Intentions for the publick Good we shall he ready to doe it as Occasion shall require This was signed by the two Arch-Bishops five Bishops and Twenty two Noblemen and it was there concluded that the Earl of Pembroke the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Lord Bishop of Ely and the Lord Culpepper should forthwith attend his Highness the Prince of Orange with the said Declaration and at the same time acquaint him with what was farther done at that Meeting The Lords having left the Guild Hall the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and the Common Council assembled and amongst other Matters it was agreed by Vote that an Humble Address should in their Names and on the behalf of the City be presented to His Highness the Prince of Orange In haec verba May it please your Highness WE taking into Consideration Your Highness's fervent Zeal for the Protestant Religion manifested to the World in your many and hazardous Enterprises which it hath pleased Almighty God to bless you with miraculous success we render our deepest thanks to the Divine Majesty for the same and beg leave to present our humble thanks to your Highness particularly for your appearing in Arms in this Kingdom to carry on and perfect your glorious Design to rescue England Scotland and Ireland from Popery and Slavery and in a Free Parliament to establish the Religion the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms upon a sure and lasting Foundation We have hitherto lookt for some Remedy for those Oppressions and imminent Dangers we together with our Protestant Fellow Subjects labour under from His Majesties Concessions and Concurrences with your Highness's just and pious purposes expressed in your Gracious Declaration But herein finding our selves finally disappointed by His Majesties with-drawing himself we presume to make your Highness our Refuge and do in the Name of the Capital City implore your Highness's Protection and most humbly beseech your Highness to vouchsafe to repair to this City where your Highness will be received with universal Joy and Satisfaction This Address being highly approved by all present Four Aldermen and Eight Commoners were appointed to wait upon his Highness and present him with the said Address and accordingly it was presented and very favourably received And the Lieutenancy of the City of London being the same day assembled drew up an Address to be presented to his Highness on the behalf of themselves the Militia c. which being to the same Effect with the former we think it needless to insert This Address was delivered by four of the Members of the Lieutenancy and very kindly received by his Highness By this time the Earl of Feversham then commanding the King's Forces having received His Majesties Letter by which he understood he had withdrawn himself and wherein he received such Orders as the King thought necessary to leave he sent to acquaint his His Highness the Prince of Orange with what had happened in the following Letter SIR HAving received this Morning a Letter from His Majesty with the unfortunate News of his Resolution to go out of England and that he is actually gone I thought my self obliged being at the Head of his Army having received his Majesties Orders to make no opposition against any Body to let your Highness know with the Advice of the Officers here so soon as it was possible to hinder the Misfortune of Effusion of Bloud I have ordered already to that purpose all the Troups that are under my Command which shall be the last Order they shall receive from me c. This Order caused the Troups to fall off and disband as well because they knew themselves without a Head as not knowing how to come by their Pay if they continued in the Service and indeed many of the Foot Soldiers were driven to great extremity being by this Disbanding destitute of Moneys Lodging and other neccessaries and had for a while nothing to subsist but the Charity of the People And although the Irish Battalion seemed for a time obstinate to continue in Arms yet the Commands they received from His Highness the Prince of Orange and the necessity that they felt constrained them to submit This Dispersing of the Solders made his Highness publish a Declaration requiring all Commanders in chief by Beat of Drum or otherwise to call together the several Officers and Soldiers belonging to their respective Regiments Troups and Companies in such places as they should find most convenient for their Rendezvouz and there to keep them in good Order and Discipline And likewise directing and requiring all such Officers and Soldiers forthwith to repair to such places as shall be appointed for that purpose by the respective Collonels or Commanders in chief Whilst these things passed in the Army the multitude got together in divers places spoiling and demolishing the Popish Mass-Houses and Chapels much defacing the Dwelling Houses of several Eminent Papists who were fled for fear of being secured and though the Magistrates laboured to quiet the Tumults and Disorders of this kind yet they found their Authority too feeble till the Mobile had spent their rage in London c. They pull'd down the Convent of Monks in St. John's which had been two Years Building at a vast Expence and Burnt the greatest part of the Timber and Materials in Smithfield having before siezed some of the Goods as they were removing them and burnt them in Holborn They likewise defaced and demolished the Chapels in Lime-strect and Lincolns-Inn Fields with that of the Spanish Ambassadour's at Wild-house where violently breaking into his Excellency's Lodgings they got great store of Plunder in Plate Money and riâ—… Goods c. And in like manner they served the Lodgings of the Resident of Florence in St. James's Hay-Market and offered divers Affronts and Abuses to other Houses gathering in such Numbers from all parts that it is almost incredible insomuch that neither the Watches nor Trained-Bands thought it safe to oppose the Torrent but the next day it was pretty well allayed and then search was made in divers places for such as were fled from Justice and amongst others to the no small wonder of the People the Lord Chancellour Jeffries was taken at a blind House in Hope and Anchor Alley in Wapping disguised like a Sailer and endeavouring to make his escape in a Vessel that lay by the Key for Hamborough and being brought before the Lord Mayor who by reason of an Indisposition that then siezed him not being capable of examining the Matter he was contented to go the Tower to preserve himself from the rage of the Rabble that loudly threatened him with Destruction and being guarded thither with a Detachment of the Trained-Bands was received by the Lieutenant of the Tower to whom upon Notice the Lords at White-Hall sent a Warrant of Commitment to keep the Body of George Lord Jefferies Baron of Wem in safe Custody c. On the 4th of December His Highness the Prince of Orange came to Windsor about
confidence they had reposed in him Assuring them that he would never do any thing that might lessen their good Opinion of him putting them in mind of the Allies abroad and the hazard they may run especially Holland unless some speedy Care were taken That a good Settlement was necessary at Home particularly recommending to them the dangerous State of Ireland and the Methods to their spedy consideration On the 2d of February the Lord Bishop on London with the Clergy of the City to the number of an 100 waited on their Majesties with an humble Tender of their Fidelity and Duty and being Graciously received were admitted to kiss their Majesties Hands the King at the same time being pleased to give them a full Assurance of of his great Affection to the Church of England and of all the Protection and Encouragement to them for which he gave them his Royal Word concluding with Assuring them that they should ever find it so and they might depend upon it the Houses resolved into a free Parliament His Majesty went on the 23d of February by Water to the House of Lords attended with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes with the Crown on his Head seated on the Throne and the Commons being sent for His Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act for removing and preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and Sitting of the present Parliament And having disrobed himself he was attended to the Water-side with the like Ceremony as before and in the afternoon their Majesties went to Hampton-Court On the 28th of February two Proclamations were issued forth by the King and Queen the one at the Request of the Honourable House of Commons to apprehend Robert Brent Gentleman late of the Inner Temple charged with High Treason who procuring himself to be Bailed had left them and fled from Justice with the Reward of 200 l. to any person that should discover or apprehend him and those that should conceal or further his Escape to be proceeded against with the utmost severity according to Law. The other for the bringing in and restoring of Arms that had been Embezled or Lost during the Disorders and Disbandings amongst the Soldiers that had been in pay under the late King James and upon advice that the Earl of Tyrconnel laboured to draw the Irish more and more to his Party and confirm those that were already in Arms with him by laying before them the Danger already incurr'd their Majesties to leave them that should obstinately persist without excuse issued forth a Proclamation offering amongst other things Pardon and Indemnity for all things by those of the Earl's Party if they laid down their Arms and retired themselves to their respective Habitations and Places of Abode and there peaceably behaved themselves as good Subjects ought to doe as likewise that they should upon this ondition enjoy in full freedom their Estates according to Law and those of the Roman Church upon such Consideration to have all the Favour for the private Exercise of their Religion that the Law allows with a promise speedily to call a Parliament in that Kingdom but on the Contrary declaring them Rebels and Traytors c. and their Lands and Possessions forfeited and to be disposed and distributed to those that should be Aiding and Assisting in reducing the Kingdom to its due Obedience This Proclamation 't is thought whether hindred by Tyrconnel's violence from coming to the knowledge of the Vulgar or creating a fear in his followers made him fly to his Last refuge of more strictly disarming the Protestants as well those in Cities that fell into his hands as Gentlemen who were retired to their Houses where his Soldiers committed sundry Outrages of an high Nature Robbing and Pillaging without remorse or pity though under a colour excused himself by giving directions to the Magistrates to see that no wrong should be done however when Complaints were made he urged necessity compell'd his Men to doe what they did yet the Protestants especially in the North stood to their Arms and repelled force by force getting some supplies of Ammunition out of Scotland keeping the Town of Sligo and other places of strength with a Longing expectation of the Arrival of the Forces and necessary Provisions from England to be thereby enable to carry on the War and recover what has been taken from them by the Irish Papists And now the duty of Hearth mony being looked upon by the Commons as a grievance to the Subjects and represented as such to his Majesty the King was pleased to send a message that he left it to their considerations either to regulate it or to take it away which was received with great satisfaction and forthwith the thanks of the House were ordered to be returned his Majesty for his gracious Message and on the 1st of March in the Afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled Waited upon his Majesty in the Banqueting-house and and there presented an Address of thanks wherein they expressed the Joy and Satisfaction they conceived at so unpresidented an offer humbly craving leave to present their Assurance that they-would make such gratefull and affectionate returns as were suitable to his Majesties most Gracious Intentions and be so carefull of the Support of the Crown that the World should see to the discouraging his Enemies that his Majesty reigns in the Hearts of his People c. The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament made likewise and Address to his Majesty expressing therein how highly they were sensible of their great and Signal deliverance c. And that being fully convinced of the restless Spirits and continued Endeavours of his Majesties and the Nations Enemies for the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the Subversion of the Laws and Liberties they unanimously declared that they would Stand by and Assist his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes in Supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland and in defence of the Protestant Religion of the Kingdom To this his Majesty was pleased to return them a very Gracious Answer expressing therein the valuable Esteem he had for Parliaments and especially for this expressing his Satisfaction of the Confidence and Trust they had reposed in him and that it should be his Care never to give any Parliament cause of distrust and withall recommending to them the care of the Allies abroad and minding them of the greate Expence the States of Holland had been at in the Expedition and Zeal they had to promote it and to second his Majesties Endeavours even with a neglect of their own Safety not doubting but their Generosity would not only enable him to make good his treaty with those States and repay what they actually layd out and of which an account should be given but support them to their utmost Ability against the power of their Enemies considering both Interests were upon one and the same Bottom As to safety his
commanded the City they made an Act by which they empowered the Earls of Lothain and Tweddale to repair immediately to the Castle of Edinburgh and to require him and others of his persuasion there in the Name of the Estates of this Kingdom to remove out of that Castle in twenty four hours after notice given and to leave the Charge thereof to the next commanding Officer being a Protestant and that he and those that were with him upon such a compliance should have assurance from the Estates to be secured and indempnified as to any thing they had acted in that or any other Station contrary to Law as being Papists This done they nominated a Committee of Election consisting of 15 persons five of each Estate and after some debate whether the Lords Spiritual were a distinct Estate or only a part of the same Estate with the Lords Temporal which was laid aside by the House inclining to the Negative and rejecting the Protestations against the sitting of the Earl of Argile before his Father's Attainder was taken off A Motion was made that in consideration the City was full of People and many of them armed to prevent disorders it was not inconvenient to command all persons who were not Inhabitants nor immediately belonging to the Members of this Convention to depart the place but it was the Opinion of the House that the Castle in the command of whose Cannon the City was ought to be first surrendered and for their better assurance a Committee was ordered to take care that no violation of the Peace were made And the next day the Duke of Gourdon having sent a Paper by way of Excuse for holding the Castle contrary to the mind of the Estates it was read and advantageous Terms offered him and those with him in consideration of a speedy Surrender but soon after he discovered his Design was only to trifle that he might gain time which obliged them to send for such a competent number of armed Men as was capable to block it up and prevent the Excursions of the Besieged so that small bickerings frequently happened though without any considerable damage In the mean while two Letters came to the Convention one from King William and the other from the late King of which only the first was approved and the Convention proceeded to take measures much like those of England declaring the Throne vacant c. and made preparation in order to fill it suffering Men and Arms from England to enter that Kingdom and it was in fine concluded that King William and Queen Mary should be crowned King and Queen of the Kingdom of Scotland and the Crown offered them with an Instrument of Government to settle and regulate particulars Whilst these things passed in Scotland with others of the like purport a Proclamation by the King and Queen was issued out give to notice to the Peers and such as had any Claim or Right of Tenure that the Royal Solemnity of their Coronation was to be celebrated April 11th 1689. and on the 21st of March his Majesty going to the House of Lords attended in the usual solemnity and being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne and the Commons being sent for up gave his Royal Assent to an Act for granting a present Aid to their Majesties and on the 31st of March the Right Reverend Dr Gilbert Burnet being before Bishop elect of Salisbury was consecrated according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer in the Chapel of the Palace at Fulham by the Lord Bishops of London Winchester Landaff St Asaph and Carlisle by virtue of a Commission granted to them by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury On Apr. 3. his Majesty went by water to the House of Lords attended with the usual solemnity and in the usual manner gave the Royal Assent to an Act for exhibiting a Bill in the present Parliament for naturalizing the most Noble Prince George of Denmark also to an Act for Reviving of Actions and Process lately depending in the Courts of Westminster and discontinued by not holding of Hilary Term and for supplying other Defects relating to Proceedings at Law likewise to an Act for punishing Officers or Soldiers who shall mutinie or desert their Majesties Service and in the Afternoon a Chapter being held of the most noble Order of the Garter Duke Frederick Mareschal de Schomberg General of his Majesties Forces and Master General of the Ordnance and the Right Honourable William Earl of Devonshire Lord Steward of his Majesties Houshold were elected Knight-Companions of the Order and invested with the Garter and George having been first Knighted by the Sovereign with the usual Ceremony and Dr. Burnet Bishop of Salisbury was sworn and admitted Chancellour of that Order On the 5th of April his Grace the Duke of Ormond was installed in St. George's Chapel Knight-Companion of the Noble Order by the Duke of Grafton and the Earl of Rochester two Knight-Companions who were thereunto Commissioned by the Sovereign with the usual Ceremonies which done his Grace entertained the Commissioners together with divers Persons of Quality and the Officers of the Order at a noble Dinner at the middle whereof Garter King at Arms accompanied with the Officers at Arms proclaimed his Grace's Style About this time His Majesty caused notice to be given to all Protestant Officers that had been disbanded in Ireland or lately quitted their Commands they who were not yet employed in his Service to bring in their Names and Certificates of their former Commands in order to their entering into Service and Pay c. and to prevent false and seditious Rumours as to the lessening the Pay of such Soldiers as should be sent over to the Low-Countries His Majesty was pleased to issue forth his Proclamation to assure them of full English Pay and upon the English Establishment as full to all Intents as any other Regiments of his own Subjects of the same Quality remaining in the Kingdom of England The Parliament assembled at Westminster having duly weighed and considered the high consequence as to the security of our Religion Laws c. in the Efficacy of a Coronation an Act being drawn up it passed the Royal Assent the 9th of April in the 1st Year of their Majesties Reigns entituled An Act for establishing the Coronation Oath The Oath in manner and form to be tendred The Archbishop or Bishop shall say Will you solemnly promised and swear to govern the People of this Kingdom of England and the Dominions thereto belonging according to the Statutes in Parliament agreed on and the Laws and Customs of the same The King and Queen shall say I solemnly promise so to doe Archbishop or Bishop Will you to your power cause Law and Justice in Mercy to be executed in all your Judgments King and Queen I will. Archbishop or Bishop Will you to the utmost of your Power maintain the Law of God the true Profession of the Gospel and the Protestant Reformed
the French King to Reason the English Parliament at the same time declaring strongly for it and offering the King considerable Summes of Mony to carry on the projected Design against the Disturber of Christendom The Alliance was to be carried on in order to the recovering a satisfaction by such means as should be thought most expedient and best agreeable and indeed for a time it was vigorously maintained the Parliament of England pressing it with a more than ordinary Ardour and the King sent the Lord Montague his Ambassadour to France once more to press that King to a Compliance making at the same time new Levies of Horse and Foot However the French King rejecting the Propositions was not idle but made great preparations for War whereupon the King of Great Britain recalled his Forces that were in the French Service who were sent home without their Arrears But whilst the Confederates were agreeing about their Quota's or Levies the French early in the Spring besieged Gaunt which being taken by reason of the insufficiency of the Garison to maintain a place of that vast Circuit they sate down before Ypre which after a resolute defence surrendred These Places thus lost for want of succour made the Confederates draw out from all Parts the Prince of Orange being the first that took the Field and the Duke of Monmouth arrived at Bruges with about 3000 English Horse and Foot but the French King having done as much as he thought convenient at that time putting the greater part of his numerous Armies into Garisons to refresh them he retired to Paris but hearing the League against him continually strengthened by new Alliances and a Prohibition of the growth of his Kingdom he thought it no longer convenient to delay but formed himself a Project of Accommodation to this purpose viz. That the Prince and Bishop of Strasburgh should be entirely restored to all his Territories Honours Prerogatives and Goods and Prince William of Furstemburgh his Brother be set at Liberty That in relation to the Emperour he would stand to his Declarations insisting upon the Treaties of Westphalia offering to restore Philipsburgh or Friburgh That to the King of Spain he would restore Charleroy Aeith Courtray Gaunt Oudenard and St. Guilain together with Chastlerains and all their Dependencies but reserve to himself Conde Bouchain Air Cambray Valenciennes and Saint Omers with all their Castles and Dependencies with La Frenche Conte entire That he would restore Charlemont or Dinant to the Spaniard with the Emperour and Bishop of Liege's consent That the Confines between Spain the Low Countrys from the Sea should be the Meuse Newport Courtray Aeith Dixmund Mons Oudenard Namur and Charleroy and those Bounds to be assured by those Places That moreover to the States General he would restore Maestricht and allow the Commerce as formerly granted That he would restore to the Duke of Lorain according to the Pyrenean Treaty or surrender to him excepting Nancy all his Territories and in lieit of that City he would give him Toul thereby only reserving to himself a free passage into Alsatia And farther demanded satisfaction for his Allies The proposals were not generally liked yet after many Difficulties and Refusals the Treaty was at length signed by the Plenipotentiaries of France and Holland on the 11th of August 1678. yet the delays of the French King proved extremely prejudicial to his Affairs especially in lessening the Reputation his Arms had gained for whilst the Treaty held with indifferency and wavered without any certainty of coming to a conclusion the Prince of Orange having joyned the Confederate Forces they called a Council of War in which it was concluded that seeing Mons a City of the Province of Hainault had been a long time Blocked up by the French and that the Duke of Luxemburgh was on his March with the Army under his Command to prevent any Succours being put into the City that it was convenient to intercept him and with this Resolution the Prince and the Confederate Army set forward about the beginning of August and was joyned in his March by six thousand Munsterians and Brandenburghers under the Command of General Spaen The French upon notice of his Approach removed from Soignes where they had lain for some time encamped where the next day the Prince decamped with the Confederate Army and from thence marched toward Rockless advancing the left Wing as far as the Abby of St. Dennis that Place being the Duke of Luxemburgh's chief Quarters facing with his Right Wing Casteau possessed likewise by the French and although the Passes were extreme difficult which rendred the French more secure yet the Army being embatteled his Highness commanded a Party to drive the French from a Hillock they had possessed which was performed with little difficulty and then he caused the great Guns to play upon the Enemy that had posted themselves near the Cloister adjacent to the Town and though they strove to defend it with their Cannon yet after a considerable Battery a Party of Dragoons advanced and after a sharp dispute drove them thence and possessed the Place when in the mean time Adjutant General Collyer seconded by General Delwick passed the Defiles or narrow dirty Lanes with admirable courage contrary to the expectation of the French and drove them after a strenuous resistence into their own Lines when the Prince accompanied by the Duke of Monmouth who fought by his side that day fell in with great resolution and bravery encouraging by words and actions the Regiments that were advanced and signallizing his Valour above Report which so animated the Regiments of the left Wing that they followed each other till the Evening charging with great resolution and Count Horn bending the Cannon under his Charge against the Battalions of French that were drawn up in the Valley it greatly endamaged them by battering their Ranks The Fight being thus begun was carried on and maintained with much resolution and bravery the Prince forcing his Passage to Casteau which had been Attacked by the Spaniards in the right Wing where his Regiments of Foot-Guards had the Van-Guard under the Command of Count Solms and was seconded by the Regiments of Holstein Roques Sereres and they supported by the English who through the natural aversion they had to the French charged with such fury that the obstinate resistence the Enemy made could not sustain their impetuosity for after five hours dispute the French were driven from their Post by the Regiments of Guards who pursued them to the River Haines on the other side of Casteau And in this Battel it was that the renowned Earl of Ossory who commanded the English signalized his Valour and indeed the whole stress of the Battel lay upon the Infantry the Cavalry not being very serviceable in a Place of such narrow access and so full of precipices Night putting an end to the Slaughter the Duke of Luxemburgh finding his loss great and that he was no longer capable of
in the settling and confirming this Liberty as far as it lay in them and were ready if desired to concurr in the Repealing the Laws provided always that those Laws remain still in their full vigor by which the Roman Chatholicks are shut out of both Houses of Parliament out of all Employments Ecclesiastical Civil and Military as likewise all those other Laws which confirm the Protestant Religion and which secure it against all the Attempts of the Roman Catholicks But that their Highnesses could not agree to the Repealing of the Test or those Penal Laws that tend to the security of the Protestant Religion since the Roman Catholicks receive no more prejudice from these than the being excluded from Parliaments or from publick Employments and that by them the Protestant Religion is covered from all the Designs of the Roman Catholicks against it or against the publick safety and neither the Tests nor those other Laws can be said to carry in them any Severity against the Roman Catholicks upon Account of their Consciences they being only Provisions qualifying Men to be Members of Parliament or to be capable of bearing Offices by which they must declare before God and Men that they are for the Protestant Religion so that all this amounts to no more than a securing the Protestant Religion from any prejudice that it may receive from Roman Catholicks That their Highnesses have thought and do still think that more than this ought not to be asked or expected from them since by this means the Roman Catholick and their Posterity would be for ever secured from all troubles in their Persons or Estates or in the Exercise of their Religion and that the Roman Catholicks ought to be satisfied with this and not to disquiet the Kingdom because they cannot be admitted to sit in Parliament or to be in Employment or because those Laws in which the security of the Protestant Religion does chiefly consist are not repealed by which they may be put in a condition to over-turn it That their Highnesses also believed that Dissenters would be for ever satisfied when they should be for ever covered from all danger of being disturbed or punished for the free Exercise of their Religion upon any sort of pretence what soever These things we find in the Letter of that great Minister of State as the just Sentiments of their Highnesses which did not at all please the Court and perceiving the Wind averse in that quarter Mr. Stewart in his other Letter tells the Pensioner a while after That the Court was quite beyond it and had taken other measures c. About this time an account being given by the persons who had it in charge and for that intent made it their Business to visit the most considerable places in England and Wales how the people stood affected in relation to the taking off the Penal Laws and Tests if they should be chosen Members of Parliament or were qualified for chusing The King being at Windsor the 24th of August he declared in Council That pursuant to his Declaration he resolved to call a Parliament to meet the 27th of November following and ordered the Lord Chancellor to issue out Writs on that behalf the 18th of September after the sitting of that Council and accordingly Writs were prepared but were stopped and recalled upon certain notice that his Highness the Prince of Orange was preparing for England more of which I shall have occasion to mention hereafter About the beginning of September the Prince went to meet the Elector of Brandenburgh going from Loo on the 5th for Minden as also to meet some other Princes and Noble-men of Germany which so allarm'd the French King that the Count d' Avanx the French Ambassadour presented a Memorial to the Sates-General by the Order of his master who mistaking the measures the Prince intended at that time to take complained therein That the King his Master being informed of the motions and Coferences that were made and held towards the Frontiers of Cologne against the Cardinal of Fustemburgh and that Chapter he was resolved to maintain the Cardinal and the Privileges against all those that should go about to trouble them c. No sooner did his Highness return from that Conference to Loo but Orders were taken to draw the Forces together in order to the Encampment upon the Mooker Hyde and the Forces of the other Princes had Orders to be upon their march as those of Brandenburgh Hesse Cassel c. and on the 16th of September the States assembled at the Hague where his Highness the Prince of Orange was present continuing in debating several matters of great weight and consequence but as to the particulars we are wanting however it was generally suspected that the King had Intelligence that the great preparatons of Naval and Land Forces were intended for England when contrary to expectation His Majesty in his Declaration bearing Date the 20th of September relating to the Regulating Elections has this Clause viz We are willing the Roman Catholicks shall remain incapable to be Members of the House of Commons c. and on the 26th an Order was published to restore the Deputy-Lieutenants and such Gentlemen as had been put out of their Offices and Commissions and the next publick account we had was the King's Proclamation bearing Date the 25th of September giving a large Account of his Highness's Intentions to pass the Seas and land in England and the Marquess d' Albeville presented a Memorial to the Deputies of the States-General upon that Subject yet the preparations went on and whilst the Marquess expected an Answer to his Memorial the Troups embarked and her Highness and the Mareschal de Scomberg came to the Hague And so far wrought the News of these preparations that Magdalen College in Oxford was ordered to be restored and settled settled London was likewise restored her antient Charter other Corporations were restored to their Charters and Magistrates and the Church of England had immediately the right hand of Fellowship which made many wonder to see things so suddenly changed the suffering Bishops were received into favour and had leave to make their proposals for the good settlement and constitution of the Government and the Popish Party that was so lately Paramount began to droop so wonderfully wrought the terrour of his Highness's Approach On the 15th of October the Infant who had before been privately Christened was publickly named amidst the Ceremonies and Rites of Baptism in the Chapel at St. James's by the Name James Francis Edward the Pope being God father by his Nuncio and the Queen Dowager God mother the King and Queen with many others assisting And now great preparations were made to take the Field and Sutlers encouraged to attend the Army with more Freedom and Advantage than formerly for News came on the 23d of October that the Troups were all on Ship-board and that his Highness the Prince of Orange would embark so soon as the Ships in
he could not in that kind advantage the King's Affairs which were now grown desperate betook himself to his Retirement so that the Militia found themselves disbanded The Noblemen who were sent to treat with his Highness the Prince of Orange about accommodating the affairs of the Kingdom not being able to effect in all points what the King desired the Infant which had been sent to Portsmouth either as supposed the securest place or to pass the Seas was sent for back in great haste and the Priests began to shift for themselves Father Petre was missing with divers others who it is supposed perceiving the desperateness of their condition made an early escape and several Councils were held most of them privately in the King's Closet to advise what was to he done in the Juncture of affairs when on the 9th of December in the Evening News came that greatly allarm'd the Court and put it for the most part in a hurry and consternation viz. That the Prince's Forces had made their way through Reading and gained the Pass of Twyford-bridge without any considerable resistence And thus we find the account of this Action About 1500 Horse and 3 Troups of Irish Dragoons being quartered or posted in the Town of Reading were put into a Consternation upon the Report that a strong advanced Party of the Prince's Army were on their march to beat up their Quarters so that after some Consultation of the Officers it was concluded they should draw off to Twyford-Bridge and there make good their Post which accordingly they did but the Scouts that were sent abroad to discover coming in and giving them an account that the Roads were clear the Commander in chief commanded that Claverhouse Regiment of Scotch Horse and the Irish Dragoons should march back and repossess the Town of Reading which they did on the Eighth of December at Night with Orders to be in readiness and upon their Guards to prevent surprize so that most of them kept on Horse-back some in the Market-place and others at the Posts assigned them but there being yet no news of the advanc'd Party they were commanded by their Officers to alight and refresh themselves and their Horses when at ten of the Clock in the Morning the Trumpet sounded to Horse the Prince's Forces being at the Town 's end almost before they were discovered whereupon a sharp dispute ensued with brisk Firing on both Parties the Irish Dragoons bearing the brunt of the Encounter though the Scotch Horse in small detatched Bodies made some Firings but they were over-powered driven out of the Town and obliged to retreat to Twyford-Bridge and in conclusion many of the King's Party Deserted and the rest were constrained to quit the Pass and make the best of their Retreat In this Skirmish we cannot learn that above Thirty were killed and several wounded But now the King having no considerable Forces especially none capable of making Head against a prevailing Army the Queen who had been at Wind for the day before to fetch the Infant taking her solemn leave of the King crossed the Thames on the Tenth of December about Three in the Morning where her Coaches waited for her and so with the Child and a slender Attendence made for Dover or some Port near it and there took Shipping for France where she soon after landed and had a place of Residence appointed her by the French King. The Queen having left White-Hall as also a great many of the Courtiers the King the same Evening called an extraordinary Council and sent for the Lord Mayor of London and the Sheriffs who waiting upon His Majesty were amongst other things charged to have a Care of the City and keep it in Peace and Quietness as much as in them lay and then were dismissed However the Council held a long Debate and a meeting was appointed the the next Morning but contrary to the Expectation of almost the whole Kingdom the King about Three a Clock in the Night took Barge at the Privy Stairs with a small Equipage and went down the River on his Departure without giving notice to any of the Officers of his Houshold who were then in The King's Departure was no sooner spread abroad but the Lords Spiritual and Temporal that were about Town assembled and finding White-Hall full of Consternation after some Debates they gave order for the dismissing Popish Officers and Soldiers and giving Directions for the keeping of that Palace from Pillage or Spoil which in that Confusion might have happened they adjourned immediately to the Guild Hall of the City of London where by their Order the Lord Mayor had summoned the Court of Aldermen and thither they sent for Collonel Bevil Skelton Lieutenant of the Tower and ordered him to resign up that important Citadel to the Lord Lucas in trust of the City till other Measures could be taken and proceeded to approve and sign the following Declaration viz. We doubt not but the World believes that in this great and dangerous Conjuncture We are Heartily and Zealously concerned for the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land and the Liberties and Properties of the Subject and we did reasonably hope that the King having Issued out his Proclamation and Writs for a Free Parliament We might have rested secure under the Expectation of that Meeting but His Majesty having withdrawn himself and as we apprehend in order to his Departure out of the Kingdom by the pernicious Counsels of Person ill-affected to our Nation and Religion We cannot without being wanting to our Duty be silent under the Calamities wherein the Popish Counsels which so long prevailed have miserably involved us We do therefore unanimously resolve to apply our selves to his Highness the Prince of Orange who with so great Kindness to these Kingdoms so Vast Expence and so much hazard to his own Person hath undertaken by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament to rescue us with as little Effusion of Christian Blood as possible from imminent Dangers of Popery and Slavery And we do hereby declare That we will with our utmost Endeavours assist his Highness in the obtaining such a Parliament with all speed wherein our Laws our Liberties and our Prosperities may be secured the Church of England in particular with a due Liberty to Protestant Dissenters and in general the Protestant Religion and Interest over the whole World may be supported and encouraged to the Glory of God the Happiness of the Established Government in these Kingdoms and the advantage of all Princes and State in Christendom that may be herein concerned In the mean time we will endeavour to preserve as much as in us lies the Peace and Security of these great and populous Cities of London and Westminster and the parts adjacent by taking Care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests who are in or about the same and if there be any thing more to be performed by us for the promoting His Highness's Generous
acknowledgement of the care he had taken of the Religion Laws and Liberty of the Kingdom c. intreating him to take upon him the Administration of Government and use to that end the publick Revenues to take speedy Care of the Stats of Ireland and issue out his Circular Letters for the calling a Convention to sit at Westminster on the 22d of January c. Whereupon his Highness was pleased to declare to this effect That being a matter of weight he would consider of it and give them an answer the next day On the 28th of December in the Morning the Lords attended his Highness at St. James's who gave them this answer My Lords I Have considered of your Advice and as far as I am able I will endeavour to secure the Peace of the Nation untill the meeting of the Convention in January next for the Election whereof I will forthwith issue out Letters according to your Desire I will also take care to apply the publick Revenues to the most proper uses that the present Affairs do require and likewise endeavour to put Ireland into such a Condition that the Protestant Religion and the English Interest may be maintained in that Kingdom And I farther assure you that as I came hither for the preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms so I shall always be ready to expose my self in any hazard for the defence of the same The Lords having made their Thankfull acknowledgment for this Speech so suitable to their Desires the Gentlemen who had served as Members of Parliament during the Reign of King Charles II. together with the Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London waited upon him in the Afternoon to whom his Highness was pleased to give the same answer Nor was there only a Pleasure conceived in England for His Highness's Success and prosperous Proceedings but on the first of January New-Style all the Persons of Quality that were at the Hague appeared at Court to complement her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange and in the Evening their Electoral Highnesses of Brandenburgh arrived there and were conducted to the old Palace which was prepared for them whither her Royal Highness went to visit the Electoress and splendid Entertainments were made upon the occasion On the 30th of December His Highness was pleased to issue out his Declaration for authorizing Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers and Ministers to Act in their respective Places that were in Office the first of December Papists excepted with a Charge to be carefull and diligent in their Places and Trusts for preserving the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom and relieving the Poor c. And now the Country People and others scouting abroad had gleaned a great number of Persons whose desire of Safety had caused their withdrawing amongst whom was the Earls of Salisbury and Peterborough Lord Chancellour Sir Edward Hales Sir Thomas Jenner Charles Hales Dr. Obadiah Walker Richard Graham Philip Burton and many others as also nine Jesuites viz. John Leybourn Charles Poulton Ralph Clayton Joseph Gifford Robert Jenison William Locker Francis Calamy and Thomas Kingsley with many more who are in safe Custody and his Highness having issued out his Circular Letters for chusing Members to be present at the Convention the Elections were carried on in most Places as it were with one consent without any appearance of those Strivings and Heats that have too often attended former Elections and that there might no disturbance or hinderance happen upon the occasion of the Soldiers quartering in Cities and Boroughs they were ordered to draw off except Garisons to other Quarters till the Elections were over which was punctually observed with an exact and ready Obedience and soon after his Highness put forth a Declaration for the better quartering of the Forces This Declaration though the people seemed no where unwilling to quarter the Soldiers according to their ability highly satisfied them in the Prince's Justice and good Intentions so that the Association for the preservation of his Person has been promoted in the Signing through all the Countries of England with much freeness and alacrity a Copy of which as it was drawn up and signed at St. James's by the Lords and Gentlemen take in the following Words WE whose Names are hereunto subscribed who have jointed with the Prince of Orange for the defence of the Protestant Religion and for 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 till our Religion our Laws and Liberties are so far secured to us in a Free Parliament that we shall be no more in danger of falling under 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 dangers and to the desperate and cursed Attempts of the Papists and other bloudy Men we do therefore solemnly engage both to God and to one another That if any such Attempts are made upon him we will pursue not only those that make them but all their Adherents and all that we find in Arms against us with the utmost severities of a just Revenge to their Ruine and final Destruction And that the Execution of any such Attempts which God of his Mercy forbid shall not divert us from prosecuting this Cause which we do now undertake but that it shall engage us to sarry it on with all the vigour that so barbarous a Practice shall deserve His Highness having as is before mentioned been pleased to take upon him the Administration of the Civil and Military Power and by reason of the sudden change and alteration of Affairs the the publick Revenues had been put out of Order as to the method of Collecting and placing and dis-placing the Collectors he issued out a Declaration commanding all Collectors Receivers and Officers not being Papists authorized and employed by the proper Commissioners of the Customs Excise Hearth-money or any other Branch of the Revenue to proceed in the Managing Receiving and Levying the said Revenue as formerly and that all Magistrates and Officers should be assisting to them in their respective Stations the better to enable them to make their due Collections and Receipts And moreover his Highness taking into his charitable Consideration the necessitous Condition of the poor people as well Handicrafts as others destitute of employment out of a sense of their wants caused a considerable Summe of Money to be distributed amongst those of the Out-Parishes of the Cities of London and Westminster But now the Papists notwithstanding a former Declaration commanding them not being House-keepers Merchants or Servants to the Queen Dowager c. to depart the Cities of London and Westminster continuing in contempt