprimanded and terrified by his Threats not being fore-warned of such a danger and doubting the ill consequence that might attend it they at last not voluntarily but by constraint signed that Abjuration Nor by the power and influence of the Clergy did the Magistrates refrain to take away Children from their Parents to bring up in their superstitious way of idolatrous Worship frequently separating the Man and Wife where they could gain upon the one or the other to Apostatize Nor did they spare to doe this in Orange the sovereign Principality of his Highness the Prince where the French King by Right has no power but taking away the Ministers by force committed them to Prison the Dragoons as it has been already hinted doing there mischiefs much in likeness as in other Places as well to the people as to the Officers of his Highness to whom that Principality belongs And much in this nature the Calamity of the suffering Protestants continued in the Kingdom of France to the year 1685. Nor do they fail at this day to make good as much as in them lies what their Clergy threaten in their Pastoral Letters by making it their study to invent new manner of Torments the Magistrates being ever ready to assist them in the Execution I might go on with this melancholy Story to the swelling of a large Volume and add to it the Cruelty of the Savoyards against the Protestants in the Countries under that Duke whose Miseries equal if not exceed that I have mentioned as likewise in sundry other places and indeed in all places where the Papists have power but that the digression will seem too long and therefore I only give the Reader a taste of what has been served up in full Banquets of Cruelty and Revenge thereby to let those that are at this day un-informed know what they must expect if they come into the hands of such as account it meritorious to destroy Hereticks nor think it any Crime to break the most solemn Oaths and make void all Protestations and Engagements when they suppose it advantageous to their Interest or Church's Cause And note by the way that all of the Reformed Religion who have separated from the Traditions Errours and Idolatrous Worship of Rome pass with them for no other These Proceedings however turned at last to the disadvantage of the Persecutors for though for a time it enriched them yet the number of People that fled or were ruined occasioned the decay of Trade and Commerce so that those Revenues that supplied the French King's Coffers and enabled him to vex all Europe by a tedious War being exhausted notwithstanding he had taken Luxemburgh from the Spaniards he found himself in a low condition for money being the very sinews of War and his Subjects not forward to lend as appears by the Answer of the Bankers of Paris when he sent to them the last year for several Millions of Livres viz That they humbly begged his Excuse forasmuch that if they so far weakened the Bank they could not support their Credit in answering the Bills that should be drawn upon them He then I say found that when by such unjust means he depopulated his Kingdom he fought against himself but to return The Prince of Orange all this while highly disapproved his Proceedings and if in Arms he did not oppose them it was not for want of Will but rather that he on his part would keep the Peace inviolable and rather bear till a farther opportunity the affront and injury done him in the wrong his Subjects of the Principality of Orange had received than involve the States in a new War which might have been justly excused since the French were the Aggressors But to come yet nearer to the purpose Whilst his Highness was diverting and reposing himself from the Toils of War which now ceased by the conclusion and ratifying of the Treaty with France His Majesty of Great Britain King Charles II. after five or six days indisposition departed this Life at his Palace Royal of White-Hall on the 6th of February 1684. not only to the extraordinary Grief of his Subjects but of all Europe their Highnesses more especially bearing a superlative part in the sorrow the loss of that good King occasioned whose Funeral was privately solemnized on the 14th of February towards the Evening in King Henry the Seventh's Chapell where it was interred in Vault under the East-end of the South-Isle Service being ended and the Officers of his Houshold having broke their Staves the Royal Style was proclaimed by another of the Kings at Arms according to the Custome And thus set this great Monarch who had been so usefull and dear to the Interest of Christendom making way thereby for his Brother who was immediately proclaimed c. and accordingly was Crowned at Westminster on the twenty third of April following with much splendour and magnificence as is usual at the Royal Ceremonies of the Coronation of the Kings of Great Britain c. and had the Condolement and Congratulation the one for the Death of King Charles and the other for His Majesty's Accession to the Throne not only from the States-General but from most of the European Princes And now the States of Holland being in frequent Consults about the Affairs of that Republick between the Adjournments his Highness the Prince of Orange diverted himself in visiting the Towns and Fortifications and settling Military Affairs and the better to remove the Melancholy the Death of the King his Uncle had occasioned recreated
confidence they had reposed in him Assuring them that he would never do any thing that might lessen their good Opinion of him putting them in mind of the Allies abroad and the hazard they may run especially Holland unless some speedy Care were taken That a good Settlement was necessary at Home particularly recommending to them the dangerous State of Ireland and the Methods to their spedy consideration On the 2d of February the Lord Bishop on London with the Clergy of the City to the number of an 100 waited on their Majesties with an humble Tender of their Fidelity and Duty and being Graciously received were admitted to kiss their Majesties Hands the King at the same time being pleased to give them a full Assurance of of his great Affection to the Church of England and of all the Protection and Encouragement to them for which he gave them his Royal Word concluding with Assuring them that they should ever find it so and they might depend upon it the Houses resolved into a free Parliament His Majesty went on the 23d of February by Water to the House of Lords attended with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes with the Crown on his Head seated on the Throne and the Commons being sent for His Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act for removing and preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and Sitting of the present Parliament And having disrobed himself he was attended to the Water-side with the like Ceremony as before and in the afternoon their Majesties went to Hampton-Court On the 28th of February two Proclamations were issued forth by the King and Queen the one at the Request of the Honourable House of Commons to apprehend Robert Brent Gentleman late of the Inner Temple charged with High Treason who procuring himself to be Bailed had left them and fled from Justice with the Reward of 200 l. to any person that should discover or apprehend him and those that should conceal or further his Escape to be proceeded against with the utmost severity according to Law. The other for the bringing in and restoring of Arms that had been Embezled or Lost during the Disorders and Disbandings amongst the Soldiers that had been in pay under the late King James and upon advice that the Earl of Tyrconnel laboured to draw the Irish more and more to his Party and confirm those that were already in Arms with him by laying before them the Danger already incurr'd their Majesties to leave them that should obstinately persist without excuse issued forth a Proclamation offering amongst other things Pardon and Indemnity for all things by those of the Earl's Party if they laid down their Arms and retired themselves to their respective Habitations and Places of Abode and there peaceably behaved themselves as good Subjects ought to doe as likewise that they should upon this ondition enjoy in full freedom their Estates according to Law and those of the Roman Church upon such Consideration to have all the Favour for the private Exercise of their Religion that the Law allows with a promise speedily to call a Parliament in that Kingdom but on the Contrary declaring them Rebels and Traytors c. and their Lands and Possessions forfeited and to be disposed and distributed to those that should be Aiding and Assisting in reducing the Kingdom to its due Obedience This Proclamation 't is thought whether hindred by Tyrconnel's violence from coming to the knowledge of the Vulgar or creating a fear in his followers made him fly to his Last refuge of more strictly disarming the Protestants as well those in Cities that fell into his hands as Gentlemen who were retired to their Houses where his Soldiers committed sundry Outrages of an high Nature Robbing and Pillaging without remorse or pity though under a colour excused himself by giving directions to the Magistrates to see that no wrong should be done however when Complaints were made he urged necessity compell'd his Men to doe what they did yet the Protestants especially in the North stood to their Arms and repelled force by force getting some supplies of Ammunition out of Scotland keeping the Town of Sligo and other places of strength with a Longing expectation of the Arrival of the Forces and necessary Provisions from England to be thereby enable to carry on the War and recover what has been taken from them by the Irish Papists And now the duty of Hearth mony being looked upon by the Commons as a grievance to the Subjects and represented as such to his Majesty the King was pleased to send a message that he left it to their considerations either to regulate it or to take it away which was received with great satisfaction and forthwith the thanks of the House were ordered to be returned his Majesty for his gracious Message and on the 1st of March in the Afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled Waited upon his Majesty in the Banqueting-house and and there presented an Address of thanks wherein they expressed the Joy and Satisfaction they conceived at so unpresidented an offer humbly craving leave to present their Assurance that they-would make such gratefull and affectionate returns as were suitable to his Majesties most Gracious Intentions and be so carefull of the Support of the Crown that the World should see to the discouraging his Enemies that his Majesty reigns in the Hearts of his People c. The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament made likewise and Address to his Majesty expressing therein how highly they were sensible of their great and Signal deliverance c. And that being fully convinced of the restless Spirits and continued Endeavours of his Majesties and the Nations Enemies for the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the Subversion of the Laws and Liberties they unanimously declared that they would Stand by and Assist his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes in Supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland and in defence of the Protestant Religion of the Kingdom To this his Majesty was pleased to return them a very Gracious Answer expressing therein the valuable Esteem he had for Parliaments and especially for this expressing his Satisfaction of the Confidence and Trust they had reposed in him and that it should be his Care never to give any Parliament cause of distrust and withall recommending to them the care of the Allies abroad and minding them of the greate Expence the States of Holland had been at in the Expedition and Zeal they had to promote it and to second his Majesties Endeavours even with a neglect of their own Safety not doubting but their Generosity would not only enable him to make good his treaty with those States and repay what they actually layd out and of which an account should be given but support them to their utmost Ability against the power of their Enemies considering both Interests were upon one and the same Bottom As to safety his