Three in the Afternoon and was received with most profound respect and submission by the Mayor and Aldermen in their Formalities the Steward of that Corporation Congratulating his Arrival in a most Elegant Speech and afterwards he went to the Prince of Denmark's Lodgings prepared for his Reception And whilst His Highness was preparing for London News came that the King attempting to pass the Seas at Feversham in disguise was stay'd by some of the Towns-men who were fearching for such as were endeavouring the like who being ignorant that it was his Majesty carried him in a rude manner to a house in the Town taking from him some Jewels considerable quantity of Gold and his Crucifix of a great Value Not did those rude People desist from their Incivilities till a Gentleman coming to see the Prisoners they had taken and knowing the King fell on his Knees to pay him duty whereat the multitude being strangely surprized a great part of them retired and others begged his Majesties Pardon offering to restore what they had taken from him but he would not receive his Gold again but gave it them in Generosity as a free Gift The Lords at White-Hall hearing of his Majesty's being at Feversham sent to wait upon him and pray him to return to his Palace Royal to which he seemed not at first inclinable though being pressed to a Return he at last consented But His Highness the Prince of Orange having fully determined to come to London with all speed he thought it in many respects improper for the King and himself to be there at one and the same time in the present State of Affairs upon notice his Majesty was returning he sent Monsieur Zulestein to meet him on the way and intreat him to return to Rochester but Monsieur Zulestein missing him by taking another Road than that by which he came the King arrived at White-hall the 16th of December in the Evening attended by divers Noblemen and a Guard of Horse and from thence he sent the Lord Feversham to invite his Highness to come to St. James's and take that Palace as his Place of Residence with what number of Troups he thought convenient The Prince deliberating upon this with the Lords at Windsor the day before he had appointed to be in Town and having communicated to them the Message and left them to debate the matter it was agreed that it was in no kind advisable for the Prince to accept the Invitation and there being on the other side a necessity the Prince should be in Town the next day the Lords thought the shortness of time could admit no better Expedient than that the King might be desired to remove to some Place within a reasonable distance from London upon which Ham a House belonging to the Dutchess of Lander-dale was concluded on and in order to this a Paper was drawn and Signed by the Prince viz. WE desire you the Lord Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Delamere to tell the King that it is thought convenient for the greater safety of his Person that he do remove move to Ham where he shall be attended by Guards who will be ready to preserve him from any disturbance Given at Windsor the 17th of December 1688. This Paper being Signed by the Prince the three Lords mentioned therein were appointed to carry it and it was resolved before the delivery that his Highness's Guards should be possessed of all the Posts at White-Hall to prevent the possibility of a disturbance from Guards belonging to several Masters which besides other ill consequence might peradventure have involved even the King 's own person in the danger that might have happened from any dispute it was by computation supposed that the Prince's Guards might have reached them by Eight at Night but it so fell out by reason of the dirtiness of the ways c. that it was past ten before they were come and in drawing the King's Guards from White-Hall so much time was spent that before the Lords could proceed in their Message it was past twelve in which that they might preserve all possible Decency and Respect and not suddenly break in upon the King with a Message of this kind they sent to the Lord Middleton his principal Secretary of State the following Letter My Lord THere is a Message to be delivered to His Majesty from the Prince which is of so great Importance that we who are charged with it desire we may be immediately admitted and therefore desire to know where we may find your Lordship that you may introduce My Lord your Lordships most Humble Servants c. This Letter was signed by three Lords and the Lord Middleton sent back word by the Messenger he would be ready at the Stairs of the Guard-Chamber to carry the Lords to the King where accordingly they found his Lordship and he brought them to the King whom they found in Bed and after having made an Apology for coming at a time that might disturb him the Prince's Message before mentioned was delivered to him which after he had read he said he would comply with it the Lords as they were directed humbly desired that if it might be done with conveniency to His Majesty that he would be pleased to remove so early as to be at Ham by Noon to prevent by that means his meeting the Prince in his way to London To this the King readily agreed and afterwards asked if he might not appoint what Servants should attend him to which the Lords replied it was left to His Majesty to give Order in that as he pleased And after the Lords had taken their leave and were gone as far as the Privy Chamber the King sent for them again and told them that he had forgot to acquaint them with his Resolution before the Message came to send the Lord Godolphin the next Morning to the Prince to propose his going back to Rochester he finding by the Message Monsieur Zulestein was charged with that the Prince had no mind he should be at London and therefore he now desired that he might rather return to Rochester the Lords replied that they would immediately send an account to the Prince of what His Majesty desired and did not doubt of such an Answer as would be to his satisfaction and accordingly they immediately dispatched back again a Messenger who finding the Prince at Sion gave him an account of all that had passed and before Eight of the Clock in the morning had a Letter from the Sieur Benting by the Prince's Order agreeing to the King's Proposal of going to Rochester and accordingly the Guards and Barges being made ready to attend him his Coach and Sumpters appointed likewise to follow him he reached Gravesend on the 18th in the Evening and passed over Land in his Coach attended by several others where His Majesty was pleased to chuse the House of Sir Richard Head for the place of his Residence at that time One thing
and many kill'd on both sides he put a succour of 300 Men into it and with considerable Loss retreated This new recruit encouraging the Garison and the Prince having lost in the Action Collonel Suylesteyme who bore the fury of the Attack and faught valiantly but being over-powered and refusing Quarter was killed as likewise other brave Men and now the Weather more incommoding his Army than the Enemy he thought it convenient to rise from before it and drew off without any molestation After these Proceedings his Highness held a Council of War and having given necessary Orders marched to Rosendale where the General Rendezvouz were appointed and there having mustered an Army to the number of 24000. he took his March towards the Country of Liege and obliged the Count de Duras to retire to Stassemburgh with the Army he then had under his Command being desirous if it might conveniently be to give him Battel but understanding that the Count frequently shifted his Quarters in a kind of a retiring manner the Prince after investing Tongeren with his own and such Spanish Forces as had joyned with him and by that means not being able to draw him to a Battel he re-passed the Meuse and after some longer attendence to that purpose he marched to Maestreicht and sent a Party of Horse and Foot to take in the Castle of Valcheren which soon surrendred upon discretion and there they found a considerable Megazine especially of Forage And after that his Highness having invested Charleroy without success by reason of the sharpness of the Weather and taken Birch an important Place defended by three Captains and 300. Soldiers Demolishing the Town he marched through Brabant and put his Soldiers into Winter Quarters During these Transactions the French in considerable Parties taking the advantage of the hard Frost marched over the Ice and made some inconsiderable spoil in the Villages but upon the approach of his Highness they retired in disorder with considerable loss and had the Passes been defended as the States directed most of them had perished in the Waters by reason of the sudden Thaw that ensued About this time to make amends for the mischief the French had done Coeverden was recovered covered a Place of great importance and from whence the Garison-Soldiers by their frequent Inroads had greatly endamaged the Country And now his Highness industriously laboured to compose home-bred Differences and Discords which he effected with the same facility that attended all his undertakings insomuch that all Animosities were laid aside and every Man apply'd himself to promote the publick good of the Country and then he proceeded to visit the Fortifications and give such necessary Orders as the Juncture of Affairs required The Spring advancing the French King made great preparations against Holland invading them in Person with a powerfull Army whilst the Prince of Conde and Duke of Luxemburgh were encamped at Utriecht expecting Orders to fall into the County They had now likewise War with the King of Great Britain with whose powerfull Navy the French joyn'd which made the the Prince to be very carefull in attending the motion of the French by Land whilst the States prepared to set out their Naval Forces nor was such a Storm as then threatened the Provinces to be slightly regarded for the French King laid Siege to Maestriecht with an Army of 42000 Horse and Foot on the 10th of June it being before blocked up by the Count De l' Orge with three thousand Horse In this place was a Garison of about eight or nine hundred Horse and four thousand Foot Commanded by the valiant Monsieur d' Fariaux who defended the place with much Bravery to the last extremity killing the French about 9000 Soldiers besides Officers and Men of great note and then at the Petition and earnest Intreaty of the Inhabitants surrendered upon honourable terms and was soon after for his Courage and prudent Conduct made by his Highness Major General of the Army And at this Seige it was that the unfortunate Duke of Monmouth signalized his Valour to the highth of Bravery by which and the Courage of the English under his Command the French King may be justly said to make himself Master of this Place after which the French Army being drawn off and partly dispersed the Prince drew together his Forces and laid Siege to Maerd straitening it with 25000 Horse and Foot which obliged the Duke of Luxemburgh to bend his Forces that way however the Place was taken without much difficulty in four days and Luxemburgh retired About this time the States entred into a League with the Emperour and King of Spain against France whose Armies joyning at least in part the Seige of Bonne was pitch'd upon into which the Prince of Conde had only the advantage of putting 100 Horse who passed the Centinels under pretence of being the Duke of Lorrain's Party and 100 more attempting to doe the like through the Prince's Quarters not only failed of success but were most of them killed and taken Prisoners and 500 more who were to support them obliged to retreat being beholden for their safety to the swiftness of their Horses And now the Town was closely pressed by the confederate Army and the Governour summoned and although at the first he refused yet perceiving the resolution of the Besiegers to spare none they found in Arms if the Town was taken by Storm and the vigorous Attacks they made at the end of seven days a Parley was beat and the Besieged granted honourable terms they marched out to the number of 1500 so that with little loss of Bloud the Confederates became Masters of this City upon which the Prince of Orange drew off to Wesseling and commanding in the absence of Montecuculi the Imperial Army he seized on the Castles of Lechnich and Brevel and now Success attending his Sword he constrained the French although Turene had taken the Field with a considerable Army to quit many Places they conceived not to be tenable or at least ways to draw out the Garisons to recruit their Army which was not in a condition to make head against the Confederates Amongst those that they quitted was Herderwick Woerden Utreicht Bomniel Campen Elburg and Hattein and the Bishop of Munster who was in League with France quitted Mempel and Stenwick yet at their Departure they exacted great Summes of Mony from the Inhabitants in lieu of their not firing the Houses yet they dismantled many of them and left visible tokens of their Anger for being constrained to quit those important Places which they had gained at at a vast expence of Bloud and Treasure So far did the terrour of a young General in this Rising Glories work upon the minds of this late insulting Nation that they who had lately carried Ruine and Devastation into the nighbouring Country began now to shrink together in their own These were the principal Transactions to the end of the year 1673. and in gratitude for the
in the settling and confirming this Liberty as far as it lay in them and were ready if desired to concurr in the Repealing the Laws provided always that those Laws remain still in their full vigor by which the Roman Chatholicks are shut out of both Houses of Parliament out of all Employments Ecclesiastical Civil and Military as likewise all those other Laws which confirm the Protestant Religion and which secure it against all the Attempts of the Roman Catholicks But that their Highnesses could not agree to the Repealing of the Test or those Penal Laws that tend to the security of the Protestant Religion since the Roman Catholicks receive no more prejudice from these than the being excluded from Parliaments or from publick Employments and that by them the Protestant Religion is covered from all the Designs of the Roman Catholicks against it or against the publick safety and neither the Tests nor those other Laws can be said to carry in them any Severity against the Roman Catholicks upon Account of their Consciences they being only Provisions qualifying Men to be Members of Parliament or to be capable of bearing Offices by which they must declare before God and Men that they are for the Protestant Religion so that all this amounts to no more than a securing the Protestant Religion from any prejudice that it may receive from Roman Catholicks That their Highnesses have thought and do still think that more than this ought not to be asked or expected from them since by this means the Roman Catholick and their Posterity would be for ever secured from all troubles in their Persons or Estates or in the Exercise of their Religion and that the Roman Catholicks ought to be satisfied with this and not to disquiet the Kingdom because they cannot be admitted to sit in Parliament or to be in Employment or because those Laws in which the security of the Protestant Religion does chiefly consist are not repealed by which they may be put in a condition to over-turn it That their Highnesses also believed that Dissenters would be for ever satisfied when they should be for ever covered from all danger of being disturbed or punished for the free Exercise of their Religion upon any sort of pretence what soever These things we find in the Letter of that great Minister of State as the just Sentiments of their Highnesses which did not at all please the Court and perceiving the Wind averse in that quarter Mr. Stewart in his other Letter tells the Pensioner a while after That the Court was quite beyond it and had taken other measures c. About this time an account being given by the persons who had it in charge and for that intent made it their Business to visit the most considerable places in England and Wales how the people stood affected in relation to the taking off the Penal Laws and Tests if they should be chosen Members of Parliament or were qualified for chusing The King being at Windsor the 24th of August he declared in Council That pursuant to his Declaration he resolved to call a Parliament to meet the 27th of November following and ordered the Lord Chancellor to issue out Writs on that behalf the 18th of September after the sitting of that Council and accordingly Writs were prepared but were stopped and recalled upon certain notice that his Highness the Prince of Orange was preparing for England more of which I shall have occasion to mention hereafter About the beginning of September the Prince went to meet the Elector of Brandenburgh going from Loo on the 5th for Minden as also to meet some other Princes and Noble-men of Germany which so allarm'd the French King that the Count d' Avanx the French Ambassadour presented a Memorial to the Sates-General by the Order of his master who mistaking the measures the Prince intended at that time to take complained therein That the King his Master being informed of the motions and Coferences that were made and held towards the Frontiers of Cologne against the Cardinal of Fustemburgh and that Chapter he was resolved to maintain the Cardinal and the Privileges against all those that should go about to trouble them c. No sooner did his Highness return from that Conference to Loo but Orders were taken to draw the Forces together in order to the Encampment upon the Mooker Hyde and the Forces of the other Princes had Orders to be upon their march as those of Brandenburgh Hesse Cassel c. and on the 16th of September the States assembled at the Hague where his Highness the Prince of Orange was present continuing in debating several matters of great weight and consequence but as to the particulars we are wanting however it was generally suspected that the King had Intelligence that the great preparatons of Naval and Land Forces were intended for England when contrary to expectation His Majesty in his Declaration bearing Date the 20th of September relating to the Regulating Elections has this Clause viz We are willing the Roman Catholicks shall remain incapable to be Members of the House of Commons c. and on the 26th an Order was published to restore the Deputy-Lieutenants and such Gentlemen as had been put out of their Offices and Commissions and the next publick account we had was the King's Proclamation bearing Date the 25th of September giving a large Account of his Highness's Intentions to pass the Seas and land in England and the Marquess d' Albeville presented a Memorial to the Deputies of the States-General upon that Subject yet the preparations went on and whilst the Marquess expected an Answer to his Memorial the Troups embarked and her Highness and the Mareschal de Scomberg came to the Hague And so far wrought the News of these preparations that Magdalen College in Oxford was ordered to be restored and settled settled London was likewise restored her antient Charter other Corporations were restored to their Charters and Magistrates and the Church of England had immediately the right hand of Fellowship which made many wonder to see things so suddenly changed the suffering Bishops were received into favour and had leave to make their proposals for the good settlement and constitution of the Government and the Popish Party that was so lately Paramount began to droop so wonderfully wrought the terrour of his Highness's Approach On the 15th of October the Infant who had before been privately Christened was publickly named amidst the Ceremonies and Rites of Baptism in the Chapel at St. James's by the Name James Francis Edward the Pope being God father by his Nuncio and the Queen Dowager God mother the King and Queen with many others assisting And now great preparations were made to take the Field and Sutlers encouraged to attend the Army with more Freedom and Advantage than formerly for News came on the 23d of October that the Troups were all on Ship-board and that his Highness the Prince of Orange would embark so soon as the Ships in
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
there was remarkable between the King 's first with-drawing himself and his return which considering people are apt to conclude might be designed for a general Notice for the Papists to have risen in Arms and fell upon the Protestants in their Houses had not his Highness's Prudent Conduct broken their Measures and rendred their Purpose insignificant and that was a general Allarm given in the dead of the Night at almost one and the same time in the most considerable Cities and Towns in England upon pretence the Irish were killing burning and destroying all before them which appeared to be carried on industriously by persons set on purpose to spread that false Allarm or it could not other ways have been done in so many distant places at once which put people into a great Hurry and Consternation till day appeared and convinced them of the Fallacy so that whatever was intended God prevented its taking effect And now the satisfaction of the longing People drew near for on the day the King left White-Hall His Highness the Prince of Orange with a very splendid Equipage entered the Town about three in the Afternoon and came to he Palace of St. James's where he received the Complements of all the Nobility and other persons of the chiefest Quality in Town and at Night the Streets were enlightened with Bonfires the Bells every where ringing and all places filled with a large demonstration of unfeigned Joy so that the Face of things were visibly changed insomuch that even the Rabble that a little before â—ould know no Order were now calm â—nd in a thorow quiet Upon the Arrival of His Highness the Common Council of the City of London assembled and unanimously agreed and ordered That all the Aldermen of that City and their Deputies with two Common Council Men for each Ward should wait upon and congratulate His Highness upon his happy Arrival at such a time and place as his Highness should appoint and that the two Sheriffs and Mr. Common Serjeant should wait upon him to know his pleasure when he would be attended by that Committee and accordingly the next day they attended His Highness at St. James's and on the 20th the Lord Mayor being indisposed the Aldermen and their respective Deputies with some of the Common Council-men of each Ward waited on the Prince to congratulate him on his happy Arrival which was performed by Sir George Treby in a Florid Speech The High Sheriff Nobility and Gentry of the County of Cambridge about this time drew up and signed an Address to his Highness wherein they not only beg his Protection and implore his aid to restore these Kingdoms from Popery and Slavery but also assure his Highness that they will contribute their utmost endeavours in perfecting so Glorious a Work and return his Highness their unfeigned thanks for the Progress he has made already with great Cost Labour and Hazard both by Sea and Land c. which was presented to his Highness and received with particular marks of his Favour And now the King's Forces that were disbanded not having any certain Stations or places of gathering Quarters were appointed the respective Troups and Regiments whither the Officers and Soldiers were commanded forth-with to repair and seeing many had embezzled their Arms and Order was put forth signed by his Highness commanding those that had them in custody to re-deliver them to the Soldiers the Officers of the Ordinance or common Stores of the Tower c. Whilst these things happened the King after several days continuance at Rochester withdrew himself with a slender Train about twelve of the Clock in the Night on the 22d of December making a back way with great secrecy and caution to the Sea-Port where he embarked and was afterward known to be landed in France and favourably received by the French King having left a Paper behind him given out to contain his Reasons for withdrawing himself And Portsmouth that held out with some Obstinacy under the Duke of Barwick and Sir Edward Scot Deputy Governour submitted and received a Garison sent thither by the Prince's Order On the Twenty Fifth of December the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at the House of Lords at Westminster humbly proposed and requested of his Highness To take upon him the Administration of publick Affairs both Civil and Military and the Disposal of the Publick Revenue for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion Rights Laws Liberties and Properties and of the Peace of the Nation and that he would take into his particular Care the present Condition of Ireland and endeavour by the most speedy and effectual means to prevent the danger threatening that Kingdom all which they requested his Highness to undertake and exercise till the meeting of the intended Convention 22d of January c. At the same time this great and honourable Assembly made their request to his Highness desiring him that he would cause his Letters to be Written subscribed by himself to be sent to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants and for Election to the several Counties Universities Cities Boroughs and Cinque Ports of England Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed for Electing Persons fitly qualified so that being duly chosen for Knights of the Shire and Burgesses they might meet and sit at Westminster the Twenty Second of January ensuing And these were signed by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal then assembled On the 26th divers of the Members of Parliament in the Reign of the late King Charles II. and the Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London pursuant to his Highness the Prince of Orange's Desire met at St. James's to whom his Highness made a gracious Speech in the following words YOV Gentlemen that have been Members of the late Parliaments I have desired you to meet me here to advise the best manner how to pursue the Ends of my Declaration in calling a free Parliament for the preservation of the Protestant Religion the restoring of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom and settling the same that they may not be in danger of being again subverted And you the Aldermen and Members the Common Council of the City of London I desire the same of you and in regard your numbers are like to be great you may if you think fit divided your selves and sit in several places Upon which they immediately agreed to go to the Commons House at Westminster where being sate they chose Henry Powle Esq their Chair-man and upon Debate they resolved upon Heads for an Address to be made to his Highness and appointed Persons to draw up and prepare the same and in the Afternoon it was done accordingly read and approv'd and his Highness having appointed to receive it the next day he was attended by them and the Address read by Mr. Powle much to the same effect as what had been before proposed by the Lord viz. Returning his Highness their hearty and unfeigned Thanks and expressing their extraordinary