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
the Texel had joined those that lay in the Maese and that the States upon the Arrest the French had made of the Dutch Ships in their Ports had published a Placart prohibiting the Importation of French Commodities till they were released and various reports going abroad the King put out a Proclamation prohibiting the spreading of Rumours and False News On Friday the 26th Old-style the Fleet having the Equipage on Board consisting of Fifty two men of War and a very numerous attendence of Victuallars and Vessels for the Transportation of the Land Forces Sailed between three and four of the Clock in the Afternoon from the Flats near the Bril with the Wind at South West and by South the Prince embarked on a Vessel of between Twenty eight and Thirty Guns there likewise embarked the Count de Solmes the Count de Stirum the Sieur Benting the Sieur Overkirk the Mareschal de Schomberg his Son Count Charles with several others as well English Noâ—… men as Strangers and the next day they came in sight of Scheveling when the Wind came more Westward but the Weather not being favourable some ships and small Vessels on which the Horse were on board suffered damage and the Fleet by that means delayed yet â—gain setting Sail on the 3d. of Novemâ—â—r between ten and eleven of the Clock 〈◊〉 the morning about half Seas over 〈◊〉 Fleet came within sight of Dover â—â—d were passing by till about five in â—he Afternoon at what time they were 〈◊〉 past that place without any interâ—â—ption from the English Fleet who lay â—ithin sight of them and Stearing a Chanel course westward the Wind at â—â—st North-east a very fresh Gale. 〈◊〉 the 5th of November about 300 â—il came into Torbay in the County of Devon and several of them directly to â—rixam Key and landed there Soldiers 〈◊〉 secure the landing of the rest if any Opposition should be made so that five or six hundred presently got on Land â—nd put themselves in a posture of Deâ—ence whilst the rest were fending on shoar some by Boats and some by the help of the Tide And so far were the Country people from being in a consternation that on such occasions frequently falls out that they on the contrary not only congratulated his Highness's Arrival but brought plenty of Provisions and Necessaries for the Soldiers and such as came on shoar there being only three small Vessels missing of the whole Fleet whereof two a Pink and a Fishing-boat were taken by the Woolwich below Hole Haven there being on board some Horse The other was a Fly-boat taken by the Swallow Frigat having on board four Companies of Foot of Collonel Babington's Regiment commanmanded by Major Collambine However the men were kindly used especially the Soldiers and these had not been taken but by their separation from the Fleet. As to the number of Horse and Foot as also the Fleet take the following List as it was said to be Printed in Holland HORSE THe Life Guard. Regiment of Guards Commanded by the Sieur Benting Waldeck's Regiment Nassau Mompelian Ginckel Count Vanderlip The Prince's Dragoons Marrewis Dragoons Segravemore Sapbroeck Flodorp Seyde Oye Suylestein Life Guard 197. Regiment of Guards of Benting 480. Princes Dragoons 860. Marrewis Dragoons 440 In all 3660. Troupers 1683. FOOT Foot Guards Commanded by Count Solms 25 Companies 2000. s. Mackey 12 Companies Balfort 12 Companies Talmash 12 Companies A Regiment which was formerly Bellisse 12 Companies A Regiment which was formerly Wachop's 12 Companies A Regiment which was the late Earl of Ossories 10 Companies Breckevelt 10 Companies Holstein 10 Companies Wirtemberg 10 Companies Hagendorn 10 Companies Fagel 10 Companies Nassau 10 Companies Carelson 12 Companies Brander 10 Companies Prince of Breckvel 10 Companies In all 164 Companies at 53 in a Company 8692 2000 Guards 10692. The FLEET Men of War 65. Fly-Boats 500. Pinks 60. Fire-Ships 10. 635. So by this it appears that his Highness had effectually 14352. persons under his command not accounting those that came over Voluntiers and these past peradventure rather increased than diminished during the Fleet which by this Account consisted of 635. great and small Ships and Vessels lying in the Roads for some time after this List was published But to return again to Torbay His Highness having in good order landed the greatest part of the Horse and Foot and given Directions for the speedy landing the rest and the Cannon to be un-shipped for the more conveniency at Topsham he marched towards the City of Exeter with the general Approbation Shouts and Applause of the People who flocked from all parts to welcome him and divers Gentlemen of those parts came to wait upon him and tender their service upon his approach the Bishop retired and the Gates were closed by Order of the Mayor but without baracadoing or fastening so that being soon opened an advanc'd party enter'd and was joyfully received by the Inhabitants a great many of them having before their coming listed themselves for the service of the Prince and into this City his Highness entred with great Splendour the Friday after his landing and took up his Residence in the Bishop's Palace giving a strict command to all the Officers and and Soldiers that they should behave themselves orderly and civilly to all manner of persons duly and diligently observing to defray their Quarters and offering no manner of Injury nor Violence under severe Penalties and such Regiments as that City could not quarter were appointed other Stations In this City in a full Auditory his Highness's first Declaration was read shewing the Reasons of his coming over and inducing him to appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England for the preserving the Protestant Religion and for the restoring the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland setting forth How they had been manifestly Violated by Evil Counsellours and Ministers of State to the great Oppression of the people and endangering the Subversion of the Religion and Established Government of these Kingdoms and to bring them under Popery and Slavery With many other cogent and pressing Reasons set forth at large in that Declaration and especially a clause wherein his Highness expresses his doubts as likewise those of the Nation concerning the true Birth of the Infant and this part it was that caused the King to call the extraordinary Council that met in the Council Chamber a White-Hall on the 22d of October where before a considerable number of Peers Ministers of State Officers of the Houshold the Judges the King's Council the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City c. where the Depositions of 41 Persons as to their knowledge in that matter consisting of both Sexes were given in and on the 27th of October they were enrolled in the Court of Chancery together with those of the Earl of Huntington and Earl of Peterborough who were not present when the Depositions were taken in the Council Chamber but given in the Chancery Court All which
William the III King of England Scot Fran. and Ireland Prince of Orange c. Aetatis suae 38 HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE AN Historical Account OF THE MEMORABLE ACTIONS Of the most Glorious Monarch WILLIAM III. KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Prince of Orange c. Giving a true Relation of all that hapned of consequence since his glorious Expedition into England from time to time as also the happy Arrival of his Royal Consort Queen Mary and their being Proclaimed and Crowned King and Queen of these Realms The whole containing a Summary from his Birth to this day Together with the Names of several of those worthy Persons upon whom he has conferred Honours and places of Trust since his being Proclaimed LONDON Printed and are to be sold by H. Rhodes next door to the Swan Tavern near Bride-lane in Fleet-Street 1689. LICENSED April 24 1689. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THE weight of this illustrious Subject might have required a greater Vndertaker and made me have kept at an awfull distance whilst the most celebrated Pens of Europe had interwoven and enamell'd the Birth and Rising Glories of so great a Prince with all the Rhetorical and Heroick Accents and Expressions that are capable of giving Life and Fire to the Minds of Men and raising their Souls to a highth capable of knowing the Centre of true Greatness but with humble submission not finding any forward in so invaluable an Enterprize I though unworthy have presumed to make this Essay hoping it will not be taken ill since this at least is the Ground-work upon which the most aspiring Historian must build when he consults the Golden Rolls of Fame to raise a Pyramid of lasting Honour to the Memories of the World 's undoubted Worthies In this Book though small to appearance you may find things as vast in Extent as Virtue and Valour can enlarge them and when I tell you it is the Compendium of the Birth and Actions of the Great and Renowned Prince of the House of Orange with what more especially relates to his Redeeming us from Popery and Slavery by his generous Expedition Valour and Conduct I might be silent since the World is sufficiently sensible of what I farther intend yet that Posterity may not forget so great a Deliverance it is fit that it should be Recorded till Time is swallowed up in Eternity You have Reader in this Book an Account of the illustrious Birth of a Prince born to be the Protectour of the true Religion and the Support next the Almighty Arm of Christianity coming nearest to its primitive Purity with his Advancement to early Honours and his memorable Actions from time to time with the various dangers and hazards to which he has exposed himself for the Repose of Christendom but more especially for the securing and promoting the Protestant Religion You have likewise a Discovery of Popish Cruelties in the wretched State and Condition of the Protestants in France under the late Persecution from which you may gather what we might have expected and suffered had not this great Prince at so much Cost hazard of his Person and indefatigable Labour and Industry dispell'd with the Rays of his early and glorious Success the cloudy Tempest that was breaking over our Heads and to be brief you have an Account of all that has memorably passed from his Birth to this day and that more particularly in England upon the ever-to-be-remembered Occasion of his coming over as our Protectour and Deliverer with the indefatigable Industry he has successfully used to infatuate and defeat the Designs of our Enemies and the Returns he has found from a sensible and gratefull People and especially the Wisdom of the Nation Assembled in Parliament in Proclaiming and Crowning him together with his Royal Consort King and Queen of England c. with the manner of the performance and what else can be required to set forth so illustrious an History the Subject of which may some Angel sound with a golden Trumpet to the utmost Kingdoms of the Earth which is the Wish of Your humble Servant S. J. An Historical Account of the Life and memorable Actions of the most Illustrious William Henry King of Great Britain France and Ireland Prince of Orange c. WHen we undertake to Write of illustrious Persons whose great Actions are sufficiently known to the World and whose Vertues and Candour have placed them upon a Pinacle of Fame it is then that Rhetorical Strains or flattering Applause is altogether to be laid aside as vain and useless for true Diamonds require not the Art to set them off like Counterfeits but relying upon their proper Lustre make their value known and shine in a kind of careless Glory wherefore considering the Illustrious Subject I am here to handle waving elaborate Circumstances and Expressions not greatly pertinent to History or Matters of this kind my Care and Endeavour shall be to keep to Truth and Fact and as much as in me lies to give a satisfactory Account of the Birth and glorious Actions of a Prince whose Fame has travell'd with the Sun. WIlliam Henry of the Illustrious House of Nassau our present Sovereign descended from that renowned German Family that has been ever Famous and to which the Empire and all Christendom has been so much beholden Son to William of Nassau Prince of Orange by the Royal Princess Mary Daughter to Charles I. King of England c. was Born on the 14th of November in the year of our Lord 1650. his Father dying the preceding Month after he had been Married about nine Years and done Actions worthy of his high Birth in the Four and Twentieth year of his Age leaving this hopefull Issue to dispell the Clouds of Sorrow that began to spread themselves over most European Courts upon notice of a Death so unexpected and a Loss so important This great Prince at his Baptism had for Godfathers the Lords States of Holland Zealand and the Cities of Amsterdam Delf and Leyden receiving the Name of William Henry and as he increased in years under the Care of the indulgent Princess and such as were appointed to attend and wait upon him he gave early hope of what hath since been sufficiently manifested At five years of Age he came to visit his Uncle King Charles II who then was at Breda preparing for England to take Possession of the Thrones and Kingdoms so long detained from him where the King expressed his extraordinary satisfaction to see the Prince his Nephew and highly welcomed him and soon after the Estates General having a particular Audience of the King recommending the firmness and fidelity of that Republick to his Interest c. his Majesty in the most obliging Terms replyed That the Interest if no other Motives should induce him to it of two Persons so nearly allied to him as the Princess Royal his Sister and the Prince of Orange his Nephew who live in the Estate as part of it
their Habitations the Provosts had Orders to scowre the Roads and the Magistrates to stop and send back such as they found removing without exception Nor were there Informers wanting on this occasion and if the Husband had concealed his Wife or Children he was tormented till he had brought them back again Nor were some who pretended to be new Converts though for the most part the Off-scums and Refuse of Gaols less active than the Renegadoes of Algier to add to the misery of the suffering People nor would a bare signing the Abjuration serve turn for they were compelled to go to Mass receive the Communion and tell their Beads having always Eyes over them so that upon the least Information of neglect they were severely fined or thrown into their former miseries Yet it pleased the Divine Providence that notwithstanding the Sea-Ports were stopped and narrowly watched many of them got off and were kindly received in Holland and England and plentifully relieved settling such as were capable of it in Business and Employments But upon notice of these Escapes the Forreign Vessels in the Ports were ordered to be searched and none to embark or be carried off without he or she produced a Certificate from the Bishop or Curate to certifie him or her a Roman Catholick and several who attempted to escape were seized and imprisoned as Traitors The storm as to its fury being a little moderate amongst the Laity by reason there was no great matters of Plunder to be had they resolved at last to begin with the Ministers who had been hitherto pretty well secured in their Persons by the Edict of Nants which allowed them limitary Congregations but the Court being of opinion that so long as they remained in France their Authority would restrain the Protestants from changing their Religion and leave them but slenderly assured of their new Converts the greater part of which they well knew had done what they did by constraint therefore in the first place they laboured to stifle their Writings prohibiting all manner of Books that should any ways instruct the Lay-Protestants or were Written by their Ministers And although the French Clergy to have it thought they were not the Promoters of the Persecution seemed unwilling to consent to the Revocation of that Edict yet it was soon after Revoked and another made consisting of Twelve Articles The first repeals and suppresses all former Edicts in all their Extent and ordains that all the Reformed Churches or Chapels that are found in Kingdom shall be demolished The Second prohibits all sorts of religious Assemblies of what kind soever out of the Roman Communion The Third forbids the like Exercise to all Lords and Gentlemen of any Quality under Penalties of corporal Punishment and confiscation of Estate The Fourth banishes all the Ministers enjoining them to depart with in fifteen days-after the publication of the Edict under Penalty of being sent to the Galleys The Sixth promises Recompences and Advantages to the Ministers and their Widows that should change their Religion The Seventh and Eighth for bid instructing Children in the Reformed Religion and ordain that those who shall be henceforth Born and Baptized shall be brought up in the Roman Catholick Religion enjoining their Parents to send them to the Churches under a penalty of five hundred Livres as a fine The Ninth allows four months time to such Persons as have departed the Kingdom to return or upon failure to have their Goods and Estates confiscated The Tenth forbids all those of the Reformed Religion together with their Wives and Children to depart or to convey away their Effects under pain of the Galleys for the Men and confiscation of Body and Goods for the Women The Eleventh confirms a former Declaration to punish those that Relapse The Twelfth declares that as to the rest of the Subjects of the Religion they may remain in the Cities of his Kingdom and Lands of his Obedience there to continue their Commerce and enjoy their Estates without trouble or molestation upon pretence of the said Religion on condition they have no Assemblies under pretext of Praying or exercising any religious Worship whatever The very day this Edict was published so hasty were these Dragoon Converters that they began to demolish the famous Church of Chreenton the elder Minister belonging to it being commaned to leave Paris within Twenty four hours and with all convenient speed depart the Kingdom and thereupon he was committed to the Charge of one of the King's Foot men with an express Order not to part with him till he was out of the Confines of France but his Colleagues had Forty eight hours given them to leave the City and were permitted to depart upon their Parole and the rest had the time limited but with so many vexations that none but Men of great firmness of mind could have born it for they not only denied them all their Movables and Books but even their private Papers under pretence that they knew not whether they were theirs or belonged to the Consistory but what was more cruel they refused their Fathers or Mothers Brothers or Sisters or any of their near Relations to accompany them though many of them were aged and infirm and must unless supported by an extraordinary Providence perish without their succour and assistence nor was this all for they kept from them their Children above the Age of seven and some where they had a more peculiar spight against the Father that were scarcely weaned nor would they allow a Nurse to the sucking Children where the Mother's Milk was dried up and she incapable of giving them sustenance of that kind and although they had Pasports yet were they stopped upon the Borders in divers places by the malice of the Papists under pretence they must presently prove they were the same Persons mentioned and that there was no criminal Process or Information charged against them and justifie that they carried away nothing belonging to their Congregations and this they did upon no other pretence than to ensnare them by spinning out the limited time for their Departure for the days being expired though they themselves were the detainers in plain terms they told them their time was relapsed and there was no hopes of escaping the Galleys But now the Ports Ways and Fords and all Places throughout the Kingdom were so strictly guarded and narrowly searched by the Officers of the Forts and Customs Soldiers and Peasants that most of those that endeavoured to escape were seized and hurried to Prison whereby the Gaols became thronged and crouded nor had they the favour of common Malefactours but were thrust into Dungeons and noisome places their Friends not daring to visit or relieve them by which means a great number perished through hunger and other inconveniencies and although the Twelfth Article promises to secure the Laity in their Properties Possessions and Callings yet the French Papists have not forgot the Decree of Constance wherein it is expressed That no
Faith is to be kept with Hereticks as they call the Protestants for the same cruelty and inhumanity continued with as great Rage and Fury where there was any plunder to be had or people of Note dwelling In Picardy Normandy Le Berry Campaigne Orleance Neivernois Belessois and the Isles of France nay in Paris it self after the Edict was published the Procurator-General and some other Magistrates sent for the Heads of divers Families and declared to them That it was the King's positive Will that they should change their Religion and that if they would not comply they should be made to doe it and so proceeded by Letters under the Princes Seal to banish the Elders of the Consistory and such persons as they found or at least conceived inflexible One thing is remarkable viz. Monsieur Saignelay Secretary of State having sent for to his House under divers pretences about 100 Merchants and others he caused the Doors to be shut upon them and instead of the business they expected presented them with an Abjuration commanding them in the King's name to sign it declaring with a stern Countenance they should not stir out at the Door till they had done it The purport of it was this That they should not only abjure the Heresie of Calvin and enter into the Catholick Church but declare that they did it voluntarily or without being forced or compelled to it and although they many ways excused it yet being sharply reprimanded and terrified by his Threats not being fore-warned of such a danger and doubting the ill consequence that might attend it they at last not voluntarily but by constraint signed that Abjuration Nor by the power and influence of the Clergy did the Magistrates refrain to take away Children from their Parents to bring up in their superstitious way of idolatrous Worship frequently separating the Man and Wife where they could gain upon the one or the other to Apostatize Nor did they spare to doe this in Orange the sovereign Principality of his Highness the Prince where the French King by Right has no power but taking away the Ministers by force committed them to Prison the Dragoons as it has been already hinted doing there mischiefs much in likeness as in other Places as well to the people as to the Officers of his Highness to whom that Principality belongs And much in this nature the Calamity of the suffering Protestants continued in the Kingdom of France to the year 1685. Nor do they fail at this day to make good as much as in them lies what their Clergy threaten in their Pastoral Letters by making it their study to invent new manner of Torments the Magistrates being ever ready to assist them in the Execution I might go on with this melancholy Story to the swelling of a large Volume and add to it the Cruelty of the Savoyards against the Protestants in the Countries under that Duke whose Miseries equal if not exceed that I have mentioned as likewise in sundry other places and indeed in all places where the Papists have power but that the digression will seem too long and therefore I only give the Reader a taste of what has been served up in full Banquets of Cruelty and Revenge thereby to let those that are at this day un-informed know what they must expect if they come into the hands of such as account it meritorious to destroy Hereticks nor think it any Crime to break the most solemn Oaths and make void all Protestations and Engagements when they suppose it advantageous to their Interest or Church's Cause And note by the way that all of the Reformed Religion who have separated from the Traditions Errours and Idolatrous Worship of Rome pass with them for no other These Proceedings however turned at last to the disadvantage of the Persecutors for though for a time it enriched them yet the number of People that fled or were ruined occasioned the decay of Trade and Commerce so that those Revenues that supplied the French King's Coffers and enabled him to vex all Europe by a tedious War being exhausted notwithstanding he had taken Luxemburgh from the Spaniards he found himself in a low condition for money being the very sinews of War and his Subjects not forward to lend as appears by the Answer of the Bankers of Paris when he sent to them the last year for several Millions of Livres viz That they humbly begged his Excuse forasmuch that if they so far weakened the Bank they could not support their Credit in answering the Bills that should be drawn upon them He then I say found that when by such unjust means he depopulated his Kingdom he fought against himself but to return The Prince of Orange all this while highly disapproved his Proceedings and if in Arms he did not oppose them it was not for want of Will but rather that he on his part would keep the Peace inviolable and rather bear till a farther opportunity the affront and injury done him in the wrong his Subjects of the Principality of Orange had received than involve the States in a new War which might have been justly excused since the French were the Aggressors But to come yet nearer to the purpose Whilst his Highness was diverting and reposing himself from the Toils of War which now ceased by the conclusion and ratifying of the Treaty with France His Majesty of Great Britain King Charles II. after five or six days indisposition departed this Life at his Palace Royal of White-Hall on the 6th of February 1684. not only to the extraordinary Grief of his Subjects but of all Europe their Highnesses more especially bearing a superlative part in the sorrow the loss of that good King occasioned whose Funeral was privately solemnized on the 14th of February towards the Evening in King Henry the Seventh's Chapell where it was interred in Vault under the East-end of the South-Isle Service being ended and the Officers of his Houshold having broke their Staves the Royal Style was proclaimed by another of the Kings at Arms according to the Custome And thus set this great Monarch who had been so usefull and dear to the Interest of Christendom making way thereby for his Brother who was immediately proclaimed c. and accordingly was Crowned at Westminster on the twenty third of April following with much splendour and magnificence as is usual at the Royal Ceremonies of the Coronation of the Kings of Great Britain c. and had the Condolement and Congratulation the one for the Death of King Charles and the other for His Majesty's Accession to the Throne not only from the States-General but from most of the European Princes And now the States of Holland being in frequent Consults about the Affairs of that Republick between the Adjournments his Highness the Prince of Orange diverted himself in visiting the Towns and Fortifications and settling Military Affairs and the better to remove the Melancholy the Death of the King his Uncle had occasioned recreated
himself at his Country Palace when in the mean while the Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Argile going from Holland with an inconsiderable number of Men the former to invade England and the latter Scotland their Expeditions proved altogether successless for being severally routed and taken by the King's Forces they suffered Death together with divers others of their Adherents and Abettors In July 1687. his Highness returning from Hounstyrdyke to the Hague he there gave Audience to several foreign Ministers and then parted thence to visit the Garisons of Maestricht Boisleduck and others belonging to the States and in his Return was met by Her Royal Highness at Loo he having in his Progress given necessary Orders for the well governing and strengthening of those Places In December the Marquess d' Albeville Envoy extraordinary from his Majesty of Great Britain had Audience of his Highness the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland but they adjourning to the 7th of January great preparations of Fire-works were made in the mean while to entertain Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange on New-years-day representing a Battel with four lines ranged with several Batteries lively expressing the manner of an Engagement Now the foreign Priests coming again into remembrance and being looked upon as Enemies to the Common-wealth notwithstanding the intercession that had been made on their behalf the Court of Justice at the Hague drew up a Decree commanding them to retire out of the Country and never to return again promising a Reward of 100 Ducatoons to any that should make discovery and settling a penalty of 600 Florins upon those that should harbour and conceal any of them for the first time 1200 for the second and corporal punishment for the third Offence whereupon a great many of them fled into England where indeed there was but too many before And now the Spring coming on the Prince and Princess of Orange went to their Palace at Loo The King of England for private Reasons of State being about this time desirous to call home the English Regiments in the Service of the States-General the Marquess d' Albeville made it known immediately to their Lordships but they not willing to part with those Forces he proceeded to put in his Memorials representing not only his Resentment of that Refusal but the danger of Officers and Soldiers might incurr but the States having before-hand disbanded them and listed them under their own Command as many as would enter themselves which was the greatest Part of them as well Officers as Soldiers this business came to nothing and although his Majesty had ordered the Masters and Captains of Ships and Vessels to give such as would return free Passage with promise of Advancement yet not many came over In May the Elector of Saxony was splendidly entertained by his Highness the Prince of Orange at Hounslaerdyke and the next day his Highness accompanied him to Scheveling where they went on Board a small Vessel that carried them to a Squadron of 17 Men of War arrived from Schonevelt under the Command of Vice-Admiral Allemond who sent upon their Approach two light Frigats and a Shallop to meet them and were saluted with the Cannon of all the Ships when having Dined on board the Vice-Admiral they returned to Scheveling and from thence his Electoral Highness of Saxony went to visit Delf Rotterdam Dort Maestricht Leige Aix and Cologne and so returned home by the way of Francfort when in the mean while the Heer Van Diest acquainted the Prince of Orange and the States with the Death of the Elector of Brandenburgh a person most firm to the Protestant Interest and whose Death was regretted by the Protestant Princes and States so that both the Prince and the States of Holland immediately nominated a fit person to go and make their Complement of Condolence to the present Elector The next month the Marquess d' Albeville acquainted the Prince and Princess of Orange as also the States with the News of the Queen of England's being delivered of a Son at their Royal Palace of St. James's on Sunday the 10th of June and soon after the News by sundry Expresses was likewise made known to the King's Ministers in all the Courts of Christendom who at a vast Expence and Magnificence proclaimed it and the Conduits in London were commanded to run with Wine and a Thanksgiving day was likewise held for the Queens safe Delivery Congratulations were made upon this occasion by all the Foreign Ministers and the Infant soon after ordered to be prayed for in the publick Prayers of the Church Some Addresses were likewise presented upon that occasion and the Romanists flattered themselves with a lasting Tranquillity and so sure they thought they were of gaining the point that the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Bishops of Ely Peterborough St. Asaph Chichester Bath and Wells and Bristol who had been committed by an Order of Council to the Tower for humbly beseeching his Majesty by Petition to remit his Commands of enjoyning his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience to be read in the Churches in time of Divine Service were brought to their Tryalls at the King's-Bench Court Westminster where notwithstanding all that was alledged against them and the pressing Arguments of a Popish Judge then upon the Bench their Candour and Innocence so fairly and plainly appeared that instead of their Adversaries proving that Petition a Libel it was evidently demonstrated that they had done nothing but their The Papists to leave no stone unturned that they might secure themselves for the future as well as the present used many Arts and Insinuations to sound the Intentions and thoughts of their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange whereupon Mr. James Stewart took upon him that not without the King's knowledge and approbation as appears by the Letter writ to Minn Heer Fagel Pentionary of Holland and West-Friezeland upon the King 's publishing his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience and intention to take away the Test and Penal Laws which occasioned his Answer in substance this though little to the satisfaction of the Roman Catholicks viz. That their Highnesses have often declared as they did more particularly to the Marquess Albeville his Majesties Envoy extraordinary to the States That it is their Opinion that no Christian ought to be persecuted for his Conscience or be ill used because he differs from the publick and established Religion and therefore they could be content that even the Papists in England Scotland and Ireland might be suffered to continue in their Religion with as much Liberty as is allowed them by the States of the Vnited Provinces and as for the Protestant Dissenters their Highnesses did not only consent but heartily approved of their having an entire Liberty for the full Exercise of their Religion without any trouble or hindrance c. That their Highnesses were ready in case his Majesty of England should desire it to declare their willingness to concurr
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
of that Declaration and appearing in great numbers his Highness was pleased by another Declaration dated the 14th of January to command them within three days to depart the said Cities and ten miles compass or otherwise to be taken proceeded against and expect the utmost severity that the Law for their Offences can inflict upon them commanding all Magistrates to make diligent search and apprehend and imprison such as should be found in Contempt of the said Declarations c. The Fame of his Highness's Success being sufficiently known in the United Provinces three Deputies were sent to congratulate his Success who landing at the Tower were received with the Discharge of the Cannon and other signal Respects as became their Character from whence they passed to the Lodgings appointed for them in the Coaches sent to wait upon them with a splendid Equipage His Highness had no sooner signified to the City of London that the publick Treasure was in a manner exhausted and not sufficient to defray the necessary Expences of the Nation but a Committee was ordered to attend him to know the Summe that might supply that defect and 100000 l. being named and proffered to be secured and re-paid with Interest in six Months a great many eminent and generous Citizens immediately came to the Guild-Hall of London and offered their Subscriptions which were there accordingly taken almost to admiration for in a short time about 300000 l. was subscribed and directions being given for the Receivers to attend it was brought in with such Expedition that they were forced to encrease their number These being the most weighty Affairs transacted in England let us a while look into those of Scotland our Sister Kingdom where we find that upon his Highness's Arrival in these Parts the terrour wrought so effectually with the Popish Ministers of State and others that found themselves launched beyond the Laws of that Kingdom and Constitution of Government that they thought of nothing more than shifting for themselves some of which had the luck to escape and others were seized the multitude was up in divers places demolishing the Mass-Houses and not only contented with that but committed sundry Disorders and in the Encounters and Scuffles that were thereby occasioned even in the City of Edinburgh several were killed and wounded which made the Noble-men and Gentlemen attend him to lay before his Highness the willingness of the people of Scotland to submit to his Protection c. and upon notice of their Intentions his Highness the Prince of Orange having caused to advertise such of the Scotch Lords and Gentlemen as were in Town to attend in a Room at St. James's on the 7th of January about three in the Afternoon his Highness met them there and made to them the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen THE only Reason that enduced me to undergo so great an Vndertaking was that I saw the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms overturned and the Protestant Religion in imminent Danger and seeing you are so many Noble-men and Gentlemen I have called you together that I may have your Advice what is to be done for the securing the Protestant Religion and restoring your Laws and Liberties according to my Declaration As soon as his Highness had retired the Lords and Gentlemen went to the Council-Chamber at White-Hall and there having chosen the Duke of Hamilton their President debated what Advice was sit to be given his Highness in that juncture but came to no Conclusion farther than to give the Clerks that attended Instructions to draw up in Writing what they then thought most expedient On Tuesday the 8th of January the Honourable Assembly met again and the Writing was presented upon which they debated the most expedient way for Convening the general meeting of the Estates of Scotland and at last agreed in their Opinion ordering the Writing to be fair drawn over with the Amendments On Wednesday the 9th of January they met at Three of the Clock and the Address was prepared giving his Highness Thanks for his Pious and Generous Undertaking for preserving the Protestant Religion and restoring the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms desiring him to take upon him the Administration of the Affairs Civil and Militatary and dispose of the publick Revenues and Fortresses of the Kingdom of Scotland untill the general Meeting of the States of the Nation which they humbly prayed his Highness to call to be holden at Edinburgh the 14th of March next and to issue out his Letters for the calling them being Protestants These being the Heads and Substance of this Address it was subscribed by 30 Lords and about 80 Gentlemen and was presented to his Highness in their presence by the Duke of Hamilton at St. James's who thanked them for the Trust they reposed in him and desired a time to consider upon so wheighty an Affair When the next day his Highness again met the Scotch Lords and Gentlemen at St. James's and made them the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen IN pursuance of your Advice I will untill the Meeting of the Estates in March next give such Orders concerning the Affairs of Scotland as are necessary for the Calling the said Meeting for the preservation of the Peace the applying of the publick Revenue to the most pressing uses and putting the Fortresses into the Hands of Persons in whom the Nation can have a just Confidence and I do farther assure you that you will always find me ready to concurr with you in every thing that may be found necessary for the securing the Protestant Religion and restoring the Laws and Liberties of the Nation By this time the Earl of Crauford the Earl of Louthian and others being come to Town the former of these Earls desired his Highness that they might subscribe the Address which was accordingly granted his Highness leaving signal marks of a high satisfaction in the Countenances of the noble Assembly which demonstrated how much they were pleased with his Answer nor no sooner did the News arrive at Edinburgh but it was received with the ringing of Bells loud Shouts and Acclamations of Joy and in the same manner swiftly overspread that Kingdom The English Soldiers many of them having been imposed upon by ill affected Persons to doubt their Pay c. his Highness was pleased to put forth a publick Assurance that he had taken care for the satisfying and making good to every Officer and Soldier their full Pay and Arrears due to them untill the first day of January 1688. and for the making constant and punctual payment of Subsistence Money and clearing of the Army in the usual method without any the least diminution of their former Pay ordering all Officers to repair to their respective Commands and Soldiers to their Quarters and Rendezvouz under such penalties as a refusal may incur and that nothing might be wanting on his part His Highness in another Paper gave the like notice and assurance to the Sea-men belonging to
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