he could not in that kind advantage the King's Affairs which were now grown desperate betook himself to his Retirement so that the Militia found themselves disbanded The Noblemen who were sent to treat with his Highness the Prince of Orange about accommodating the affairs of the Kingdom not being able to effect in all points what the King desired the Infant which had been sent to Portsmouth either as supposed the securest place or to pass the Seas was sent for back in great haste and the Priests began to shift for themselves Father Petre was missing with divers others who it is supposed perceiving the desperateness of their condition made an early escape and several Councils were held most of them privately in the King's Closet to advise what was to he done in the Juncture of affairs when on the 9th of December in the Evening News came that greatly allarm'd the Court and put it for the most part in a hurry and consternation viz. That the Prince's Forces had made their way through Reading and gained the Pass of Twyford-bridge without any considerable resistence And thus we find the account of this Action About 1500 Horse and 3 Troups of Irish Dragoons being quartered or posted in the Town of Reading were put into a Consternation upon the Report that a strong advanced Party of the Prince's Army were on their march to beat up their Quarters so that after some Consultation of the Officers it was concluded they should draw off to Twyford-Bridge and there make good their Post which accordingly they did but the Scouts that were sent abroad to discover coming in and giving them an account that the Roads were clear the Commander in chief commanded that Claverhouse Regiment of Scotch Horse and the Irish Dragoons should march back and repossess the Town of Reading which they did on the Eighth of December at Night with Orders to be in readiness and upon their Guards to prevent surprize so that most of them kept on Horse-back some in the Market-place and others at the Posts assigned them but there being yet no news of the advanc'd Party they were commanded by their Officers to alight and refresh themselves and their Horses when at ten of the Clock in the Morning the Trumpet sounded to Horse the Prince's Forces being at the Town 's end almost before they were discovered whereupon a sharp dispute ensued with brisk Firing on both Parties the Irish Dragoons bearing the brunt of the Encounter though the Scotch Horse in small detatched Bodies made some Firings but they were over-powered driven out of the Town and obliged to retreat to Twyford-Bridge and in conclusion many of the King's Party Deserted and the rest were constrained to quit the Pass and make the best of their Retreat In this Skirmish we cannot learn that above Thirty were killed and several wounded But now the King having no considerable Forces especially none capable of making Head against a prevailing Army the Queen who had been at Wind for the day before to fetch the Infant taking her solemn leave of the King crossed the Thames on the Tenth of December about Three in the Morning where her Coaches waited for her and so with the Child and a slender Attendence made for Dover or some Port near it and there took Shipping for France where she soon after landed and had a place of Residence appointed her by the French King. The Queen having left White-Hall as also a great many of the Courtiers the King the same Evening called an extraordinary Council and sent for the Lord Mayor of London and the Sheriffs who waiting upon His Majesty were amongst other things charged to have a Care of the City and keep it in Peace and Quietness as much as in them lay and then were dismissed However the Council held a long Debate and a meeting was appointed the the next Morning but contrary to the Expectation of almost the whole Kingdom the King about Three a Clock in the Night took Barge at the Privy Stairs with a small Equipage and went down the River on his Departure without giving notice to any of the Officers of his Houshold who were then in The King's Departure was no sooner spread abroad but the Lords Spiritual and Temporal that were about Town assembled and finding White-Hall full of Consternation after some Debates they gave order for the dismissing Popish Officers and Soldiers and giving Directions for the keeping of that Palace from Pillage or Spoil which in that Confusion might have happened they adjourned immediately to the Guild Hall of the City of London where by their Order the Lord Mayor had summoned the Court of Aldermen and thither they sent for Collonel Bevil Skelton Lieutenant of the Tower and ordered him to resign up that important Citadel to the Lord Lucas in trust of the City till other Measures could be taken and proceeded to approve and sign the following Declaration viz. We doubt not but the World believes that in this great and dangerous Conjuncture We are Heartily and Zealously concerned for the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land and the Liberties and Properties of the Subject and we did reasonably hope that the King having Issued out his Proclamation and Writs for a Free Parliament We might have rested secure under the Expectation of that Meeting but His Majesty having withdrawn himself and as we apprehend in order to his Departure out of the Kingdom by the pernicious Counsels of Person ill-affected to our Nation and Religion We cannot without being wanting to our Duty be silent under the Calamities wherein the Popish Counsels which so long prevailed have miserably involved us We do therefore unanimously resolve to apply our selves to his Highness the Prince of Orange who with so great Kindness to these Kingdoms so Vast Expence and so much hazard to his own Person hath undertaken by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament to rescue us with as little Effusion of Christian Blood as possible from imminent Dangers of Popery and Slavery And we do hereby declare That we will with our utmost Endeavours assist his Highness in the obtaining such a Parliament with all speed wherein our Laws our Liberties and our Prosperities may be secured the Church of England in particular with a due Liberty to Protestant Dissenters and in general the Protestant Religion and Interest over the whole World may be supported and encouraged to the Glory of God the Happiness of the Established Government in these Kingdoms and the advantage of all Princes and State in Christendom that may be herein concerned In the mean time we will endeavour to preserve as much as in us lies the Peace and Security of these great and populous Cities of London and Westminster and the parts adjacent by taking Care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests who are in or about the same and if there be any thing more to be performed by us for the promoting His Highness's Generous
though the Protestants neglected nothing either by way of Supplication or endeavouring to justifie their Rights and manifest the wrong done them before the Judges in the respective Provinces it was but like Water thrown upon lce the more to harden it But the Priests fearing this manner of Submission might mollifie the King who is not over much given to relent they used all their Interests to push him on to a violenter motion so that the Papists gave out he was resolved not to suffer any Hugonots so they called the Protestants to live in the Kingdom nor like Pharoah would he suffer them at the same time to depart The Project by this time being grown ripe for Cruelty they began with Bearn where the Dragoons committed their first Ravages and after that in High and Low Guinne Xantoigne Poictou High Languedock Vivarets and Dauphin with some other places in those Countries and after that in Lionois Low Languedock Gevennes Valees Provence and the Countries of Geix and then in Normandy Bougoigne Nivernois Berry and the Countries of Orleance Tourain Anjou Bretaign Champaign Piccardy the Isles of France and even in Paris it self and in all Parts where any of the Reformed Religion had Habitations or were fled for shelter and the first thing the Intendents were ordered to doe was to Summon the Cities and Commonalties who were to assemble the Inhabittants of the respective Places professing the Protestant Religion and let them know it was the King's Pleasure they should turn Roman Catholicks or they should be forc'd to doe it at which the poor people greatly surprized in an humble manner replyed They were ready to sacrifice their Lives and Estates to the Service of the King but their Consciences being Gods ' alone they could not in that manner dispose of them Upon Refusal the Dragoons who were at hand were immediately sent for who in a furious manner seizing the Gates and Avenues of the Cities and Villages guarding the Passes that none might escape they often came with their Swords in their hands crying Kill kill or else be Catholicks and where-ever they came like the Locust they devoured every good thing being Quartered upon the Protestants at discretion with a Charge not to suffer them to depart out of their Houses or conceal any of their Goods under great Penalties to the Papists that should receive or comfort them and having eaten up their Provisions and plundred all that was of value which they sold to the nighbouring Catholicks they in an inhumane manner fell upon their Persons And now prepare to hear what even the Turks may blush to own After many Revilings Curses and Execrations they proceeded to hang up Men and Women by the Hair or Feet on the Roofs of Chambers or Chimney holes where putting Wisps of wet Hay on the Fire under them they smoaked them till they were almost suffocated and when they had taken them down if they would not sign to an Abjuration they hung them up again or tossed them to and fro into great Fires till they were in a manner roasted Under the Arms of some they tied Ropes and plunged them in Wells till they were half drowned swearing to finish their Lives there unless they would promise to change their Religion Others they bound like Criminals when putting to them the Question they placed Funnels in their Mouths and pouted Wine down their Throats till having deprived them of their Reason they obliged them to say they would be Catholicks Some again they stripp'd naked and pricked with Pins and Bodkins till they were no longer able to endure it Others they led about by the Noses with Pincers and wounded them with Pen knives They beat some with Staves and dragged them after much cruel usage to the Churches where they construed their being present though against their Wills for an Abjuration Some again they kept waking by tossing them from one Soldier to another and throwing Buckets of Water in their Faces for many Nights and Days and the better to put them into a disorder and confusion clapped Kettles and Brass Pans upon their heads whereon they made a continual noise with the Hilts of their Swords till they had in a manner made the Party distracted And where they found any sick or languishing thither they brought Drums and Trumpets into the Chambers to disturb and torment them from taking rest nor did they in some Places forbear to bind the Fathers and Husbands whilst they forced and ravished their Wives and Daughters before their faces Of some they plucked off the Nails of others burnt the Feet and blew with Bellows into the Fundaments of others till they were ready to burst with many other Cruelties that Hell could inspire or witty horrour invent And if by all these Strategems they could not work upon them to abjure their Religion and the Profession of the true Faith then had they noisome Dungeons prepared to imprison them in where many of them languished to Death nor did the Rage against their Persons suffice for they demolished their Houses cut down their Woods spoiled their pleasant Gardens and Ortyards seized their Children and thrust them into Monasteries and put them to be brought up under the tuition of Priests and fold whatever was saleable and for those they found had escaped them they hunted in the Woods as for wild Beasts miserably using such as fell into their hands In these cruel Proceedings of the French Papists to their own Country-men there was a Decorum used for besides the Leaders and Military Officers at the head of these Tormenters marched the Intendents and the Bishops every one in his Diocese as also a Troup of Missionary Monks and Friars c. as for the Intendents they gave such Orders as they thought most expedient for the carrying on of the hopefull Conversion and to restrain natural Pity and Compassion if at any time which was but rare it found place in the Hearts of the Dragoons or their Commanders The Bishops were to take the Abjurations and to make a severe inspection that it should be done in all points according to the mind and intention of the Clergy and the Missionaries were to be assisting in forcing the Abjuration And when by this means they had forced many to an outward compliance they increased the sorrow of those that persevered by sending them more Guests Nor could the City of Paris secure such as retired thither though Persons of considerable Quality for upon notice that several had fled the storm and were sheltered in that great City leaving their Lands and Livings to the spoil and havock of the Soldiers they were commanded within fifteen days to leave that Place and retire to their Habitations by a Decree of the Council and although they humbly besought the King to stop the Course of Cruelty that raged against them those that attempted it had no other Answer than to be sent Prisoners to the Bastile and to prevent such as should attempt to flie from
the Texel had joined those that lay in the Maese and that the States upon the Arrest the French had made of the Dutch Ships in their Ports had published a Placart prohibiting the Importation of French Commodities till they were released and various reports going abroad the King put out a Proclamation prohibiting the spreading of Rumours and False News On Friday the 26th Old-style the Fleet having the Equipage on Board consisting of Fifty two men of War and a very numerous attendence of Victuallars and Vessels for the Transportation of the Land Forces Sailed between three and four of the Clock in the Afternoon from the Flats near the Bril with the Wind at South West and by South the Prince embarked on a Vessel of between Twenty eight and Thirty Guns there likewise embarked the Count de Solmes the Count de Stirum the Sieur Benting the Sieur Overkirk the Mareschal de Schomberg his Son Count Charles with several others as well English Noâ—… men as Strangers and the next day they came in sight of Scheveling when the Wind came more Westward but the Weather not being favourable some ships and small Vessels on which the Horse were on board suffered damage and the Fleet by that means delayed yet â—gain setting Sail on the 3d. of Novemâ—â—r between ten and eleven of the Clock 〈◊〉 the morning about half Seas over 〈◊〉 Fleet came within sight of Dover â—â—d were passing by till about five in â—he Afternoon at what time they were 〈◊〉 past that place without any interâ—â—ption from the English Fleet who lay â—ithin sight of them and Stearing a Chanel course westward the Wind at â—â—st North-east a very fresh Gale. 〈◊〉 the 5th of November about 300 â—il came into Torbay in the County of Devon and several of them directly to â—rixam Key and landed there Soldiers 〈◊〉 secure the landing of the rest if any Opposition should be made so that five or six hundred presently got on Land â—nd put themselves in a posture of Deâ—ence whilst the rest were fending on shoar some by Boats and some by the help of the Tide And so far were the Country people from being in a consternation that on such occasions frequently falls out that they on the contrary not only congratulated his Highness's Arrival but brought plenty of Provisions and Necessaries for the Soldiers and such as came on shoar there being only three small Vessels missing of the whole Fleet whereof two a Pink and a Fishing-boat were taken by the Woolwich below Hole Haven there being on board some Horse The other was a Fly-boat taken by the Swallow Frigat having on board four Companies of Foot of Collonel Babington's Regiment commanmanded by Major Collambine However the men were kindly used especially the Soldiers and these had not been taken but by their separation from the Fleet. As to the number of Horse and Foot as also the Fleet take the following List as it was said to be Printed in Holland HORSE THe Life Guard. Regiment of Guards Commanded by the Sieur Benting Waldeck's Regiment Nassau Mompelian Ginckel Count Vanderlip The Prince's Dragoons Marrewis Dragoons Segravemore Sapbroeck Flodorp Seyde Oye Suylestein Life Guard 197. Regiment of Guards of Benting 480. Princes Dragoons 860. Marrewis Dragoons 440 In all 3660. Troupers 1683. FOOT Foot Guards Commanded by Count Solms 25 Companies 2000. s. Mackey 12 Companies Balfort 12 Companies Talmash 12 Companies A Regiment which was formerly Bellisse 12 Companies A Regiment which was formerly Wachop's 12 Companies A Regiment which was the late Earl of Ossories 10 Companies Breckevelt 10 Companies Holstein 10 Companies Wirtemberg 10 Companies Hagendorn 10 Companies Fagel 10 Companies Nassau 10 Companies Carelson 12 Companies Brander 10 Companies Prince of Breckvel 10 Companies In all 164 Companies at 53 in a Company 8692 2000 Guards 10692. The FLEET Men of War 65. Fly-Boats 500. Pinks 60. Fire-Ships 10. 635. So by this it appears that his Highness had effectually 14352. persons under his command not accounting those that came over Voluntiers and these past peradventure rather increased than diminished during the Fleet which by this Account consisted of 635. great and small Ships and Vessels lying in the Roads for some time after this List was published But to return again to Torbay His Highness having in good order landed the greatest part of the Horse and Foot and given Directions for the speedy landing the rest and the Cannon to be un-shipped for the more conveniency at Topsham he marched towards the City of Exeter with the general Approbation Shouts and Applause of the People who flocked from all parts to welcome him and divers Gentlemen of those parts came to wait upon him and tender their service upon his approach the Bishop retired and the Gates were closed by Order of the Mayor but without baracadoing or fastening so that being soon opened an advanc'd party enter'd and was joyfully received by the Inhabitants a great many of them having before their coming listed themselves for the service of the Prince and into this City his Highness entred with great Splendour the Friday after his landing and took up his Residence in the Bishop's Palace giving a strict command to all the Officers and and Soldiers that they should behave themselves orderly and civilly to all manner of persons duly and diligently observing to defray their Quarters and offering no manner of Injury nor Violence under severe Penalties and such Regiments as that City could not quarter were appointed other Stations In this City in a full Auditory his Highness's first Declaration was read shewing the Reasons of his coming over and inducing him to appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England for the preserving the Protestant Religion and for the restoring the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland setting forth How they had been manifestly Violated by Evil Counsellours and Ministers of State to the great Oppression of the people and endangering the Subversion of the Religion and Established Government of these Kingdoms and to bring them under Popery and Slavery With many other cogent and pressing Reasons set forth at large in that Declaration and especially a clause wherein his Highness expresses his doubts as likewise those of the Nation concerning the true Birth of the Infant and this part it was that caused the King to call the extraordinary Council that met in the Council Chamber a White-Hall on the 22d of October where before a considerable number of Peers Ministers of State Officers of the Houshold the Judges the King's Council the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City c. where the Depositions of 41 Persons as to their knowledge in that matter consisting of both Sexes were given in and on the 27th of October they were enrolled in the Court of Chancery together with those of the Earl of Huntington and Earl of Peterborough who were not present when the Depositions were taken in the Council Chamber but given in the Chancery Court All which
Majesty was likewise pleased to mind them of Ireland and to let them know that in his opinion 20000 men would be required to render the reducing it short and easie as likewise setting out a Fleet which in conjunction with that of Holland might be so entirely Master of the Seas that nothing might be sent from France to Ireland or elsewhere that might give a disturbance to us or our Allies farther recommending to their consideration the settlement of the Revenues that they might be collected without dispute promising that whatever should be given in order to publick ends should be strictly applyed to them with many other Gracious expressions concluding that as they so freely offered to hazard all that is dear to them so he would as freely expose his Life for the Support of the Protestant Religion and the Honour and Safety of the Nation And now the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled as a grateful Acknowledgment to the Lords and Commons for their excellent Conduction in Affairs and especially their resolution to assist and stand by his Majesty in supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland in defence of the Protestant Religion and Laws of the Kingdom drew up two humble Addresses of Thanks one to the Lords and the other to the Commons which were presented and very kindly received the first of these was presented by the Recorder and the last by the Sheriffs of the Honourable City who were dismissed with expressions of high Esteem c. For the said City an Address of Thanks was likewise presented to his Majesty by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council upon his most condescending and unparallell'd Goodness in the Message he was pleased to send to the two Houses in relation to the Duty of Hearth-mony promising as bound in duty and great obligations to be ready to serve and assist his Majesty as far as they were able in the support of his Crown and Dignity and for the maintaining the Protestant Religion and Laws of the Land and the speedy relief of the distressed Protestants in Ireland c. About this time we had News that the greatest part of the Regiment of Foot late commanded by the Lord Dumbarton and some Companies of Fuziliers made a Mutiny near Ipswych and seized on the Money sent down to pay them with four Field-pieces and refusing to obey the King's Orders marched away doing great damage and bringing a greater terrour upon the Country people proclaiming King James c. whereupon both houses Addressed his Majesty that he would be pleased to take such effectual Course as in his Princely Wisdom should be thought fit for the suppressing and bringing them to Justice and that in the mean time he would issue out his Royal Proclamation declaring them and their Adherents to be Rebels and Traitors requiring all good Subjects to apprehend subdue and prosecute them c. To which His Majesty was pleased to answer That he thanked both Houses for their Address and that he had sent a Force of Horse and Dragoons sufficient to suppress them and that he would issue out a Proclamation as was desired On the 16th of March His Majesty went by water to the House of Lords attended with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne and the Commons sent for up His Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act impowering him to apprehend such Persons as he should find just cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government and to an Act for annulling and making void the Attainder of William Russel Esquire commonly called Lord Russel and then in a gracious Speech amongst other things recommended to them the settling the Oaths to be taken by all persons to be admitted to places of Trust so that Papists might be excluded and room left for all Protestants that are willing to serve the better to strengthen us against the common Adversaries and the same day a Proclamation was signed by His Majesty declaring those mutinous Officers and Soldiers together with their Adherents Rebels and Traitors c. commanding all good Subjects to apprehend subdue and prosecute them as such To shew this was no general defection of the Soldiers but rather these few drawn into so great a folly and over-sight by sinister means the same day an Address was humbly presented to His Majesty signed by the Officers superiour and subordinate with the unanimous Subscriptions of the private Soldiers of the Regiment of Foot under the conduct of the Right Honourable the Lord Mordant expressing therein their unfeigned Loyalty willing Obedience and ready Zeal to serve his Majesty in all places and on all occasions Nor was it long e'er those in Rebellion were brought under for on the 19th of March the Regiments of Horse commanded by Sir John Lanier and Collonel Langston having joined the Dutch Troups of Horse and Dragoons under the command of Lieutenant General Ginkell and being informed that the Rebels were marching towards Seaford they advanced in good Order the Dragoons making the left Wing the Rebels no sooner perceived the Troups but they drew up in Batalia planting their four Field-pieces to the best advantage having on one side a great Hedge and on the other considerable Waters which obliged the Dragoons to swim but perceiving the Resolution of the King's Troups to reduce them to their Obedience they beat a Parly and laying down their Arms surrendred upon discretion so that there were taken the four Field-pieces and twenty Officers and five hundred Soldiers were made Prisoners and sent up to London under a Guard of Horse and there secured in divers Prisons whilst another party of Horse continued to search after such as had dispersed some of which were afterward taken and secured in divers Prisons Sir John Chapman Lord Mayor of the City of London dying on the of March the worthy Thomas Pilkington Esq since being Knighted elected Lord Mayor of that City for the remaining part of this Year was on the 22d presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal and afterwards sworn at the Hustings according to Custome and at five in the Afternoon was sworn without the Tower Gate by the Right Honourable the Lord Lucas chief Governour of the Tower in pursuance of their Majesties Writ to him directed and of the antient usage at such a time as the Exchequer Court is not holden at Westminster Having before made mention of the intended Convention in Scotland and now the time appointed for its sitting being come it will not seem foreign to this History to insert some remarkable passages and Transactions relating to it and the Affairs of that Kingdom On the 14th of March in obedience to the King of England's Letter the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons assembled at Edinburgh in one House as the Custome is and chose Duke Hamilton their President and considering the Duke of Gourdon a Roman Catholick held the Castle whose Cannon
their Habitations the Provosts had Orders to scowre the Roads and the Magistrates to stop and send back such as they found removing without exception Nor were there Informers wanting on this occasion and if the Husband had concealed his Wife or Children he was tormented till he had brought them back again Nor were some who pretended to be new Converts though for the most part the Off-scums and Refuse of Gaols less active than the Renegadoes of Algier to add to the misery of the suffering People nor would a bare signing the Abjuration serve turn for they were compelled to go to Mass receive the Communion and tell their Beads having always Eyes over them so that upon the least Information of neglect they were severely fined or thrown into their former miseries Yet it pleased the Divine Providence that notwithstanding the Sea-Ports were stopped and narrowly watched many of them got off and were kindly received in Holland and England and plentifully relieved settling such as were capable of it in Business and Employments But upon notice of these Escapes the Forreign Vessels in the Ports were ordered to be searched and none to embark or be carried off without he or she produced a Certificate from the Bishop or Curate to certifie him or her a Roman Catholick and several who attempted to escape were seized and imprisoned as Traitors The storm as to its fury being a little moderate amongst the Laity by reason there was no great matters of Plunder to be had they resolved at last to begin with the Ministers who had been hitherto pretty well secured in their Persons by the Edict of Nants which allowed them limitary Congregations but the Court being of opinion that so long as they remained in France their Authority would restrain the Protestants from changing their Religion and leave them but slenderly assured of their new Converts the greater part of which they well knew had done what they did by constraint therefore in the first place they laboured to stifle their Writings prohibiting all manner of Books that should any ways instruct the Lay-Protestants or were Written by their Ministers And although the French Clergy to have it thought they were not the Promoters of the Persecution seemed unwilling to consent to the Revocation of that Edict yet it was soon after Revoked and another made consisting of Twelve Articles The first repeals and suppresses all former Edicts in all their Extent and ordains that all the Reformed Churches or Chapels that are found in Kingdom shall be demolished The Second prohibits all sorts of religious Assemblies of what kind soever out of the Roman Communion The Third forbids the like Exercise to all Lords and Gentlemen of any Quality under Penalties of corporal Punishment and confiscation of Estate The Fourth banishes all the Ministers enjoining them to depart with in fifteen days-after the publication of the Edict under Penalty of being sent to the Galleys The Sixth promises Recompences and Advantages to the Ministers and their Widows that should change their Religion The Seventh and Eighth for bid instructing Children in the Reformed Religion and ordain that those who shall be henceforth Born and Baptized shall be brought up in the Roman Catholick Religion enjoining their Parents to send them to the Churches under a penalty of five hundred Livres as a fine The Ninth allows four months time to such Persons as have departed the Kingdom to return or upon failure to have their Goods and Estates confiscated The Tenth forbids all those of the Reformed Religion together with their Wives and Children to depart or to convey away their Effects under pain of the Galleys for the Men and confiscation of Body and Goods for the Women The Eleventh confirms a former Declaration to punish those that Relapse The Twelfth declares that as to the rest of the Subjects of the Religion they may remain in the Cities of his Kingdom and Lands of his Obedience there to continue their Commerce and enjoy their Estates without trouble or molestation upon pretence of the said Religion on condition they have no Assemblies under pretext of Praying or exercising any religious Worship whatever The very day this Edict was published so hasty were these Dragoon Converters that they began to demolish the famous Church of Chreenton the elder Minister belonging to it being commaned to leave Paris within Twenty four hours and with all convenient speed depart the Kingdom and thereupon he was committed to the Charge of one of the King's Foot men with an express Order not to part with him till he was out of the Confines of France but his Colleagues had Forty eight hours given them to leave the City and were permitted to depart upon their Parole and the rest had the time limited but with so many vexations that none but Men of great firmness of mind could have born it for they not only denied them all their Movables and Books but even their private Papers under pretence that they knew not whether they were theirs or belonged to the Consistory but what was more cruel they refused their Fathers or Mothers Brothers or Sisters or any of their near Relations to accompany them though many of them were aged and infirm and must unless supported by an extraordinary Providence perish without their succour and assistence nor was this all for they kept from them their Children above the Age of seven and some where they had a more peculiar spight against the Father that were scarcely weaned nor would they allow a Nurse to the sucking Children where the Mother's Milk was dried up and she incapable of giving them sustenance of that kind and although they had Pasports yet were they stopped upon the Borders in divers places by the malice of the Papists under pretence they must presently prove they were the same Persons mentioned and that there was no criminal Process or Information charged against them and justifie that they carried away nothing belonging to their Congregations and this they did upon no other pretence than to ensnare them by spinning out the limited time for their Departure for the days being expired though they themselves were the detainers in plain terms they told them their time was relapsed and there was no hopes of escaping the Galleys But now the Ports Ways and Fords and all Places throughout the Kingdom were so strictly guarded and narrowly searched by the Officers of the Forts and Customs Soldiers and Peasants that most of those that endeavoured to escape were seized and hurried to Prison whereby the Gaols became thronged and crouded nor had they the favour of common Malefactours but were thrust into Dungeons and noisome places their Friends not daring to visit or relieve them by which means a great number perished through hunger and other inconveniencies and although the Twelfth Article promises to secure the Laity in their Properties Possessions and Callings yet the French Papists have not forgot the Decree of Constance wherein it is expressed That no