the Treasury John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stool Thomas Lord Viscount Falconberg George Lord Viscount Hallifax Henry Lord Bishop of London John Lord Roberts Denzil Lord Hollis William Lord Russel William Lord Cavendish Henry Coventry Esq one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State Sir Francis North Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Capel Knight of the Bath First Commissioner of the Admiralty Sir John Ernle Knight Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Chichely Knight Master of the Ordinance Sir William Temple Baronet Edward Seymour Esq Henry Pawle Esq But notwithstanding this Appearance of so mighty a Change in the King and the Profession of his Readiness to give way to any Law that might secure the Protestant Religion so as the Succession were not altered yet the same Temper and same sort of People still remained at Court and they were a very chargeable Crew wherefore Money was craved at that time tho' under pretence of providing a Fleet for our common Security now as Mr. Coke says in time of such a Peace as the French King had granted Christendom after King Charles had taken his Money to join in it and after he had taken the Parliament's Money to enter into an actual War against France and after the Parliament had twice given Money for Disbanding the said Army But this the Parliament however did not appear very forward to give being mightily troubled with the Prophet at the Bleating of that sort of Cattle but more that they could not have the same Answer concerning them from the King as Saul made That he reserved them for a Sacrifice and intended to deliver them up to please his People The Effects of this Procedure was at first a Prorogation of both Houses on the 27th of May to the 14th of Aug. and the Dissolving of them upon the 12th of July and so much the sooner without doubt because they had begun this Sessions to nibble at a Bill for Excluding the Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England So that this Parliament proved to be as short-lived as the other had been durable and lasting but another was called to meet the 17th of Oct. While England was in this â—ottering and uncertain Condition Scotland was not a whit the better settled the Feuds between the Episcopal and Presbyterian Party increasing daily which at last on the 3d of May this Year brake out into a very barbarous Act by the Murdering of Dr. Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews by a Party of Covenanters who besides the severity he used towards them since his exaltation to that Dignity made himself the more obnoxious to their Rage because that having once been a great Zealot for Presbyterian-Church-Government they esteemed him now for no other than a Perjured Apostate Prelate a Villain Persecutor of the Godly and a betrayer of Jesus Christ and his Church This was only a general Accusation but some of that Nation have farther confidently affirm'd That the King having sent down a Pardon to some Offenders and the same falling into Sharp's Hands he villanously concealed it till Execution was done upon them And that the Friends of the deceas'd having not been able to procure Satisfaction from him according to the ordinary Course of Law he by his Interest and Authority being now about it were necessitated to have Recourse to this extraordinary Method But tho' things did begin here they did not end so this Fact proving a Prelude to what followed for upon the 29th of the same Month a Party of about 80 of these Covenanters met at a place called Rugland well Mounted and Armed and when they had first Proclaimed the Covenant they burnt the following Acts viz. The Act concerning the King's Supremacy the Recessory Act whereby all the Laws made during the King's Exile were Repealed the Act for Establishing Episcopacy and the Act appointing the Anniversary of the 29 th of May. On Sunday June the 1st they rendevouz'd about 1500 Men upon Snouden-Hill their Foot being commanded by one Wyer and their Horse by Robert Hambleton one Parron with the Assistance of Balfour and Hackstock which two last were of the Number of those that had Assassinated the Archbishop From hence they proceeded and took the City of Glascow where they published Two Proclamations which were to this Effect WE the Officers of the Covenanted Army do Require and Command you the Inhabitants of the Burgh of Glascow to furnish us with 24 Carts and 60 Horses for removing our Provisions from this Place to our Camp where-ever we shall set down the Same and to abide with us for that End during our Pleasure under Pain of being reputed our Enemies and proceeded against accordingly The other was WE the Officers of the Covenanted Army do Require and Command the Magistrates of Glascow to extend and banish forth thereof all Archbishops Bishops and Curates their Wives Bearns Servants and Families and Persons concerned in the King's Army within 48 Hours after Publishing hereof under highest Pains And they published a long Declaration of their taking up Arms for a free General Assembly and a free Unlimited Parliament to redress the manifold Grievances therein enumerated and humbly requested his Majesty to restore all Things as he found them when God brought him Home to his Crown and Kingdoms In the mean time the Council at Edenburg were not idle but raised an Army and quartered it at a Place called Black-burn to prevent the Covenanters approach to Edenburg and gave the King an Account of all that passed expecting his Majesty's further Orders thereupon Whereupon the King dispatch'd away the Duke of Monmouth into Scotland who with wonderful Celerity having joyned the Army did on the 22th of June approach towards that of the Covenanters who lay in the little Park at Hamilton and thereabouts having chosen very advantageous Ground there being no Passage to it but over a Stone-Bridge called Bothwel-Bridge which they had barricadced and well-lined with Musketeers They had no notice of the Duke's March which was in very good Order and in great Silence but their Guards having at length discovered the lighted Matches they took the Alarm and thereupon put themselves in a fighting Posture Major Oglethorp with the Dragoons had Orders to post himself near the Bridge while the Duke drew up the Army upon the Hill that fronted Hamilton-Park the River being between him and the Enemy about a Mile from the Bridge The Covenanters were drawn up in Two distinct Bodies about a Mile asunder the smallest whereof lay near the Bridge and the other hard by their Camp Being in this Posture on each side the Duke was no sooner come to Oglethorp's Post but there came over to him one David Hume from the Covenanters and presented him with their Declaration together with a Petition signed by Robert Hamilton in the Name of the Covenanted Army then in Arms wherein they prayed that the Terms of their Declaration might be
Brandenburg into the Countries of Oldenburg and Delmenhurst which put all the Country under Contribution and wrought such an Effect upon the Danish Envoy at Paris that the Treaty was fully concluded between France Sweden and Denmark on the 2d of Sept. at St. Germains M. Pompone having full Power from the French King to that Purpose The Treaties of Roscheld Copenhagen and Westphalia were the Ground-work of this Peace with Denmark as will better appear by this Abstract I. THAT there be a firm Peace between the said Kings and all Things during the War to the Offence of either forgotten II. That all Alliances made by either of the Three Kings to the Prejudice of the other shall cease and be abolished and they shall not make any which may be so for the future III. That Hostilities do cease within a Fortnight reckoning from the Day of the Signing except in Norway where 3 Weeks shall be allowed because of the Distance IV. That the Treaties of Roscheld Copenhagen and Westphalia shall be confirmed with all the Instruments to them appertaining V. The King of Denmark promises to restore whatever he hath taken from the Swedes during the War viz. Landscroon Helsenburg Monstrand and Wismaâ— with the Isles of Rugen and Gothlaend and all their Dependances VI. In like manner the King of Sweden promises to restore what he has taken from Denmark during the War VII That Commissioners shall be appointed by the Two Northern Crowns who shall meet within 6 Months a Minister from the most Christian King being present and shall endeavour to compose all Differences arisen on occasion of Priviledges and Immunities which the Swedes pretend to in the Sound and the Baltick provided that the said Priviledges and Immunities do remain in full Force and Vigour the Abuses only to be corrected VIII The Places to be restored to Sweden shall be delivered up in the same Condition as they are at present viz. Helsenburg Landscoon and all other Places possessed by the King of Denmark in Schonen Pleiâ—ing and Holland together with Carelstadt and the Fort on the River Swinge within 2 Weeks Wismar and the Isle of Rugen within 3 Marstrond and the Isle of Gothland within 4 Weeks to be reckoned from the Day of the Exchange IX The King of Denmark may take out of the Places to be restored what Cannon he caused to be brought into them since they were in his Possession but the Cannon that were in the Places when taken and still remain there to be restored with the Places But if the King of Denmark hath formerly taken out of those Places the Cannon that belonged to the Swedes he shall restore the one half thereof X. All Goods and Estates confiscated during the War shall be restored XI All Persons shall be restored to the Rights and Priviledges they enjoyed before the War XII The Country of Rixengen belonging to the Count Ethlefelt Chancellor of Denmark confiscated during the War shall be restored to him XIII All Prisoners to be set at Liberty XIV All such Princes as desire it shall be comprehended in this Treaty XV. The most Christian King promises that the King of Sweden shall ratifie this Treaty within 3 Months XVI The most Christian King promises to ratifie the same within 6 Weeks But of all other Points conceded by the Dane in this Treaty none seemed so hard as this last relating to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp who for being an Ally in this War to the Swede Denmark had stripped of all his Dominions but is now forced to re-instate him in as ample Form as could be and he pretend to unless it were the Damage which his Territories had sustained during the War by the vast Sums of Money which the King of Denmark had raised therein as being one of the best Countries in all the North. And thus ended this long and bloody War in Europe but with as much Dissatisfaction to almost all the Allies as it was advantageous to France who was left in a Condition by it to do what she would as we shall have occasion to note hereafter It was very hard upon all the Allies harder yet to the Elector of Brandenburg but to none more than the King of Denmark who had no manner of Compensation for all the Conquests he had made in the Course of it and I think was no less dishonourable to England every way whose Mediation though continued even to the last yet through some evil Aspect or other had not the Happiness of Signing any one of the Treaties And as for the Duke of Lorrain as he had nothing in Possession so he lost nothing but his Expectation which in the Sequel appeared to be ill grounded tho' upon the direct and frequent Engagements both of the Confederates and Mediator And so that noble tho' unfortunate Prince was wholly left out of the Treaty and without any visible Hopes of ever recovering the Dominion of his Ancestors And here we shall at present leave it and return to see what has been doing all this while in England About the 29th of Sept. the preceding Year which was 1678 Dr. Oats seconded after by Tongue and Kirby made a Discovery of an horrid Plot carried on by Jesuits and others of the Roman Communion against the Life and Person of the King Protestant Religion and Established Government and for a further Confirmation of his Testimony Oats referred himself to Coleman's Papers who was Secretary to the then Dutchess of York But though the Court could not but enquire into the Truth of this yet they made such slow Paces in it that Coleman had time enough to convey away all the Papers of the 2 last Years with his Book of Entries of them However those Letters that were found amazed the major part of the Council and thereupon several Persons were examined and committed viz. Sir George Wakeman the Queen's Physician Coleman Langborn of the Inner-Temple Tho. Whitebread Provincial of the Jesuits in England James Corker and Thomas Pickering all Jesuits Priests and Monks with divers others And not long after William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis were sent Prisoners upon the same Account to the Tower of London But tho' these and other Circumstances made the Matter pretty clear yet the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey a Justice of the Peace before whom some of the Depositions had been taken and who appear'd zealous against all Male Practices against the King and Government soon after viz. on the 12th of Oct. rendred the Conspiracy in the Sight of most Men to be past all doubt And therefore the Parliament who met upon the 21 st of Oct. after having appointed a Secret Committee to enquire into the Bottom of the Plot did upon the 1st of Nov. following come to this Resolution Nemine Contradicente That upon the Evidence that hath already appeared to this House this House is of Opinion that there
the following Memorial and unravelled the Mystery of Skelton's being recalled and sent Prisoner to the Tower for discovering the King's Secrets My Lords THE sincere Desire the King my Master has to maintain the Tranquility of Europe will not suffer His Majesty to see the great Preparations for War both by Sea and Land made by Your Lordships without taking the Measures that Prudence the continual Companion of all His Actions inspires Him with to prevent the Mischiefs these War-like Preparations will certainly draw after them And although the King perswaded of the Wisdom of Your Counsels would not imagine that a Free State should so easily resolve to take up Arms and to kindle a War which in the present Juncture cannot but be fatal to all Christendom Nevertheless His Majesty cannot believe Your Lordships would engage Your Selves in so great Expences both at home and abroad to entertain in Pay so many Foreign Troops to put to Sea so numerous a Fleet so late in the Year and to prepare so great Magazins if You had not a Design formed answerable to the Greatness of these Preparations All these Circumstances and many others that I may not here produce perswade the King my Master with Reason that this Arming threatens England Wherefore His Majesty hath commanded me to declare to You on His part That the Bands of Friendship and Alliance between him and the King of Great Britain will oblige Him not only to assist him but also to look on the first Act of Hostility that shall be committed by Your Troops or Your Fleet against His Majesty of Great Britain as a manifest Rupture of the Peace and a Breach with His Crown I leave it to Your Lordships Prudence to reflect on the Consequences that such Actions may have His Majesty not having ordered me to make You this Declaration on His Part without His sincere Intention to prevent as I have already had the Honour to tell You all that may trouble the Peace of Europe Given at the Hague Septemb. 9 1688. But for all this Things were in England in the utmost Disorder and Security all that ever the King or Country could do could not keep the Army within any tolerable Bounds And tho' there was so great a Storm gathering in Holland yet so stupid were the Popish Drivers that nothing would serve them but filling the Army with Irish Men who were likely still to be more disorderly and more hated But this was vigorously opposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Beaumont and other Officers in the Duke of Berwick's Regiment The former in the name of the rest making the following speech to the Duke upon the occasion Sir I am desired by these Gentlemen with whose Sense I concur to inform your Grace that we don't think it consistent with our Honours to have Foreigners imposed upon us without being complain'd of that our Companies were weak or Orders to recruit them not doubting but if such Orders had been given us We that first in very ill times raised them Hundreds could easily now have made them according to the Kings Complement We humbly Petition we may have leave to fill up our Companies with such men of our Nation we may judge most suitable for the Kings Service and to support our Honours or that we may be permitted with all imaginable Duty and Respect to lay down our Commissions Of this an Account was forthwith transmitted to the King then at Windsor who immediately ordered a Party of Horse down to Portsmouth to bring them up in Custody and a Court-Marshal was ordered to proceed against them And if the Memorial of the French Ambassador had not come in that very Morning to shew them their Danger they had in all probability lost their Lives for it but now they contented themselves with only casheering of them By this time there was certain Intelligence brought that the Preparations in Holland were designed against England And the King in his Proclamation of the 28th of Sept. gave convincing Proofs that himself believed it and so he ordered new Levies to be made and began to turn Cat in â—an by declaring in Council Octb. 2d that he would restore the Charter of the City of London And the Ministers were by this time become so sensible of their Danger that they procured a General Pardon On Wednesday October the 3d. the Archbishop of Canterbury Ì„Ì„ and the Bishops of London Winchester St. Asaph Ely Chichester Rochester Bath and Wells and Peterborough all in a Body waited upon the King when the Archbishop spoke thus to him May it please Your Sacred Majesty WHen I had lately the Honour to wait upon you you were pleased briefly to acquaint me with what had passed two days before between your Majesty and these my Reverend Brethren by which and by the Account which they themselves gave me I perceived that in truth there passed nothing but in very general Terms and Expressions of your Majesties gracious and favourable Inclinations to the Church of England and of our reciprocal Duty and Loyalty to your Majesty Both which were sufficiently understood and declared before and as one of my Brethren then told you would have been in the same state if the Bishops had not stir'd one foot out of their Diocesses Sir I found it grieved my Lords the Bishops to have come so far and to have done so little and I am assured they came then prepared to have given your Majesty some more particular Instances of their Duty and Zeal for your Service had they not apprehended from some words which fell from your Majesty That you were not then at leisure to receive them It was for this Reason that I then besought your Majesty to command us once more to attend you all together which your Majesty was pleased graciously to allow and encourage We therefore are here now before you with all Humility to beg your Permission that we may suggest to your Majesty such Advices as we think proper at this Season and conducing to your Service and so leave them to your Princely Consideration Which the King being graciously pleased to permit the Archbishop proceeded as followeth I. Our first humble Advice is That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to put the Management of your Government in the several Counties into the Hands of such of the Nobility and Gentry there as are legally qualified for it II. That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to annul your Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs and that no such Court as that Commission sets up may be erected for the future III. That your Majesty will graciously be pleased That no Dispensation may be granted or continued by Virtue whereof any person not duly qualified by Law hath been or may be put into any Place Office or Preferment in Church or State or in the Vniversities or continued in the same especially such as have Cure of Souls annexed to them and in particular that you will be graciously pleased to restore the
of the House of Commons that I promise My Self an happy Conclusion of this Session unless you suffer your selves to be mis-led into Heats and Divisions Which being the only Hope Our Enemies have now left I make no Doubt but you will entirely disappoint them by your Prudence and Love to your Country We will leave the Parliament to deliberate upon the mighty Affairs contained in this Speech as we do Admiral Sir George Rook to go into the Streights in the room of Admiral Russel now come home with our great Ships and observe according to our Custom in the Conclusion of the Year what has fallen out that was particularly remarkable in the Course of it that could not well be introduced into the Body of the Story and we find only this that Anselm Francis Frederick de Angelheim Bishop of Mentz departed this Life on the 30th of March being extreamly aged after having held that Bishoprick about 16 Years and was succeeded in the Bishoprick and Electorate by Lothair Francis de Schonborn his Coad jutor and Bishop of Bemberg year 1696 Now we begin with another Year and without the least Recapitulation of what preceded we come to take notice That though our Arms had triumphed abroad in the manner already related yet never was a Nation under such unhappy Circumstances as England at this time where Guineas were at an exorbitant Price and our Silver Coin through the Wickedness of Villanous Men reduced to such a state that nothing but the Wisdom of such a Parliament as then sate and of him that was at the Head of them could possibly have gone through with the Amendment of it But though the matter was managed with admirable Prudence and Celerity so as that an Act was ready and Signed early in Jan. for the remedying the ill State of our Coin Yet it put such a general Stop to Trade and gave such an occasion of Uneasiness to all in general and such an opportunity for the Malecontents to be practising their Villanies against the Government that I dare avow it would have been endured in no other Reign save that of our good and heroick Kingâ— nor so well then neither save something that happened in consequence of it which gave an opportunity to secure all that were suspected to be troublesome and which turned the worst of Mischiefs to the best Effects according to the Disposition of Divine Providence that had always appeared very remarkable in the preservation of that Sacred Life whom we shall never sufficiently value But to give a little Sceach of what was preludious to the Discovery of that damnable Design against His Majesty's Person we are to understand that the French finding themselves considerably upon the losing Hand last Campagne not only made divers new Levies this Winter but divers Troops filed off daily towards the Sea-Coast which gave great Umbrage to the Confederates and especially to Holland as fearing they might be designed to infest the Coasts of Zealand and Flanders But the Design was quickly unravel'd for many Days in February had not been gone but that it was a publick Discourse in France That the Intent was to re-establish the late King upon the Throne and that the Design was so far concerted that nothing more remained but the Winds and the Waves to do their part In order to this the late King on the 18th of February took Post for Calais and immediately upon his Arrival the Troops Artillery and Stores were ordered to be put on Board with the utmost Diligence while News was impatiently expected from England to set Sail And so Cock-sure were they in France of the Success of the Enterprize that the Duke of Orleans in consideration of his near Alliance with the Duke of Savoy and with an assured Prospect of the Overthrow of most of the Confederates sollicited that Prince in a very pressing manner to make his Peace betimes But if they were so mightily alarmed before on the other side of the Water at these Preparations they were much more now when they heard of the late King's Arrival at Calais which made the Duke of Wirtemberg immediately to dispatch one of his Aids de Camp for England to give his Majesty notice of all this The Prince de Vaudemont who was then at Brussels with the Elector of Bavaria both dispatched Expresses also to the King by way of Holland upon the same account But the Duke of Wirtemberg's Messenger going directly by the way of Newport with great Difficulty in escaping the Enemy got to Court first which was on the 22d of Feb. and acquainted his Majesty that the Duke had stopped all the Ships in the Harbor and Canal of Ostend as well as that of Bruges in order to transport the Forces over for his Service And 't was further said he should send word That in case he did not hear quickly from his Majesty he would run the hazard of bringing them over The States of Holland made the like Preparations at Sas van Ghent But notwithstanding all the Expedition used by the Duke of Wirtemberg's Aid de Camp the King had received before some certain Intimations not only of the Invasion but also of the Conspiracy against his Person But because such desperate Designs as these are cannot be thought to be concerted in a Day it will be necessary to look a little back and search into the very beginning of it as far as could be discovered from such Hellish Darkness It was as early as the latter end of 1694. that the Embrio of the Villany was contrived and because some might be brought to engage in such an Assassination who otherwise scrupled it unless they had a Commisssion from the late King for that purpose it was agreed that one Mr. Waugh should go visit his Friends the Jacobites in England and to give those of them he most confided in an Account that their Friends in France thought the killing of King William the most effectual means to restore their old Master Jemmy And in order to assure them of his Concurrence in the Fact they should have a Commission from him to command the doing it and an Order to all his general Officers then in England to be aiding and assisting in it To corroborate this Assurance Major Crosby came at the same time over and affirmed he saw the Commission Signed and under Seal in France that it was sent away before him and if it was not already come he was certain it was upon the Road. But however it came about and that the Project was to cut the King off before he went to Holland blessed be God it took not effect Yet that it was really intended is manifest from the Lady Mary Fenwick's Petition praying a Reprieve for Sir John her Husband delivered afterwards to the House of Lords But though His Majesty got safe and escaped the intended Fatal Stroak the restless Spirits of those wicked Men some whereof were born to be hanged would not let
them give over their Villany and therefore they had several Meetings about it and one particularly where were my Lord Aylsbury my Lord Montgomery Sir John Friend Sir William Perkins Sir John Fenwick Mr. Charnock Mr. Cook Captain Porter and Mr. Goodman who came in after Dinner There they consulted of the best way to restore the late K. James and all agreed to send a Messenger over to the late King to desire him to procure of the French King 10000 Men viz. 1000 Horse 1000 Dragoons and 8000 Foot Mr. Charnock was the Person to manage this Affair who said he would not go on a foolish Errand and therefore would know what the Company would do if Foreign Forces could be procured whereupon they all unanimously promised if the late King would come over with such a number of Men as was desired they would meet him at the head of 2000 Horse where-ever he would appoint At the latter end of June 1695. or the beginning of July they had another meeting when after many publick Discourses and private Whisperings Mr. Charnock desiring the Company to acquaint him whether they continued their former Resolutions they assured him they did and would meet him with the number of Men promised at the former Meeting Upon which Mr. Charnock told them he would begin the Journey in a few Days The Invasion being thus promoted by dispatching Mr. Charnock into France that the Assassination might not lag behind it some of the Assassins called to mind that nothing would be attempted in that kind till the Commission which Crosby said was upon the Road was come to their Hands Captain Porter and Mr. Goodman communicated the Project to Sir George Barclay who was then in England and upon his Departure for France telling him what Difficulties they laboured under for want of it and that a longer Delay of the Commission would extreamly embarrass the Affair Sir George not only approved but commended the Design and that such an hopeful Project might not miscarry he promised to use all his Interest when he came to St. Germain's that such a Commission should no longer be wanting This Encouragement from so considerable a Favourite as Sir George Barclay whose Bigottry to the Romish Perswasion and the late King's Interest would prompt them to any thing in favour of him employed all their Heads and opened all their Purses to contribute the last Assistance for the Accomplishment of the Assassination The Beginning of Aug. 1695. brings Mr. Charnock again to London with the unwelcome News That the French King was not in a Condition to spare the Jacobites such a Number of Men as they desired Which being imparted to the Chief of that Unruly and Blood-thirsty Faction the two Branches of the Conspiracy to overthrow the established Government were both laid aside till the approaching Winter should give them another Resurrection But in Nov. 1695 Sir George Barclay with several Officers and Soldiers and 800 l. in Mony came into England and and brought with him a Commission from King James all written with his own Hand to seize King William which Sir William Perkins confessed to a Committee of Parliament he saw But neither Sir George Barclay nor the Commission being yet in the Hands of the Government and the Jacobites ashamed to set up their late King and themselves under the infamous Title of Murtherers they minced the Matter into more relishable Terms and that it was only To levy War upon the Prince of Orange and all his Adherents Others said it was to attack the Prince of Orange in his Winter-Quarters All which are meer Tricks and Evasions invented by the Party to disguise the Horrour of the Action for the very Gloss which they themselves put upon it sets it in its true Light for all the Party knew the meaning of Attacking of the Prince of Orange as appears by Monsieur de la Rue's Oath who deposeth That when the Musquettoon was lent by Mr. Porter to Mr. Pendergrass which would carry six or eight Bullets Mr. King desired him when he shot at His Majesty not to be afraid of breaking the Glasses Sir George Barclay after his Arrival at London lodged in Covent-Garden and kept himself very private till he could speak with Sir William Perkins Captain Vaughan and Mr. Charnock and that the 22 Men who were sent by King James out of France and appointed to obey his Orders were come to London also And now they endeavoured to strengthen their Party by the Addition of more Friends as Mr. de la Rue Mr. Pendergrass Mr. Rookwood Major Lowick Mr. Knightley Mr. Bertram Chambers Durant Cramburne Kendrick Grimes Waugh and Goodman some of which were engaged in the designed Assassination the Year before and were now again confirmed in it As for Captain Porter who has now so honourably and honestly attoned for his former Offences they were sure of him already But to others in whom they had no more than ordinary Confidence they discoursed of the Assassination at a distance and if they found in them any Reluctancy or Indisposition to the Assassination they turned them over to the Invasion-Plot and desired them to be ready to meet their old Master at his Landing But to those whom Wickedness had made fit for any Impression they imparted their Villany in Words at length and so secured the whole Party either to be Rebels or Murtherers Those that came from France knew not what Affair they were sent upon till they arrived at London but were kept in a blind Obedience to Sir George Barclay's Orders as appears by the Depositions of Mr. George Horn who saith That he this Deponent was an Ensign of Foot under the late King James in Scotland and has since served in the Second Troop of Guards in France And about the 14th of Jan. 1695 King James sent for this Deponent and Michael Hore his Comrade and in the Queen's Bed-Chamber told him That he had now an Opportunity of doing something for him as a Reward of his faithful Services That he would send him into England where he should be provided for and that he should follow Sir George Barclay's Orders and in so doing he should take care of him That he had ordered them Mony for their Journey which they should receive from Mr. Caryll the late Queen's Secretary And he farther told this Deponent That he should find Sir George Barclay every Monday and Thursday between Six and Seven at Night in Covent-Garden Square whom they should know by a white Handkerchief hanging out of his Pocket He also told this Deponent That when he came to England he must go by the Name of Jenkins and his Comrade Hore by the Name of Guiney And farther this Deponent saith That Colonel Parker was present and heard all that the late King said and went with this Informant and his Comrade to Mr. Caryll and told him that the King had ordered each of them Ten Lovis de' Ors which would be sufficient to carry them
my self a Member of the Church of England I must take this Opportunity and I do it for God's Glory to apply my self to you that are Royalists of that Church of the same Faith and Principles with my self and I beg of you for God's sake and the Love of your Souls to be very constant and serious in all Religious Offices and holy Duties of Divine Worship and Service which I have too much neglected as I own to my great Sorrow Let no Excuse no Dangers prevent or hinder you in these most necessary and serious Matters and be I beseech you very careful and circumspect in all your Actions Behaviour and Conversation as I earnestly exhorted all that came to me I have I thank God a great deal of Satisfaction in my present Sufferings and have found it so ever since I have been under them And blessed be God it doth continually increase upon me And I do now lay down my Life with all Chearfulness and Resignation in sure and certain Hope of a Resurrection to Eternal Life through our Lord Jesus Christ through whose Merits alone I hope for the Pardon of my Sins and the Salvation of my Soul And so O Lord into thy Hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of Truth And I do heartily and humbly beseech thee Almighty God and my most Gracious â—ather to forgive and bless this sinful Nation deliver it from the Guilt of Rebellion Blood and Perjury 〈◊〉 is now on all sides more than ever and from all those other heinous Sins which cry aloud Preserve and bless this Church Comfort our distressed King Restore him to his Right and his mislead Subjects to their Allegiance Bless also his Royal Consort our Gracious Queen Mary his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales That he may grow in Stature and in Favour with God and Man Support and Strengthen all those that suffer in any kind for a good Cause give them Patience under all their Afflictions and a happy Deliverance out of them Forgive all mine Enemies Pardon my former Neglect and remissness in Religious Worship and Holy Duties and all the Sins I have been guilty of to this very moment Consider my Contrition accept my Tears And now Thou art pleased to take me hence take me into thy Favour and grant that my Soul may be without Spot presented unto Thee through the Merits of thy Most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen John Freind Sir WILLIAM PERKYNS's Paper IT hath not been my Custom to use many Words and I shall not be long upon this Occasion having Business of much greater Consequence to employ my Thoughts upon I thank God I am now in a full disposition to Charity and therefore shall make no Complaints either of the Hardships of my Tryal or any other Rigours put upon me However one Circumstance I think my self oblig'd to mention it was Sworn against me by Mr. Porter That I had own'd to him that I had Seen and Read a Commission from the King to Levy War upon the Person of the Prince of Orange Now I must declare That the Tenour of the King's Commission which I saw was General and directed to all his Loving Subjects to Raise and Levy War against the Prince of Orange and his Adherents and to seize all Forts Castles c. which I suppose may be a customary Form of giving Authority to make War but I must confess I am not much acquainted with Matters of that Nature But as for any Commission particularly levelled against the Person of the Prince of Orange I neither saw nor heard of any such It 's true I was privy to the Design upon the Prince but was not to act in it and I am fully satisfied that very few or none knew of it but those who undertook to do it I freely acknowledge and think it for my Honour to say That I was entirely in the Interest of the King being always firmly persuaded of the Justice of his Cause and looked upon it as my Duty both as a Subject and an Englishman to Assist him in the Recovery of his Throne which I believed him to be deprived of contrary to all Right and Justice taking the Laws and Constitution of my Country for my Guide As for my Religion I die in the Communion of the Church of England in which I was Educated And as I freely forgive all the World so who-ever I may any ways have Injured I heartily ask them Pardon April 13. 1696. William Perkyns Here the Bigottry of these poor and wretched Men cannot but be admired and pitied that they should justifie their Treasons to the last Gasp which hot-headed Charnock did not think fit to do But this can be attributed to nothing else save the blind Zeal and rebellious Principles of those Clergy-men that were with them and who fairly if they had had their Desert should have been hang'd for Administring Absolution to them without any precedent Confession in direct Opposition to the Laws of that Church whereof they would be thought Members which thereupon was condemned by 14 Bishops being all that were then in London and assented to by all the rest that were Absent It 's well they liv'd under so mild a Government though they were unworthy of it had they been guilty in the late Reigns of any that had come near the pitch of their Crime they had infallibly swung for it when Julian Johnson was so severely Whipped and barbarously Used for his honest Address to the English Soldiery and Seamen The other 3 that followed viz. Cranborn Rookwood and Lowick all confessed the Crime though in a different manner but the 2 latter who were Roman Catholicks somewhat more modestly than the former tho' a pretended Protestant who called it a righteous Cause for which he suffer'd The Papers they deliver'd were these Major LOWICK's Paper In the Name of the most Holy Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost Amen IN the first place I die in the Religion I was Baptized viz. Roman Catholick and humbly beg the Prayers of all Good People for a happy Resurrection and of all Catholicks for the Good of my Soul As for being ingag'd in this for which I die it was never so positive that I had a Horse from the beginning to the very last nor never see any allotted me or the two Men I was to provide as was sworn against me at my Tryal nor had I any on that Account nor was I at any of their Meetings when they settled any such thing And as for any Order of Commission from King James I never see any since I came last into England which is now above 5 Years and I am confident none that knows King James will believe he would give any such Order Indeed I must confess I believe King James was a coming to assert his own Right and I should if on Shore have done any thing in my Power to have assisted him and in order to
both sides and mutually and duly exchanged at the Royal Palace of Ryswick in the Province of Holland within the space of three Weeks to be reckoned from the Day of the Subscription or sooner if it may be In Testimony of all and every the things before mentioned and for their greater Force and to give them all the Vigour and full Authority they ought to have the Underwritten Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries together with the Illustirous and most Excellent the Extraordinary Ambassador Mediator have Signed and Sealed the present Instrument of Peace Done c. Signed by the English and French Ambassadors and by the Metâ—iator Separate Article Besides all that is Concluded and Stipulated by the Treaty of Peace Signed this present Day the 20th of Sptember it is moreover agreed by the present separate Article which shall have the same Force and Effect as if it was inserted word for word in the said Treaty That the most Christian King shall convenant and agree that it shall be free for the Emperor and Empire until the first Day of Novemher next to accept the Conditions of Peace lately proposed by the most Christian King according to the Declaration made on the first Day of this present Month unless in the mean time it shall be otherwise agreed between his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and his most Christian Majesty And in Case his Imperial Majesty does not within the time prefixed accept those Conditions or that it be not otherwise agreed between his Imperial Majesty and the Empire and his most Christian Majesty the said Treaty shall have its full Effect and be duly put in Execution according to its Form and Tenor And it shall not be lawful for the King of Great Britain directly or indirectly on any account or cause whatsoever to act contrary to the said Treaty Having thus premised the English Articles we shall next add those of the Dutch IN the Name of God and of the Holy Trinity Be it known to all present and to come That whereas after a long continuance of the most Bloody War that Europe time out of mind has been afflicted with it hath pleas'd Divine Providence to prepare for Christendom the end of her Miseries by cherishing a fervent Desire of Peace in the Heart of the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God Most Christian King of France and Navarr his Most Christian Majesty moreover not having any other Intention then to render it solid and perpetual by the Equity of the Conditions and the Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries being no less desirous sincerely and as much as in them lies to concur toward the Establishment of the publick Tranquility and return to the ancient Amity and Affection of his Most Christian Majesty have consented in the first place in order to it to acknowledge the Mediation of the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Chares XI of Glorious Memory by the Grace of God King of Sweden the Goths and Vandals but a hasty Death having cross'd the Hopes that all Europe had justly conceiv'd of his Counsels and good Offices His Most Christian Majesty and the said Lords the States General persisting in their Resolution to stop as soon as may be the Effusion of so much Christian Blood thought they could not take a better Course than still to acknowledge under the same Character the Most High Most Excellent and Thrice Potent Prince Charles XII King of Sweden his Son and Successor who on his side has also continu'd the same Cares for the Advancement of the Peace between his Most Christian Majesty and the said Lords the States General in the Conferences held for this purpose in the Castle of Ryswick in the Province of Holland between the Extraordinary Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries appointed on both sides that is to say On the behalf of his Most Christian Majesty the Sieur Nicholas Augustus de Harlay Knight Lord of Bonnueil c. the Sieur Lewis de Verjus Knight Count of Crecy c. and the Sieur Francis de Callieres Knight Lord of Callieres c. And on the behalf of the Lords the States General the Sieurs Antony Heinsius Counsellor Pensionary of the States of Holland and West-Friese c. Everard de Weed Lord of Weede Dickvelt Rateles c. and William de Haren Grietman of Bilt c. who having implor'd the Assistance of Heaven and respectively imparted to each other their full Powers Copies of which shall be inserted at the end of this present Treaty and made Exchanges thereof in due form by the Interposition and Mediation of the Sieur Baron de Lillierooâ— Extraordinary Embassador and Plenipotentiary of the King of Sweden who acquitted himself of the Function of Mediator with all requisite Prudence Capacity and Equity agreed to the Glory of God and for the Welfare of Christendom upon the following Conditions I. There shall be for the future between his Most Christian Majesty and his Successors Kings of France and Nâ—varr and his Kingdoms of the one part and the Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low-Countriâ—â— on the other a good firm faithful and inviolable Peace in pursuance of which all Acts of Hostility shall cease 〈◊〉 be forborn of what Nature soever they may be betweeâ— the said Lord the King and the said States General as 〈◊〉 by Sea and other Waters as by Land in all their Kingdoms Countries Territories Provinces and Signories and between all their Subjects and Inhabitants of 〈◊〉 Quality or Condition soever they be without any Exception of Places or Persons II. There shall be a general Oblivion and Amnesty of 〈◊〉 that has been done on either side upon occasion of this 〈◊〉 War whether by those who being born Subjects of Fraâ—â—â— and engag'd in the Service of the Most Christian King 〈◊〉 their Employments and Estates which they possess'd 〈◊〉 in the Extent of France enter'd into and remain'd in 〈◊〉 Services of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces or by those who being born Subjects of the 〈◊〉 Lords the States General or engag'd in their Service by the Employments and Estates which they possess'd within the Extent of the United Provinces enter'd into and remain'd in the Service of his Most Christian Majesty and the said Persons of what Quality and Condition soever they may be without any Exception may re-enter and shall re-enter and shall be effectually re-admitted and re-establish'd in the peaceable Possession and Enjoyment of their Estates Honours Dignities Privileges Franchises Rights Exemptions Constitutions and Liberties without ever being prosecuted troubl'd or molested either in general or particular for any Cause or under any Pretence whatever by reason of whatever pass'd since the beginning of the said War and in consequence of the preseâ—â— Treaty and after it shall be ratify'd as well by his Most Christian Majesty as by the said Lords the States General it
induce him to continue in Possession of Lorrain is willing that Prince Charles be restored to it upon one of these two Alternatives of which he gives him his Choice First That he be restored according to the Articles expressed in the Pyrenaean Treaty without any Change or Alteration in any of them Or Secondly That he be restored generally to his whole Estate except the Town of Nancy which his Majesty will retain with Plenary Right of Sovereignty and excepting such a Way as was agreed upon at the Treaty of 1661 to pass from the Frontiers of France into Alsatia and all such Ways as shall be necessary to pass from France to Nancy and from France to Metz Brisac and Franche Compte upon Condition nevertheless that to make him some Compensation for the Town of Nancy his Majesty shall restore to him that of Toul considerable for its Extent and Situation and much more in respect for its Bishoprick His Majesty demands likewise That Long-Wic and its Provostship be quitted to him but offereth withal to recompense the Prince of Lorrain with another Provostship of equal Value of one of three Bishopricks And whereas Marsal having been quitted to his Majesty by a particular Treaty is not at present any part of Lorrain so it is not to be understood to be comprised in this Restitution These are the Terms which may and ought to make the Platform of a General Peace and upon which his Majesty hath long ago declared himself to the King of Great Britain His Majesty desires they may be imparted to the Assembly at Nimeguen and that his own Plenipotentiaries propose them to the Consideration of the rest as containing the lowest Conditions he can admit and upon which his Enemies may make Choice either of War or Peace Given at St. Germains the 9th of Apr. 1678. The Imperialists of all others seemed the least inclinable to yield to the foregoing Conditions and the Strain of requiring full Satisfaction to Sweden was insupportable to the Northern Princes yea the Spaniards and other Confederates looked upon them so hard that they said They would hazard all rather than accept of them Tho' after all those Articles that concerned Holland and Spain having been before privately agreed upon with some Leaders of the principal Towns they proved the Plan of the Peace both for Holland and all the other Confederates engaged in the War Yet when the French Embassadors carried these Conditions to Sir Lionel Jenkins then sole Mediator in order to be communicated by him to the Confederates he made Answer He could not do it as a Mediator but that he would atquaint the Parties with them in Discourse as a matter to which he promised no Answer and this he did because of the other Terms that had been agreed on between England and Holland for forcing of France to a Compliance on the 10th of Jan. foregoing which tho' they proved to be of little use in the Course of this Peace yet they had one good Effect upon the Affairs of Spain and this was That notwithstanding all the French Intriguing in England and Holland the Fears they had that the King at length might be in earnest and punctually perform the Conditions of this League and well knowing that if it came to that they should have occasion for all the Force they could make and perhaps find all little enough they abandoned Messina and all their Conquests in Sicily and that at a time when every body thought the Mareschal de Fevillade had been sent into that Kingdom with fresh Forces upon the Design of some new Enterprize Whereas indeed he went thither to fetch off the French Troops that were there which he did after he had first declared to the Senate the King's Orders and the present Necessity of them and with whom a vast Number of the Messines who dreaded the certain Revenge of the Spaniards took also the Opportunity to retire But that the French might stave off the Blow from England if possible they at length bethought themselves of a Srratagem that had more charming Obligations in it than any other made with the Prince of Orange when in England or with the States-General afterwards and that was an Offer of Money For you must know Mr. Montague the King's Embassador at Paris after a long Conference with M. Louvois by his Master's Orders wherein the Latter represented to him the Measures that had been already concerted for a Peace upon the French Terms in Holland and that since they were agreed there it was hoped his Britannick Majesty would not be against it but that however he had Orders to make him a Tender of a great Sum of Money for his Consent tho' a thing already accepted by the Dutch and wherein his Majesty consequently was not concerned was desired to give the then Lord Treasurer of England an Account hereof by a Packet which Offer tho' very relishing at any time with the Humour of our Court yet the violent Dispositions of the Dutch to run into the Peace at this time whatever came of it and such a fatal and mutual Distrust as there was both in Court and Parliament that it was very difficult to fall into any sound Measures between them made the King look upon it as a very profitable Proposal saying That since the Dutch would have a Peace upon the French Terms and that France offered him Money for his Approbation of that he could not help he knew no Reason why he might not get the Money and so required Sir William Temple to treat with the French Embassador about it But that Gentleman had more Honour and Honesty than to engage in so dishonourable a Thing and did thereupon retire from Court You have heard before that the 10th of May was the time limited by the French Project of Peace for the Allies to accept of the Terms or no and to which they appeared positively engaged but there being a Necessity of somewhat a greater Confidence between the Dutch and French upon this Occasion least such a Sâ—iffneâ—s might produce that Alteration in the Pace of Affairs at the Expiration of the Term that might prove a Disadvantage to one or the other side the Heer Beverning sent secretly to acquaint the French Embassadors That the States did accept of the King's Offer However that he might not by such a Pace allarm the Allies he gave the Count d' Avaux also notice That he was very desirous to discourse with him in private and for that end would fetch a Walk alone upon the Ramparts of the Town about 7 in the Morning where they met accordingly and between whom all Matters were in a manner fully concluded The Consequence thereof was the granting of Ten Days longer for the Dutch to endeavour to perswade their Allies to accept of the Conditions proposed as themselves had done In this time the Estates received a Letter from the French King from his Camp at Deinse wherein he made some further Concessions
Princes that France shall give up to them all that she has taken from them at present and that the rest remain as it was before the War That Lorrain be restored to the Duke of that Name in the State it is in now or if that cannot be done in the State it was when seized by France his Majesty and the States mutually and really obliging themselves to the Observation of this Point I. His said Majesty and the Lords the States-General promise to do their utmost and if it may be to use all sorts of Means to constrain the most Christian King to give Satisfaction in these Terms without being at Liberty to make a Peace with him if he do not give his Consent to them or to some others as shall be agreed on between his Majesty and the States according to the Success of the War II. His Majesty and the States-General do engage themselves further for the obliging France to consent to these Conditions or to such as the Princes concerned shall find convenient and in short for bringing of that Crown to comply with it that his Majesty shall furnish One Third more by Sea and a Third less by Land in the Low-Countries than the Lords the States all by a Provisionary Way till it be otherwise provided by the Allies III. It is also stipulated That if his Majesty of Great Britain and the most Christian King make War upon one another one of the Confederates cannot separate from the other by any particular Treaty without that other's Consent IV. But if the Negotiation of the Peace which is held at Nimeguen comes to be broke up and that the Parties should agree upon any other Place to treat of it or of a Truce that cannot be done without the Consent or Agreement of the other Allies and without at the same time one of the Parties in the Confederacy procure also to the other the necessary Pasports to pass freely and without Danger to the Place appointed for the Treaty where he ought also to communicate to him all that passeth in that Negotiation And in the mean time they shall not have Power to consent to any Peace or Truâ—e but according to the Conditions stipulated by the 1st Article or such other as they shall agree upon and without his Aâ—y be re-established in the full and entire Possession of all the Lands Towns Places and Immunities which he enjoyed at the Signing of this Treaty in Europe if it be not otherwise agreed on between his Majesty and the States V. But if the Peace in Hand terminate happily between the most Christian King on the one Hand and his Catholick Majesty and the States General on the other whether by the Propositions which France hath made her self or by such other as they can agree to his Britannick Majesty and the States will not only be Guarrantee in the best and surest Form that may be but also its free for other Kings and neighbouring Princes who shall have any Interest in the Repose of Christendom and the immutable Tranquility of the Low-Countries to be so 'T is with this View that his said Majesty and the States would agree upon the Troops and Means that are necessary to bring the Party who shall violate the Peace to make Satisfaction for the Damages he shall do another any manner of way VI. These Articles and the full Contents of them are to be Signed and Ratified within 3 Weeks or sooner if it may be and the Ratifications exchanged at the same time Given at the Hague the 26 th of July 1678. Signed W. Van Henkelom de Van Wiugaerden Fagel D. Van Heyden Van Leewen J. de Maregnault Jean Baron de Reed A. ter Borght Temple After the Treaty had been thus concluded and signified to France all the Artifice that could be was used on that side to elude it by drawing the matter into a Treaty or at least a greater length which had succeeded so well in England that they offered to treat upon it at St. Quintin then at Ghent where the French King himself proposed to meet such Embassadors as the Dutch should send into either of them Towns But the States were stanch not to recede from their late Treaty and continued in that Mood till about 5 Days before the Expiration of the time then came one De Cross from England with a Packet for Sir William Temple commanding him to go forth with to Nimeguen and there to endeavour from the King to perswade the Swedish Embassadors to let the French know That for the Repose of Christendom they did not any longer desire the French King to insist upon the Detention of the Towns and consequently hinder the Peace upon the sole Regard and Interest of the Crown of Sweden and to assure them that after the Conclusion of the Peace the King would employ all his Endeavours that the Towns and Countries which their Master had lost in the War should be restored unto them How this Dispatch of Du Cross was gained was never known but 't is sufficient to believe that France had the greatest Hand in it since 't was transacted all one Morning in Portsmouth's Apartment by the intervention and pursuit of Barillon the French Embassador Yet for all this when Sir William Temple arrived at Nimeguen which was but 3 Days before the Expiration of the Term fix'd by the late Treaty between our King and the States either for the French to evacuate the Towns or for carrying on the War conjointly against France there was but little Disposition that the Peace would be Signed but rather the quite contrary appeared by the Stiffness shewed on both sides to adhere firmly to their respective Demands And the Dutch Embassadors remained peremptory That there could be no Deputation for the securing of the future Satisfaction of Sweden as the French demanded before the Term expired and no other Remedy upon that but that the War must go on With this View and Expectation all the Parties seemed to be when the fatal Day came wherein either a suddain Peace or a long and bloody War was to be reckoned on in Christendom on the Morning whereof Monsieur Boreel who had been sent from Amsterdam to the Dutch Embassadors at Nimeguen went to the French Embassadors and after some Conference with them they immediately went to those of Holland and declared they had received Orders from their Master to consent to the Evacuation of the Towns and thereupon to Sign the Peace but that it must be done that Morning At this the Dutch seemed to be surprized but immediately entred into a Conference with them thereupon which lasted for 5 Hours and ended in an Agreement upon all Points both of Peace and Commerce between France and Holland It was certainly thought the French Embassadors had received no Power to Sign the Peace and 't was said Sir William Temple himself did advise those of Holland to press them to it out of a real Belief as well as the
all the Sentiments of Respect for his Majesty and of Acknowledgment for the Obligations and considerable Advantages which they have received from his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors it is at last come to pass that these good Dispositions seconded by the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most mighty Prince the King of Great Britain who during these troublesom Times wherein all Christendom has been in War hath not ceased by his Counsels and good Advertisements to contribute to the Publick Weal and Repose induced as well his most Christian Majesty and the States-General as also all other the Princes and Potentates that are concerned in the Interest of this present War to consent that the Town of Nimeguen should be made Choice of for the Treaty of Peace to which end his most Christian Majesty named for his Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries the Sieur Comte d'Estrades Mareschal of France and Knight of his Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissi Counsellor in ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur Mesmes Knight Comte d'Avaux Counsellor also in his Councils and the said States-General the Heer Hierosme Van Beverning Baron of Teylingen Curator of the University of Leyden late Counsellor and Treasurer-General of the Vnited-Provinces Heer Van Odyle Cortgene and first Noble and Representative of the Nobility in the States and Council of Zealand and the Heer Willem Van Haren Griedtman Van Bildt Deputies in their Assemblies on the behalf of the States of Holland and Zealand c. Which Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries duly instructed with the good Intentions of their Masters were to repair to the said Town of Nimeguen where after a mutual Communication of their Plenary Powers the Copies whereof are inserted Word for Word at the end of this Treaty it was agreed upon Conditions of Peace and Friendship according to this ensuing Tenour viz. I. There shall be for the future betwixt his most Christian Majesty and his Successors Kings of France and Navar and his Kingdoms on the one part and the Lords the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries on the other part a good firm faithful and inviolable Peace and all Acts of Hostility of what kind soever shall hereafter cease and be forborn betwixt the said King and the said Lords the States-General as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land in all their Kingdoms Countries Lands Provinces and Seigniories and for all their Subjects and Inhabitants of what Quality or Condition soever without exception of Places or Persons II. And if any Prizes are taken on either side in the Baltick-Sea or the North-Sea from Terneuse to the Channel 's Mouth within the space of 4 Weeks or from the said Mouth of the Channel to the Cape of St. Vincent within the space of Six Weeks and further in the Mediterranean-Sea and as far as the Aequinoctial within the space of 10 Weeks and beyond the Line and in all Parts of the World within the space of 8 Months to be computed from the Day on which the Peace shall be published at Paris and at the Hague the said Prizes and the Dammages that shall happen on either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be brought to Account and whatever shall have been taken shall be restor'd with Recompense for the Damages that shall have happened thereby III. There shall be moreover betwixt the said King and the said Lords the States-General and their Subjects and Inhabitants mutually a sincere firm and perpetual Friendship and good Correspondence by Sea and Land in all Things and in all Places within Europe and without and no resenting of the Offences or Damages that have been received either in Time past or by reason of the said Wars IV. And in Virtue of this Friendship and Correspondence as well his Majesty as the said Lords the States-General shall faithfully procure and further the Good and Prosperity of one another by all Support Aid Counsel and real Assistances upon all Occasions and at all Times and shall not consent for the future to any Treaties or Negotiations that may be to one anothers Damage and shall break them off and give notice of them to one another with Care and Sincerity as soon as ever they come to their Knowledge V. They that have had any of their Goods seized and confiscated by reason of the said War their Heirs or Assigns of what Condition or Religion soever shall enjoy such Goods and take them into Possession of their own private Authority and by Virtue of this present Treaty without standing in need to have recourse to Law and that notwithstanding any Appropriations to the Exchequer Engagements Gifts in Writing Sentences Preparatory or Definitive given by Default or Contumacy in the Parties Absence or without their being heard Treaties Accords and Transactions and any Renunciations that may have been made at such Transactions to exclude the right Owners from any part of such Goods and all and every the Goods and Rights which according to this present Treaty shall or ought to be restor'd on either side to the first Proprietors their Heirs and Assigns may be sold by the said Proprietors without obtaining any particular License so to do And likewise the Proprietors of such Rents as shall be settled by the Exchequer in lieu of Goods sold as also of such Rents and Actions as stand on Charge in the Exchequer may respectively dispose of the Propriety thereof by Sale or otherwise as of their other proper Goods VI. And since the Marquisate of Bergenopzome with all the Rights and Revenues thereunto appertaining and generally all the Lands and Goods of Monsieur le Comte d'Avergne Colonel-General of the Light-Horse of France that were under the Power of the said States-General of the Vnited-Provinces have been seized and confiscated by reason of the War to which the present Treaty ought to put an happy End it is agreed That the said Sieur Comte d'Auvergne shall be restored to the Possession of the said Marquisare of Bergenopzome its Appurtenances and Dependances and also to all the Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives that he enjoy'd at the time when the War was declar'd VII Each shall continue seized of and shall actually enjoy the Countries Towns Places Lands Islands and Seignories within Europe and without which they now hold and possess without being disturb'd or molested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever VIII But his most Christian Majesty willing to give back to the Lords the States-General his Principal Friendship and to give them a singular Proof thereof upon this Occasion will immediately after the Exchange of the Ratifications put them into Possession of the Town of Maestricht with the Comte of Vronof and the Comtez and Countries of â—auquemond Aalhem and Rolleduc beyond the Maes together with the Villages of Redemption Banc d' St. Servais and whatever is belonging to the said Town IX The said Lords the States-General promise That whatever
concerns the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion and such as profess it enjoying their Goods shall be re-established and maintained in the said Town of Maestricht and its Dependances in the same State and in such Manner as was regulated by the Capitulation made in the Year 1632 and that such as shall have been endowed with any Ecclesiastical Goods Canons Places Parsonages Provostships and other Benefices shall continue settled in them and enjoy them without any Contradiction X. His Majesty restoring to the said Lords the States-General the Town of Maestricht and Countries thereunto belonging may yet take and carry away all the Artillery Powder Bullets Provisions and other Warlike Ammunition that shall be found there at the time of â—ts Restitution and they that his Majesty shall have appointed for this Purpose may if they please make use of the Boats and Carriages of the Country for 2 Months time and shall have free Passage by Water and Land for the Carrying away the said Ammunition And the Governours Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the said Town shall give them all the Facilities they can for the Carriage and Conduct of the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers Soldiers Men of War and others that shall leave the said Place may take thence and carry away all their movable Goods but it shall not be lawful for them to exact any Thing from the Inhabitants of the Town of Maestricht or its Neighbourhood nor to do any hurt to their Houses or carry away any Thing belonging to the said Inhabitants XI All Prisoners of War on both sides shall be delivered without Distinction or Exception and without paying any Ransom XII The raising of Contributions demanded by the Governour of the Town of Maestricht of the Countries subjected shall continue for all that shall become due till the Ratification of the present Treaty and such Arrears as shall remain shall be paid within 3 Months after that at convenient times for which a valuable Caution shall be given in some Town within his Majesty's Dominion XIII The said Lords the States-General have and do promise not only to maintain a perfect Neutrality without being at Liberty to assist directly or indirectly the Enemies of France or its Allies but also to guarrant all such Engagements as Spain shall enter into by the Treaty that is to be betwixt their most Christian and Catholick Majesties and especially that whereby the Catholick King shall be held to the same Neutrality XIV If through Inadvertence or otherwise there happen any want of due Observance of this present Treaty or other Inconvenience relating thereunto on the Part of his said Majesty or of the Lords the States-General and their Successors this Peace and Alliance shall remain in full Force notwithstanding so as no Breach of Friendship or of good Correspondence shall ensue thereupon but such Contraventions shall be speedily repaired if they shall be occasioned by any particular Subjects Faults those Subjects only shall be punished XV. And for the better securing Commerce and Friendship hereafter between the Subjects of the said King and those of the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries it is agreed and accorded that in case there shall be in time to come any Interruption of Friendship or that a Breach shall happen between the Crown of France and the said Lords the States-General of the said Vnited-Provinces which God forbid then 6 Months after such Breach shall always be allowed to the Subjects of both Parties to retire with their Effects and transport them whithersoever they think fit which also they shall be permitted to do as likewise to sell or transport their Goods and Movables with all Freedom so as no Hindrance shall be given to them nor any Proceedings to seize their Effects much less to secure their Persons XVI As for the Pretences and Interests that concern the Prince of Orange upon which there has been a separate Treaty and Agreement by an Act this Day Signed the said Writing and all the Contents of it shall be effectual and shall be confirmed fulfilled and executed according to the Form and Tenour thereof neither more nor less than if all its Points in general and every one in particular were Word for Word inserted into this present Treaty XVII And as his Majesty and the Lords the States-General acknowledge the powerful Offices that the King of Great Britain has incessantly employ'd by his Counsels and good Advertisements for the publick Weal and Repose so it is agreed on both sides that his said Majesty of Great Britain and his Kingdoms be comprehended by Name within this present Treaty according to the best Form that may be XVIII Within this present Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall be comprehended on the part of the said most Christian King the King of Sweden the Duke of Holstein the Bishop of Strasburg and Prince William of Furstemburg as interested in the present War And there shall likewise be comprehended if they will themselves the Prince and Crown of Portugal the Duke and Seigniory of Venice the Duke of Savoy the Thirteen Cantons of the Ligue-Switzers and their Allies the Elector of Bavaria Duke John Frederick of Brunswick Hanover and all Kings Potentates Princes and States Towns and particular Persons to whom his most Christian Majesty shall grant at their Request to be comprehended within this Treaty on his part XIX And on the part of the Lords the States-General the King of Spain and all other their Allies that within 6 Weeks to be computed from the Exchange of the Ratifications shall declare their acceptance of the Peace and also the Thirteen laudable Cantons of the Ligue-Switzers and their Allies and Confederates the Town of Embden and moreover all Kings Princes and States Towns and particular Persons to whom they shall grant at their Request to be comprehended on their part XX. The said King and the said Lords the States-General do consent that the King of Great Britain as Mediator and all other Potentates and Princes that shall be willing to enter into the like Engagement may give his Majesty and the said States-General their Promise and tie themselves to guarrant the Performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXI This present Treaty shall be Ratified and Approved by the said King and the said Lords the States-General and each Parties Letters of Ratification shall be deliver'd in proper due Form within the Term of 6 Weeks or sooner if it may be reckoning from the Day of Signing In Witness whereof We the aforesaid Ambassadors of his Majesty and of the Lords the States-General by Virtue of their respective Powers have on their behalfs Signed these Presents with our ordinary Seals and have set our Coats of Arms to the same At Nimeguen Aug. 10. in the year of our Lord 1678. Le Ma' D'Estrates Colbert De Mesmes H. Beverning W. van Nassaw W. Haren WE liking well the aforesaid Treaty of Peace in all and every the
Points and Articles therein contained and declared have for our Selves our Heirs Successors Kingdoms Countries Lands Lordships and Subjects accepted approved ratified and confirmed and do accept approve ratifie and confirm the same and do promise upon the Word and Faith of a King to keep and observe the whole inviolably without ever acting to the Contrary directly or indirectly in any sort or kind whatsoever and thereto we oblige and mortgage all and every our Goods that are or shall be In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with our own Hand and have made our Seal to be set thereto Given at St. Germain en Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The ARTICLE concerning the Prince of Orange AS in pursuance of the War which for some Years has happened betwixt the most Christian King and the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries his Majesty caused to be seized all Things belonging to the Prince of Orange as well the Principality of Orange as other his Lands and Seignories lying in France and granted the Revenues thereof to Monsieur the Comte d' Auvergne who enjoys the same at present and since by the Grace of God a Peace is settled by the Treaty this Day concluded and so all the angry Effects of War ought to cease his Majesty hath promised to the said Prince and doth promise by this separate Act that immediately after the Ratifications exchanged his Majesty will take off the said Seisure and cause the said Prince to be restored to the Possession of the said Principality and of the Lands which belong to him in France Franche Comte Charleroy Flanders and other Countries depending upon his Majesty's Rule and to all his Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives in such Estate and Manner as he enjoyed the same till he was dispossess'd by reason of the present War Nimeguen Aug. 10. in the Year of our Lord 1678. Marshal D'Estrades Colbert De Mesmes H. Beverning W. de Nassaw W. Haren WE well liking the separate Article aforesaid in all and and every Point thereof have by these Presents Signed with our Hand allowed approved and ratified and do allow approve and ratifie the same promising upon the Faith and Word of a King to fulfil observe and cause to be observed the same truly and faithfully without suffering any Thing to be acted directly or indirectly to the Contrary thereof for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with Our Hand and have caused Our Seal to be put therto Given at St. Germain in Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The Day after the Signing of this Peace came over the Ratification of the late Treaty between the King and States with Orders to Sir Will. Temple to proceed forthwith to see the Exchange of them which he did accordingly tho' after the Counter-pace made by the Dispatch sent by De Cross and the Consequences of it the same seemed now as unnecessary as it had been at first unresolved at the English Court and unexpected by the Dutch who many of them now were as unsatisfied with the Peace and especially with the Precipitation of Monsieur Beverning to Sign it upon the sudden Offer of the French Ministers to evacuate the Towns and before he had acquainted the States with it and received new Orders thereupon as the generality of that Nation were weary of the War but the Thing was done and after some Contestation the City of Amsterdam declaring her Approbation of it the rest of the Provinces came soon to acquiesce also in the same But while these Matters were transacted in the Cabinet there was a Work of another nature undertaken in the Field Mons had been straitly Blocked up for some time by the French Army under the Command of the Duke of Luxemburg who was so confident of the good Posture he was in that he sent the Mareschal d' Estrades one of the French Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen word He was so Posted that if he had but 10000 Men and the Prince of Orange 40000 yet he was sure he could not be Forced whereas he took his Army to be stronger than that of the Prince But the Prince for all that and in spight of many Disadvantages from an Army drawn so suddenly together so hasty a March as that of the Dutch and Posts taken with so much Force and Fortified with so much Industry did upon Sunday the 17th of Aug. in the Morning Decampt with his own and the Confederate Armies from Soignes marched towards Roches and from thence resolved to advance towards the Enemy whose Right Wing was Posted at the Abby of St. Dennis and the Left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage of Situation that they were almost thought unaccessible for besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them and that by narrow Paths About 12 the Cannon began to play upon St. Dennis and the Prince went to Dinner in the open Field just as the Duke of Monmouth arrived in the Camp when Dinner was ended the Battalions under the direction of Count Waldeck began to act on the side of the Abby and about 3 in the Afternoon made their Attack the Prince himself being there present and that with extraordinary Bravery all the Regiments of his Left Wing seconding one another in excellent Order In the mean time the Spanish Troops under the Command of the Duke de Villa Hermosa acted on the side of Chasteau being assisted by the Prince's Guards who had the Van and the English and Scots Troops Commanded by the brave Earl of Ossory The Action lasted from 3 in the Afternoon till 9 at Night during which the Prince rid toward Chasteau where the Dispute was likewise very sharp the Guards behaving themselves with extraordinary Vigour and the Earl of Ossory with his Troops doing Wonders The Prince himself was Ingaged among the foremost of the French who on such an occasion were not well to be distinguished from the Confederate Troops and Monsieur Overkirk shot a French Commander who attackt his Highness At last after a great Slaughter on both sides the Confederates remained Masters of St. Dennis Abby having thought fit to quit the Post at Chasteau by reason of the great difficulty they found to second their Attacks on that side The Duke of Luxemburg finding how things went on his side thought fit to Retire in the Night leaving his Dead many Wounded his Tents c. behind him and the Prince next Morning went to view the Camp the Enemy had Abandoned taking up his Quarters at the Abby of St. Dennis where the Duke of Luxemburg had had his the Day before But Advice of Signing of the Peace coming to the Prince next Morning from the States hindred the prosecution of this Advantage which
very probably might have been as much Glorious to him in the Consequence as it was Honourable at the present according to the Confession of a brave Enemy that was in the Battle who said That he esteemed this the only Heroick Action that had been done in the whole Course or Progress of the War The Prince sent to give the Duke of Luxemburg notice of the Peace who thereupon desired an Interview with him which was agreed to and all things past with great Civilities on both sides the French crowding about a Young Prince that had made so much noise in the World and but the Day before given Life and Vigour to such a desperate Action as all Men esteemed this Battle of St. Dennis to be yet many Reflections were made upon it both by his Friends and Enemies some saying That he knew the Peace was Signed before the Fight began but that if it were true could not Prejudice him since he was not obliged to take notice of it till he received Advice from the States and that it was too great a venture both to himself and the States and too great a Sacrifice to his own Honour since it could be to no other Advantage others laid the blame upon the Marquess de Grana That he had Intercepted or Concealed the States Packet to the Prince but this was an uncertain Report However the Prince could not have ended the War with greater Glory and with more spight to see such a mighty occasion wrested out of his Hands by the sudden and unexpected Signing of the Peace which he had assured himself the States would not have consented to without the Spaniards But the Business was done and therefore he left the Army went first to the Hague then to Dieren to Hunt as having little else to do leaving the States at liberty to pursue their own paces as to the finishing of the Treaty between France and Spain wherein their Embassadors at Nimeguen imployed themselves with great Zeal and Application and no longer as Parties and Confederates but rather as Mediators the English declining that Function as being a Matter wherein our Court would take no part The Northern Confederates were still mightily chafed at the Dutch Proceedings and tho' with all their Remonstrances they were not able to stave off the Separate Peace of Holland yet they imployed their last Effort now to prevent the Spaniards agreeing to that part of the Peace as accepted for them by the Dutch and to that end exclaimed mightily against their Breach of Honour and Interest citing the very Articles of their Treaty with them for it and said That what was left the Spaniards in Flanders by those Terms was Indefensible and would serve but to exhaust their Men and Treasure to no purpose That France had no other Design than to break the present Confederacy by such Separate Treaties and so leave the Spaniards abandoned by all their Allies upon the next occasion which they could no less than expect if Spain should use them with as little regard of their Honour and Treaties as the Dutch Embassadors seemed to design these and especially some difficulties that did arise on the part of France about giving up the Country of Beaumont and the Town of Bovines to the Spaniards as being Matters not mentioned in the Dutch Treaty with the French upon the Score of Spain before the Peace was Signed made Matters very doubtful and uncertain whether the Dutch would Ratifie their Treaty or the Spaniards Sign theirs Whilst Mens minds were busied with various Conjectures and Presages upon the present Conjuncture about the middle of Aug. Mr. Hide was suddenly dispatcht over from England to the surprize even of all in Holland and more especially of our Embassador there who had not the least Intimation of it and if the Journey was surpriâ—ing the Message was no less which is included in the following Memorial That his Majesty having understood that a Separate Treaty of Peace had been Concluded and Signed between the Most Christian King's Embassadors and those of this State he was extreamly surprized at the Manner of the Procedure of the the States Embassadors at Nimeguen and having seriously reflected thereon he hath commanded my Lord Embassador to hasten hither with all expedition in order to represent the same to the Lords the States that his Majesty cannot find there is any Declaration or Promise made by the Most Christian King for the Evacuating the Towns upon the Ratification of the Peace Signed at Nimeguen That in the next place there is no Article between the Most Christian King's Embassadors and those of this State to assure the said Evacuation Thirdly That France has retarded the said Evacuation by the new Proposals she has made to the Spaniards whereof there were no mention made in their own Propositions which had been accepted by Spain particularly by a Detention of some Places till Dinant were yielded up by the Empire and by keeping the County of Beaumont and Bovines with other Places of which there had been no mention made in the said Proposals And as it has been agreed upon in the last Treaty which was concluded and ratified between his Majesty and this State that in case his Most Christian Majesty did retard or retract from the said Evacuation whether upon account of procuring Satisfaction to the Swede or for any other Cause whatsoever that the King and this State were obliged to enter into a Conjoint War against France his Majesty does believe that the Substance of that Treaty is come to pass by the fore-mentioned Conditions and that his Majesty and this State were equally obliged to pursue the said Treaty and to give the said Embassador Orders to demand of this State the Execution of it And as his Majesty does not at all doubt but this State has the same Sentiments with himself in respect to the Mutual Obligation that lies upon them from the said Treaty he has commanded the said Embassador in his Name and on his part to assure them that if the Lords the States will refuse to Ratifie that which was Signed by their Embassadors at Nimeguen his Majesty 3 Days after such a Declaration shall be notified to him on the part of this State will declare actual War against France and punctually put in Execution all the Contents of his last Treaty with this State And his Majesty having taken into Consideration those Representations which have been made unto him on the part of this State concerning a Neutrality for Cleve and Juliers his Majesty is so sensible of the great Danger that may befal this State without a sufficient Barrier on that side as well as on that of Flanders that he has commanded the said Embassador to assure the Lords the States that he is ready to Concert with them and enter upon all the Measures that can be taken for their Security on that side as well as on the other and that it shall be their Fault if they
obtain not such Security When the Prince of Orange was made acquainted with this Procedure of England by Mr. Hyde who went on purpose to Hounslerdike to do it he was no sooner withdrawn but the Prince lift up his Hands two or three times and said to Sir William Temple then present Was ever any Thing so Hot and so Cold as this Court of yours Will the King that is so often at Sea ever learn a Word that I shall never forget since my last Passage When in a great Storm the Captain was crying out to the Man at the Helm all Night Steddy Steddy Steddy If this Dispatch had come 20 Days ago it would have changed the Face of all Things in Christendom and the War might have been carried on till France had Yielded to the Treaty of the Pyrenees and left the World in Quiet for the rest of our Lives but it is my Opinion as it comes now it will have no Effect And indeed the Event proved answerable to the Prince's Judgment It s true all Appearances for the present seemed very different from both the Proceedings of the Dutch and Spaniards too whereof many of the Deputies of the former appear'd so ill satisfied with their Embassadors having Signed the Peace that they inclined to the King's Proposals and framed severral Articles against Monsieur Beverning's Proceedings the five Principal whereof were these First That in the Preface the French King seemed to be the Protector of the States Secondly That the Neutrality to which the States-General were engaged by that Treaty was indefinite and by consequence might be extended beyond the present War Thirdly That he had exceeded his Commission in having obliged the States to warrant the Neutrality of Spain Fourthly That he had omitted an Article of Amnesty and Oblivion which ought mutually to be stipulated in all Treaties of Peace And Lastly That he had forgot to mention the Barrier which the French King granted to Spain in Consideration and for the Security of the States-General As for the Embassadors of the latter notwithstanding the French after several Debates and Conferences did demit in their Pretentions yet they raised new Scruples about the Castellany of Aeth and other Things their Confederates upon the Continent and the daily Transportation of English Forces into Flanders heightning their Stiffness as well as the Expectation they had of the States going on again with the War upon this new Turn of Things But after Matters had continued for about 3 Weeks in this uncertain State France thought the Conjuncture of too much Importance to let it hover so long and therefore first dispatch a Courier to their Embassadors at Nimeguen with leave to satisfie the States as to those Clauses in their Treaty wherein they seem'd justly to except against Beverning's Conduct And therefore to cover the Credit of that Minister who had been so affectionate an Instrument in the Progress of it and so gradually softning their Rigour as to the remaining Points contested by the Spaniards they at last dispatch'd a Courier who brought Letters to Nimeguen on the 8th of Sept. impowering their Embassadors to remit all the Differences that obstructed or retarded the Conclusion of the Treaty between that Crown and Spain to the Determination and Arbitrage of the States themselves which was a piece of Confidence towards them on the part of France that several Towns and Provinces proceeded with a general Concurrence to their Ratifications that they might lie ready in their Embassador's Hands to be exchanged when the Treaty with Spain was Signed which was done on the 17th at the Dutch Embassadors House and wherein Sir Lionel Jenkins the Kings Mediator had no part and so the Designs of the Court of England were once more Eluded and Mr. Hyde had the Mortification to return re infecta This Treaty with Spain is very long and for that Reason I had Thoughts once to leave it quite out but considering the Treatise would have been imperfect without it and that a much better Estimate may be made by it of the present Posture of the Spanish Affairs upon the late Peace than otherwise could be done I have altered my Mind and given my Reader the Particulars The TREATY of PEACE betwixt France and Spain Concluded at Nimeguen Sept. 17. 1678. IN the Name of God the Creator and of the most Holy Trinity To all present and to come be it known That whereas during the Course of the War that arose some Years since betwixt the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God most Christian King of France and Navar and his Allies on the one part and the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince Charles II by the Grace of God Catholick King of Spain and his Allies on the other part their Majesties have desired nothing more vehemently than to see it end in a good Peace And whereas the same desire to put a Stop as far as in them lay to the Ruine of so many Provinces the Tears of so much People and the shedding so much Christian Blood hath induced them to comply with the powerful Offices of the most High most Excellent and most Mighty Prince the King of Great Britain to send their Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to the Town of Nimeguen So it is come to pass through an Effect of the Divine Goodness that hath been pleased to make use of the intire Confidence that their Majesties have always reposed in the Mediation of the said King of Great Britain that at length the said Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries to wit on the behalf of his most Christian Majesty the Sieur Count D' Estrades Marshal of France and Knight of his Majesty's Orders the Sieur Colbert Knight Marquess of Croissy Councellor in Ordinary in his Council of State and the Sieur De Mesmes Knight Count De Avaux Councellor also in his Majesty's Councils and on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty the Sieur Don Pablo Spinola Doria Marquess de les Balbases Duke of Sesto Lord of Gminossa Casalnosetta and Ponteucrone Councellor in his Council of State and chief Protonotary in his Council of Italy Don Gaspard de Tebes and Cordova Tello Guzman Count de Venazuza Marquess de la Fuente Lord of Lerena of the House of Arrucas of the Isles of Guadalupa and Matalione Perpetual Master de la Victoire Perpetual Major and Recorder of the Town of Sevil Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to his Imperial Majesty one of his chief Council of War and General of his Artillery Don Pedro Ronquillo Knight of the Order of Alcantara Councellor in his Council of Castile and of the Indies and Don John Baptisse Christin Knight Councellor in the high Council of Flanders near to his said Catholick Majesty's Person and one of his Council of State and of his Privy-Council in the Low-Countries by Virtue of Letters and Commissions which they have communicated to one another and the Copies whereof
particularly expressed So that his Most Christian Majesty shall not in time to come be Troubled or Molested by any means whatsoever in Right or in Deed by the said Catholick King or his Successors or any the Princes of his Family or by any other or for any Cause or Pretence with Relation to the said Sovereignty Propriety and Jurisdiction Appeal Possession and Enjoyment of all the said Countries Towns and Places Castles Lands and Lordships Provostships Demesnes Castellanies and Bailiffwicks of the said Places and of all Things whatsoever thereunto belonging And to this end the said Catholick King for himself his Heirs Successors and Assignes doth renounce quit-claim yield up and transfer as his said Plenipotentiaries in his Name by this present irrevocable Treaty of Peace have renounced given up and for ever transferr'd in favour of the Most Christian King his Heirs Successors and Assignes all the Rights Actions Pretensions Rights of Royalty Patronage Guardianship Jurisdiction Nomination Prerogatives and Preheminences over Bishopricks Cathedral Churches and all other Benefices within the compass of the said Places Countries and Baliffwicks yielded up of what Abbies soever the said Priories held Lands and had dependance upon and in general without any reservation or with-holding all other Rights that the said Catholick King his Heirs and Successors have and challenge or may have and challenge for any cause or upon any occasion whatsoever over the said Countries Places Castles Forts Lands Lordships Demesnes Castellanies and Bayliffwicks and over all Places thereunto belonging as aforesaid any Laws Customs or Constitutions to the contrary notwithstanding tho' confirmed by Oath From all which and all derogating Clauses of Derogatories it is expresly derogated by this present Treaty in order to the said Renunciations and Sessions which shall be valid and take place without any derogation from a general Clause by a particular Specification or from a particular by a general one and for ever excluding all Exceptions on what Rights Titles Cause or Pretence soever grounded And the said Catholick King declareth consenteth willeth and intendeth That the Men Vassals and Subjects of the said Countries Towns and Lands yielded to the Crown of France as aforesaid shall be and remain discharged and absolved henceforward and for ever from the Faith Hommage Service and Oath of Allegiance that all and every of them may have taken or made to himself or to the Catholick King 's Predecessors together with all Obedience Subjection and Vassalage that are owing to him by reason thereof it being the Intention of the said Catholick King that the said Faith Hommages and Oaths of Allegiance shall bâ— void and of no force as if they never had been taken or made XIII And whereas his Most Christian Majesty hath declared by the Conditions of Peace which he offered that he was willing to restore the Town of Charlemont or in lieu thereof that of Dinant at his Catholick Majesty's Choice upon Condition that his said Catholick Majesty would charge himself to obtain from the Bishop of Liege the Cession of Dinant and that the Emperor and Empire should consent thereunto his Catholick Majesty has chosen to retain the Town of Charlemont as heretofore and consequently doth oblige himself and promise to obtain from the Lord Bishop and Chapter of Liege an Authentick Cession of the said Town of Dinant and the Emperor and Empire's assent within a Year to be computed from the Day of the Date of the Ratification of the Treaty of Peace which shall be betwixt the Emperor and the Most Christian King And in case his said Catholick Majesty shall not be able to obtain the said Cessions of the Bishop and Chapter of Liege and Emperor and Empire's assent he obligeth himself and promiseth after the Expiration of the said Term to cause the said Town of Charlemont to be put into his Most Christian Majesty's Power for him to enjoy the same in like manner as he shall enjoy all other Places and Countries yielded to the said Most Christian King by the 11th and 12th Articles of this present Treaty XIV And for the Preventing all such Difficulties as the Borders caused in the Execution of the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and the Re-establishing for ever a good Intelligence between the Two Crowns it is agreed That the Lands Boroughs and Villages reduced within the Provostships that are yielded or that belong to his Most Christian Majesty before this present Treaty or are on the other side of the Sambre shall be exchanged for others nearer to the Places for his Catholick Majesty's Convenience And likewise that the Villages of the Verge of Menin situated too near Courtray shall be changed for others nearer for his Most Christian Majesty's Convenience And likewise that such Villages of the Provostship of Mons as are so far up in the Country quitted to his Most Christian Majesty in Hanault that intercept Communication shall be exchanged for others belonging to the Countries quitted to his Most Christian Majesty that are nearer for the Convenience of his Catholick Majesty and generally that all Lands inclosed within Countries yielded or restored to either of the said Kings shall be exchanged for others of equal value provided that such Exchanges can be agreed upon XV. Commissioners shall be deputed on both sides 2 Months after the Publication of the present Treaty who shall assemble where it shall be respectively agreed as well to proceed to make the said Exchanges as to settle the Bounds between such Estates and Lordships as must remain to each of the said Kings in the Low-Countries by Virtue of this present Treaty as also to clear the real Debts lawfully secured by the Lands and Lordships yielded or restored to either of the Two Crowns and to settle how much each shall pay for the future and in general to make an amicable End of all Differences that may arise in the Execution of the present Treaty XVI If any such Difficulties should arise in the Exchanges aforesaid as may hinder their taking Effect no Custom-Houses shall be appointed on either side to perplex one another and to render the Communication more difficult betwixt Places under the same Dominion and such as shall be settled shall exact no Duties but of such Merchandizes as shall be conveyed from one Dominion to another to be consum'd there or to be carried to Places remote XVII The said King's giving back and restoring respectively the Places afore-mentioned may cause to be taken and carried away all manner of Artillery Powder Bullets Arms Provision and other Warlike Ammunitions that shall be found in the said Places at the time of their Restitution and such as they shall appoint for that Purpose may for 2 Months make use of the Waggons and Boats of the Country and shall have a free Passage by Water and Land to carry away the said Ammunitions And the Governours and Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the several Places and Countries shall give them all the Facilities they can
might remit nothing that might have any probability of tending to promote the Peace they accepted the Truce upon such Conditions as should on both sides be agreed on At length this Procedure and some little Contests ended in Signing a Treaty of Truce the last Day of March at Nimeguen to continue to the 1st of May. The Truce being thus Signed instead of advancing the Negotiation did on the contrary stop the Course thereof during the whole Time it lasted because the French Embassadors sticking immoveable to their Declarations there was no more to be said so that the two Princes who remained still in the War thought it more adviseable to Negotiate the Peace in France and gave their Envoys Mr. Meinder and Mr. de Mayerkron the last whereof had Orders to go thither from Holland without delay their Instructions accordingly but with as little Success as before either there or any where else so that the French Forces that were in the Country of Cleves and Juliers finding the Truce expired were so forward as not to slip any opportunity and therefore were ready on the 1st of May to pass the Rhine year 1679 over which they had made a Bridge at Ordinghen General Spaen who commanded the Troops of Brandenburg made a shew as if he designed to oppose their Passage with the few Soldiers and Trained-Bands he had with him on the other side of that River But finding the French Army had passed it on flying Bridges above and below Augerarts at the Confluence of the Auger and the Rhine he thought fit to Retreat and the Consequence of that was That that General and the Elector's Embassador procured a Conference with Monsieur Colbert to be held at Santhen a little Town 3 Leagues from Wesel Thither Mr. Blaspiet and General Spaen went as did also M. Colbert the 3d of the same Month the last having ordered Calvo who commanded the French Forces to be also present to the End that according to the Success of the Negotiation he might desist or pursue the Enterprize he had had in View Here it was agreed between them that the Truce should be prolonged for 15 Days more to begin the 4th of the Month which lengthened out the Cessation of Arms till the 19th but upon Condition that Wesel and Leipstadt should be put into the French King's Hands to be kept by him until the Peace betwixt his Majesty and his Allies on the one side and his Electoral Highness on the other should be Signed and Ratified which the Elector was so far from making a Difficulty to grant that he offered even to put Skinkenseance into his Power also as thinking perhaps by this extraordinary piece of Confidence to bring the King to be more easie in the Peace of the North and this not long after he also seconded by a Letter to the said Monarch written in so Excellent a Strain that not being willing to attempt to express the Force of it by way of Abstract I shall give the Reader an exact Copy of it POSTDAM May 16. 1679. My Lord IT is impossible but that your Majesty according to the Great Wisdom wherewith God has endowed you does easily perceive the Moderation and Justice of my Pretensions And it being so that you must offer Violence to that Generosity and Greatness of Soul which is natural to your Majesty in forcing me to Conditions of Peace that are not only injurious to me but ignominious also God who is Just seeing the Righteousness of my Cause hath prospered my Arms with the Conquest of all Pomerania and your Majesty makes me give back the greatest part of it which I put into your Hands that I may preserve the rest which is but a small Matter in respect of what I have gained with the Loss of my Blood and the Ruine of my Subjects Is it not just my Lord that since your Majesty obliges me to part from so great and fair Cities and so much of my Enemies Country you should likewise oblige the Swedes to leave me the rest and that your Majesty having so far concerned your self for the Party that had no Right to demand any thing should concern your self also for him who had Right to keep all but yields the greatest part meerly in Consideration of your Majesty I am informed that your Ministers object to me the Interest of your Glory and Honour and know that that is a powerful Motive to animate a Great Soul to Vndertakings But suffer me to put you in mind That Justice is the Source and Rule of Glory And that I having it on my side it is far greater and more solid Glory to Support a just and moderate Pretension than to favour one that is nothing less And could your Majesty but hear the Discourse of all Europe and weigh it with the Reasons that Interests suggest to you from my Enemies I am confident you would instantly decide in my Favour and so prevent the Judgment of disinterested Posterity Withal my Lord I am very sensible that the Match is too unequal betwixt your Majesty's Forces and mine and that I am unable to resist a King who alone hath carried the Burden of a War against the greatest Powers of Europe and hath with so much Glory and Success gone through with it But can your Majesty find any Advantage in the Ruine of a Prince who is so desirous to serve you and who being preserved may contribute to your Service more than a bare willingness Your Majesty will certainly be the first that will regret my Ruine since you cannot easily find in all the World besides one who is more really and with greater Respect and Zeal than my self Your Majesty's c. But for all this the French King seemed to be inexorable and his Forces began already to spread themselves in the Mark of Brandenburg and fresh Troops with Ammunition and Artillery came daily to Wesel to augment the Army which the Mareschal de Crequi was to command which upon the Expiration of the Truce drew near to the Neighbourhood of Minden beginning to streighten that Place where General Spaen pretended to make a vigorous Resistance Hereupon the Mareschal de Crequi ordered Monsieur Calvo to pass the Weser with a Party of Horse and Foot on a Bridge of Boats which he had caused to be made whilst he himself with a Body of Horse went to cross it at a Ford which with some Difficulty he passed over with an intent to make the Country pay the Contributions he had demanded but finding General Spaen was come out of the Town with a Body of about 3000 Men and some Field-Pieces he attack'd them vigorously and the Dispute was very sharp and ended with the loss of a great many Men on both sides and at last General Spain retired into Minden This was the 20th June 1679. and the last Action that put an end to so great a War and if the Negotiation of the Peace which was Signed at St. Germains the Day before
Particulars of it And for Tangier there had been several Attacks made upon it this Year and for some time past and was chargeable enough to the King But of this we shall have Occasion to say something hereafter And as for the King's Sincerity in recommending to them the Prosecution of the Plot That Man that considers the Transactions between the Prorogation of the last Parliament and the Sitting of this with the Methods that were used to stifle the real Plot and to father a Sham one upon innocent Men and yet believes the King to be in Earnest has a large Faith and much Good may do him with it Then for his professing his Readiness to concur with any new Remedies that should be proposed that were consistent with preserving the Succession of the Crown in its due and legal Course of Descent it implied no more than Let the Wolf be Shepherd and let the Sheep make what Laws they please for their Preservation For it was well known the Duke was a Papist whose Maxims are to keep no Faith with Hereticks However the House of Commons entred into Debates about this Matter and there were many Expedients proposed how the Established Government in Church and State could be preserved yet none could be found practicable in case the Duke succeeded So that the Country Party moved that the Court Party should propound their Expedients in the Case but they either could not or else had no Instructions from the Court to warrant such Expedients as might be proposed by them Matters being thus at a stand in respect to the Securing the Protestant Religion the House of Commons at last could think of no other Way to effect it than by bringing in a Bill for the total Exclusion of the Duke of York from the Crown which after several Debates upon it they passed on the 11th of Nov. And of which that you may the better comprehend the Meaning I have here subjoined a Copy WHereas James Duke of York is notoriously known to have been perverted from the Protestant to the Popish Religion whereby not only great Encouragement hath been given to the Popish Party to enter into and carry on most Devilish and Horrid Plots and Conspiracies for the Destruction of his Majesty's Sacred Person and Government and and for the Extirpation of the true Protestant Religion But also if the said Duke should succeed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm nothing is more manifest than that the total Change of Religion within these Kingdoms would ensue For the Preservation thereof be it Enacted by the King 's most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said James Duke of York shall be and is by the Authority of this present Parliament Excluded and made for ever uncapable to Inherit Possess or Enjoy the Imperial Crown of this Realm and of the Kingdoms of Ireland and the Dominions and Territories of them or either of them belonging or to Have Exercise or Enjoy any Dominion Power Jurisdiction or Authority in the said Kingdoms Dominions or any of them And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if the said James Duke of York shall at any time hereafter Challenge Claim or Attempt to Possess or Enjoy or shall take upon him to Use or Exercise any Dominion or Power or Authority or Jurisdiction within the said Kingdoms or Dominions or any of them as King or Chief Magistrate of the same that then he the said James Duke of York for every such Offence shall be deemed and adjudged Guilty of High-Treason and shall suffer the Pains Penalties and Forfeitures as in Case of High-Treason And further That if any Person or Persons whatsoever shall assist or maintain abet or willingly adhere unto the said James Duke of York in such Challenge Claim or Attempt or shall of themselves attempt or endeavour to put or bring the said James Duke of York into the Possession or Exercise of any Legal Power Jurisdiction or Authority within the Kingdoms and Dominions aforesaid or shall by Writing or Preaching advisedly Publish Maintain or Declare that he hath any Right Title or Authority to the Office of King or Chief Magistrate of the Kingdoms and Dominions aforesaid that then every such Person shall be Deemed and Adjudged Guilty of High-Treason and that he suffer and undergo the Pains Penalties and Forfeitures aforesaid And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said James Duke of York shall not at any time from and after the 5th of Nov. 1680 return or come into or within any of the Kingdoms or Dominions aforesaid and then he the said James Duke of York shall be Deemed and Adjudged Guilty of High-Treason and shall suffer the Pains Penalties and Forfeitures as in Case of High-Treason And further That if any Person or Persons whatsoever shall be aiding or assisting unto such Return of the said James Duke of York that then every such Person shall be Deemed and Adjudged Guilty of High-Treason and shall suffer as in Cases of High-Treason And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said James Duke of York or any other Person being Guilty of any of the Treasons aforesaid shall not be capable of or receive Benefit by any Pardon otherwise than by Act of Parliament wherein they shall be particularly named And that no Noli prosequi or Order to stay Proceedings shall be received or allowed in or upon any Indictment for any of the Offences mentioned in this Act. And be it further Enacted and Declared and it is hereby Enacted and Declared That it shall and may be lawful to and for any Magistrates Officers and other Subjects whatsoever of these Kingdoms and Dominions aforesaid And they are hereby enjoined and required to Apprehend and Secure the said James Duke of York and any other Person offending in any of the Premisses and with him or them in case of Resistance to fight and him or them by force to subdue For all which actings and for so doing they are and shall be by Virtue of this Act saved harmless and indemnified Provided and it is hereby declared That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed deemed or adjudged to disenable any other Person from Inheriting and Enjoying the Imperial Crown of the Realms and Dominions aforesaid other than the said James Duke of York but that in Case the said James Duke of York should survive his now Majesty and the Heirs of his Majesty's Body the said Imperial Crown shall descend to and be enjoyed by such Person or Persons successorily during the Life of the said James Duke of York as should have Inherited and Enjoyed the same in case the said James Duke of York were naturally dead any Thing contained in this Act to the Contrary notwithstanding And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That
during the Life of the said James Duke of York this Act shall be given a Charge at every Assizes and General Sessions of the Peace within the Kingdoms Dominions and Territories aforesaid and also shall be openly Read in every Cathedral Church and Parish Church and Chappels within the aforesaid Kingdoms Dominions and Territories by the respective Parsons Vicars Curates and Readers thereof who are hereby required immediately after Divine Service in the Forenoon to Read the same twice in every Year That is to say on the 25th of Dec. and upon Easter-day during the Life of the said James Duke of York But the Lords Rancounter to the Commons in this Bill tho' they made a Sift upon the others Impeachment to Try and Sentence William Lord Viscount Stafford to Death for the Popish Conspiracy who on the 7th of Dec. was executed accordingly For after the Reading it the First time in the Upper-House the Question being put Whether it should be read the Second time it was resolved in the Negative by above a double Majority of Votes and so this great Affair dropp'd The Commons imployed much of their Time to prosecute and impeach all those that had countenanced the Popish Plot or were Abhorrers of Petitioning the King for the Meeting of the Parliament in the several Prorogations of it and voted That it ever had been the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England to Petition the King for the Calling and Sitting of Parliaments and Redress of Grievances And that to traduce such Petitioning as a Violation of Duty and to represent the same to his Majesty as Tumultuous and Seditious was to betray the Liberty of the Subject and contributed to the Designs of subverting the ancient Legal Constitutions of the Kingdom of England and introducing Arbitrary Power The first that fell under their Lash was Sir Francis Withens since a Judge a Member then of their own House whom they voted to be a Betrayer of the undoubted Rights of the Subjects of England and for that his high Crime expelled him the House receiving first the Sentence at the Bar upon his Marrow-bones Sir George Jefferys was the next then Recorder of London who for the present by Virtue of the House's Address to the King for that End was put out of all publick Offices tho' we have seen him since act the Tyrant in the highest Station the late King his good Master could advance him to but at last being left in the Lurch by him was found in a Seaman's Habit at Wapping and died in the Tower because he had not Courage enough to live a little longer to be hang'd Several others were censured upon the like Account and among the rest the House voted That it was a sufficient Ground for them to proceed against Sir Thomas Jones one of the Judges of the King's Bench and Sir Richard Westone a Baron of the Exchequer for high Crimes and Misdemeanors because they had advised and were assisting to draw up a Proclamation against Petitioning for the Sitting of the Parliament The like was passed against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas for the same who for murdering poor Stephen Colledge under Colour of Law at Oxford had the Great Seal of England committed to his Custody and therewith the Care of the King's Conscience who had none at all of his own All this while we hear nothing of the King's Business which was to get Money for the Preservation of Tangier and Perfecting the Alliance made with Spain But the Commons had Three Reasons why they would not comply with his Majesty in his first Demand One was for that the State of the Nation was such at that time that their giving any Money for that End might augment the Strength of the Popish Party and further endanger the Nation 's Safety Another was Seeing there were several Regiments besides Guards in England then in Pay they might be transported to Tangier with little Charge and be maintain'd there as cheap as at Home which Two Reasons they clench'd with this Third That that Garrison was the Nursery of Popish Officers and Soldiers And if Things went ill with the King on this Head he is like to fare no better with the other For the House had as many Reasons for not giving him Money for the Alliance of Mutual Obligations of Succour and Defence which he pretended to have made with Spain For first they seemed to be jealous of the King's Sincerity therein and the more because he had not declared to them what manner of Alliance that was and that it might be more to the Prejudice than Benefit of the Kingdom or if it should have been to the Advantage of it they could have no more Assurance of the Performance than they had of the Triple League That which was made with the Prince of Orange when he was in England Or that between the King and States of Holland by Mr. Hyde on the King's Part which were all broken almost as soon as made Besides it was impossible any great Benefit should arise to England and Spain by such an Alliance For if all Christendom after the separate Peace made by the Dutch at Nimeguen could not uphold Spain and the Spanish Netherlands from falling under the Dominion of France how could the King in the feeble and distracted State of the Nation be in a Condition to support it without them Add to this the Unreasonableness of giving Money upon such an Account For tho' the Kings of England have frequently demanded Supplies for maintaining vast Wars yet never any one of them before demanded Supplies for making Alliances And indeed whatever Alliance the King had made with Spain it will be found before his Reign has spun out that it was very ill performed on his part And if the Commons were not a little mortified at the Proceedings of the Lords and of the Court in respect to the Bill of Exclusion the King could not be well pleased to be sure with the Methods they took to answer his Demands of a present Supply in the ordinary way but was undoubtedly much more nettled at their Resolutions to hinder him from being relieved by extraordinary Methods afterwards For the House considering the weak and dangerous Condition of the Nation as well by the Debt the King had contracted by shutting up of the Exchequer as by his squandering away almost all the ancient Revenues of the Crown did in order to prevent the like upon the Revenue settled upon the King since his Restoration on the 17th of Jan. resolve 1. That whosoever should lend or cause to be lent by way of Advance any Money upon the Branches of the King's Revenue arising by Custom Excise or Hearth-money should be adjudged an Hinderer of the Sitting of Parlaiment and be responsible for the same 2. That whosoever should buy any Tally or Anticipation upon any part of the King's Revenue or whosoever should pay such Tally hereafter to be struck should
be adjudged to hinder the Sittings of Parliaments and be responsible therefore in Parliament Things being brought to this desperate pass between them without any visible Hopes of a better Understanding the Thoughts of the Court now began to think of a Prorogation or Dissolution and the Commons were it seems aware of it For on Monday Jan. the 10th before the Usher of the Black-Rod came into the House to command their Attendance on the King in the House of Lords they had resolved That whosoever advised the King to prorogue this Parliament to any Purpose than in order to the Passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York was a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France Which was no sooner done but they were Prorogued to the 20th of Jan. and upon the 18th he Dissolved them And so ended this Sessions of Parliament with which having run out a few Days into the new Year we conclude the Year 1680 only we shall note first two or three Particulars On the 30th of July this Year died at Whitehall the Right and truly Honourable Thomas Earl of Ossory Son and Heir apparent to his Grace the Duke of Ormond after some few Days sickness of a violent Feaver whose Heroick Bravery and forward Zeal to serve his King and Country on all commendable Occasions was manifested by many brave and generous Actions Which as they made him be honoured and esteemed by all while living made him dying to be as generally lamented He was the Father of his Grace the present Duke of Ormond who to his great Glory has been so far from degenerating from him that he hath to the Height express'd his Vertues and Excellencies both in Peace and Way and is a Person that deserves as much and if all Circumstances be considered a great deal more of his Country than any other Nobleman whatsoever Sept. following was remarkable for the Death of Two Electors of the Empire viz. on the 2d John George Duke of Saxony dying at Friburg after a long Indisposition in the 68th Year of his Age leaving only one Son by his Wife Magdaline Sibille of Brandenburg Ansbach John George the Third of that Name who succeeded him in his Dominions and Dignities And but 5 Days after departed also this Life Charles Lovis Count Palatine of the Rhine suddenly in the Way between Manheim and Frankendal after a light Indisposition of 2 or 3 Days he was 63 Years old and left by his Wife Charlotte Daughter of William Landgrave of Hesse one Son Charles then in England and to whom an Express was immediately dispatch'd to give him advice of his Father's Death and a Daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Wife to the now Duke of Orleans And towards the middle of Nov. appeared a Comet with a prodigious Stream of Light in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every Night afterward it appeared higher and higher in the Beginning of the Night and consequently setting latter and latter its Magnitude and Lustre also proportionably decaying year 1681 The Nation at the Dissolution of the last Parliament upon the 18th of Jan. as already mentioned were strangely amazed and began now in general to be very doubtful of any good Issue in their common Concerns which the Court was not unaware of and therefore in some measure to allay Things the King summoned another to meet on the 21st of March following at Oxford which was no sooner publickly known but it rather heightned than alleviated the Jealousies of the more intelligent Persons that there might be some hidden Design nourished in the Court that might have dangerous Influences both upon the Nation and Parliament Whereupon several of the Nobility after mature Consideration of the Matter resolved to petition the King against the Meeting of the Parliament at the forementioned Place which Petition was delivered by the Earl of Essex with which he made a short pithy Speech and both which we have hereunto subjoined May it please your Majesty THE Lords here present together with divers others of the Peers of the Realm taking notice that by the late Proclamation Your Majesty has declared an Intention of calling a Parliament at Oxford and observing from History and Records how unfortunate many Assemblies have been when called at a Place remote from the Capital City as particularly the Congress in King Henry the II's Time at Clarendon 3 several Parliaments at Oxford in Henry the III's Time and at Coventry in Henry the VI's Time with divers others which have proved fatal to those Kings and have been followed with great Mischief on the whole Kingdom And considering the present Posture of Affairs the many Jealousies and Discontents that are among the People they have great Cause to apprehend that the Consequences of a Parliament now at Oxford may be as fatal to Your Majesty and the Nation as those others mentioned have been to them Reigning Kings And therefore we do conceive that we cannot answer it to God to Your Majesty or to the People if we being Peers of the Realm should not on so important an Occasion humbly offer our Advice to Your Majesty that if possible Your Majesty may be prevailed with to alter this as we apprehend reasonable Resolution the Grounds and Reasons of our Opinions are contained in this our Petition which we humbly present to Your Majesty TO THE KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble PETITION and ADVICE of the Lords undernamed Peers of the Realm Humbly Sheweth THAT whereas Your Majesty hath been pleased by divers Speeches and Passages to Your Houses of Parliament rightly to represent to them the Dangers that threatned Your Majesty's Person and the whole Kingdom from the mischievous and wicked Plots of the Papists and the suddain Growth of a Power unto which no Stop or Remedy could be provided unless it were by Parliament and an Union of Your Majesty's Protestant Subjects in one Mind and one Interest And the Lord-Chancellor in pursuance of your Majesty's Commands having more at large demonstrated the said Dangers to be as great as we in the midst of our Fears could imagine them and so pressing that our Liberties Religion Lives and the whole Kingdom would be certainly lost if a speedy Provision were not made against them And Your Majesty on the 21st of Apr. 1679 having called unto Your Council many Honourable and Worthy Persons and declared to them and the whole Kingdom that being sensible of the evil Effects of a Single Ministry or Private Advice or Foreign Committee for the general Direction of Your Affairs Your Majesty would for the future refer all Things unto the Council and by the constant Advice of them together with the frequent Use of Your Great Council the Parliament Your Majesty had hereafter resolved to govern the
Kingdom we began to hope we should see an End of our Miseries But to our unspeakable Grief and Sorrow we soon found our Expectation frustrated the Parliament then subsisting was Prorogued and Dissolved before it could perfect what was intended for our Relief and Security and though another was thereupon called yet by the many Prorogations it was put off till the 21st of Oct. past and notwithstanding Your Majesty was then again pleased to acknowledge that neither Your Majesty's Person nor the Kingdom should be safe till the Matter of the Plot was gone through it was unexpectedly Prorogued on the 10th of this Month before any sufficient Order could be taken therein all their just and pious Endeavours to save the Nation were overthrown the good Bills they had been industriously preparing to unite all Your Majesty's Protestant Subjects brought to nought the Discovery of the Irish Plot stifled the Witnesses that came in frequently more fully to declare that both of England and Ireland discouraged those Foreign Kingdoms and States who by a happy Conjunction with us might give a Check to the French Power disheartned even to such a Despair of their own Security against the growing Greatness of that Monarch as we fear may induce them to take new Resolutions and perhaps such as may be fatal to us the Strength of our Enemies both at Home and Abroad increased and our selves left in the utmost Danger of seeing our selves brought into utter Desolation In these Extremities we had nothing under God to comfort us but the Hopes that Your Majesty being touched with the Groans of Your perishing People would have suffered Your Parliament to have met at the Day unto which it was Prorogued and that no further Interruption should have been given to their Proceedings in order to the saving of the Nation yet that failed us too But when we heard that Your Majesty by the private Suggestion of some wicked Persons Favourers of Popery Promoters of French Designs and Enemies to Your Majesty and the Kingdom without the Advice and as we have good Reason to believe against the Opinion even of Your Privy-Council had been prevailed with to Dissolve it and to call another to meet at Oxford where neither Lords nor Commons can be in Safety but will be daily exposed to the Sword of the Papists and their Adherents of whom too many are crept into Your Majesty's Guards the Liberty of speaking according to their Consciences will be thereby destroyed and the Validity of all their Acts and Proceedings consisting in it left disputable the Streightness of the Place no way admits of such a Concourse of Persons as now follows every Parliament the Witnesses that are necessary to give Evidence against the Popish Lords such Judges or others whom the Commons have Impeached or had resolved to Impeach can neither bear the Charge of going thither nor trust themselves under the Protection of a Parliament that is it self evidently under the Power of Guards and Soldiers The Premises consider'd we Your Majesty's Petitioners out of just Abhorrence of such a dangerous and pernicious Council which the Authors have not dared to avow and the direful Apprehensions of the Calamities and Miseries that may ensue thereupon do make it our most humble Prayer and Advice That the Parliament may not Sit at a Place where it cannot be able to act with that Freedom which is necessary and especially to give unto their Acts and Proceedings that Authority which they ought to have amongst the People and have ever had unless impaired by some Awe upon them of which there wants not Presidents and that Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to order it to Sit at Westminster it being the usual Place and where they may consult and act with Safety and Freedom And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. Montmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Essex Shaftsbury Mordant Evers Paget Gray Herbert Howard Delamere The Answer given by the King to this Petition is left Recorded no where that I can find but that he express'd his Displeasure at it by a Frown was commonly reported in those Times which was the more taken notice of because of thâ—â— kind Answers he was wont to give the other Party upon all Occasions and the greater Care that was taken in the Publication thereof that the Nation might know it But how looâ— soever he was in his Promises to the Parliament you will findâ— him steddy and unmovable in this of the Parliament's meeting at Oxford and the Lords that had an Hand in this Petitioâ— shall be remembred by him in their due Place But we shaâ—â— now leave this Matter and see a little what was done betweeâ— the last and 3d Westminster Parliament of this King 's Reigâ— and the meeting of this at Oxford Though the Meal-Tâ— Plot whereof we have already given you an Hint meet witâ— such ill Success yet the indefatigable Zeal of a Son of Sir Edâ—â—â— Fitz-Harris an Irish Papist and consequently very fit as 〈◊〉 really was to be a Correspondent with the Dutchess of Porâ—â— mouth her Woman Mrs. Wall and the French Embassadoâ— Confessor the first of which had several times supplied hiâ— with Money and at one time particularly with 250 l. 〈◊〉 such that happening to come acquainted with one Everard beyond Sea where they were both in the French King's Service he did about the Beginning of Feb. after the Parliament was Dissolved renew his said Acquaintance with Everard and represented to him the Advantages he might have in forsaking the English Interest and ingratiating himself into the French and Popish one and that it would be very conductive to that Interest if he would make a Pamphlet that reflected upon the King To this the other gave not a clear Consent yet Fitz-Harris upon the 21st of Feb. gave him some Heads by Word of Mouth to draw up such a Pamphlet Which Procedure of his made Everard acquaint several withal and particularly one Mr. Smith and Sir William Waller whom he engaged in a concealed Manner to be at a Place appointed to hear the further Discourse between them which was next Day and whither the former came where he heard Fitz-Harris give Everard Instructions to this Purpose That the King and Royal Family should be traduced as being Papists and arbitrarily affected from the Beginning That King Charles I. had an Hand in the Irish Rebellion and that Charles II. did countenance the same by preferring Fitz-Gerrald Fitz-Patrick and Mount-Garret who were engaged in the Irish Rebellion That the Act forbidding to call the King a Papist was to stop Mens Mouths when he should encline to further Popery which appeared by his adhering so closely to the Duke of York's Interests and hindring him from being proceeded against by the Parliament and hindring the Officers put in by the Duke of York to be turned out and for that the Privy-Councellors and Justices of the Peace who were for the Protestant Interest were turned out of
Graham's Business to find out good Jury-Men and then the Sheriffs would be sure to return them In these Plots my Lord H seemed to have the greatest hand But more particularly Rumsey was the Evidence in respect to that of the Seizing the Guards Lee and Goodenough in that of Black-Heath Rumball at whose House they said the Rye-Plot was to be acted denied at his Death he ever knew any But the great design was against the Earl of Essex the Lord Russel and such great Patriots who had shewed themselves zealous Protestants upon all Occasions and constant Opposers of the designs of Popery and Arbitrary Power As for the first of these two Noble Persons he never absconded but was presently confined Prisoner in the Tower where in a few Days after it was given out he had cut his own Throat and to satisfie the Nation of the Truth of the Report and Sincerity of the Government therein the Business was so ordered year 1683 that before the Jury was Impannelled and the Coroner's Inquest sate the Earl's Body was taken out of the Closet where it was pretended he had laid violent Hands upon himself and stripp'd off his Cloathes which were carried away add the Closet washed And when one of the Jury insisted to see my Lord's Cloaths in which he died the Coroner was sent for into another Room and upon his Return he told the Jury it was the Body and not the Clothes they were to lit upon And a Motion being made that the Jury should adjourn and give my Lord's Relations notice that if they had any thing to say in my Lord's Behalf they should do it within such a time it was answered That the King had sent for the Inquisition and would not rise from the Counâ—il-Board till it was brought But whether it proved to His Majesty's Satisfaction I will not take upon me to determine though it was reported he seem'd much concern'd at the Misfortune saying My Lord of Essex needed not to have despaired of Mercy since he owed him a Life Be it as it will his being that Day in Person accompanied with his good Brother in the Tower where neither of them had been for near 15 Years before set People's Tongues loose to Censure and so much the more when it was known that particular care was taken to give immediate Notice to the Court at the Old-Baily of the Earl's Disaster that in the worst Sence Use might be made of it by the King's Council against my Lord Russel then upon his Trial as the Council did accordingly and which had the design'd Effect upon that Noble Person who some days after suffered innocently in Lincolns-Inn-Fields after he had made a Speech and left a Paper in the Sheriff's Hands to declare the same to the World both which lest forgot by any true English-man and particularly the last I have thought fit to subjoin because it carries in it in my Opinion a perfect Confutation of that Sham-Conspiracy and gives a true Idea of whatever Meeting he had been at with other Men of Quality to discourse of the Affairs or their Countrey and how if possible in a just Way to prevent it Ruin both in Religion and Liberty JULY 12th 1683. Mr. Sheriff I Expected the Noise would be such that I could not be very well heard I was never fond of very much speaking much less now therefore I set down in this Paper all that I think sit to leave behind me God knows how far I was always from Designs against the King's Person or of altering the Government and I still Pray for the Preservation of both and of the Protestant Religion I am told that Captain Walcot has said something concerning my Knowledge of the Plot I know not whether the Report be true or not but I hope it is not for to my Knowledge I never saw him to speak with him in my whole Life And in the Words of a Dying Man I profess I know of no Plot either against the King's Life or the Government But I have now done with this World and am going to a better I forgive all the World and I thank God I die in Charity with all Men. And I wish all sincere Protestants may love one another and not make room for Popery by their Animosities The PAPER delivered to the Sheriffs I Thank God I find my self so composed and prepared for Death and my Thoughts so fixed on another World that I hope in God I am quite from setting my Heart on this Yet I cannot forbear now the setting down in Writing a farther Account of my Condition to be left behind me than I will venture to say at the Place of Execution in the Noise and Clutter that is like to be there I bless God heartily for those many Blessings which he in his Infinite Mercy has bestowed upon me through the whole Course of my Life That I was born of worthy good Parents and had the Advantages of a Religious Education which are invaluable Blessings For even when I minded it least it still hung about me and gave me Checks and has now for many Years so influenced and possessed me that I feel the happy Effects of it in this my Extremity in which I have been so wonderfully I thank God supported that neither my Imprisonment nor fear of Death have been able to discompose me in any Degree but on the contrary I have found the Assurances of the Love and Mercy of God in and through my Blessed Redeemer in whom only I trust And I do not question but that I am going to partake of that Fullness of Joy which is in his Presence The Hopes therefore do so wonderfully delight me that I think this is the happiest Time of my Life though others may look upon it as the saddest I have lived and now am of the Reform'd Religion a true and sincere Protestant and in the Communion of the Church of England though I could never yet comply with or rise up to all the Heighths of many People I wish with all my Soul all our differences were removed and that all sincere Protestants would so far consider the danger of Popery as to lay aside their Heats and agree against the Common Enemy and that the Church-men would be less severe and the Dissenters less scrupulous for I think bitterness and Persecution are at all times bad but much more now For Popery I look on it as an Idolatrous and bloody Religion and therefore thought my self bound in my Station to do all I could against it And by that I foresaw I should procure such great Enemies to my self and so powerful ones that I have been now for some time expecting the worst and blessed be God I fall by the Ax and not by the Fiery Tryal Yet whatever Apprehensions I had of Popery and of my own severe and heavy share I was like to have under it when it should prevail I never had a Thought of doing any thing
again to their Ancient Prescriptions and Charters And more particularly that the Ancient Charter of the Great and Famous City of London shall again be in Force And that the Writs for the Members of Parliament shall be Addressed to the proper Officers according to Law and Custom That also none be suffered to chuse or to be chosen Members of Parliament but such as are qualified by Law And that the Members of Parliament being thus chosen they shall meet and sit in full Freedom that so the Two Houses may concur in the preparing such Laws as they upon full and free Debate shall judge necessary and convenient both for the Confirming and Executing the Law concerning the Test and such others Laws as are necessary for the Security and Maintenance of the Protestant Religion as likewise for making such Laws as may Establish a good Agreement between the Church of England and all Protestant Dissenters as also for the Covering and Securing of all such who live peaceably under the Government as becomes good Subjects from all Persecution upon the Account of their Religion even Papists themselves not excepted and for the doing of all other things which the Two Houses of Parliament shall find necessary for the Peace Honour and Safety of the Nation so that there may be no more Danger of the Nation 's falling at any time hereafter under Arbitrary Government To this Parliament we will refer the Enquiry into the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales and of all things relating to it and to the Right of Succession XXII And We for our part will concur in every thing that may procure the Peace and Happiness of the Nation which a Free and Lawful Parliament shal determine since we have nothing before our Eyes in this our Undertaking but the Preservation of the Protestant Religion the Covering of all Men from Persecution for their Consciences and the Securing the whole Nation the Free Enjoyment of all their Laws Rights and Liberties under a just and legal Government XXIII This is the Design that We have proposed to our selves in appearing upon this Occasion in Arms in the Conduct of which we will keep the Forces under our Command under all the Strictness of Martial Discipline and take special Care That the People of the Countries through which we must march shal not suffer by their Means and as soon as the State of the Nation will admit of it we promise That we will send back all those Foreign Forces that we have brought along with us XXIV We do therefore hope That all People will judge rightly of us and approve of these our Proceedings But we chiefly rely on the Blessing of God for the Success of this our Undertaking in which we place our whole and only Confidence XXV We do in the last place invite and require all Persons whatsoever all the â—eers of the Realm both Spiritual and Temporal all Lords-Lieutenants Deputy-Lieutenants and all Gentlemen Citizens and other Commons of all Ranks to come and assist Us in order to the Executing of this our Design against all such as shall endeavour to oppose us that so we may prevent all those Miseries which must needs follow upon the Nations being kept under Arbitrary Government and Slavery And that all the Violences and Disorders which have overturned the whole Constitution of the English Government may be fully redressed in a Free and Legal Parliament XXVI And we do likewise resolve That as soon as the Nation is brought to a state of Quiet we will take care that a Parliament shall be called in Scotland for Restoring the Ancient Constitution of that Kingdom and for bringing the Matters of Religion to such a Settlement that the People may live easie and happy and for putting an end to all the unjust Violences that have been in a Course of so many Years committed there We will also study to bring the Kingdom of Ireland to such a State that the Settlement there may be Religiously observed and that the Protestant and British Interest there may be secured And we will endeavour by all possible means to procure such an Establishment in all the Three Kingdoms that they may all live in a happy Union and Correspondence together and that the Protestant Religion and the Peace Honour and Happiness of those NATIONS may be Established upon Lasting Foundations Given under Our Hand and Seal at Our Court in the Hague the 10th Day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1688. WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange By His Highness's Special Command C. HUYGENS. To this Declaration the Prince upon further Information of things thought fit to add another to this purpose AFter we had Prepared and Printed this Our Declaration we have understood that the Subverters of the Religion and Laws of these Kingdoms hearing of our Preparations to assist the People against them have began to retract some of the Arbitrary and Despotick Power that they had assumed and to vacate some of their unjust Judgments and Decrees The Sense of their Guilt and the Distrust of their Force have induced them to offer to the City of London some seeming Relief from their great Oppressions hoping thereby to quiet the People and to divert them from demanding a Re-establishment of their Religion and Laws under the shelter of our Arms They do also give out That we do intend to Conquer and Enslave the Nation and therefore it is we have thought fit to add a few Words to our Declaration VVe are confident That no Persons can have such hard Thoughts of us as to imagine we have any other Design in this our Undertaking than to procure a Settlement of the Religion and of the Liberties and Properties of the Subjects upon so sure a Foundation that there may be no Danger of the Nation 's Relapsing into the like Miseries at any time hereafter And as the Forces we have brought along with us are utterly disproportioned to that Wicked Design of Conquering the Nation if we were capable of intending it so the great Numbers of the Principal Nobility and Gentry that are Men of Eminent Quality and Estates and Persons of known Integrity and Zeal both for the Religion and Government of ENGLAND many of them being also distinguished by their Constant Fidelity to the Crown who do both accompany us in this Expedition and have earnestly sollicited us to it will cover us from all such Malicious Insinuations For it is not to be imagined that either those who have invited us or those who are already come to assist us can join in a wicked Attempt of Conquest to make void their own Lawful Titles to their Honours Estates and Interests We are also confident That all Men see how little Weight there is to be laid on all Promises and Engagements that can be now made since there has been so little regard had in the time past to the most solemn Promises And as that imperfect Redress that is now offer'd is a plain
Confession of those Violences of the Government that we have set forth so the Defectiveness of it is no less apparent For they lay down nothing which they may not take up at pleasure and they reserve entire and not so much as mentioned their Claims and Pretences to an Arbitrary and Despotick Power which has been the Root of all their Oppression and of the Total Subversion of the Government And it is plain That there can be no Redress no Remedy offered but in Parliament by a Declaration of the Rights of the Subjects that have been invaded and not by any pretended Acts of Grace to which the Extremity of their Affairs has driven them Therefore it is that we have thought fit to declare That we will Refer all to a Free Assembly of this NATION in a Lawful Parliament Given under Our Hand and Seal at Our Court in the Hague the 24th Day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1688. WILLIAM HENRY Prince of Orange By His Highness's Special Command C. HUYGENS. At the same time an Extract of the States-General's Resolution was privately Printed at London wherein among other Reasons why they had intrusted the Prince of Orange with such a Fleet and Army is this which follows THE King of France hath upon several Occasions shewed himself dissatisfied with this State which gave Cause to fear and apprehend that in case the King of Great Britain should happen to compass within his Kingdom and obtain an Absolute Power over his People that then both Kings out of the Interest of State and Hatred and Zeal against the Protestant Religion would endeavour to bring this State to confusion and if possible quite to subject it There was also Printed about the same Juncture this Letter of the Prince of Orange to the Officers of the Army Gentlemen and Friends WE have given you so full and so true an Account of Our Intentions in this Expedition in Our Declaration that as We can add nothing to it so We are sure you can desire nothing more of Us. We are come to preserve your Religion and to Restore and Establish your Liberties and Properties And therefore We cannot suffer Our Selves to doubt but that all true English Men will come and concur with Us in Our Desire to Secure these Nations from Popery and Slavery You must all plainly see That you are only made use of as Instruments to enslave the Nation and ruine the Protestant Religion and when that is done you may judge what ye your selves ought to expect both from the Cashiering all the Protestant and English Officers and Soldiers in Ireland and by the Irish Soldiers being brought over to be put in your Places and of which you have seen so fresh an Instance that We need not put you in mind of it You know how many of your Fellow-Officers have been used for their standing firm to the Protestant Religion and to the Laws of England And you cannot flatter your selves so far as to expect to be better used if those who have broke their Word so often should by your Means be brought out of those Streights to which they are at present reduced We hope likewise that ye will not suffer your selves to be abused by a false Notion of Honour but that you will in the first place consider what you owe to Almighty God and your Religion to your Country to your Selves to your Posterity which you as Men of Honour ought to prefer to all private Considerations and Engagements whatsoever We do therefore expect That you will consider the Honour that is now set before you of being the Instruments of Serving your Country and Securing your Religion and We shall ever remember the Service you shall do Us upon this Occasion and will promise you that We shall place such particular Marks of Our Favour on every one of you as your Behaviour at this time shall deserve of Us and the Nation in which We shall make a great Distinction of those that shall come seasonably to join their Arms with Ours And you shall find Us to be your Well-wishing and assured Friend W. H. P. O. This Letter was spread under-hand over the whole Kingdom and read by all sorts of Men and the Reason of it being undeniable it had a great Force on the Spirits of the Soldiery so that those who did not presently comply with it yet resolved they would never strike one stroke in this Quarrel till they had a Parliament to secure the Religion Laws and Liberties of England Which the Court on the other side had resolved should not be granted till the Prince of Orange with his Army was expelled out of the Nation and till all those that had submitted to him which were not many then were reduced into their Power to be treated as they thought fit In the mean time the Fleet came about from the Buoy in the Nâ—re to Portsmouth under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth where it arrived on Saturday the 17th of November and on the Monday following the KING entred Salisbury which was then the Head Quarters of the whole Army But on the 16th of the aforesaid Month the Lord Delamere having received certain Intelligence of the Landing of the Prince of Orange in the West and seeing the Irish throng over in Arms under pretence of Assisting the King but in reality to enslave us at Home as they had already reduced our Country-Men in Ireland to the lowest Degree of Danger and Impuissance that they have at any time been in since the Conquest of Ireland in the Reign of King Henry II. He thereupon Assembled Fifty Horse-Men and at the Head of them marched to Manchester and the next Day he went to Bodon-Downes his Forces being then 150 strong declaring his Design was To join with the Prince of Orange This small Party of Men by degrees drew in all the North and could never be suppressed Now before His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange left Exeter there was an Association drawn up and signed by all the Lords and Gentlemen that were with him the Date of which I cannot assign but the Words thereof are as follow VVE whose Names are hereunto subscribed who have now joined with the Prince of Orange for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and for the maintaining the Antient Government and the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland do engage to Almighty God to His Highness the Prince of Orange and to one another to stick firm to this Cause and to one another in Defence of it and never to depart from it until our Religion Laws and Liberties are so far secured to us in a Free Parliament that we shall be no more in danger of falling into Popery and Slavery And whereas we are engaged in this Common Cause under the Protection of the Prince of Orange by which means his Person may be exposed to Danger and to the cursed Attempts of Papists and other Bloody Men we do therefore solemnly
are too often accompanied I am not ignorant of the frequent Mischiefs wrought in the World by factious Pretences of Religion but were not Religion the most justifiable Cause it would not be made the most specious Pretence And your Majesty has already shewn too interested a Sense of Religion to doubt the just Effects of it on one whose Practices have I hope never given the World cause to censure his real Conviction of it or his backwardness to perform what his Honour and Conscience prompt him to How then can I longer disguise my just Concern for that Religion in which I have been so happily educated which my Judgment truly convinceth me to be the Best and for the Support of which I am so highly interested in my Native Country And is not England now by the most endearing Tye become so Whilst the restless Spirits of the Enemies of the Reformed Religion back'd by the cruel Zeal and prevailing Power of France justly alarm and unite all the Protestant Princes of Christendom and engage them in so vast an Expence for the Support of it Can I act so degenerous and mean a Part to deny my Concurrence to such worthy Endeavours for the disabusing your Majesty by the Re-inforcement of those Laws and Re-establishment of that Government on which alone depends the Well-being of your Majesty and of the Protestant Religion in Europe This Sir is that irresistible and only Cause that could come in Competition with my Duty and Obligation to your Majesty and be able to fear me from you whilst the same affectionate Desire of serving You continues in me Could I secure your Person â— by the hazard of my Life I should think it could not be better employed And would to God these your distracted Kingdoms might yet receive that satisfactory Compliance from your Majesty in all their justifiable Pretensions as might upon the only sure Foundation that of the Love and Interest of your Subjects establish your Government and as strongly unite the Hearts of all your Subjects to You as is that of c. The Lord Churchill left a Letter to the same purpose which runs thus SIR SInce Men are seldom suspected of Sincerity when they act contrary to their Interests and tho' my dutiful Behaviour to Your Majesty in the worst of Times for which I acknowledge my poor Services much over-paid may not be sufficient to incline You to a charitable Interpretation of my Actions yet I hope the great Advantage I enjoy under Your Majesty which I can never expect in any other Change of Government may reasonably convince Your Majesty and the World that I am acted by an higher Principle when I offer that Violence to my Inclination and Interest as to desert Your Majesty at a Time when Your Affairs seem to challenge the strictest Obedience from all Your Subjects much more from one who lies under the greatest Personal Obligations imaginable to Your Majesty This SIR could proceed from nothing but the inviolable Dictates of my Conscience and a necessary Concern for my Religion which no good Man can oppose and with which I am instructed nothing ought to come in Competition Heaven knows with what Partiality my dutiful Opinion of Your Majesty hath hitherto represented those unhappy Designs which Inconsiderate and Self-Interested Men have framed against Your Majesty's true Interest and the Protestant Religion But as I can no longer join with such to give a Pretence by Conquest to bring them to effect so I will always with the hazard of my Life and Fortune so much Your Majesty's due endeavour to preserve Your Royal Person and Lawful Rights with all the tender Concern and dutigâ—l Respect that becomes c. Upon this the Army retreated to Reading and the King very disconsolate returned on the 26th in the Evening to London from whence the Princess Ann of Denmark his second Daughter was gone privately the Night before and if she had not left a Letter behind her to shew the reason of her Retreat the King 's own Guards had in all probability torn all the Popish Party to pieces upon a surmize that they had made her away The Letter she left for the Queen was as follows MADAM I Beg Your Pardon if am so deeply affected with the surprizing News of the Prince's being gone as not to be able to see You but to leave this Paper to express my humble Duty to the King and Your Self and to let You know that I am gone to absent my self to avoid the King's Displeasure which I am not able to bear either against the Prince or my self And I shall stay at so great a Distance as not to return before I hear the happy News of a Reconcilement And as I am confident the Prince did not leave the King with any other Design than to use all possible Means for His Preservation so I hope You will do me the Justice to believe that I am not capable of following him for any other End Never was any one in such an unhappy Condition so divided between Duty and Affection to a Father and an Husband and therefore I know not what to do but to follow one to preserve the other I see the general Falling off of the Nobility and Gentry who avow to have no other End than to prevail with the King to secure their Religion which they saw so much in danger by the violent Counsels of the Priests who to promote their own Religion did not care to what Dangers they exposed the King I am fully persuaded that the Prince of Orange designs the King's Safety and Preservation and hope all Things may be composed without more Blood-shed by the Calling of a Parliament God grant a happy End to these Troubles that the King's Reign may be prosperous and that I may shortly meet You in perfect Peace and Safety Till when let me beg you to continue the same favourable Opinion that You have hitherto had of c. The first thing done upon the King's Return was the turning Sir Edward Hales out from being Lieutenant of the Tower and then to order Writs to be issued out for the sitting of a Parliament the 15th of Jan. but that was too late and the Nation was now in such a Ferment that neither this pace nor a Proclamation of the 30th of Nov. requiring the Elections to be done in a fair and legal manner signified any thing so that the King now began to provide for his Family and first he sent away the Prince of Wales to Portsmouth but my Lord Dartmouth would not suffer him to be carried into France yet the Queen soon after found a way to convey him her self and divers others thither And indeed it was high time for Scotland now was as much alarmed as England and some of the Nobility and Gentry were sent up with a Petition for a free Parliament all the North of England was secured for the Prince Newcastle receiving the Lord Lumâ—ey and declaring
Order they shall receive from Feversham This was directly a clear and full Abdication or Desertion of the Army which unavoidably necessitated them to submit to the Prince of Orange they having no Body to lead or head them against him And it is not conceivable how they could avoid entring into an Association or Oath of Allegiance to the Prince now the King had left them without exposing themselves by resisting a Foreign Army and a poisoned Nation For neither would the Nation continue long without a Prince nor would any Person who should have succeeded in that Capacity have suffered them to live within his Government without giving him Security by Oath for their Submission and Loyaly to him So that the whole Design of this Letter seems to be the Sowing Division in the Nation that when he left us we might not unite or settle our selves under the other but be divided by our Principles that so we might the more easily reduce us again into the State we are in when the Prince first designed his Expedition against England The King being gone as above-said Decem. 11. in the Morning the Principal Officers of the Army about the Town thereupon met about 10 a Clock at Whitehal and sent an Express to the Prince of Orange to acquaint him with the Departure of the King and to assure him that they would assist the Lord Mayor to keep the City quiet till his Highness came and made the Souldiery to enter into his Service Much about the same time the Lords Spiritual and Temporal about the Town came to Guildhal and sending for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen made the following Declartion The Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster Aâ—â—â—mbled at Guild Hall the 14th of December 1688. VVE 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 Departurâ— out of this Kingdom by the pernicious Counsels of Persons ill affected to our Nation and Roligion we cannot without being wanting to our Duty be silent under those Calamities wherein the Popish Counsels which so long prevailed have miserably involved these Realms 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 hath undertaken by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament to rescue us with as little effusion of Christian Blood as possible from the eminent 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 Properties 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 States 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 popalous 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 promoting his Highnes's Generous Intentions for the Publick Good we shall be ready to do it as occasion requires Signed W. Cant. T. Ebor. Pembrook Dorset Mulgrave Thanet Carlisle Craven Ailesbury Burlington Sussex Berkeley Rochester Newport Weymouth P. Winchester W. Asaph F. Ely Thoâ— Roffen Tho. Petriburg P. Wharton North and Gray Chandois Montague T. Jermâ—n Vaughan Carbery Culpeper Crewe Osulston Whereas His Majesty hath privately this Morning withdrawn himself we the Lords Spiritual and Temporal whose Names are hereunto Subscribed being Assembled in Guild-Hall in London having agreed upon and signed a Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster Assembled at Guildhall the 11th of Decemb. 1688. do desire the Right Honourable the Earl of Pembrook the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Ely and the Right Honourable the Lord Culpeper forthwith to attend His Highness the Prince of ORANGE with the said Declaration and at the same time to acquaint his Highness with what we have further done at this Meeting Dated at Guild-Hall Decemb. 11. 1688. The same Day the Lieutenancy of London signed this following Address to the Prince of Orange at Guild-Hall and sent it by Sir Robert Clayton Kt. Sir Will. Russel Sir Basil Firebrace Kts. and Charles Duncomb Esq May it please your Highness VVE can never sufficiently express the deep Sense we have conceived and shall ever retain in our Hearts that your Highness has exposed your Person to so many Dangers by Sea and Land for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom without such unparalleled Undertaking we must probably have suffered all the Miseries that Popery and Slavery could have brought upon us We have been greatly concerned that before this Time we had not any reasonable Opportunity to give Your Highness and the World a Real Testimony That it has been our firm Resolution to venture all that is dear to us to attain those Glorious Ends which your Highness has proposed for Restoring and Settling these Distracted Nations We therefore now unanimously present to your Highness our Just and Due Acknowledgments for that happy Relief you have brought to us and that we may not be wanting in this present Conjuncture we have put our selves into such a posture that by the Blessing of GOD we may be capable to prevent all ill Designs and to preserve this City in Peace and Safety till your Highness's happy Arrival We therefore humbly desire that your Highness will please to repair to this City with what convenient speed you can for the perfecting the Great Work which your Highness has so happily begun to the general Joy and Satisfaction of us all The Prince of Orange in the mean time finding the Kings Troops now without Head to commit many Disorders put forth the following Declaration By the Prince of Orange A Declaration VVHereas We are informed That divers Regiments Troops and Companies have been incouraged to disperse themselves in an Vnusual and Vnwarrantable Manner whereby the Publick Peace is very much disturbed We have thought fit hereby
to require all Colonels and Commanders in Chief of such Regiments Troops and Companies by Beat of Drum or otherwise to call together the several Officers and Soldiers belonging to their respective Regiments Troops and Companies in such Places as they shall find most convenient for their Rendezvous and there to keep them in good Order and Discipline And We do likewise direct and require all such Officers and Soldiers forthwith to repair to such Place as shall be appointed for that purpose by the Respective Colonels or Commanders in Chief whereof speedy Notice is to be given unto Vs for our further Orders Given at Our Court at Henly Decemb. 13. 1688. Prince of ORANGE From Henly he advanced by easie Marches towards London being invited thither as already noted by diverse Noblemen and Citizens as the King was also by some Lords to return which he did on Sunday the 16th in the Evening a Sett of Boys following him through the Streets and made some Huzza's while the rest of the People silently looked on But before the King's Return the Privy Council and Peers met and made this Order on the 14th VVE the Peers of this Realm Assembled with some of the Lords of the Privy Council do hereby require all Irish Officers and Soldiers to repair forthwith to the respective Bodies to which they do or did lately belong and do hereby declare that behaving themselves peaceably they shall have Subsistence pay'd them till they shall be otherwise provided for or imployed And the said Officers and Soldiers are to deliver up their Arms to some of the Officers of the Ordnance who are to deposite the same in the Stores in the Tower of London And We do require and command all Justices of the Peace Constables and other Officers whom it may concern that they apprehend and seize all such Soldiers as shall not repair to their respective Bodies and that they be dealt with as Vagabonds Given at the Council Chamber at Whitehal the Fourteenth of Decemb. 1688. Tho. Ebor. Hallifax Dorset Carlisle Craven Nottingham Rochester N. Duresine P. VVinchester North and Gray J. Trevor J. Titus It was high time to put out this Order for on Thursday Dec. 13. about Three in the Morning there was a terrible Allarm That the Irish in a desperate Rage were approaching London putting Man Woman and Child to the Sword which made the People all rise placing Lights in their Windows from top to bottom and every Man guarding his own Door with his Musquet charged with Powder and Ball and all the Traindbands of the City were in Arms so that there was nothing heard but Shooting and Beating of Drums all Night And what is very strange this Allarm spread it self over the face of the whole Kingdom and all that were able to carry Arms vowed the Defence of their Lives Laws Religion and Liberties and stood resolved to destroy all the Irish and Papists in England in case any Injury were offered them but few Papists suffered in their Persons only their Houses were generally rifled under a pretence of searching for Arms and Ammunition The Prince who was now at VVindsor had sent M. Zulestein to the King to desire him to continue at Rochester but missing him the King came to VVhitehal and from thence sent the Lord Feversham with a Letter to the Prince to VVindsor to invite him to St. James's with what number of Troops he should think convenient to bring along with him But the Prince referring the Consideration of the Subject-Matter of the Letter to the Peers about him they concluded that the shortness of the Time could admit of no better Expedient that the King might be desired to remove with a reasonable Distance from London and Ham an House belonging to the Dutchess of Lauderdale was pitch'd upon and a Note or Paper dâ—rawn up to that purpose which was ordered to be delivered after the Prince's Guards were in Possession of the Posts about VVhitehall the Substance whereof was as follows 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 great Quiet of the City and the great Safety of his Person that he do remove to Ham where he shall be attended by his Guards who will be ready to preserve him from any Disturbance Given at VVindsor the Seventeenth Day of December 1688. VV. Prince de Orange The Guards who were commanded by Count Solmes made it 10 a Clock at Night before they could reach London And the Kings Guards then on Duty not being very forward to dislodge it was Twelve before the Lords could deliver the said Paper of which they first sent this Account to Secretary Middleton 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 c. Hallifax Shrewsbury Delamere He accordingly presently introduced them the King being by that time in Bed where they made an Apology for coming at so unseasonable a Time and delivering him the Paper the King read it and said He would comply with it Upon this the Lords humbly desired he would remove so early as to be at Ham by Noon to prevent Meeting the Prince in his Way to London where he was to come the same Day His Majesty readily agreed to this too and asked whether he might not appoint what Servants should attend him To which the Lords replied That it was left to him to give Order in that as he pleased and so they took their Leave of him When they were gone as far as the Privy-Chamber the King sent for them again and told them he had forgot to acquaint them with his Resolutions before the Message came to send my Lord Godolphin next Morning to the Prince to propose his going back to Rochester he finding by the Message M. Zulestein was charged with the Prince had no Mind he should be at London and therefore he now desired he might rather return to Rochester than go to any other place The Lords replied That they would immediately send an Account to the Prince of what His Majesty desired and they did not doubt of such an Answer as would be to his Satisfaction Accordingly they sent to him who was then at Sion-House and before 8 next Morning there came a Letter from M. Bentink by the Prince's Order agreeing to the King's Proposals of going to Rochester Hereupon he went the Guards being made ready and Boats prepared that Night to Gravesend in his own Barge attended by the Earl of Arran and some few others The same Day being Dec. 18. about Three in the Afternoon His Highness the Prince of Orange came to St. James's attended by Monsieur Schomberg and a great Number of the Nobility and Gentry and was entertained with
a Joy and Concourse of the People which appeared free and unconstrained and all the Bells in the City were rung and Bonfires made in every Street The King continued at Rochester till Dec. 23. and then about 1 or 2 in the Morning he privately withdrew himself and taking only with him Mr. Ra. Sheldon and Mr. Delabady he went towards Dover and embarked in a Vessel laid ready for his Transportation to France The Queen who went hence the 10th arrived at Calais on the 11th and was in great pain not knowing what had happen'd in England for the King whom she expected every Tide But the King before he withdrew the second time wrote and left behind him the following Letter which was afterwards printed by his Order in London His Majesty's Reasons for withdrawing himself from Rochester writ with his own Hand and â—ordered by him to be Published THE World cannot wonder at my withdrawing my Self now this second time I might have expected somewhat better Usage after what I writ to the Prince of Orange by my Lord Feversham and the Instructions I gave him But instead of an Answer such as I might have hoped for what was I to expect after the Usage I received by the making the said Earl a Prisoner against the Practice and Law of Nations The sending his own Guards at 11 at Night to take Possession of the Posts at Whitehall without advertising me in the least manner of it The sending to me at One of the Clock at Mid-night when I was in Bed a kind of Order by three Lords to be gone out of my Palace before Twelve the same Morning After all this How could I hope to be safe so long as I was in the Power of one who had not only done this to me and invaded my Kingdoms without any just Occasion given him for it but that did by his own Declaration lay the greatest Aspersion on me that Malice could invent in that Clause of it which concerns my Son I appeal to all that know me nay even to himself that in their Consciences neither he nor they can believe me in the least capable of so unnatural a Villany nor of so little common Sense to be imposed on in a Thing of such a Nature as that What had I then to expect from one who by all Arts hath taken such pains to make me appear as Black as Hell to my own People as well as to all the World besides What Effect that hath had at home all Mankind hath seen by so general a Defection in my Army as well as in the Nation amongst all sorts of People I was born free and desire to continue so And tho' I have ventured my Life very frankly on several Occasions for the Good and Honour of my Country and am as free to do it again and which I hope I shall yet do as old as I am to redeem it from the Slavery it is like to fall under yet I think it not convenient to expose my self to be so secured as not to be at liberty to effect it and for that Reason to withdraw but so as to be within Call whensoever the Nation 's Eyes shall be opened so as to see how they have been imposed upon by the specious Pretences of Liberty and Property I hope it will please GOD to touch their Hearts out of his infinite Mercy and to make them sensible of the ill Condition they are in and bring them to such a Temper that a Legal Parliament may be called and that amongst other things which may be necessary to be done they will agree to Liberty of Conscience for all Protestant-Dissenters and that those of my own Persuasion may be so far considered and have such a Share of it as they may live peaceably and quietly as English Men and Christians ought to do and not be obliged to transplant themselves which would be very grievous especially to such who love their Country And I appeal to all Men who are considering Men and have had Experience whether any thing can make this Nation so great and flourishing as Liberty of Conscience Some of our Neighbours dread it I could add much more to confirm what I have said but now is not the proper Time Rochester Dec. 22. 1688. The Prince being come to London the Common-Council met and in the Name of the City returned him Thanks and congratulated him upon his great and glorious Expedition Then was there an Association signed at St. James's by near 60 Peers And at the Princes Request the Lords met at Westminster who desired him to take the Publick Administration upon him and agreed a â—onvention should meet on the 22d of January The Prince also put out the following Paper WHereas the Necessity of Affairs does require speedy Advice We do desire all such Persons as have served as Knights Citizens or Burgesses in any of the Parliaments that were held during the Reign of the late King CHARLES the Second to meet Vs at St. James's upon Wednesday the Six and Twentieth of this Instant December by Ten of the Clock in the Morning And We do likewise desire That the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London would be present at the same time and that the Common-Council would appoint Fifty of their Number to be there likewise And hereof We desire them not to fail Given at St. James's the Three and twentieth Day of December 1688. W. H. Prince of Orange By His Highness's especial Command G. HUYGENS. The Commons attended accordingly and concurring fully with the Lords the Prince sent out his Circular Letters for the meeting of the said Convention With which we shall conclude the Affairs of this Memorable Year Only I must observe that it proved fatal to one of the most generous and bravest Princes of Europe the Elector of Brandenburgh who died May 10. in the 69th Year of his Age. year 1689 THis Year cannot be begun with any thing more memorable than with the Meeting of the Convention Parliament which was on Jan. 22d and the manner of their Proceedings Upon which Occasion the Prince of Orange directed to them the following Letter My Lords and Gentlemen I Have endeavoured to the utmost of my Power to perform what was desired from me in order to the Publick Peace and Safety and I do not know that any thing hath been omitted which might tend to the preservation of them since the Administration of Affairs was put into my Hands It now lieth upon you to lay the Foundations of a firm security for your Religion your Laws and your Liberties I do not doubt but that by such a full and free Representative of the Nation as is now met the Ends of my Declaration will be attained And since it hath pleased God hitherto to bless my good Intentions with so great success I trust in him that he will compleat his own Work by sending a Spirit of Peace and Union to influence your Counsels
Ecclesiastical Affairs By levying Money for and to the use of the Crown by pretence of Prerogative for other time and in other manner than the same was granted by Parliament By raising and keeping a standing Army within the Kingdom in time of Peace without Consent of Parliament and Quartering Soldiers contrary to Law By causing several good Subjects being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when Papists were both arm'd and employ'd contrary to Law By violating the Freedom of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament By Prosecution in the Court of King's-Bench for Matters and Causes cognizable only in Parliament and by divers other Arbitrary and Illegal Courses And whereas of late Years partial corrupt and unqualified Persons have been returned and served on Juries in Trials and particularly divers Jurors in Trials for High-Treason which were not Freeholders And excessive Bail hath been required of Persons committed in Criminal Cases to elude the Benefit of the Laws made for the Liberty of the Subject And excessive Fines have been imposed And illegal and cruel Punishments inflicted And several Grants and Promises made of Fines and Forfeitures before any Conviction or Judgment against the Persons upon whom the same were to be levied All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known Laws and Statutes and Freedom of this Realm And whereas the late King James the Second having abdicated the Government and the Throne being thereby vacant His Highness the Prince of Orange whom it hath pleased Almighty God to make the Glorious Instrument of delivering this Kingdom from Popery and Arbitrary Power did by the Advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and divers principal Persons of the Commons cause Letters to be written to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants and other Letters to the several Counties Cities Vniversities Buâ—â—oughs and Cinque-Ports for the chusing of such Persons to represent them as were of right to be sent to Parliament to meet and sit at Westminster Jan. 22d 1688. in order to such an Establishment as that their Religion Laws and Liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted upon which Letters Elections have been accordingly made And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons pursuant to their respective Letters and Elections being now assembled in a full and free Representation of this Nation taking into their most serious Consideration the best means for attaining the Ends aforesaid do in the first place as their Ancestors in like Cases have usually done for the vindicating their Ancient Rights and Liberties declare That the pretended Power of suspending Laws or the execution of Laws by Regal Authority without Consent of Parliament is illegal That the pretended Power of dispensing Laws or the executing of Laws by Regal Authority as it hath been assumed and exercised of late is illegal That the Commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes and all other Commissions and Courts of the like Nature are illegal and pernitious That levying of Money to or for the use of the Crown by pretence of Prerogative without Grant of Parliament for longer time or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted is illegal That it is the Right of the Subjects to petition the King and all Commitments and Prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal That the raising and keeping a standing Army within the Kingdom in time of Peace unless it be by Consent of Parliament is against Law That the Subjects being Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Condition and as allowed by Law That the Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free That the Freedom of Speech or Debates and Proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any Court or Place out of Parliament That excessive Bail ought not to be requir'd nor excessive Fines imposed nor cruel and unusual Punishments inflicted That Jurors ought to be duly impannell'd and return'd and Jurors which pass upon Men in Trials for High-Treason ought to be Freeholders That all Grants and Promises of Fines and Forfeitures of particular Persons before Conviction are illegal and void And that for Redress of all Grievances and for the amending strengthening and preserving of the Laws Parliaments ought to be held frequently And they do claim demand and insist upon all and singular the Premises as their undoubted Rights and Liberties and that no Declarations Judgments Doings or Proceedings to the prejudice of the People in any of the said Premises ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter into Consequence or Example To which demand of their Rights they are particularly encouraged by the Declaration of his Highness the Prince of Orange as being the only means for obtaining a full Redress and Remedy therein Having therefore an intire Confidence that his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the Deliverance so far advanced by him and will still preserve them from the violation of their Rights which they have here asserted and from all other Attempts upon their Religion Rights and Liberties The said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster do resolve That WILLIAM and MARY Prince and Princess of Orange be and be declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to them the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and the Life of the Surviâ—or of them and that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Princess and for default of such Issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange And the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons do pray the said Prince and Princess of Orange to accept the same accordingly And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law instead of them and that the said Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be abrogated I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be Faithful 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 murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do declare That no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power
Commalin Castle-Durmont and so beyond Carlow from whence he sent forward a Party of Horse under the Command of the Duke of Ormond to take Possession of Kill-kenny and so to secure the Protestants and other Inhabitants of the adjacent Countries from being plundered by the Enemy for by this time some of them begun to look behind them and to return to take along what they had not Time nor Conveniency to carry of at first From Carlow the Army passed on to Kells thence to Loughland-bridge and so to Bennet's Bridge 3 Miles to the N. E. of Killkenny and upon the 19th of July His Majesty dined with the Duke of Ormond at his Castle of Killkenny which had the good Luck to have been preserved by Count Lauzun with all the Goods and Furniture and left in a good Condition not without the Cellar well stored with what they had not time to drink at their going off Munday the 21st the Army encamped at Carruck from whence Major General Kirk with his own Regiment and Colonel Brewers as also a Party of Horse were sent towards Waterford more Forces designing to follow When he came before the Place he sent to summon the Town by a Trumpet who at first refused to surrender there being 2 Regiments then in Garrison However their Refusal was in such civil Terms that their Inclinations were easily understood for soon after they sent out to know what Terms they might have which were the same with Drogâ—eda But not liking those they proposed some of their own which were rejected and the heavy Cannon drawn down that way and some more Forces ordered to march When the Irish understood this they agreed to march out with Arms and Baggage on the 25th and were conducted to Mallow The Fort Dunâ—annon a strong and regular Place and well fortified with Guns was also surrendred into his Majesty's Hands upon the same Terms with Waterford which last place was view'd by the King the day it was given up who took great care that no Persons should be disturbed in their Houses or Goods and here the Lord Dovâ—t was admitted into a more particular Protection from his Majesty as having formerly applied himself when the King was at Hillsborough by Major General Kirk's means to desire a Pass for himself and Family to Flanders July the 27th the King left the Camp at Carrick and went towards Dublin in order for England which occasioned various Speculations and some fears that the Affairs of this Kingdom were in no pleasing Posture He left the Command of the Army to Count Solms lay that Night at Carlow and upon some Advice from England exprest himself doubtful whether to go over or return to the Army However he went on to Chappell Izard and spent there some time to hear divers Complaints and redress several Grievances He publish'd a second Declaration to confirm the former and ordered a weekly Fast But having a further Account from England that several wicked Designs were discovered and prevented the loss at Sea not so considerable and that the French had only burnt one small Village in the West of England and so gone off again he resolved to retuâ—â— to the Army which he did on the 22d of Aug. at Golden-bridge and by the 27th â—eached Carrigallis where Lieutenant General Douglas joined him next day and on which in the Morning early my Lord Portland and Brigadeer Stewart were sent towards Limerick with 700 Horse and Foot who advanced within Cannon-shot of the Town with little Opposition from the Enemy and before whose return the King himself accompanied by the Prince my Lord Overkirk Lieutenant General 〈◊〉 and divers other great Officers with about 300 Horse went very near the Town and drove in a Party of the Enemy's Horse who made a shew of opposing them On the 9th the whole Army made its approach in excellent Order For no sooner had the Pioneers cut the Hedges that were in the way but the Men advanced which made the Enemy draw backwards till they came to a narrow Pass between a Bogs within half a Mile of the Town which was not above 150 Yards and this full of Hedges and other Incumbrances Herein however there were Lanes that led to the Town the middlemost being the broadest where stood the Irish Horse To the right and left of which the Hedges were lined all with â—â—â—squeteers of whom the English Foot were now got within less than 200 Yards The detacht Party of Foot was upon the Advance towards the Center The Horse a little to the right of them the Danes to the left And the blew Dutch with several English Regiments upon the right And all this in such Decorum that though the Hedges were very thick and troublesome yet the Front kept all in a Line except the advanced Party who went always some distance before Whilst these things were going on thus the King ordered 2 Field-pieces to be planted towards the left where they could bear upon the Enemy's Horse and fired from thence with so good Success that the Enemy soon quitted that Post And it is very remarkable our English Foot were so little concerned that tho' they knew the Enemy to be in the next Hedges yet whilst the Pioneers were at work they would sit down and ask one another whether they thought they should have any Bread that day for they began to want their Breakfasts tho' some few of them went into the other World for it while the Danes to the left stood with all the Care and Circumspection in the World and some of them observing the Posture of our Men and hearing what they said they thought they had no mind to fight But they were quickly convinced to the contrary for the Hedges were no sooner down and one Front advancing in a narrow Field and that the Irish fired a whole Volley upon them from the neighbouring Hedges but some of the English cried out aloud Ah you Toads are you there We will be with you presently and so they ran without any more ado along the Field directly towards the Hedges where the Irish were planted who thereupon quitted one Hedge after another So as that the Danes advancing on the left and the blew Dutch with the English on the right and the Horse coming on in the Center the Irish in less than half an hour after the Volley were driven under their very Walls and not a dozen Men lost on our side in all the Action which if the Irish had managed their business well would have cost us a great many more But as soon as they got under their Walls they plyed our Forces with their great Guns that killed several as they marched in which the whole Army did before 5 in the Afternoon and most of them incamp'd within Cannon-short Orders were given forthwith to draw 4 Field-pieces to Cromwell alias Iâ—eton's Fort to play upon the Town and Out-works The Danes according to their Post encamped to the left where
Irish and all Officers and Soldiers now in Arms under any Commission of King James or those Authorized to grant the same in the several Counties of Limerick Clare Kerry Cork and Mayo or in any of them and all the Commissioned Officers in their Majesties Quarters that belong to the Irish Regiments now in Being that are Treated with and who are not Prisoners of War or have taken Protection and who shall return and submit to their Majesties Obedience their and every of their Heirs shall hold possess and enjoy all and every their Estates of Free-hold and Inheritance and all the Right Title and Interest Privileges and Immunities which they and every or any of them held enjoyed or were rightfully and lawfully Intituled to in the Reign of K. Charles the II or at any Time since by the Laws and Statutes that were in Force in the said Reign of K. Charles the II and shall be put in Possession by order of the Government of such of them as are in the King's Hands or the Hands of their Tenants without being put to any Suit or Trouble therein And all such Estates shall be freed and discharg'd from all Arrears of Crown-Rents Quit-Rents and other publick Charges incurred and become due since Michaelmas 1688. to the Day of the Date hereof And all Persons comprehended in this Article shall have hold and enjoy all their Goods and Chattles Real and Personal to them or any of them belonging or remaining either in their own Hands or the Hands of any Person or Persons whatsoever in Trust for or for the Use of them or any of them And all and every the said Persons of what Trade Profession or Calling soever they be shall and may use exercise and practise their several and respective Professions Trades and Callings as freely as they did use exercise and enjoy the same in the Reign of K. James the II Provided that nothing in this Article contained be construed to extend to or restore any Forfeiting Person now out of the Kingdom except what are hereafter comprized Provided also that no Person whatsoever shall have and enjoy the Benefit of this Article that shall neglect or refuse to take the Oath of Allegiance made by Act of Parliament in England in the First Year of the Reign of their present Majesties when thereunto required III. ALL Merchants or reputed Merchants of the City of Limerick or of any other Garrison now possessed by the Irish or of any Town or Place in the Counties of Clare or Kerry who are absent beyond the Seas that have not born Arms since their Majesties Declaration in February 1688_9 shall have the Benefit of the Second Article in the same Manner as if they were present provided such Merchants and reputed Merchants do repair into this Kingdom within the Space of Eight Months from the Date hereof IV. THESE following Officers viz. Colonel Simon Lutterel Capt. Rowland White Morrice Eustace of Gormonstown Cheevers of Mayestown commonly called Mount-Leinster now belonging to the Regiments in the aforesaid Garrisons and Quarters of the Irish Army who were beyond the Seas and sent thither upon Affairs of their respective Regiments or of the Army in General shall have the Benefit and Advantage of the Second Article provided they return hither within the Space of 8 Months from the Date of these Presents and submit to their Majesties Government and take the Above-mentioned Oath V. THAT all and Singular the said Persons comprized in the 2d and 3d Articles shall have a general Pardon of all Attainders Outlawries Treasons Misprisions of Treason Premunires Fellonies Trespasses and other Crimes and Misdemeanors whatsoever by them or any of them committed since the Beginning of the Reign of King James the II and if any of them are Attainted by Parliament the Lords Justices and the General will use their best Endeavours to get the same repealed by the Parliament and the Outlawries to be reversed Gratis all but Writing-Clerks fees VI. WHEREAS the present Wars have drawn great Violences on both Parties and that if Leave were given for bringing all Sorts of private Actions the Animosities would probably continue that have been so long on Foot and the publick Disturbance last For the Quieting and Settling therefore of the Kingdom and avoiding those Inconveniences which would be your Necessary Consequence of the Contrary no Person or Persons whatsoever comprized in the foregoing Articles shall be Sued Molested or Impleaded at the Suit of any Party or Parties whatsoever for any Trespass by them committed or for any Arms Horses Mony Goods Chattles Merchandize or Provision whatsoever by them seized or taken during the Time of the War And no Person or Persons whatsoever in the 2d or 3d Articles comprised shall be Sued Impleaded or made accountable for the Rents or mean Rates of any Lands Tenements or Houses by him or them received or enjoyed in this Kingdom since the Beginning of this present War to the Day of the Date hereof nor for any Waste or Trespass by him or them committed in any such Lands Tenements or Houses And it is also agreed That this Article shall be mutual and reciprocal on both sides VII EVERY Nobleman and Gentleman comprised in the said 2d and 3d Articles shall have liberty to Ride with a Sword and Case of Pistols if they think fit and keep a Gun in their Houses for the Defence of the same or Fowling VIII THE Inhabitants Residents of the City of Limerick anâ— other Garrisons shall be permitted to remove their Goodâ— Chattels and Provisions out of the same without being vieweâ— or searched or paying any manner of Duty and shall not be compelled to leave their Houses or Lodgings they now haâ—â— therein for the Space of 6 Weeks next ensuing the Date hereof IX THE Oath to be administred to such Roman-Catholicks as submit to their Majesties Government shall be the Oath abovesaid and no other X. NO Person or Persons who shall at any time hereafter break these Articles or any of them shall thereby make or cause any other Person or Persons to forfeit or lose the Benefit of the same XI THE Lords Justices and General do promise to use their utmost Endeavours that all Persons comprehended in the abovementioned Articles shall be protected and defended from all Arrests and Executions for Debt or Damage for the Space of 8 Months next ensuing the Date hereof XII LASTLY The Lords Justices and General do undertake that their Majesties will ratifie these Articles within the Space of 8 Months or sooner and use their utmost Endeavours that the same shall be ratified and confirmed in Parliament XIII AND whereas Colonel John Brown stood indebted to several Protestants by Judgments of Record which appearing to the late Government the Lord Tyrconnel and Lord Lucan took away the Effects the said John Brown had to answer the said Debts and promised to clear the said John Brown of the said Debts which effects were taken for the publick use of
least as great as ours and 't is only to their Numbers that the Victory is to be attributed We have of their Prisoners Col. Montrevel Quarter Master-General of the Horse the Marquiss de Montmorenci Colonel and other Officers as well as a great many private Soldiers We have likewise taken divers Colours Standards and Kettle-Drums and except in the Left Wing the Victory was on our side to the last The Troops who are most of them again rallied have Orders part of them to stay at Moncalier and the rest to encamp before this City The Enemy have not made any motion since their Victory and are still in their Camp they have only burnt some Houses about Bainasco This Day was brought hither from Villa Franca by the Po the heavy Artillery that was made use of against Pignerol We apprehended the Enemy would have sent a Detachment thither before it was embark'd All the Baggage which was likewise sent from Villa Franca is come to Moncalier As I am closing my Letter I understand that Col. Montaubon is arrived with about 500 Horse which he rallied and brought from Villa Franca along the Po to cover the Artillery I just now mentioned Turin Octob. 5th But while France was thus Triumphing every where over the Confederates she felt a most dangerous Enemy within her own Bowels that swept away a multitude of her Inhabitants which was Famine which for all the Care the King could take made the Face of the Kingdom look with a most ghastly Countenance and which with something else made her pretty early make Proposals of Peace to the Emperor that in themselves were not contemptible But it was impossible to disjoin him from his Allies and therefore finding it would not do that way it was given out then and I am apt to believe it was so or raised with an Intention that it should be so That new Proposals of Peace were made to the King of Spain the Empire King of England and the Duke of Savoy by which it was offered to restore all the Places taken since the Treaty of Nimeguen and withal to surrender some as they were then fortified But whatever there was in it the Event shew'd it came to nothing And now having in a manner done with the Affairs of the Allies and France we 'll see a little how the Emperor and his Confederates have fared with the Turks this Campaign As for the Poles and Venetians they were so far from doing any thing memorable in their respective Stations against the Insidels that the former instead of favouring the Designs of the Imperialists in Hungary and keeping tight to their Obligations seemed inclinable as was supposed by the Instigations of the King of France to clap up a Peace with the Port And to make such a Disingagement the more plausible the Polish Embassador at Vienna made some odd Propositions by way of Complaint to the Emperor the Purport whereof we can no otherwise give than by the Answer his Imperial Majesty made in these Words HIS Sacred Imperial Majesty our most gracious Lord by the Relation humbly made to him has been acquainted with the Proposals made to his Imperial Ministers at the Conference upon the 8th of May last by the most Serene King of Poland's Extraordinary Embassador the Lord Samuel Proski Knight of Malta and Commendador of Posonia and first with a deep Sense of Gratitude he acknowledges the Glorious Inclination of your Royal Majesty to carry on and indefatigably continue this Sacred War and that Succour so seasonably afforded at the Siege of Vienna Which nevertheless in the most prudent Judgment of your Royal Majesty was deemed more advantagious and more necessary than any other Expedition for the Preservation and Security of the Kingdom of Poland it self However his Imperial Majesty considers it as a Kindness solely conferred upon himself and shall to perpetuity recain the Memory of it most ardently wishing that the same Danger may never so nearly threaten the Kingdom of Poland and more especially Craccovia the Metropolis of it yet faithfully engaging himself to be most ready upon all Occasions even with the Hazard and Detriment of his Provinces to repay the same Assistance and Favour according to the Claim of mutual Confederacy as has not only been formerly granted by him in the most desperate Extremities of the Polish Affairs at what time the said City with the Effusion of much Blood was ransom'd to the Kingdom as many are living yet to remember but what he has the Satisfaction to prove not only by the Testimony almost of all the World but of his own Conscience that is to say That in the present War he has not fail'd in any Duty of a Sincere Friend a Neighbour and Confederate Wherefore though that same unexpected and so little deserved yet so plain an Accusation has been laid to his Charge wherein for so many and much greater Acts of Royal Fraternity as the Lord Embassador alledges no reciprocal regard has been had to the Demands of the most Serene King but that he could enumerate many and those not ordinary Specimens of most Cordial Love Friendship and Good Will Nevertheless though such Commemorations diminish rather the Merit of the Benefit than augment the mutual Correspondencies of Friendship his Imperial Majesty setting those aside has commanded several Answers to be given to the rest of the Heads of the Lord Ambassador's Propositions But whether this or somewhat else gave the K. of Poland full Satisfaction or that some other Accident diverted that Crown from proceeding in the separate Negotiation of a Peace with the Turks there was little more heard of it But which way soever things stood with the Imperial Court in relation to their Allies they were not a whit daunted but after having carried the Fortress of Jeno in Vpper Hungary towards the beginning of the Summer they made all things ready to besiege Belgrade The Duke of Croy had the chief Command of the Imperial Army this Year who towards the latter end of July invested the Town but the Trenches were not opened till the 13th of Aug. at Night which were carried on towards the Counterscarp the Besieged the same Day making a numerous Sally as they did also on the 17th but were repulsed both times with considerable Loss as they were also the two following Days upon the same occasion while the General in the mean time ordered a strong Detachment of Horse and Foot to go and lay a Bridge over the Danube and to raise 5 Forts on each side the River to stop the Enemies Fleets On the 21st they began to build the said Bridge from whence as well as from the Imperial Fleet they play'd furiously upon that of the Enemy while they carried on their Trenches within 100 paces of the Counterscarp and finished a great Battery on which they planted 32 Cartouches and some other Pieces of Cannon which being on the 25th reinforced with 10 Mortars they battered the Place next Day with
little that we were in a manner left disconsolate and next to Despair And what could that be alas but the Death of the best of Queens the best of Wives nay the best of Women our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Mary Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland which happen'd on the 28th of December at her Palace of Kensington after she had lain some few Days sick of the Small-Pox To attempt her Character would be Arrogance in me since it has been done so well by so many learned Pens But I cannot omit remarking the Answer as I have heard His Majesty who knew her best was pleased to make the Archbishop of Canterbury when he went to comfort him for his great Loss That he could not chuse but grieve seeing she had been his Wife for 17 Years and yet he never knew her guilty of an Indiscretion And to add what most People are apt to pass over untouched That she was certainly a Princess of real Piety which I should not say if I had not known some Circumstances my self concerning her upon that Account that were evident tokens of it Wherefore I shall end this unhappy Year with the Parliament and Nation 's Condolance of the King upon this great Loss as himself was pleased to express it and their Protestations to stand by him against all Opponents whatsoever both at home and abroad And the Truth of it is if ever Addresses were real and unfeigned they were those made upon this Occasion since it has been obvious to any Man of Observation that that sad Providence did very much heighten Men's Affections to His Majesty's Person which being before as it were divided between him and that beloved Princess were now entirely cemented into one year 1695 But tho' the Nation laboured under this great Sorrow for our unretrievable Loss as we did also from the Badness of our Coin which had been a long growing Evil upon us and began now to be very intolerable yet there was no going back And therefore the Parliament went roundly to work and besides some other useful Bills had by the 11th of Feb. prepared for the Royal Assent An Act for Granting 4 s. in the Pound to His Majesty And for Applying the Yearly Summ of 300000 l. for Five Years out of the Duties of Tunnage and Poundage and other Summs of Mony payable upon Merchandizes Exported and Imported for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour But what Zeal soever the two Houses in general shewed for the common Cause there was such a Brangle at this time among them especially in the Upper House about sending of the Fleet to the Streights that tho' some under the specious Pretence of Good Will towards the Government took upon them to shew the Inconvenience of it Yet the major part of that most honourable Assembly shewed themselves to have far different Sentiments by their Address of Thanks to the King for so ordering it And it happen'd â— little favourably as if it had been a Confirmation of their Lordships Judgments that News came soon after which gave an Account that some Frigats which Admiral Russel had sent out to cruise had taken 2 French Men of War of the bigger Size near Messina So that the other Party was now obliged to acquiesce and the Lovers of the Government to go on with the King's Business But it was the middle of April or thereabout before there were any more Mony-Bills ready when His Majesty signed among divers others An Act for enabling such Persons as had Estates for Life in Annuities payable by several former Acts therein mentioned to purchase and obtain farther and more certain Interests in such Annuities And in Default thereof for Admitting other Persons to purchase or obtain the same for Raising Moneys for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchellors and Widowers for the Term of 5 Years for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty several Additional Duties upon Coffee Tea Chocolate and Spices towards Satisfaction of the Debts due for Transport-Service for the Reduction of Ireland And then he was pleased to tell them that the season of the Year was so far advanced and the circumstances of affairs so pressing that he very earnestly recommended unto them the speedy dispatching of such business as they thought of most importance for the publick good because he was to make an end of the Sessions in a few Days which was done accordly after the signing of some other Bills which the Parliament had dispatched and among the rest An Act to grant unto the King certain Duties upon Glass-wares Stone and Earthen Bottles Coal and Culm for carrying on the War as before Then it was that he told them the necessity there was for his Presence abroad but that he would take care to have the administration of Affairs during his Absence put into such Persons hands on whose care and fidelity he could entirely depend and that he doubted not but they both Lords and Gentlemen in their several Stations would be assisting to them and that what it was he required of them was to be more than ordinarily vigilant in preserving the publick Peace In pursuance to this His Majesties Resolution he was pleased before his Departure which was on the 12th of May to appoint in Council the Lord Archbishop the Lord Keeper the Earl of Pembrook the Duke of Devonshire the Duke of Shrewsbury the Earl of Dorset and the Lord Godolphin to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Absence beyond the Seas where as before he was Commander in Chief of all the Confederate Forces which were this Campaign very strong and out-numbred the French 20000 Men which yet was no such odds as to act offensively as they did as the Duke de Villeroy was over the Armies of France in the room of the Duke of Luxemburg who died towards the beginning of this Year There were two Camps formed for the Confederate Army the one was at Arseel to be commanded by the King in Person and under him by the old Prince de Vaudemont to whom His Majesty had given last Winter the Command in chief of his Armies and the other at Ninove under the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Holstein Ploen The King after his usual Divertion went on the 27th of May from Breda to Ghent where the Inhabitants made great preparations to receive him with demonstrations of Joy suitable to what they owed to so great a King and the Protector of their Country and could not have done more to their own Sovereign the King of Spain had he come among them But though the King ordered the Rendesvouz of his Army in the foresaid place and that the Elector himself advanced towards the Scheld yet it is very likely that at the very beginning of the Campaign His
of a strong Detachment from the Rhine which some-time after joined him he marched directly that way with this grand Army which as themselves gave out was no less than an 100000 Men and with which they boasted to do the Work effectually and so give Peace to Christendom But herein they were grosly mistaken for besides that Prince Vaudemont in conjunction with the Earl of Athlone was got before them to the strong Camp of Massâ—y the Confederates had also a strong Detachment from the Rhine to join them under the Command of that brave Prince the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel So that the Siege of the Castle went briskly on and the Camp was strongly Fortified at the same time and His Majesty was present in both as there was occasion For as to the former when all things were got ready the Trenches were opened against Cohornâ— Fort the 13th of Aug. at Night with 900 Pioneers and they began to play from no less than 12 Batteries when one 〈◊〉 their Bombs falling upon the Magazine of the Devil's House blew up above 1000 Granadoes charged ruined a great quantity of Arms and killed and wounded several Persons according to the report of Deserters and notice being come on the 14th that all the Horses in the Castle stood ready Sadled and that Monsieur Boufflers had a design to break through the Camp with his Cavalry the King thereupon ordered good Guards to be set at all places where the Sambre could be past the same being done all along the Meuse by General Fleming which prevented the said Enterprize The Trenches were carried on the following days with great Success though the Enemy fired furiously in the Night-time both with their great and small Shot and made Sallies to disturb the Work-men but were still repulsed And now it proved to be very hot Work on both sides and the Besiegers at length ordered their matters so well that they brought no less than 191 Pieces of Cannon and Mortars to play upon the Fort and Castle but the Besieged began now to be more remiss in their Firings However on the 18th they made a Sally with 200 Dragoons mounted and 500 Granadeers whereof an 150 of the latter made their Attack on the right Hand but were repulsed by the Count de Ribera then upon the left where my Lord Cutts had just posted the advanced Guards to secure the Workmen and a 100 Dragoons fell upon Lieutenant Sutton who being posted in the Plain of Salsine with 37 Fuzileers let them come on till they were very near him and then giving them a round Volley retreated to his Body but the Dragoons pressing upon him they fired upon them a second time when the Spanish and Bavarian Horse falling on among them with down-right Blows drove them to the very Gate of the Castle killing some and making others Prisoners But the French Army being in the mean while come as far as Flerus to the Besieged's succour that the latter might believe they were in earnest they gave them a Signal of this Approach by a discharge of 90 Pieces of Cannon which was answered with a great number of Lights and Fugees from the top of the Castle This obliged the King to leave the Care of the Siege to the Elector and the Duke of Holstein Ploen and to repair to the Army with a Resolution to oppose the French who seemed now fully bent to fight him In order to this the Marshal de Villeroy drew out his Army in formal Array and attacked the advanced Guard of the Confederate Horse for the gaining of an advantageous Post which obliged the King to keep the Field from 4 in the Morning till 8 at Night but the Marshal being repulsed by the Hessian Horse and finding it would not do that way he retired without any Noise in the Night and next day was seen moving along the Mehaign extending his Right Wing to Perwys and his Left to Bonefse as the King at the same time advanced with his Army towards Ostin and that way to observe his motion But tho' his Majesty saw them now secure from the Assaults of Villeroy from without yet besides the troublesomeness of such a Neighbour scarcity began to creep into his Camp wherefore upon the 19th of Aug. his Majesty with the Elector of Bavaria Prince Vaudemont and other General Officers concerted a General Assault for next day the disposition and manner whereof was as followeth My Lord Cutts with 3000 English was to attack the Counterscarp and Breach of the Terra Nova and that part of the Line of Communication between the Cohorne and the Terra Nova which was next to the Terra Nova The Count de Rivera was to attack the Breach of the Cohorne and that part of the aforesaid Line of Communication next the Cohorne with 3000 Bavarians and Others Major General la Cave was to attack on the Right of Count Rivera with 2000 Brandenburgers the upper Point of the Cohorne and part of the Cohorne and part of the Communication to the Casotte Major General Swerin was to attack the Casotte with 2000 Dutch and at the same time a Colonel was to attack the Lower Town with 600 Men. The Signal was to be a considerable Quantity of Powder blown up upon the old Battery near the Brussels Port and the Word of Battle given by the Elector of Bavaria was God with Vs. The Directions given by the Elector of Bavaria to the aforesaid General Officers that were to command the respective Attacks in chief were as follows That a certain number of Men should be commanded in each Attack upon the Forlorn Hope another number to sustain them and the rest to be upon the Reserve and as to Particulars he left it to each General Officer Commanding in Chief to do as his own Judgment and the Occasion should direct him only it was ordered that Count Rivera's Attack and those upon the Right of him should begin some Minutes before the English Attack because that was like to be the most difficult The Lord Cutts the Night before the Attack received a Detachment from the King of 1000 chosen Men which were to be part of his 3000 For his Majesty was now at the Head of the Confederate Army and had left my Lord Cutts to command all the English that stayed with the Duke of Bavaria to carry on the Siege It was ordered by the Duke of Bavaria the Night before the Action That all the Troops designed for the several Attacks should march into the Trenches before day there to lie undiscovered till the Hour of Signal The Lord Cutts in pursuance of this Order marched into the Trenches with his Men some Hours before day but there not being room enough to cover all his Men he was forced to place 3 Regiments at the Abby of Salsen which was the nearest Place to the Trenches where they could lie undiscover'd The Disposition which my Lord Cutts made for the English was as follows He commanded 4 Serjeants
over the Christistians Left Wing But they being soon rallied and reinforced the Turks were several times beaten back and after a Fight that lasted for 3 Hours forced to yield the Field of Battle to the Victorious Christians with the loss of about 3000 Men slain upon the Spot besides Prisoners and to retire into their Retrenchments which they quitted next Night and retreated silently out of the Morea But with so much haste that they left in their Camp behind 14 Pieces of Cannon 2 Mortars a good number of Bombs great store of Ammunition and Provision 2 Standards several Tents 700 Head of Oxen and 300 Cammels and Horses as a Booty to the Conquerors whose loss amounted to about 500 Men and who by this brave Action prevented the Ravaging of the whole Morea and the Besieging of Napoli di Romania by Land while the Turkish Fleet blocked it up by Sea as the Infidels had concerted their Design But I do not find the Venetians made any Improvement of this Victory tho' it hapned timely enough in the Summer However it was exceeding brave of them and the Germans too in comparison of the Poles which Army I think hardly ever turned out of their Quarters this Season and the chief business of whose King was to endeavour though in vain to mediate a reconciliation between the Bishop of Vilna and the General of Lithuania whom the former excommunicated for quartering of some Troops within his Jurisdiction A hard Case upon a Prince to have his measures broken in relation to the Campaign as himself told the Deputies of the said Bishop thro' the feuds of a couple of humorous Subjects But thus it is to hold a precarious Crown And as for the Muscovites all that we heard of them this Summer was their march against the Tartars but nothing of Action save the blocking up of Asoph of which you will hear more next Year It remains now that we return homewards and briefly see what had been doing before the Conclusion of the Year His Majesty after so glorious a Campaign as before mentioned hasted for England and being arrived to the gladning of the Hearts of all his honest Subjects on the 11th of Oct. at his Palace at Kensington He called a Council that very Night and a Proclamation was ordered to be issued fourth for the Dissolving of the then Parliament and calling a new one to meet upon Nov. 22d following Soon after this the Great Duke of Tuscany's Envoy whose Master was grown mighty good Natur'd since our Fleet went into the Streights had his Audience of His Majesty to Congratulate his Happy Accession to the Throne but this was somewhat like to that of the Ilienses which we Read of in Suetonius who coming a Day after the Fair to Condole with the Emperor Tiberius for the Death of his Son Drusus the other made them Answer And I also Condole with you the Death of your great Countryman Hector This being over His Majesty went a short Progress and the day of the Parliaments sitting being come he spake to them to this Effect My Lords and Gentlemen IT is with great Satisfaction that I meet you here this Day being assured of a good Disposition in my Parliament when I have had such full Proofs of the Affection of My People by their Behaviour during My Absence and at My Return I was engaged in the present War by the Advice of My first Parliament who thought it necessary for the Defence of Our Religion and for the Preservation of the Liberties of Europe The last Parliament with great Chearfulness did assist Me to carry 〈◊〉 on and I cannot doubt but that your Concern for the Common Safety will oblige you to be unanimously zealous in the Prosecutio◠of it And I am glad That the Advantages which We have had this Year give Vs a Reasonable Ground of hoping for farther Success hereafter Vpon this Occasion I cannot but take Notice of the Courage and Bravery the English Troops have shewn this last Summer which I may say has answered their highest Character in any Age. And it will not be denied That without the Concurrence of the Valour and Power of England it were impossible to put a Stop to the Ambition and Greatness of France Gentlemen of the House of Commons I think it my great Misfortune That from the Beginning of My Reign I have been forced to Ask so many and such large Aids of My People And yet I am confident you will agree with Me in Opinion That there will be at least as great Supplies requisite for Carrying on the War by Sea and Land this Year as were Granted in the last Session and the rather because Our Enemies are Augmenting their Troops and the Necessity of Increasing Our Shipping does plainly appear The Funds which have been given have proved very deficient The Condition of the Civil List is such that it will not be possible for Me to subsist unless that Matter be taken into your Care And Compassion obliges Me to mention the miserable Circumstances of the French Protestants who suffer for their Religion And therefore Gentlemen I most earnestly recommend to you to prouide a Supply suitable to these several Occasions I must likewise take notice of a great Difficulty We lie under at this time by reason of the ill State of the Coin the Redress of which may perhaps prove a further Charge to the Nation But this is a Matter of so general Concern and so great Importance that I have thought fit to leave it entirely to the Consideration of My Parliament I did recommend to the last Parliament the Forming some good Bill for the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen I hope you will not let this Session pass without doing something in it And that you will consider of such Laws as may be proper for the Advancement of Trade and that you will have a particular Regard to that of the East-India's lest it should be lost to the Nation And while the War makes it necessary to have an Army abroad I could wish some Way might be thought of to Raise the necessary Recruits without giving Occasion of Complaint My Desire to meet My People in a New Parliament has made the Opening of this Session very late which I hope you will have such Regard to as to make all possible Dispatch of the great Business before you And also that you will call to mind that by the long Continuance of the last Session We did not only lose Advantages which We might have had at the Beginning of the Campaign but gave the Enemy such an Opportunity as might have proved very fatal to us And I am the more concerned to press this because of the great Preparations which the French make to be early in the Field this Year My Lords and Gentlemen I have had such Experience of your good Affections and I have such an entire Satisfaction in the Choice which My People have made of you Gentlemen
resolved to Execute their Bloody Project on Saturday the 22d of February The Forenoon of that Day was spent in a tedious expectation of News that the King was gone Abroad when one of their Orderly Men which they lodged at Kensington to give them Notice when the King went out tells them that the Guards were all come back in a Foam and that there was a muttering among the People that a Damnable Plot was Discovered and this unexpected News dispersed all the Conspirators and drove them to shift for themselves by a speedy Flight Nor were their apprehensions of a Discovery groundless for the Plot and the Progress that was made in it from time to time had been Discovered by Richard Fisher to the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland a considerable time before any other Person Discovered it and as things ripen'd for Action his Lordship was a cquainted with the Particulars On the 10th of February he acquainted that Noble Lord how far it was advanced and promised to wait upon his Lordship with a further Account in a few Days accordingly he did On February the 13th he gave his Lordship a full Account of the Design it self and the Time Place and Manner of its Execution but refusing to give to his Lordship the Names of the Conspirators made his Discovery suspected till the Addition of other Witnesses gave an unquestionable Authority to the Truth of it Mr. Pendergrass who was wholly ignorant of this Barbarous Design till he was sent for to London and there acquainted with it being struck with Horror and Astonishment at the first Proposal of it even then took a Resolution to preserve His Majesty's Life and Discover the Conspiracy Accordingly on February 14th he waited on the Earl of Portland at his Lordship's Lodgings at White-Hall and being admitted to Privacy with his Lordship though wholly a Stranger without further Address accosts his Lordship with this surprizing Request Pray My Lord perswade the King to stay at home to Morrow for if he goes abroad to Hunt he will be Murdered to this he subjoined a Relation of the whole Plot as it had been Communicated unto him by the Confederated Assassines which he said he would have told the King himself but that he durst not go to Kensington for fear of the two Orderly Men which were kept as Spies there to give Intelligence of what occurred in that Court He was introduced that Night to the King though very late and there in his whole Deportment shew'd himself to be a Man of Honour neither was Mr. de la Rue short of Mr. Pendergras in making a discovery of the intended Assassination though his Friend Brigadeer Lewson who he designed should acquaint the King with it being then out of Town makes his Information appear somewhat latter then the former For as he is a Man of too much Honour to be engaged in a Murder so his concern to discover it was from the beginning though he did not declare it till his Discovery might be serviceable to His Majesty and then as soon as he had opportunity to impart the Secret he did it and Brigadier Lewson much about the same time acquainted the King that Mr. de la Rue informed him of a Design carrying on to Assassinate His Majesty and had given him a particular Account by what methods it was design'd to be accomplished and proposed a way if the King thought 〈◊〉 how all the Conspirators might be taken in Arms when they thought to attempt it But that which seems strange in all these Discoverers though they punctually agreed and in the Circumstances yet they all peremptorily refused to name the Conspirators which might have been of fatal consequence if the Earl of Portland had not found out the happy expedient to prevent it by perswading His Majesty to give himself the trouble to examine Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. de la Rue in his Closet His Majesty being overcome by the Reasons alledged by that Noble Peer condescended to his Request and examined them both seperately At Mr. Pendergrass's Examination was present the Earl of Portland and the Lord Cuts and Mr. de la Rue's Examination was heard by the same Noble Earl and Brigadier Lewson After the Examination His Majesty shewed himself extreamly well satisfied in the Truth of their Discoveries and in a very obliging manner expressed his Resentments to of their great Care and Zeal they shewed for the preservation of his Life and the safety of the Kingdom and at last gave them such unanswerable Reasons why as Men of Honour and lovers of their Country they should compleat their Duty and Kindness in discovering the Names of the Conspirators that quite subdued their former Obstinacies and prevailed upon them to make a full and true Discovery of the Assassins under the promise of not being made use of as Evidences But Mr. Pendergrass hearing that Mr. Porter who engaged him in it had Discovered and Accused him he thought himself Discharged from any Obligation of Honour in concealing it and therefore afterwards as an Evidence for the King freely told all he knew at Charnock's Tryal Pag. 40. The King having now a perfect knowledge of the Conspiracy and the Names of the Conspirators His Majesty Issues out his Royal Proclamation requiring all his Loving Subjects to Apprehend the Conspirators promising 1000 l. reward for every Offender that should be taken and brought to Justice And here give me leave to take notice of the extream Fury Madness and Bigottry of Mr. Charnock who meeting with Mr. Bertram accidentally at Lincolns-Inn Back-gate told him That Warrants were out against them as he heard and they had as good if he would come to his Lodging go up to Kensington and do the Work at once and take off the Spark and then they should be all at quiet and have the King peaceably here What a strange infatuation this ingenious Man was under is a wonder to all that knew him Immediately after the Proclamation was out Mr. George Harris one of the Persons that was sent out of France to obey the Orders of Sir George Barclay and was actually engaged in the Assassination resigned himself to the Right Honourable Sir William Trumbal one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State and generously convinced him of the reality of the Assassination and invasion Plots though he was not able to declare the particular Circumstance◠that attended them His Majesty being now fully convinced on all hands both of the Conspiracy and intended Invasion used no delay in sending for a sufficient number of Troops over as he gave all necessary Orders to Arm the Fleet Admiral Russel being immediately ordered down to Chatham for that purpose and the Rendesvous appointed in the Downs where all the Men of War we had in the Sea-ports were ordered to come and join the Admiral that with such Dispatch and admirable Celerity and that in 4 or 5 days time the Admiral had a Fleet of near 60 Men of War in
Marquisate of Suza and Barcellonet into Pignerol and its Dependencies in order to Regulate his Interests Rights and Revenues and to settle his Customs and Excises upon Salt and other things And the said deputed Persons shall be admitted and authorised in their Offices immediately after the Ratification of this present Treaty after which the said Duties shall belong to his Royal Highness without Exception or Contradiction XIII That if the Neutrality for Italy be accepted or that a General Peace be Concluded as in such Cases a great many Troops would become altogether Useless and Chargeable to his Royal Highness and that besides the excessive Charges requisite for the maintaining of them they commonly become an occasion of creating a mis-understanding among Princes when more Troops are kept on Foot than are necessary in a State either for its own Conservation or for the maintaining of the Dignity of a Sovereign Prince his Royal Highness doth therefore oblige himself not to keep in times of Neutrality any more than Six thousand Foot on this side the Alpes and One thousand five hundred on the other side of the Mountains for the Garrisons of Savoy and of the County of Nice and One thousand five hundred Horse or Dragoons and this Obligation is to continue only till the General Peace be Concluded We the above-mentioned Plenipotentiaries have agreed upon and signed these present Articles and we do promise and engage to procure them to be ratified and confirmed by his Majesty and by his Royal Highness promising likewise that they shall be kept secret till the end of September next and if at that time new Articles are made to the same Sense and purpose then these shall be suppressed Dated at Turin the Twenty Ninth of August 1696. Rhene de Froullay and Saint Thomas And because some may be curious to see the French King's Act of Surrender of the Country of Savoy to the Duke it was conceived in these Terms BE it known to all Persons whatsoever That in pursuance of a Treaty of Peace made and signed between his most Christian Majesty Lewis XIV King of France and Navarre on the one part and his Royal Highness Victor Amadeus II. Duke of Savoy Prince of Piedmont King of Cyprus c. on the other Part That his most Christian Majesty hath given Orders to Monsieur Anthony Balthasar Marquiss de Thoy Major General of the Armies of France and Governour of Savoy to restore entirely to his Royal Highness all the Countries Places Castles and Fortresses of all Savoy except Montmilian and to draw out all the Troops that are there pursuant to his Majesty's Letters Patents To this end his Royal Highness hath sent the Marquiss of Thana Captain of his Life Guards Major General of his Army and Governour of Savoy with a Power to receive in his Royal Highness's Name all the said Estates and Places The said Marquiss de Thoy having therefore personally appeared in the Council-Chamber of the Town-Hall of Chambery and having there assembled the Nobility the Syndics and Counsellors of the said City and the said Marquiss of Thana there likewise appearing did then and there receive from the said Marquiss de Thoy an absolute and full Surrender in the Name of his most Christian Majesty of all the Countries and of all the Places of the Dutchy of Savoy Montmelian only excepted according to the Treaty of Peace The said Marquiss de Thoy expressing the same in these following Words viz. My Lord Marquess de Thana in Pursuance of an Order from the King my Master and according to the Power you have also received from his Royal Highness I do hereby make an entire Surrender and Restitution to his Royal Highness in your Person of all the Countries and Places and of all the Dependencies of the Estate of Savoy Montmelian excepted and his Royal Highness may accordingly dispose of the same in like manner as he had done before those Estates were conquered by the King 's Arms. To which the Marquiss of Thana answered That he received in his Royal Highness's Name the aforesaid Countries Places and Dependencies This done the Marquiss de Thoy repeated once more the Words of the said Surrender and then went out of the Town House Of all the aforesaid Transactions both the said Marquesses de Thoy and Thana caused an Act to be made before Publick Notaries which was signed Thoy de Pisâ—en Marquiss de Thana As Witnesses Syndics Favre de Charmettes Perin Cugnet Tonce Syndics I Jasper Chambet Notary and Burgess of Chambery have receiv'd and passed the present Act as required Signed G. Chambet Not. When the News of this procedure came our King was Encamped at Gemblours where Monsieur de la Tour the Duke of Savoy's Envoy notified to him the separate Peace which his Master had made with the French King and that the Forces of the Allies were to depart his Country within such a limitted time or be forced to it by his own Troops in Conjunction with those of France But that it was in the power of the Confederates to make a Neutrality which should include all Italy within the same time I could never learn what Answer his Majesty gave the Envoy but perhaps he was more concerned that the Duke by Letter should excuse the matter to the Emperor King of Spain and Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburg and yet not a line to him than at the thing it self and this procedure of the Dukes makes that Harange of his Envoy the Marquess de Govon to the late King James in Sept. this Year to be the more to be believed the which because so Diametrically opposite to that we have given you in the preceding part of this Book which was made to his present Majesty and our late Queen Mary of Happy Memory and that it is a strange instance of the unconstancy of sublunary things take as follows SIR HIS Royal Highness is at length happily reconciled to his mâ—st Christian Majesty against whom he had rashly taken up Arms tho' he has all along receiv'd sincere Proofs of His Majesty's Protection The strict Leagues his noble Ancestors have heretofore had with France and the more exact Alliance his Royal Highness has contracted by his Marriage have but the more disjoyn'd him from the Interest of that Kingdom This Vnion which ought to have been the most inviolable we have lately seen interrupted by the Artifices of his most Christian Majesty's and your Majesty's Enemies to whom his Royal Highness has been hitherto so weak as to give ear His Royal Highness therefore humbly begs Your Majesty would please to pardon his past Conduct so very contrary to his sincere Desires to re-establish your Majesty upon your Throne The Injustice and Oppression of your Enemies Sir have caused his most Christian Majesty to engage in this War God Almighty has hitherto favour'd his Attempts because they are just and 't is also to be hoped he will lend the like Attention to your Majesty's Petition
if he did not to fall under the Censure of the House The Papers being read Sir John was immediately ordered to be brought before them and being interrogated by the Speaker concerning his Inclinations to make a Discovery of the Designs and Practises of the Enemies of the Government with a Promise of Favour if he were Ingenious therein yet finding by all the Answers he made he did nothing but Prevaricate with the House alledging the King knew already what he had discovered and that he could not be safe to tell them any thing without assurance of Security for himself They ordered a Bill to be brought in to Attaint him of High Treason which was carried by a great Majority in the House and Mr. Speaker acquainting them that he had received a Letter from Sir John Fenwicke importing That having received a Copy of the Bill with the House's Order thereupon he desired such Counsel and Sollicitor as he therein named might be allowed him The same was readily agreed to tho' it was said the Sollicitor was a very great Jacobite and insinuated farther that he was suspected to have been concerned in Goodman's Escape The first debate that hapned upon Sir John's being brought to the Bar of the House was concerning the Mace whether it should lie on the Table while he was in the House or whether the Sergeant ought to stand by him with it at the Bar which last was carried and then the Bill was read by the Clerk of the Parliament in these Words WHereas Sir John Fenwicke Bar was upon the Oaths of George Porter Esq and Cardell Goodman Gent. at the Sessions of Oyer and Terminer held for the City of London on the 28th day of May 1696. Indicted of High Treason in Compassing and Imagining the Death and Destruction of His Majesty and adhering to His Majesty's Enemies by Consulting and Agreeing with several Persons whereof some have been already Attainted and others not yet brought to their Tryals for the said Treason at several Meetings to send Robert Charnock since Attainted and Executed for High Treason in Conspiring to Assassinate His Majesty's Sacred Person whom God long preserve to the late King James in France to â—â—cite and Incourage the French King to Invade this Kingdom with an Armed Force by Promising to Join with and Assist him with Men and Arms upon such an Invasion And whereas the said Sir John Fenwicke did obtain His Majesty's Favour to have his Tryal delayed from time to time upon his repeated Promises of making an ingenuous and full Confession of his Knowledge of any Design or Conspiracy against His Majesty's Person or Government and of the Persons therein concerned And whereas he has so far abused His Majesty's great Clemency and Indulgence therein That instead of making such Confession he hath contrived and framed False and Scandalous Papers as his Informations reflecting on the Fidelity of several Noble Peers divers Members of the House of Commons and others only by Hearsay and contriving thereby to Vndermine the Government and create Jealousies between the King and his Subjects and to stifle the real Conspiracy And whereas Cardell Goodman one of the Witnesses against the said Sir John Fenwicke to Prove the said Treason lately and since the several times appointed for the Tryal of the said Sir John Fenwicke at one of which times the said Sir John Fenwicke had been accordingly Tryed had it not been for the Expectation of the said Discoveries so often promised by him is withdrawn so that the said Cardell Goodman cannot be had to give Evidence upon any Tryal Be it Enacted by the King 's most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said Sir John Fenwicke be and is hereby Convicted and Attainted of High Treason and shall suffer the Pains of Death and inâ—â— all Forfeiture as a Person Attainted of High Treason The Bill being read the King's Counsel Sergeant Goulâ— and Sergeant Lovell according to Mr. Speaker's Direction very learnedly especially the former opened the Evidence they had to prove the Suggestions of it and were as learnedly answered by Sir Thomas Powis and Sir Bartholomeâ— Shoar the Prisoner's Counsel who alledged That if the other would only call in Evidence to prove the Suggestions of the Bill they were ready to answer them but if they called in Evidence to prove Sir John Fenwicke Guilty of the Conspiracy by living Witnesses they took upon them not to be ready for that saying They did not know they should be allowed liberty to produce any Witnesses Whereupon they were ordered all to withdraw and the House debated the same a long time not without some Members making large Excursions from the Matter in dispute and after much Contestation as of other things of the proposing of the Question it self at length Mr. Speaker put it thus That the Council in managing of Evidence against Sir John Fenwicke be allowed to produce Evidence touching the Allegations of the Bill and the Treasons for which he was Indicted which was carried in the Affermative and the House it being late Adjourned to Monday the 16th of 〈◊〉 when the House proceeded farther upon it and the Council produced their Evidence which was Captain Porter 〈◊〉 gave a full Account of what he knew concerning Sir Joâ—â— Fenwicke's Guilt and was farther examined notwithstanding the Prisoner's Council stifly opposed it concerning 〈◊〉 being tampered with by one Clancy as to the taking off 〈◊〉 Testimony as to the late Conspiracy And not only so 〈◊〉 the King's Council produced the Record of Clancy's Conviction thereupon and so proceeded to Goodman's Examination taken under the Hand of Mr. Vernon which they prayed might be read but the Prisoner's Council opposed it as a thing unallowable and impracticable the Law requiring Persons to appear and give their Evidence viva voce c. and the House entred into an hot Debate upon it But at length it was carried the said Imformation should be read and next that some of Grand Jury should give an account upon what Evidence they found the Bill of Indictment that was thereupon brought in against Sir John Fenwicke From hence they proceeded to the Record of the Conviction of Mr. Cook and when the Council on both sides had spoke to it and the House debated the same it was moreover agreed That the said Record should be read and the King's Council allowed to examine Witnesses as to what Goodman swore at the Tryal of Cook which being over and some Questions asked concerning the forementioned Letter of Sir John Fenwicke it was agreed the Prisoner's Council if they had any Witnesses to examine on his Behalf might do it that Night but that as to their Observations the House would give them time till next Morning This they having none except a Record to produce accepted of and indeed said as much in Behalf of their
shall be lawful for 'em all in General and for every one in Particular without any need of Pardon or Acts of Oblivion in Writing to return in Person to their Houses and to the Enjoyment of their Lands and all their other Estates or to dispose of 'em in such a manner as they shall think fit III. And if any Prizes are taken upon the Baltick or North-Sea from Terneuse to the end of St. George's Channel within the space of Four Weeks and from the end of St. George's Channel to St. Vincent's Cape within the space of Six Weeks and from thence in the Mediterranean and as far as the Line within the space of Ten Weeks and beyond the Line and in all other parts of the World within the space of Eight Months to count from the Day that the Peace shall be proclaimed at Paris and at the Hague the said Prizes and Damages that shall be done on either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be reckon'd up and all that has been taken shall be restor'd and Compensation given for all the Dammages that shall be thereby sustain'd IV. Moreover there shall be between the said Lord the King and the said Lords the States General and their Subjects and Inhabitants reciprocally a sincere firm and perpetual Amity and good Correspondence as well by Sea as by Land and in all Parts and Places as well in as out of Europe without any Resentment of Injuries or Dammages as well for the time past as by occasion of the late War V. And in pursuance of this Amity and good Correspondence as well his Majesty as the Lords the States General shall cordially procure and advance the Good and Prosperity of each other by all the Ways of Support Aid Counsel and real Assistances upon all Occasions and at all Times and shall not consent for the future to any Treaties or Negotiations which may be prejudicial to each other but shall break 'em and give reciprocal Information thereof with Care and Sincerity so soon as they shall come to their Knowledge VI. They who have had any Estates seiz'd and confiscated by reason of the said War their Heirs or such who have right thereto of what Condition or Religion soever they may be shall enjoy the said Estates and shall take Possession of 'em by their own private Authority by virtue of this present Treaty without being constrain'd to have recourse to Justice notwithstanding any Incorporations into the Treasury Deeds of Gift Preparatory or Definitive Sentences given for Default and Contumacy in the Absence or without hearing the Parties Treaties Accords and Transactions whatever Renunciations may have been put in the said Transactions to exclude the Parties to whom the said Estates belong and all and every the Estates and Rights which according to conformity to this present Treaty shall be restor'd or ought to be restor'd reciprocally to the said Proprietors their Heirs or such as have right may be sold by the said Proprietors without any necessity of demanding particular consent so to do Also the Proprietors of Rents which on the behalf of the publick Treasury shall be constituted in the place of Goods sold as also of Rents and Actions being at the charge of the publick Treasury respectively shall dispose of the Propriety of them by Rent or otherwise as of their own proper Estates VII And in regard the Marquisate of Bergen op Zooâ— with all the Rights and Revenues that belong to it and generally all the Lordships and Estates belonging to M. the Count d' Auvergne Colonel-General of the Light Horse of France and which are in the Power of the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces have been seiz'd and confiscated by reason of the War to which this present Treaty is to put a happy Conclusion it is agreed That the said Count d' Auvergne shall be restor'd to the Possession of the said Marquisate of Bergen op Zoom its Appurtenancies and Dependancies as also to the Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives which he enjoy'd before the War was declar'd VIII All Countries Cities Places Lands Forts Islands and Signories as well in as out of Europe which may have been taken and possess'd since the beginning of this present War shall be restor'd on both sides in the same Condition as to the Fortifications as when they were taken and as to the other Buildings in the same Condition as theâ— shall be found nor shall any thing be destroy'd or embezzil'd nor shall any reparation of Damages be pretended to for what might have been demolish'd More-especially the Fort and Habitation of Pontichery shall be restor'd upon the foresaid Conditions to the East-India Company settl'd in France and as for the Artillery that was carry'd thither by the East-India Company of the United Provinces they shall still reserve it to themselves as also the Ammunition Provision Slaves and all other Effects to dispose of as they shall think fit as also of the Lands Rights and Privileges which they have acquir'd as well from the Prince as the Inhabitants of the Country IX All Prisoners of War shall be releas'd on both sides without Distinction or Exception and without paying any Ransom X. The raising of Contributions shall cease on both sides from the Day of Exchanging the Ratifications of the present Treaty of Peace and no Arrearages of the said Contributions demanded and agreed to shall be exacted but all Pretensions that remain upon that Occasion under any Claim or Pretence whatsoever shall be absolutely annihilated on both sides as also all Contributions on both sides in reference to the Countries of the Most Catholick and Christian Kings shall cease upon the Exchange of the said Ratifications of this present Treaty XI And for the better corroborating and establishing of this present Treaty it is farther agreed between his Majesty and the Lords the States General That this Treaty being fulfill'd there shall be made as hereby there is made a Renunciation as well General as Particular of all manner of Pretensions as well for the time past as present whatsoever they may be which one Party may have against the other to take away for the future all Occasions of stirring up and bringing to pass new Dissentions XII The usual Proceedings of Justice shall be open and the Course of Law shall be reciprocally free and the Subjects of both sides shall prosecute their Rights Actions and Pretensions according to the Laws and Statutes of each Country and thereby obtain the one against the other without Distinction all the Satisfaction that may lawfully belong to them And if any Letters of Reprisals have been granted on either side whether before or after the Declaration of the last War they shall be revoak'd and annull'd reserving to the Parties in favour of whom they were granted full Power to provide for themselves by the ordinary ways of Justice XIII If by Inadvertency or otherwise any Breach or Inobservance shall happen to the prejudice of this
present Treaty by his Majesty or the said Lords the States General and their Successors nevertheless this Peace and Alliance shall remain in its full Force without coming to a Rupture of the Amity and good Correspondence But the said Breaches shall be dresently repair'd and if they proceed from the Misdemeanor of any private Subjects they only shall suffer Punishment XIV And for the better Assurance for the future of the Trade and Amity between the Subjects of the said Lord the King and those of the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries it is accorded and agreed That if hereafter any Interruption of Friendship or Rupture shall happen between the Crown of France and the said Lords the States General of the United Provinces which God forbid there shall be always nine Months time allowed after the said Rupture for the Subjects of each Party to retire with their Effects and to transport 'em whether they shall think fit Which it shall be lawful for 'em to do as also to sell and transport their Gods and Moveables with all Freedom without any Hindrance or Molestation or Proceeding during the said space of nine Months to any Seizure of their Goods much less to any Arrests of their Persons XV. The Treaty of â—eace between the deceas'd King and the Elector of Brandenburg concluded at St. German enlay the 29th of June 1697. shall be re-establish'd between his Most Christian Majesty and his present Electoral Highness of Brandenburg in all the Points and Articles of it XVI In regard it is of high Concernment to the publick Tranquility that the Peace concluded between his Most Christian Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy August the 9th 1696. should be exactly observ'd it is agreed That the same be confirm'd by this present Treaty XVII And in regard his Majesty and the Lords the States General acknowledge themselves beholding for the effectual good Offices which the King of Sweden has continually contributed by his good Counsels and Admonitions toward the publick Safety and Repose it is agreed on both sides That his said Swedish Majesty with his Kingdoms shall be expresly comprehended in the present Treaty in the most ample Form that may be done XVIII In this present Treaty of Peace and Alliance shall be comprehended on the part of the said Lord the Most Christian King all those that shall be nominated before the Exchange of the Ratifications and within the space of six Months after they shall have been Exchanged XIX And on the part of the Lords the States General the King of Great Britain and the King of Spain and all the rest of the Allies who in the space of six Weeks to reckon from the Exchange of the Ratifications shall declare themselves willing to accept of the Peace as also the Thirteen Laudable Cantons of the Confederate Switzers and their Allies and Confederates and particularly in the best Form and Manner that may be the Evangelick Republicks and Cantons of Zurig Berne Glaris Basle Schasthause and Appenzel with all their Allies and Confederates as also the Republick of Geneva and its Dependencies the City and County of Neufchastelle the Cities of St. Galles Milhause and Bienne also the Confederate Grizons and their Dependancies the Cities of Bremen and Embden and more-over all Kings Princes and States Cities and private Persons to whom the Lords the States General upon request to them made shall grant Liberty to be comprehended therein XX. The said Lord the King and the said Lords the States General consent That the King of Sweden as Mediator and all the rest of the Potentates and Princes who are desirous to enter into the same Engagement may give to his said Majesty and the said Lords the States General their Promises and Obligations of Guarranty for the performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXI The present Treaty shall be ratify'd and confirm'd by the Lord the King and the Lords the States General and the Letters of Ratification shall be deliver'd within the Term of Three Weeks or sooner if it may be to count from the Day of the Signing XXII And for the greater Security of Peace and of all Clauses and Articles therein contain'd the present Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd in the Court of Parliament in Paris and in all the other Parliaments of the Kingdom of France and Chamber of Accounts in Paris aforesaid as also in like manner the said Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd by the Lords the States General in the Courts and other Places where such Publications Verifications and Registers are accustom'd to be made In Faith of which We the Embassadors of his said Majesty and the Lords the States General by virtue of Our respective Powers have in the said Names sign'd these sents with Our usual Subscriptions and put thereto Our several Seals of our Coats of Arms. At Ryswick in Holland September the 20th 1697. The Separate ARTICLE BEsides what has been concluded and determin'd by the Treaty of Peace between the Embassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries of the Most Christian King and those of the Lords the States General of the United Provinces this 20th of September 1697. It is yet farther agreed by this Separate Article which shall have the same Force and Virtue as if it were Word for Word in the above-mention'd Treaty That his Most Christian Majesty shall consent as he does hereby consent by this present Article That the Emperor and Empire shall be allow'd till the 1st of November next to accept the Conditions of Peace propos'd as the last that are to be made by his said Most Christian Majesty according to his Declaration of the 1st of this present Month of September if his Imperial Majesty and the Empire cannot otherwise agree with his said Most Christian Majesty and in case that within the said time the Emperor and the Empire do not accept the said Conditions or do not otherwise agree with his said Most Christian Majesty the said Treaty of Peace shall have its full and entire Effect and shall be fulfill'd according to its Form and Tenor so that the said Lords the States General shall in no manner oppose it either directly or indirectly under any Pretence whatsoever In Faith of which We the Embassadors of his said Majesty and the States General by vertue of Our respective Powers have in the said Names sign'd this Separate Article with Our usual Subscriptions and seal'd it with Our Coats of Arms at Ryswick in Holland this 20th Day of September 1697. Sign'd L. S. N. A de Harlay Bonueil L. S. Verjus de Crecy L. S. De Callieres L. S. A. Hensius L. S. E. de Weede L. S. W. V. Haren Thus having inserted the English and Dutch Articles at full length nothing less can be expected than that I should do the like by the Spaniards who will be thought not to have fared the worse for the Peace
the Hearts of the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Lewis XIV by the Grace of God Most Christian King of France and Navarre and the Most High Most Excellent and Most Potent Prince Charles II. Catholick King of Spain who desiring cordially and as much as in them lies to concurr toward the Re-establishment of the Publick Tranquility and more-over not having any other Design than to render it solid and perpetual by the Equity of the Conditions their said Majesties unanimously consented to submit for that purpose to the Mediation of the Most High Most Excellent and Most potent Prince of Glorious Memory Charles XI by the Grace of God King of Sweden the Goths and Vandals c. but sudden Death having cross'd the Hope which all Europe had conceiv'd of the happy Issue of his Counsels and his good Offices their said Majesties persisting still in a Resolution as soon as might be to stop the Effusion of so much Christian Blood believed they could not do better than still to acknowledge in the same Quality the Most High the Most Excellent and Most potent Prince Charles XII King of Sweden his Son and Successor who on his part has continu'd the same Cares for the advancing of the Peace between their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties in the Conferences that have been held at the Castle of Ryswick in the Province of Holland between the Extraordinary Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries appointed on both sides That is to say on the part of his Most Christian Majesty the Sieur Nicholas Augustus de Harlay Knight Lord of Bonneuil Count de Cely the King's Counsellor in Ordinary in his Council of State the Sieur Lewis Chevalier Verjus Count de Crecy the King's Counsellor in Ordinary in his Council of State Marquiss de Freon Baron of Cauvay Lord of Boulay the two Churches of Fort Isle du Muillet and other Places and the Sieur Francis de Callieres Knight Lord of Callieres de la Rochellay and Gigny and on the part of his Catholick Majesty Senior Don Francisco Bernardo de Quiros Knight of the Order of St. James the King's Counsellor in his Royal and Supream Council of Castille and the Sieur Lewis Alexander de Stockart Count of Tirlemont Baron de Gaesbeke Counsellor in the Supream Council of State for the Low Countries at Madrid in the Councils of State and Privy-Council within the said Countries who having first implor'd the Assistance of Heaven and respectively imparted their full Powers Copies of which shall be inserted Word for Word at the end of this present Treaty and duly exchang'd 'em by the Interposition and Mediation of the Sieur Nicholas Baron de Lilienrâ—â— Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of Sweden who has discharg'd his Office of Mediator with all requisite Prudence Capacity and Equity they agreed for the Glory of God and the Good of Christendom upon the Conditions following I. It is agreed and consented That for the future there shall be a good firm and lasting Peace Confederacy and perpetual Alliance and Amity between the Most Christian and Catholick Kings their Children born and to be born Inheritors Heirs and Successors their Kingdoms States Countries and Subjects that they shall reciprocally love each other like Brothers procuring to the utmost of their Power the Good Honour and Reputation of each other sincerely and as much as in them lies avoiding what-ever may cause the Damage either of the one or the other II. In pursuance of this Peace and good Union all Acts of Hostilities shall cease between the said Kings their Subjects and Vassals as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land and generally in all Places where the War has been carry'd on by their Majesties Arms as well between their Armies as between the Garrisons of their Strong Holds and if it were transgress'd by the taking of one or several Places either by Attack by Surprize or by Correspondence or if any Prisoners were taken or if any other Acts of Hostility were committed by Chance or otherwise the Breach shall be sincerely repair'd on both sides without scruple or delay restoring without Dimunition what shall have been possess'd and delivering the Prisoners without Ransom or Payment of Charges III. All Causes of Enmity or Misunderstanding shall be extinguish'd and abolish'd for ever There shall be on both sides a perpetual Oblivion and Amnesty of what-ever has been done during this present War or by reason thereof so that there may be no Prosecutions on either side directly nor indirectly upon any Pretence what-ever nor shall their said Majesties their Subjects Servants nor Adherents testifie any Resentment nor pretend to any sort of Reparation IV. The Strong Holds Gironne Roses and Belver shall be restor'd and left in Possession Demesne and Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty as they were when taken with the Artillery which was found there at the same time and in general all the other Cities Strong Holds Forts Places and Castlewicks which have been possess'd during this War by his Most Christian Majesty's Arms and since the Treaty of Nimeguen within the Principality of Catalogna or other where in Spain their Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes shall be restor'd in the Condition as now they are without retaining reserving weak'ning or impairing any thing Also the City of Barcelona Fort and Fortifications thereupon depending with all the Artillery shall be surrender'd back into the Power Demesne and Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition wherein the whole was found at the Day of taking thereof with all Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes V. The City and Fortress of Luxemburg in the Condition as it is now without demolishing changing or weak'ning any thing or impairing the Works Forts or Fortifications thereof together with all the Artillery that was there at the time of taking as also the Province and Dutchy of Luxemburg and County of Chiny in all their Consistencies and all that they comprehend with their Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes shall be sincerely and faithfully restor'd and surrender'd back into the Power Demesne Soveraignty and Possession of the Catholick King for the said King to enjoy as he did or might do then and before the Treaty of Nimeguen without detaining or reserving any thing but what was yielded up to his Most Christian Majesty by the preceding Treaty VI. The Fortress of Charleroy shall be likewise surrender'd back into the Power and under the Soveraignty of his Catholick Majesty with its Dependencies in the Condition it now is without breaking demolishing weak'ning or impairing any thing as also the Artillery that was at the time when it was taken VII Also the City of Mons the Capital of the Province of Hainault with the Works and Fortifications belonging to it shall be restor'd to the Soveraignty Demesne and Possession of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition as they are now without breaking demolishing weak'ning or impairing any thing together with the Artillery which was there
at the time when it was taken as also the Banlieu and Provostship Appurtenances and Dependencies of the same City in all its Consistencies as the Catholick King enjoy'd it then and before the said Treaty as also the City of Aeth in the Condition it was at the time of its being last taken without breaking demolishing or weakning any thing or impairing its Works with the Artillery which was there at the same time together with the Banlieu Castlewick Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes of the said City as they were yielded by the Treaty of Nimeguen the Places following excepted viz. The Bourg of Anthoin Vaux Guarrain Ramecroix Bethune Constantin the Fief de Paradise the last being intermingled within the Limits of Tournaisis and the said Fief of Paradise so far as it contributes with the Village of Kain Havines Meles Moncourt Kain le Mont de St. Audebert call'd de la Trinitie Frontenoy Maubray Hernies Caluelle and Viers with their Parishes Appurtenances and Dependencies without reserving any thing shall remain in the Possession and Soveraignty of his Most Christian Majesty nevertheless without any prejudice to what has been granted to his Most Christian Majesty by the Preceding Treaties VIII The City of Courtrary shall be surrender'd back into the Power Demesne and Possession of his Catholick Majesty in the Condition as now it is with the Artillery which was there at the time when it was taken together with the Castlewick of the said City the Appurtenances Dependencies and Annexes conformable to the Treaty of Nimeguen IX The said Most Christian King shall also cause to be restor'd to the Catholick King all the Cities Places Forts Castles and Ports which his Armies have or might have possess'd till the Day of the Peace and also since that in any place of the World where-ever situated as likewise his said Catholick Majesty shall cause to be restor'd to his Most Christian Majesty all the Places Forts Castles and Posts which his Arms may have possess'd during this War till the Day of the Publication of the Peace and in whatsoever Place situated X. All the Places Cities Burroughs strong Holds and Villages which the most Christian King has possess'd and reunited since the Treaty of Nimeghen within the Provinces of Luxemburg Namur Brabant Flanders Hainault and other Provinces of the Low-Countries according to the List of the said Reunions produc'd on the part of his Catholick Majesty in the Acts of that Negotiation a Copy of which shall be annex'd to this present Treaty shall remain to his Catholick Majesty except the Eighty two Cities Burroughs Places and Villages contain'd in the List of Exception which has been also produc'd on the Part of his Most Christian Majesty and to which he lays claim by reason of the Dependencies of the Cities of Charlemont Maubege and others surrender'd to his Majesty by the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeghen in respect of which Eighty two Places only a List of which shall be annex'd to the present Treaty it is agreed on both sides that immediately after the Signing this present Treaty that Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides as well to regulate to which of the two Kings the said Eighty two Cities Burroughs Places or Villages or any of them shall belong as to agree upon Exchanges to be made for the Places and Villages intermix'd in the Countries under the Dominion of either Prince And in case the said Commissioners cannot agree their Most Christian and Catholick Majesties shall refer the Ultimate Decision to the Judgment of the Lords the States General of the Vnited Provinces whom the said Kings have reciprocally consented to take for Arbitrators without prejudice nevertheless to the Plenipotentiary-Embassadors of the said Most Christian and Catholick Kings otherwise to agree the Matter in friendly Manner between themselves and before the Ratification of this present Treaty if it be possible so that all Difficulties as well touching the said Re-unions as Limits may be totally ended and determin'd In pursuance of which all Prosecutions Sentences Separations Incorporations Forfeitures Judgments Confiscations Re-unions Declarations Regulations Edicts and generally all Acts what-ever put forth in the Name and behalf of his Most Christian Majesty by reason of the said Re-unions whether made by the Parliament or Chamber settl'd at Metz or by any other Courts of Justice Intendants Commissioners or Delegates against his Catholick Majesty or his Subjects and shall be revok'd and annull'd for ever as if they had never been and moreover the Generality of the said Provinces shall remain to his Catholick Majesty except the Cities Towns and Places yielded to his Most Christian Majesty by the preceding Treaties with the Appurtenances and Dependencies XI All the Forts Cities Burroughs Places and Villages Circumstances Dependencies and Annexes hereabove restor'd and surrender'd back by his Most Christian Majesty without reserving or with-holding any thing shall return to the Possession of his Catholick Majesty to be by him enjoy'd with all the Prerogatives Advantages Profits and Revenues that depend upon 'em with the same Extent the same Rights of Property Demesne and Soveraignty which he enjoy'd before the last War at the time and before the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeghen and altogether as he might or ought to enjoy them XII The Restitution of the said Places shall be perform'd on the behalf of the most Christian King cordially and sincerely without delay or scruple for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever to Him or Them who shall be appointed by the said Catholick King immediately after the Ratification of the present Treaty without demolishing weak'ning or diminishing any thing in any manner within the said Cities nor shall there be any Pretensions or Demands for Reimbursments for the Fortifications Publick Edifices and Buildings rais'd in the said Places nor for the Payment of what may be due to the Soldiers that shall be there at the time of the Restitution XIII The Most Christian King shall cause to be remov'd out of all the said Places which he restores to the Catholick King all the Artillery which his said Majesty caus'd to be carry'd into the said Places after they were taken all the Powder Bullets Arms Provision and Ammunition which shall be therein at the time that they shall be restor'd to his said Catholick Majesty and they who shall be entrusted by the Most Christian King for that purpose shall for Two Months make use of the Waggons and Boats of the Country they shall have free Passage as well by Water as by Land for the Transportation of the said Ammunition to the Places belonging to his Most Christian Majesty which shall be nearest adjoining The Governours Commanders Officers and Magistrates of the Places so restor'd shall afford all Accommodations in their Power to facilitate the Carriage and Transportation of the said Artillery and Ammunition Also the Officers and Soldiers who shall march out of the said Places shall have Liberty to remove and
Mediterranean Sea and as far as the Line within the space of Ten Weeks and beyond the Line and in all the other Parts of the World within the space of Eight Months to reckon from the Day of the Publication of this present Treaty the said Prizes which shall be taken of either side after the Terms prefix'd shall be restor'd with Reparation for Damages sustain'd XXVI In case of a Rupture which God forbid there shall be allow'd the Term of Six Months that so the Subjects of either Part may have time to remove and transport their Effects and Goods whither they shall think most convenient and it shall be lawful for 'em to do it with all Freedom without any Molestation or Obstruction or Seizure of the said Effects during the said Term much less shall any stop be put to their Persons XXVII The Soldiers on both sides shall immediately after the Ratification of this present Treaty return to the Territories and Countries of their proper Sovereigns and into the strong Holds and Places which are to remain and belong to their Majesties respectively after or according to this present Treaty not being to stay upon any Pretence whatever in the Territories of either Sovereign nor in the Places which are in like manner to appertain to him and there shall be also after the Signing of the same Treaty a Cessation of Arms and Hostilities in the Dominions of the said Kings as well by Sea and other Waters as by Land XXVIII It is also agreed That the Receipt of Duties of which the said Most Christian King is in Possession upon all the Countries which he surrenders back or restores to the said Catholick King shall be continu'd till the actual Restitution of the Places of which the said Countries are Dependancies and that what shall remain due at the time of the said Restitution shall be faithfully pay'd to those who have taken the Farms of the same as also that at the same time the Proprietors of Woods Confiscated within the Dependencies of the said Places which are to be restor'd to his Catholick Majesty shall re-enter into the Possession of their Estates and of all the Woods that are upon the Place it being to be understood that from the Day of the Signing this present Treaty all Cutting down of Woods shall cease on both sides XXIX The Treaty of Nimeghen and the preceding Treaties shall be observ'd and put in Execution according to their Form and Tenor except in the Points and Articles from which there shall have been any thing formerly derogated or any Alteration made by this present Treaty XXX All Proceedings and all Judgments given between private Persons by the Judges or particular Officers of this Most Christian Majesty settl'd as well in the Cities and Places which he enjoy'd by virtue of the Treaty of 〈◊〉 Chapelle and which he has since restor'd to his Catholick Majesty as in those which appertain to his Most Christian Majesty by the Treaty of Nimeguen or of which he was in Possession after the said Treaty and likewise the Decrees of the Parliament of Tournay pronounc'd by reason of Differences and Suits prosecuted by the Inhabitants of the said Cities and their Dependencies during the time they were under his Most Christian Majesty's Obedience shall take Place and have their full and entire Effect as if the said King were Lord and Possessor of the said Countries nor shall the said Decrees or Judgments be call'd in Question or made void nor shall the Execution of 'em be in any other manner hinder'd or delay'd But it shall be lawful for the said Parties to provide for themselves by review of the Cause and according to the Order and Disposal of the Laws and Ordinances the Judgments still remaining in full Force and Virtue without prejudice to what is stipulated to this Effect in the 21st Article of the aforesaid Treaty of Nimeghen XXXI The City and Castle of Dinant shall be restor'd by his Most Christian Majesty to the Bishop and Prince of Liege in the Condition they were at what time they were possess'd by his Majesty's Arms. XXXII His Most Christian Majesty having testify'd his Desire That the Island of Ponza in the Mediterranean Sea shall be restor'd to Monsieur the Duke of Parma his Catholick Majesty in consideration of the good Offices of his Most Christian Majesty is pleas'd to declare That he will withdraw the Soldiers which he has there and return that Island into the Power and Possession of Monsieur the Duke of Parma presently after the Ratification of this present Treaty XXXIII In regard it is of high Concernment to the publick Tranquility that the Peace concluded at Turin the 29th of August 1696. between his Most Christian Majesty and his Roval Highness of Savoy should be also exactly observ'd it is thought convenient to confirm and comprehend it in this present Treaty and in all its Points such as are contain'd in the Copy sign'd and seal'd by the Plenipotentiaries of Savoy and which shall be annex'd to the present Treaty for the due observance of which and the present Treaty their said Majesties do give his Royal Highness their Guarranty XXXIV Their said Majesties in acknowledgment of the good Offices and Cares which the Most Serene King of Sweden has continually employ'd toward the Re-establishment of Peace are agree'd That his Swedish Majesty his Kingdoms and States shall be nominally comprehended in this present Treaty in the best Form and Manner that may be XXXV In his Peace Alliance and Amity shall be comprehended all those that shall be nam'd on either Part by common Consent before the Exchange of the Ratifications or within the space of Six Months after they shall be exchang'd XXXVI The said Most Christian and Catholick Kings consent That his Swedish Majesty in the Quality of Mediator and all other Kings Princes and Republicks who are desirous to enter into the said Engagement may give their Majesties their Promises and Obligations of Guarranty for the performance of all that is contain'd in this present Treaty XXXVII And for the greater security of this Treaty of Peace and all the Points and Articles therein contain'd this Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd as well in the Grand Council and other Councils and Chambers of Accompts of the Catholick King in the Low-Countries as in the other Councils of the Crowns of Castille and Aragon the whole according and in the Form contain'd in the Treaty of Nimeghen in the Year 1678. As also the said Treaty shall be publish'd verify'd and register'd in the Court of Parliament of Paris and in all other Parliaments of the Kingdom of France and Chamber of Accounts of Paris aforesaid Of which Publications and Inregistrings Copies shall be return'd and deliver'd on both sides within the space of Three Months after publication of the said Treaty XXXVIII All which Points and Articles above-declar'd and express'd together with the Contents of every one of them were negotiated
our Reasons may appear both now and for the future in the Acts of the present Negotiation We the Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries whose Names are underwritten earnestly desire their Excellencies the Embassadors Mediators that this our Remonstrance may be inserted in their Protocol or Register and that they may have an Act given 'em to confirm the presenting it Protesting also at the same time that their Masters are no less Zealous for the Peace then the rest of the Princes of Europe and that it is great Grief to 'em that they cannot sign in their Master's Name by reason of a Difficulty that was no way foreseen The Embassadors and Plenipotentiaries here present have sign'd the present Declaration and thereto fix'd their Seals in the Names of the Electors Princes and States of the Sâ—cred Roman Empire of the Confession of Auspurg who sent us their Deputies to the Treaty of Peace At the Hague 15th October 4 November 1697. In the Name of the Elector of Saxony Christopher Dieteric Bose the Younger Dutchy of Deux Ponts George Frederick de Snoilsky Saxon Gota Adolph Christian Aveman Duke of Brunswick Zell E. Klinggraffe Landtgrave of Hesse-Cassel William Vultesius Elector of Brandenburgh W. de Schmettau N. E. L. B. de Dankâ—lman Duke of Sauon Coburg Henry Richard L. B. de Hagen Margrave of â—â—â—eith E. L. B. de Stein Duke of Brunswick Wolfenbutel John William de Mansberg Dutchy of Holstein Gluckstar Dethlevus Nicholus de Lewencron But to return the Conferences still continued at Ryswick and all things were agreed on by the 30th of Oct. and the Treaty Signed then being Two Days before the time limitted by France to accept of her Offers The Articles were to this purpose IN the Name of the most Holy Trinity Amen Be it known unto All and every One that a cruel War attended with the Effusion of much Christian Blood and the Devastation of several Provinces having been waged for some Years last past between the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Leopâ—ld elected Emperour of the Romans always August King of Germany Hungary Bohemia of Dalmatia Croatia and Sclavonia Archduke of Austriâ— Duke of Burgundy Brabant Stiria Carinthia and Carniola Marquiss of Moravia Duke of Luxemburg of the Upper and Lower Silesia of Wirtemberg and of Teckay Prince of Suabia Counâ— of Habâ—bourg of Tyrol Kybourg and Goritia Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire Burgaw of the Upper and Lower Lusatia Lord of the Sclavonian Marches of Port-Naon and Salins c. and the Sacred Roman Empire on one part and the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Lewis XIV the most Christian King of France and Navarre on the other part Now his Imperial Majesty and his most Christian Majesty having most seriously apply'd themselves to terminate and put an end as soon as possible to those Mischiefs that daily encreas'd to the Ruine of Christendom by the Divine Assistance and by the Care of the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Charles XI King of Swedeland Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of Finland Duke of Scania Esthonia Livonia of Carelia Bremen Perden of Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and Vandalia Prince of Râ—gâ—n and Lord of Ingria and Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliens Câ—â—ves and Bergues of Illustrious Memory who from the very beginning of these Commotions did not cease effectually to sollicit the Christian Princes to Peace and afterwards having been accepted as Universal Mediator never desisted gloriously to labour even to his dying Day to procure the same with all imaginable speed having to this purpose appointed and settled Conferences in the Palace of â—yswick in Holland and after his Decease the most Serene and most Puissant Prince and Lord Câ—arles XII King of Sweden Goths and Vandâ—ls Grand Prince of 〈◊〉 Duke of Scania Esthonia of Livonia Carelia Bremen of Ferden Stetin Pomerania Cassubia and of Vandalia Prince of Rugen Lord of Ingria and of Wismar Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria Juliers Cleves and Bergues Inheriting from his Royal Father the same longing Desire and Earnestness to procure the publick Tranquility and the Treaties having been brought to their perfection by the foresaid Conferences the Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries lawfully appointed and established by both Parties being met to this effect at the aforesaid place that is to say on the Emperor's part the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Dominic Andrew Kaunitz Count of the Holy Roman Empire Hereditary Lord of Austerlitz of Hungarischbord Marischpruss and Orzechan the Great Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece intimate Councellor of State to his Sacred Imperial Majesty Chamberlain and Vice-Chancellour of the Holy Empire the Sieur Henry John Stratman Sieur de Puerbach Count of the Holy Roman Empire Lord of Oâ—th Schmiding Spatenbrun and Carlsberg Imperial Aulique Councellor Chamberlain to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and the Siuer John Frederick free and noble Baron of Seilern Imperial Aâ—lique Councellor to his Sacred Imperial Majesty and one of the Plenipotentiaries in the Imperial Diets And on the part of his Sacred most Christian Majesty the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Nicholas Augustâ—â— de Harlay Knight Lord of Boneuil Count of Cely Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State The Sieur Lewis Verjus Knight Ordinary Councellor to the King in his Council of State Count de Crecy Marquiss of Freon Baron of Couvay Lord of Boulay of the two Churches of Fort-Isle and other places together with the Sieur Francis de Callieres Lord of Callieres of Rochechellay and Gigny By the Mediation and Intercession of the most Illustrious and most Excellent Lords the Sieur Charles Bonde Count de Biornoo Lord of Hesleby Tyres Toftaholm of Graffteen Gustavusberg and of Rezitza Councellor to his Majesty the King of Sweden and President of the supreme Senate of Dorpat in Livonia and of the Sieuâ— Nicholas free Baron of Lillierooâ— Secretary of State to his Majesty the King of Sweden and Extraordinary Ambassador to their High and Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces both of them Extraordinary Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries for confirming and establishing a General Peace who have faithfully discharg'd their Duty of Mediatorship with Integrity Application and Prudence The Plenipotentiaries of the Electors Princes and deputed States of the Holy Roman Empire being Present Approving and Consenting after the Invocation of God's Holy Name and the Exchange of their full Powers made in due manner and form did agree for the Glory of God's Holy Name and the Welfare of Christendom upon Conditions of Peace and Concord the Tenor whereof is as followeth I. THere shall be a Christian Universal Perpetual Peace and a true Amity between his Sacred Imperial Majesty and his Successors the whole Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdoms and Hereditary States their Vassals and Subjects on the one part It shall be faithfully and sincerely maintain'd so that the one shall not undertake
Arbitrators shall adjudge to her in case they do adjudge any thing at all but if so be they adjudge nothing or less than the said Sum then there shall be a restitution and this compensation allowance or restitution as also the fund and charges of the Process shall be regulated by the Sentence of the Arbitrators But if Madam the Dutchess of Orleans do not give satisfaction to the form of the Compromise either in the Instruction of the Process or in the Answer that shall be produced by the Elector Palatine or if she delays it the course of the said yearly payment shall be interrupted only during that same time the Process going on still according to the form of the Compromise Done at the Palace of Ryswick the 30th of October 1697. 'T is not my Business to answer the foolish Objections some ill-willed Persons have made against the stability of this Peace However I shall observe That tho this Peace with the Empire was not so advantageous to it and the Restitution of Lorrain not in so ample a manner as could have been wished for yet if it be considered that France has given up very considerably on this side and some places she had long been possessed off particularly Brisac which hath appertained to that Crown for very near 60 Years That by the Taking of Casal and the Peace with Savoy she is entirely precluded out of Italy that the same Barrier is left in Catalonia as before And that there is a stronger Frontier in the Low Countries by her Restitution of all she took since the beginning of the War with the Addition of Dinant and Luxemburg If these be put together it 's not likely that Crown will begin another War in hast whatsoever our Male-contents at home or any Enemies we have abroad may â—atter themselves with especially considering the inward weakness of that Kingdom and the strong Union there is between the Crown of England and the Republick of Holland whose Naval Powers are so Formidable and Interests so great in all the Parts of the World Over and above all this we are to note His Most Christian Majesty is now in an advanced Age which is usually attended with an ill Habit of Body and too wise a Prince easily to be brought to engage himself in the Toils and Uncertainties of another War especially in that there was so little gained or I should have rather said so much lost by this To say nothing of that Regard he will undoubtedly have to the Interests of his Posterity as well as his Dominions whose Affairs at his Death he will be very unwilling to leave embroiled with those of their Neighbours It remains therefore now that I take notice that his Majesty King William staid in Holland till all was over and after having very Honourably paid off all the Forreign Troops who by this time were Marching to their respective Homes after the Toyls of this long War He returned to England and upon the 16th of November at the Citizens request made His Publick Entry thro' London being attended by all the Men of Quality in very great State and never I am sure in one Day saw so many People and all of them His own Subjects in all His Life-time and in whose Affections He Triumphed as much as ever he had done at any time over His Enemies and may He always do the first and never have occasion for the second but may we long live under the Benign Influence of His Reign who hath Rescued our Religion and Liberties out of the Jaws of Hell and Destruction so intrepidly â—ought our Battles for us and now at length restored unto us the Comforts and Blessing of a Firm and Honourable Peace Having now run thro' all the Transactions both of War and Peace that fell out within the revolution of this Year we shall draw towards a closure of it with the meeting of the English Parliament December the 3d And see how his Majesty was pleased to deliver himself to them upon this Conjuncture and this he did in these Terms My Lords and Gentlemen THE War which I Entred into by the Advice of my People is by the Blessing of God and their Zealous and Affectionate Assistance brought to the End We all proposed an Honourable Peace which I was willing to Conclude not so much to Ease My Self from any Trouble or Hazard as to free the Kingdom from the Continuing Burden of an Expensive War I am heartily sorry My Subjects will not at first find all thâ— Relief from the Peace which I could wish and they may expect but the Funds intended for the last Year's Service have fallen short of Answering the Sums for which they were given so that there remain considerable Deficiencies to be Provided for There 's a Debt upon the Account of the Fleet and the Army The Revenues of the Crown have been anticipated by My Consent for Publick Vses so that I am wholly destitute of means 〈◊〉 support the Civil List and I can never distrust you 'll suffer thâ— to turn to My Disadvantage but will provide for Me during my Life in such a manner as may be for my Honour and for the Honour of the Government Our Naval Force being increased to near double what it was at My Accession to the Crown the Charge of maintaining it wilâ— be proportionably augmented and it is certainly necessary for the Interest and Reputation of England to have always a great Strength at Sea The Circumstances of Affairs Abroad are such that I think My Self obliged to tell you My Opinion that for the present England cannot be safe without a Land Force and I hope We shall not give those who mean us ill the Opportunity of Effecting that under the Notion of a Peace which they could not bring to pass by a War I doubt not but you Gentlemen of the House of Commons wil take these Particulars into your Consideration in such a manner 〈◊〉 to provide the necessary Supplies which I do very earnestly Recoâ—mend to you My Lords and Gentlemen That which I most delight to think of and am best pleased 〈◊〉 own is That I have all the Proofs of My People's Affection th◠〈◊〉 Prince can desire and I take this Occasion to give them the 〈◊〉 Solemn Assurance That as I never had so I never will nor 〈◊〉 have any Interest separate from theirs I Esteem it one of the greatest Advantages of the Peace that I shall now have leisure to rectifie such Corruptions or Abuses as may have crept into any part of the Administration during the Wâ— and effectually to discourage Prophaness and Immorality and I shall employ My Thoughts in Promoting Trade and Advancing 〈◊〉 Happiness and Flourishing Estate of the Kingdom I shall conclude with telling you That as I have with the Hazard of every thing Rescued your Religion Laws and Liberties when they were in the Extreamest Danger so I shall place the Glory of My Reign in preserving them
the 19th the Parliament of Scotland met and during the short time of their sitting which was but to the beginning of September made several good Acts and were then prorogued to the 25th of November following Neither were the Lords Justices in Ireland wanting in their Duties to his Majesty and the Country for they took a Progress this Summer in order to view the State of several Places in the Kingdom and give such Instructions as theâ— saw convenient for the Security of the Government and good of the Subject But how Prosperous soever things went with us at home the Apprehensions of the Death of the King of Spain who was sick more or less for a great part of this Year made all Europe uneasie for fear of another War It will be impertinent for me to enter upon the particulars of the King's Sickness and Distemper that being fitter for a Physitian 's Diary than an History However it is my part to observe that a Fleet of French Men of War and Gallies coming into Caâ—iz-Bay and afterwards their giving out they would Winter there to say nothing of those Gallies that went to Naples gave no small Umbrage to their Neighbours And tho' I will not say the Arrival of the English and Dutch Squadron in Cales-Bay some time after made them think fit to return to their own Ports yet it is certain that that with the King's Recovery made their Affairs in that Country look quite with another Aspect than they had done a little before when nothing was less expected than that the Duke of Berry should succeed the Marquess of Harcoâ—â— the French Embassador valuing himself much upon the Paces he thought he had made to that end But while all this was in Agitation towards Spain the French were busie in the North to perfect an Allyance with the Crown of Sweden which at length was brought to bear and the same was notified by M. de Lissenheim his Swedish Majesty's Minister to the Envoys of other Courts residing at Hamborough and other Places The main Intention of what was made publick of this Allyance is to preserve the Repose of Europe and the Articles were to this purpose I. THat the Ancient Alliance is renew'd between the two Kings their Heirs and Successors II. That the Aim and Intention of this Treaty is to preserve and secure the Common Peace by such means as shall be adjudg'd most proper and convenient III. If it should come to pass that it should be disturb'd by any Breaches and Hostilities that the two Kings will make it their Business to repair the wrongs in an amicable way IV. And if their Cares prove ineffectual they will joyntly consider of ways to defend the Rights of the Country injur'd V. In case any Prince or State will enter into this Treaty within a Year they shall be admitted by the consent of both Kings VI. Neither the one nor the other shall make Peace or Truce without comprehending the other therein VII The Articles of the Treaties formerly concluded by either of the two with other Kings Princes or States shall remain in their full Strength and Vertue so far as they shall not be contrary to this VIII The Freedom of Commerce between the Subjects of the two Kings shall be preserv'd as formerly without any Impeachment as well in time of War as in Peace paying the usual Duties IX In pursuance of which all Ports Cities and Provinces shall be open to the Subjects of both Crowns according as the Laws and Customs shall permit both to sell their Commodities in those Places and buy others X. This particular Treaty shall continue Ten Years with Liberty to prolong this Term if it be judg'd convenient by the two Kings who by consent shall have a watchful Eye upon the means to preserve the Peace against the Dangers that threaten it XI This Treaty shall be exchang'd by both sides within three Months after the Signing or sooner if it may be Given at Stockholm the 9 th of July O. S. 1698. I shall not meddle here with the Mock-Battle at Compeign nor the more violent persecution of the Reformed since the Peace both of them being Subjects ungrateful to my Pallate but pass on into Germany where to say nothing yet of the Discourse concerning the Marriage of the King of the Romans with the Princess of Hanover we find a mighty disposition in the Emperor and his Confederates also to a Peace with the Turks after the continuance of a War for above fifteen Years wherein perhaps there has been as much variety of Action as in any other whatsoever but now it seems to draw to a period and things look in the World as if Janus his Temple was once more to be shut up And tho the Armies in Huâ—gary on both sides were considerable in number and Strength yet there seemed no great disposition in either for Action but much more in the Parties concerned to set up a Treaty of Peace under the Mediation of his Britannick Majesty and the States General by their Ministers the Lord Paget and M. Colliers who towards the middle of August arrived in the Turkish Camp near Belgrade and by their good Offices got the Place to hold the Conferences to be between Peter Waradin and Salankemen the Emperor and Confederate Ministers being to reside at Câ—rlowitz the Sultan's at Salankamen and the Mediators between the two Places The Emperor's Plenipotentiaries were the Count of Ottengen General Sâ—â—lick and the Count de Marsigli those of the Port were the Effendi or Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and Mauro Cordato for Venice came Signior Ruzzini Embassador in Ordinary from the Republick to the Court of Vienna and Seignior Wicolasi Secretary of the said Republick for Poland appear'd the Sieur Malokowski Palatine of Posnania and for the Moscovites Procopius Pogdanowitz Vosnicin I shall now leave the Plenipotentiaries to meet and not enter upon the Particulars of the Negotiation my design being to reserve that for the closing up of this Work nor shall I take any Notice of the Conspiracy which was said to have been formed by the Army under General Rabaâ—in in Transilvania to kill him and the rest of the Officers and then to go over to the Turks because I believe there was more Noise than Truth in it But I shall return where I left off last Year with the Polish Affairs and observe that tho' the King's Competitor was now gone without any likelihood of ever returning again and that the potent City of Danzick were firm to his Interest yet other Difficulties from the Obstinacy of the Cardinal Primate and his Adherents and from the present Necessity he lay under to be guarded in Poland with his own Troops made his Affairs much perplex'd However he set forward and arrived at Warsaw January the 14th in great State The King us'd all imaginable Endeavours to bring the Primate to submit and the Offices of the Brandenburg Minister were indefatigable to this
to facilitate the Treaty with the Venetians and agreed in case their Negotiations could not be determined by the 26th the time they were to sign they should have time given them to continue their Treaty at Constantinople seeing the Ottoman Ministers were not willing to stay any longer at Carlowitz This Conference was on the 16th of January in the Presence of the Mediators which took them up 9 Hours together But they could not agree as to the Castle of Romelia and the Mountains which cover the Isthmus of Corinth The Venetian Embassador pretended also that Dalmatia had been annext to Albania by the resignation of several Places which the Turks possessed and which hindred the Republick of Ragusa from being totally separate from the Ottoman Empire But after various Contests they rose without coming to any conclusion and Reis Effendi declared if they were upon that Lock he would return no more to the Conferences However they met again on the 18th but to no purpose and next Day the Turks drew up a Project of a Treaty which being imparted to Seignior Ruzzini he declared he would not consent to it nor depart from the Treaty proposed for the separation of the Limits However he dispatched a Courier to Venice about these particulars while the Imperialists in the mean time signed their Treaty which is comprehended in the following Articles An Extract of the Treaty concluded between the Emperor and the Sultan In the Name of the Holy and Inseparable Trinity IN perpetual Memory of the Thing Be it notorious to all to whom it shall appertain That after fifteen Years of a cruel War between the Most Serene and Thrice Potent Prince and Lord Leopold on the one side and the Most Serene and Thrice Potent Prince and Lord Sultan Mustapha Han Emperor of the Turks c. and his Glorious Predecessors on the other these Two Most Potent Emperors considering how much Blood has been spilt and how many Provinces have been laid waste and mov'd with Compassion of the Miseries of their Subjects and being desirous to put an end to so many Calamities God through his Mercy has permitted that by the Mediation of the Most Serene and Most Potent Prince and Lord William III. King of Great Britain France and Ireland and of the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces of the Netherlands both sides have condescended to conclude Solemn Treaties at Carlowitz upon the Frontiers of both Empires where the Mediators the Lord William Paget Baron of Beaudesers and Monsieur James Collier being assembl'd together with the Count d'Ottingen and M. Schlick the Imperial Plenipotentiaries and Mehemet Effendi Grand Chancellor of the Ottoman Empire and Alexander Mauro Cordato of the Noble House of the Scarlati it has been agreed c. I. THat Transilvania should remain entire to his Imperial Majesty with the ancient Limits as before the War II. That the Province of Temiswaer with all its Appurtenances and Dependances shall remain under the Ottoman Dominion having the ancient Limits for its Bounds That the Imperialists shall demolish Caransebes Lippa Czanad Bersche Sabla and three or four other Places never to be refortify'd by any other Treaty The Imperialists and Turks shall enjoy in common the Conveniences of the Marosche and the Teysse whether for fishing watering of Cattle for the driving of Mills or Navigation That the Islands which his Imperial Majesty has in the two Rivers shall remain in his Possession and that the Subjects of both Empires shall be enjoin'd under severe Edicts to live quietly and peaceably without injuring one the other in any manner whatever III. That the Emperor shall enjoy the Country between the Teysse and the Danaw commonly call'd Batska Titul not being to be fortify'd any otherwise then it is IV. That a Line shall be drawn from the Extremity of the Strand behither the Teysse over against Titul to the Banks of the Danaw and another Line from the Teysse to the River Bossut and to the hither Shoar of Moravitz and from thence to that part where the biggest Branch of the Bossut falls into the Save which shall serve as Limits to both Empires V. That part of the Save which waters those Countries surrender'd to his Imperial Majesty shall be under his Dominion and likewise that which washes the Country remaining to the Grand Signior shall be subject to the Ottoman Empire but that part of the Save which runs between both Empires shall be common to both together with the Islands therein VI. The Limits prescrib'd by the Treaties and those which shall afterwards be settl'd by Commissioners shall be religiously observ'd and preserv'd without any Alteration nor shall any Change or Alteration therein be suffer'd VII Both Parties shall be at Liberty to fortifie their Frontier Places as they shall judge convenient except such as are excepted by the Treaty VIII All Incursions Invasions Hostilities and all sorts of Injuries shall be strictly forbidden on both Sides under severe Penalties whether they may be committed openly or in secret IX Nor shall it be lawful for either Party for the future to give any Sanctuary or Protection to wicked People Rebels or Malecontents X. Nevertheless it shall be lawful for the Transilvanians and all others who during the Course of the War withdrew themselves into the Ottoman Empire there to live in Freedom and Security under the Protection of his Highness XI But in Consideration of the Tranquility of the Frontiers and the Repose of the Subjects it is farther agreed That those Persons before-mention'd shall not settle themselves but in Places remote from the Frontiers and in case there happen any Disputes upon any one of the Articles of this present Treaty an equal Number of Commissioners shall be chosen on both Sides to determine 'em in friendly wise XII Prisoners taken during the War shall be exchang'd and if there be a greater Number of the one side than the other their Imperial Majesties shall extend their Clemency towards 'em and release 'em when they shall be requested so to do by the Embassadors or Ministers residing in their Courts As for those that are in the Power of particular Persons they shall be permitted to ransom 'em at reasonable Rates XIII In respect of the Monks and the Exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion the Grand Signior promises to renew and confirm all Priviledges granted by his Predecessors Moreover it shall be permitted to the Embassador of of the Most Serene and Most Potent Emperor of the Romans to make his Complaints and Demands upon the Subject of Religion every time that he shall receive Orders from his Master XIV That Trade shall be resettl'd between the Subjects of both Sides according to the ancient Capitulations XV. That all the Conditions stipulated in the preceding Capitulations shall be religiously observ'd in every thing not excepted in this present Treaty XVI For the maintaining of a good Friendship and Correpondence between the Two Empires Embassadors shall be
will permit The Fortress of Chonin will present her Flank on that side next Croatia as far as the Confines of the Emperor's Territories without doing any Prejudice to the Three Potentates whose Confines shall join to the said Limits But they shall be oblig'd inviolably to observe the Right which belongs to every one of the Three Potentates according to the Agreements of this Universal Peace Both Parties shall be equally bound to observe the said Line and if it should happen that in the Neighbourhood of the said Line or in the Line it self there should be any Fortress depending upon the High Empire the Territory seated behind that Place shall remain entire to the Empire and in Front a Space of Ground taken in the Circumference of the said Line shall be mark'd out in a Circular Line and which shall also have the Extent of an Hour's March As for the Fortress of Ciclut there shall be in like manner assign'd it in Front the Circuit of a League without the Line drawing out a strait Line to the Seaward and when the Limits shall be once fix'd and the Bounds and Territories settl'd in Manner and Form aforesaid they shall be inviolably observ'd without the least Alteration And if any one shall have the Boldness to violate the said Bounds and Marks of the said Frontires or to pass beyond the said Limits or that the Officers themselves should fail in their Duty and Care in that particular by punishing the Offenders according to their Deserts they shall themselves be severely punish'd on both Sides And in case the Commissioners shall meet with any Difficulties or should not agree among themselves they shall faithfully and exactly inform their Masters thereof to the end such Differences may be amicably compos'd by the Good Offices and Interposition of those that represent his Imperial Majesty and the Lords Mediators at the Ottoman Court. 9. The Territory and Dependencies of the Signory of Ragusa shall be annex'd to the Territories and Cantons of the High Empire and all Obstacles that hinder the joining and Communication of the Lands of the said Signory with the Lands of the High Empire shall be taken away 10. Castelnovo and Lisano which are in the Neighbourhood of Cattero being actually in the Possession of the Republick of Venice she shall remain in the peaceable Enjoyment of those Places and Territories Which is likewise to be understood of some other Fortress whatever it be seated in that Canton and of which the same Republick is in actual Possession And the Commissioners which shall be chosen on both Sides shall be Persons of known Integrity without Passion or private Interest to the end they may determine this important Affair with all possible Equity by making a Separation of the Limits of the Country by evident and undeniable Marks 11. The Commissioners shall give reciprocal Notice of their meeting and shall meet in a Place proper and convenient for their Business with an equal Number of armed Attendants Men of Peace and not given to create Trouble and they shall begin their Conferences upon the first Day of the Equinox that is to say the 14 22 of March of this present Year now running on 12. Neither Party shall give Sanctuary or Protection to Fugitives on either side but shall cause 'em to be apprehended and imprison'd that they may be brought to condign Punishment 13. Both Parties shall be permitted to repair and fortifie the Fortresses in their Possession but not to build any new ones upon the Frontiers not to rebuild such as are demolish'd The Subjects also of both Parties are permitted to build Towns and Villages in order to live in Peace and as good Neighbours one with another 14. As for what concerns Religion the release and exchange of Slaves and matter of Trade and Commerce the Conditions of the last Treaty shall be observ'd according to their Form and Tenor and the Sacred Imperial Edicts formerly granted to the Republick are confirm'd by this present Peace 15. All Hostilities to cease from the Day of the signing the Treaty concluded between the High Empire and the Republick and for the Information of the Governours of the Frontiers Thirty Days are allow'd for the Provinces of Bossina Albania and Dalmatia and Forty for Candy the Morca c. And a general Amnesty is to be allow'd to the Subjects of both Parties for any Action or Crime committed during the War 16. The Duration of this present Peace shall be determin'd upon the Delivery of the Acts of this present Treaty By these respective Treaties may be seen the several Acquisitions of the Confederates from the Turk during this long and bloody War now fully terminated How vastly the Emperor has increased his Territories no Man that understands any thing of Geography but must agree to it The Poles cannot but be satisfy'd with the Restitution of Caminiec in its present State with other Advantages The Moscoviâ—es have been also Gainers by the Detention of Asoph and other Places and Countries leading to it And tho' the Venetians seemed to have fared hardest in this Negotiation as indeed is usual with those who make their Terms last witness the German Empire in the late Treaty of Ryswick Yet how many strong Fortresses and what vast Tracts of Land are hereby conceded to them is exceeding manifest the Morea to say nothing of the rest wherein there had been so many famous Kingdoms and States being now entirely theirs So that upon the whole if you consider the Extent of Land the Fertility of the Soil and the Numbers and the Strength of the Garrisons which the Turks have lost and set them against the Nakedness of their Frontiers the cold Climate of Thrace the Barrenness of Macedon and other Parts and indeed against the whole they have now left in Europe It will appear they lost little less than one Moiety of their Dominions on this side the Tâ—racian Bosphorus and I cannot think a Truce of Five and Twenty Years will be sufficient to put them into a Condition to regain them again but should rather incline to believe that another War should drive them over to the Asiatick Shoar as a step on their way to those Barren Desarts from whence they first came But while this our European World may now justly sing a Râ—quiem for the Universal Peace that is establish'd between the several Nations that compose its Inhabitants what a pitty is it and how worthy of Lamentation that the poor Protestants abroad should fare the worse for it their Calamities encrease and as it were a new War proclaimed against them both in France Savoy and Germany I wish we may not hear the same in a short time from Hungary and Traâ—silvania from the foolish Bigottry of those Princes whose true Interest it is to protect and tolerate them and who after all can never sit easie in their Throâ—es nor one should think in their Consciences neither till they have learnt that true Principle that Conscience
enters into the Confederacy c. 387 c. His Articles with the Emp. 389 c. with the King of Spain 390 c. invades the Dauphinate 472. His Sickness and recovery 473 c. His Letter to the States of Holland 533. Makes a separate Peace 563. His Envoy's Harangue to the late King James 574 c. Saxony the Elector of his death 96. Another General of the Confederates on the Rhine dies 457. Another's death 507. Fights the Turks 577. Chosen King of Poland 594. His Letter to the Polish Republick 638. His Declaration to his Saxon Subjects 639 c. Schultz General successful in Vpper Hungary 160. Defeats Count Teckley ibid. Schomberg Duke of lands in Ireland 324. Scinta a Battle there 215. Scio taken by the Venetians 506. quitted 536. Scotland an Insurrection there 77. Covenanters murder the Archb. of St. Andrews ib. Their Proclamations 78. Proposals to Monmouth ib. are routed 79. Segedin besieg'd by the Imperialists 214. surrendred 215. Serasquier his Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 189. Shaftsbury the Earl of committed to the Tower 111. Sidney Mr. his Embassy into Holland and for what 83. His Memorial to the States 84. Makes a defensive League with 'em 86. Sidney Col. his Trial 124. Execution and Papers to the Sheriff 125 c. Sign besieged by the Venetians and taken by storm 220. Besieg'd by the Turks and relieved by the Venetians 238. Skelton Mr. discovers the Pr. of Orange's Intention 258. Solyman made Em. of the Turks 238. Spaniards sign the Peace with France 41. Their Ambassador resents the States Answer about Maestricht 70. Prevail in Catalonia 531 c. Staremberg Count Governour of Vienna prepares for its Defence 135. His Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 139. His other Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 141 c. States General their answer to the French King's Letter 20. displease the Confederates ib. Order their Embassador to sign the Peace 21. Exclaimed against by the Northern Confederates 38. their Answer to the Elector of Brandenburgh's demands 68. To the Spaniards for Maestricht 69. A Letter from an unknown hand to them 83. Their resolution as to the Invasion of England 283. Steenkirk the Battle there 462 c. Stetin taken by the Brandenburghers 12. Strasburg how possest by the French 112. Sunderland Earl of his Letter to a Friend 264 c. Syclos taken by the Imperialists 213. T. TAlbot Col. disbands the Protestant Army in Ireland 182 c. Tartars attack the Germans Baggage 133. ravage Poland 415. Teckley Count makes himself P. of Transilvania 409. Themeswaer besieg'd by the Imperialists 576. Tyrconnel Earl of made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 223. His Proceedings ibid. dies at Limmerick 434. Toleration of Religion to Papists in Scotland 205. in England 223. Tour the President de la his Speech to King VVilliam 407. Transilvania revolts from the Emperor 233. reduced 234. Truce signed between France Denmark and Brandenburg 63. expired 64. between France and Spain c. for 20 Years 150 c. Turks advance to Austria 132. waste the Frontiers of Hungary and Austria 134. besiege Vienna 135. beaten from before Vienna 145 c. routed at Barkan 147. beaten at Gran 187. routed at Scinta 215. beaten at Chialafa by the Venetians 216. defeated at Navarino 217. Reasons of their not succeeding against the Germans 504. Turkey the Revolution there 253 c. V. VAlentia besieg'd by the French and Savoyards 575. Vallona besieg'd by the Venetians 418. deserted by the Turks 419. Vaudemont Prince his gallant Retreat 515. Vaudois persecuted 397. rout the French 356. Venetians make Incursions into the Turkish Territories 162. take the Isle of Narenta c. 164. possess themselves of the whole Province of Mayna 195. rout the Turks 241. their Letter to the new Doge and Instructions 255 c. beat the Turks at Sea 419. defeat the Turks at Argos 537. beat the Turks by Sea 580. Verace discovers the P. of Orange's Designs upon England 258. Vicegrade besieged and taken by the Imperialists 154. taken by the Turks 187. Vienna in great Consternation 133. besieged by the Turks 135. a Journal of the Siege 136 c. it siege continued 142 c. relieved 145. Villeroy Marshal de his Letter to the Governour of Brussels 521. fails to relieve Namur 529. Virovitz taken by the Imperialists 159. Vrgel taken by the French 448. W. VVAisen surrendred to the Imperialists 155. Walcour the Action there 329. Waterford surrendred to the English 377. Weesell a Conference there between the Allies 10. Wheeler Sir Francis cast away in a Storm 492. Whitchal burnt 673 c. Widin surrendred to the Imperialists 354. surrendred to the Turks 411. William III. King his Speech to the Parliament 358. lands in Ireland 366. wounded 368. Victorious over the Irish Army at the Boyn 370 c. his Proceedings in Ireland 378 c. goes for England 383. his Speech to the Congress 421. his Speech to the Parliament 457 c. his Speech to the Parliament 491. signs several Bills 493 his Letter to Prince Vaudemont 514 c. his Speech to the Parliament 538 c his Speech in Parliament concerning the Assassination 550. another Speech to the Parliament 582 c. his Speech at the Conclusion of the Peace 670 c. another Speech 674. goes for Holland 675. Y. YOrk Duke of withdraws to Flanders 75. returns 81. sent High Commissioner into Scotland ib. his cruelty to the Earl of Argyle 111. Z. ZEnta the great Battle there 633. FINIS July 1676. Maestricht besieg'd by the Prince of Orange Siege raised Philipsburg surrender'd to the Imperial Army The Demands of the several Princes Valenciennes besieg'd The Battle of Mount-Cassel The Fr. K.'s Letter to K. C. 11. Ghent besieg'd and taken K. Charles II. tempted with Moncy by France The States Answer The Confederates angry with the States The Dutch order their Embassadors to Sign the Peace The Peace obstructed The Treaty of Alliance between England and Holland Du Cross's Message The Peace between France and Holland Signed The Battle of Mons. Mr. Hyde's Memorial to the States Prince of Orange's Censure of the English Court. Articles against Mons Beverning The Conferences renewed Rugen taken Denmark and Brandenburg's Remonstrance to the Imperial Embassadors The Imperial and French Embassadors agree to Sign the Peace The Abstract of the Imperial Articles of Peace The Elector of Brandenburg's Demands of the States The Spaniards demand Maestricht of the Dutch The States Answer The Spaniard rejoinâ— The Spanish Ambassador resents it Popish Plot discovered Godfrey murdered K. Charles II's Letter to the Duke of York K. Charles II chooses a new Council Insurrection in Scotland The Scotch Rebels Proclamation Their Second Proclamation They make Proposals to the Duke of Monmouth The Duke of Monmouth fights and routs the Covenanters The Story of the black Box. K. Charles II. disclaims any Marriage with the Duke of Monmouth's Mother K. Charles II. sick and the Consequence of it Duke of Monmouth
hath been and still is a damnable Hellish Plot contrived and carried on by Recusants for assassinating and murdering the King subverting the Government and rooting out and destroying the Protestant Religion I am not insensible what Artifices have been used to ridicule this Plot in all the Parts of it and particularly so far as it relates to the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey But there are some Things so particular herein for evincing That that Gentleman fell a Martyr through Popish Cruelty and yet not commonly known that I shall take notice of them in this place There was one Prance a Papist by Religion and a Silversmith by Trade living near Covent-Garden and one that wrought for the Priests and others in Somerset-House who some time after the said Murder being observed to abscond from his House for several Days by his Neighbours some of them represented the same to some Parliament-Men with other circumstantial Suspicions they had of the said Prance and thereupon there was an Order got to seize him and he was referred to the Examination of Sir Richard Everard and Sir Charles Harboard Now before the Murder Le Pair Pritchard and some other Priests had treated with bedlow to be assisting in it which he at first assented to but after relented and did not come But the Monday after the Fact was committed which was Octob. 14. meeting with La Faire in Red-Lyon-Court he charged him with being worse than his Word but engaged him to meet him at 9 a Clock in Somerset-House where he was told by La Faire That though he was not assistant as he promised in killing Sir Edmund yet if he would be helpful to carry him off he should have 2000 l. Reward Hereupon Bedlow desiring to see the Body Le Faire shewed it him and then they advised together about the Disposal of it Bedlow being of Opinion it were best to sink it in the River with Weights which was not agreed to But in seeing the Body Bedlow saw Pranoe in the Company too yet did not know him before This being done Bedlow went to Bristol but finding himself much troubled in Conscience having twice taken the Sacrament to conceal the Business God put it into his Heart that some Murders being past and to prevent greater to come he was convinced it was his Duty to return to London to reveal what he knew which he did and went to the Lobby of the House of Lords in order to it In the mean time Sir Charles Harboard and Sir Richard Everard having examined Prance and the House being set left him to the Care of the Constable of Covent-Garden who brought him to the Lobby of the Lords House where Bedlow seeing him but never before save the foresaid Time in Somerset-House he charged the Guards to seize him for that reason saying He remembred him well he having when they viewed Sir Edmund ' s Body a black Perruke on but now none Hereupon search being made the Perruke was found And hence it was that Prance became an Evidence in this Discovery and on whose Evidence chiefly Green Berry and Hill were convicted and executed I shall not enter into any more Particulars of this Plot as being already sufficiently treated on by divers Authors and not falling directly under under the Course of our present Design but there is one Thing very remarkable attending it and such I think as can hardly be parallel'd in any other Story and that is that there should be so many and such clear Proofs to Murder the King's Person and yet that he should be solâ—ittle apprehensive of it But it may be as Tom. Killigrew was said to have told him He knew more of the Plot than any Body else and his Discovery of it would quickly have satisfied his People But whether it were my Lord Treasurer Danby's Business or the Popish Lords in the Tower or the Affairs of the Plot in general the King having on Monday the 30th of Dec. last Prorogued both Houses to the 4th of Feb. did on the 24th of Jan. Dissolve his once Darling Long-lived but now Expiring Parliament which had been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments 17 Years 8 Months and 17 Days being first called on the 8th of May 1661. And issued out Writs to call another to Sit at Westminister on the 6th of March following but thought â—it on the 28th of Feb. in the Interim to direct a Letter to the Duke of York his Brother to command him to withdraw beyond Sea to this Effect I Have already given you my Resolves at large why I think it fit that you absent your self for some time beyond the Seas I am truly sorry for the Occasion so may you be sure I shall never desire it longer than it shall be absolutely necessary for your Good and my Service In the mean time I think it proper to give it you under my Hand that I expect this Compliance from you and desire it may be as soon as conveniently you can You may easily perceive with what Trouble I write this to you there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant Kindness you have ever had for me I hope you are as just to me to be assured that no Absence nor any Thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours C. R. The Duke with his Dutchess and Family in pursuance to this Command within a few Days withdrew accordingly and for a while retired to the Hague and from thence to Brussels while the King in the mean time that he might let the World see how he was otherways as well as therein become a new Man for the future did upon the 20th of Apr. make a Declaration to this Purpose in Council and in his new Parliament and afterward Published it to the whole Nation How sensible he was of the ill Posture of his Affairs and the great Dissatisfactions and Jealousies of his good Subjects whereby the Crown and Government were become too weak to preserve it self which proceeded from his use of a single Ministry and of private Advices and therefore professed his Resolution to lay them aside for the future and to be advised by those whom he had chosen for his Council in all his weighty and important Affairs together with the frequent Advice of his great Council in Parliament The Members that composed which Council because of the great Worth of most of them we shall give the Reader a List of His Highness Prince Rupert William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Henry Lord Finch Lord-Chancellor of England Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Lord President of the Council Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy-Seal Christopher Duke of Albemarle James Duke of Monmouth Master of the Horse Henry Duke of Newcastle John Duke of Lauderdale Secretary of State for Scotland James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Bridgwater Robert Earl of Sunderland one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State Arthur Earl of Essex First Lord-Commissioner of