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
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
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
making good his Post drew off under the favour of the darkness of the Night in much Silence and Confusion and took a new Post nearer Mons covering his Army with a Wood on the one side and on the other it was secured by a River leaving behind him most of the wounded Men with many Tents and much Baggage and Ammunition The Prince upon this advantage would have pursued the French to have given them a total Defeat and free the Town of Mons from the apprehension of Danger But whilst he was preparing to make a second Attack an Express was sent him that the Treaty was signed between the States and the French King however they congratulated his Highness upon this Success in an extraordinary manner intreating him to be more sparing of their safety than to hazard himself in the midst of danger and the better to demonstrate at how dear a rate they esteemed his preservation they sent to Mr. Owerkirks a Person who had enterposed himself between the Prince and a French Captain that in the heat of the Fight was in a full Carier to charge him at adisadvantage a Sword whose Hilt was of Massy Gold a pair of Pistols inlay'd with Gold and a pair of golden Horse-buckles Upon the News that the Treaty was signed a Cessation of Arms ensued and upon the Duke of Luxemburgh's drawing off to the Country between the Muse and Sambre the Prince marched to Escousines upon the Road to Nivelle and there being no farther Business in relation to warlike Action he came to the Hague where he was received by the People with the highest demonstration of Joy and Acclamation and this last success no doubt hastened the Conclusion of the Treaty between France and Spain which was agreed on the 17th of November following yet it lasted not long before the French King upon the claiming several places in the Spanish Netherlands as Dependencies blocked up Luxemburgh which obliged the King of Great Britain Guarrantee of the Peace to interpose his Authority as likewise did the States by way of Mediation but the French King would not hearken to the quitting the claim he had laid unless the City of Luxemburgh might be put into his Possession with all its Dependencies three Leagues round it which being long debated and the time the French King gave to come to a Resolve being expired without concluding any thing of that Affair the Mareschal d' Humieres fell into the Spanish Provinces with a numerous Army and put them under Contribution making great spoil and ravage in many places and not so contented but upon the Prince of Chimai's Governour of Luxemburgh acting some Hostilities in their Territories the Mareschal laid Siege to and took Courtray burning many places of lesser note constraining others to pay a Ransome for saving themselves from Fire and in conclusion the Mareschal d' Crequi came before Luxemburgh with an Army of 30000 Men and cast a great number of Bombs into that City which burnt and demolished about Five hundred Houses and so retired to put his Army into Winter Quarters and in the mean while the Negotiation continued between the Arbritours to settle the Differences between the two Crowns nor did they spare any Diligence to create a good understanding by proposing Equivalents but the Spaniards at that time were so much averse that the Mediatours began to give over the hopes they had conceived of accommodating Matters in dispute nay the Spanish Ambassadour proceeded so far as to press the King of Great Britain to send over Forces to the Assistence of his Master but the King told him That the urgency of his Affairs at home could not admit of sending Forces abroad but that he was willing to doe the King of Spain all the good Offices that lay in him c. as also to use his utmost Endeavours for the Peace and Repose of Europe But not satisfied with this Answer they again applyed themselves to the States General but they being not willing to enter into any new Engagement of War with France the Ambassadours could not persuade them to make new Levies or to send any Forces to the Assistence of His Catholick Majesty nor could the Emperour give any assistence by reason of the storm that threatened him at that time in Hungary so that indeed the whole State of Europe being unwilling or not in a condition to enter into a new War it was greatly hoped that this would oblige those that stood out to a compliance And the better to perfect an Alliance a general Congress was held at the Hague where it was thought somewhat reasonable that the True of Twenty years which the French King had offered should be accepted including the Allies on all parts which coming to a Resolve and the Articles of Treaty agreed amongst other things it was thought fit that the French King should restore to the King of Spain Dixmuyden and Courtray with their Dependencies having liberty to demolish the Fortifications as likewise the other Places taken by force since the 30th of August 1683. and that in consideration thereof the King of Spain should Surrender to him Beaumont Luxemburgh Chimai and Bovines with all their Dependencies and to this purpose the Articles between the two Crowns were concluded on at Ratisbon And now the French King being at leisure began to grow exceeding troublesome to his Protestant Subjects having during the former Transactions put a very sensible Affront upon his Highness the Prince of Orange for whilst the Differences lasted between the French the Spaniards they extremely wasted his Patrimony in Brabant Burgundy and Luxemburgh where the Prince of Isenguyn supported by the French Interest and Arms had seized upon his Possession of Warnesson Desburgh Vianden St. Vith Budgenback c. yet out of a generosity to his Country in preferring their Peace and Tranquillity before his own interest he forbore at that time to put in for Reparation nor could the Violences the French King unjustly offered in entring upon his Principality of Orange be less resented by which Act he seemed to have this farther design viz. To hinder the Protestant Religion from flourishing there for upon the Persecution he raised in all parts of his own Territories many of the Protestants sent their Children to this Sovereign Principality to be Educated in Learning but this greatly displeasing him he sent his Orders to Monsieur Moran Super-intendent of Provence to March a Body of 2000 Men thither under the Command of his Lieutenant-General in Languedock to command the Magistrates of the Principality of Orange to send away all the Children to their Parents and not for the future to receive any more into their Schools or Academies To this unjust and unreasonable Demand they found themselves constrained to consent promising to give notice to the Parents of the Children that they might send for them home hoping by this means they had given the King satisfaction But what can satisfie an ambitious spightfull Mind for
although this gave the Citizens hope they were in Peace yet it proved not so for soon after Orders came to throw down the Walls of the City and the French Dragoons Quartering upon the Inhabitants committed many Indecencies and Disorders compelling the People to Work in ruining their own Fortifications which being undermined were blown up This News no sooner came to his Highness's Council but they complained of it to the States-General as a breach of the last Peace urging that Reparation might be required for such unjust Proceedings against the Subjects of his Highness in the midst of a general Peace Nor were the States wanting in Writing to the King and letting him know their Resentments for so great an Injury contrary to the Treaty of Nimeguen pressing him for Reparation of the damage his Highness had contrary to Articles sustained in the Violence done to his Subjects But they could get no other Answer from the French Court but that as for the Money extorted from the Inhabitants those that extorted it had no Order for it and he had commanded Restitution to be made and upon the Peoples submitting to his Pleasure he had withdrawn his Forces and restored the Inhabitants their Commerce according to their Desires but as for the rest he alledged he had reason for what he did This Answer though it was neither generous nor pleasing was all that could be got at that time and so the matter continues to a more favourable opportunity The Face of Peace now appearing amongst the Christian Princes and Hungary being the greatest Scene of War the States thought of Disbanding their supernumerary Forces and in order thereto advised with his Highness who assured them that there was no Person more desirous than himself to ease the People of their Contributions and Taxes but in consideration things were scarcely settled and that the nighbouring Countries had not yet Disbanded but were in Arms he thought it the safest way to continue them till they might be assuredly free from the fear or suspicion of any sinister event c. And according to this prudent and grave Counsel they were continued it being resolved by the States-General That the Extraordinary Forces should be kept up to a farther time And now his Highness being more at leisure and desirous to promote the good of his Country betook himself to the reforming the Government of Vtreicht in which during the Series of so tedious a War some Disorders and Irregularities had happened which he redressed by prudently altering such of the Magistracy as were looked upon unfit Persons to manage the Government and put such into their places as he found better capable of managing so weighty a Trust striving to promote and advance the welfare of the People at no small expence of Pains and Treasure contrary to the Methods of the French King who was then Dragooning his Subjects of the Protestant Religion and using all manner of ways to ruine them by Tortures Confiscations and Imprisonments and many such unchristian-like Proceedings And since we are come to this part pardon the Digression if I conceive it not amiss to expose the Methods France has of late years taken to bring over Protestants to the Church of Rome that the Reader may the better distinguish between the Actions of a vertuous Prince who makes it his utmost care and study to preserve and promote those that are under his Jurisdiction and a Prince that labours to ruine and destroy his Subjects I shall not trouble you with the Declaration put out against the Protestants in the year 1669. or hardships they suffered before and since that year in particular till I come to the year 1680. In this year the King issued out his Order thereby depriving them in general of all manner of places of Trust Offices and Services reducing the meaner sort thereby to great distress and disanulling the more wealthy of what they had purchased with their Money and the price of their Bloud And the next year 1681 by a Decree of their Council all Notaries Attornies Solicitors and Sergeants which made profession of the Reformed Religion were rendred uncapable of their Employments and the next year the Lords and Gentlemen were commanded to discharge their Protestant Officers and Servants and in Eighty three all Officers of the King's Household and those of the Princes of the Bloud were commanded to give place to the Roman Catholicks and in a word all manner of Persons of all Professions that were of the Reformed Religion had a Prohibition by those strict Decrees under severe Penalties And so strict were they that the Midwives unless Roman Catholicks durst not but by stealth perform their Office and by this means some were constrained to suffer their Tongue to give their Heart the Lye. These for the encouragement as they pretended of themselves and others being called new Converts were discharged from the Payment of their Debts for the space of three years and this was done the better to disappoint their Creditors of the Reformed Religion with whom they had mostly dealt Nor content with this by another way they quite discharged them of such Debts as those of that Religion had contracted in common These Proceedings served only as a Prologue to that which was afterward acted on the Unchristian-like Stage of France for the Councils influenced by the Priests who aimed more at the Estates of the Protestants than their Religion finding these ways not so effectual as they expected and perceiving that many of the more wealthy made over their Estates and left the Country exhibited a Prohibition of selling or alienating any Estates whatsoever the King annulling and breaking all Contracts and other Acts relating to such Sale or Alienation if it did not appear that after any such Act they did not stay in the Kingdom a whole year so that being deprived of all means to transport their effects and yet not suffered to enjoy them with any quiet many preferring a good Conscience before worldly Riches proposed to leave all they had and with it the Kingdom but this took no effect for hereupon they were forbidden it under severe Penalties which drove them to so great a strait that they knew not what offer or proposal to make finding every thing hazardous and uncertain But they were not long without new Proofs of Roman Severity for though they had already fleeced them yet not so contented the Intendents in their Districts had orders to weigh them down if possible with heavy Taxes by charging them with those of the new Converts who were discharged from paying any in favour of their pretended Conversion or by laying others on them which they termed Duties so that he who was before assessed in the Roll for 40 or 50 Livres escaped well if he came off for 5 or 600 and those that delayed or had not the Money were obliged to quarter Dragoons and suffer Imprisonment till they had made payment And to pass over many things of the like Nature
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
the English Fleet under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth And now the Royal African Company intreated his Highness to doe them the Honour of taking upon him to be their Governour for the ensuing year and made him a Present of 1000 l. in their Stock worth 2000 l. which he very favourably accepted Now the great Convention on which the Eyes of all Europe are fixed drawing near the Members who were chosen and returned came to Town the Houses were prepared for the Reception of the august Assembly and on the 21th of January the High-Sheriff with all the considerable Gentlemen of Estate in the County of Cambridge having unanimously entered into an Association whereby they solemnly engage themselves to stand by His Highness the Prince of Orange with their Lives and Fortunes in his glorious Design of Redeeming these Kingdoms from Popery and Slavery Mr. Cotton of Madingly was to wait upon His Highness and presented it in the Name of the County to which His Highness was pleased to return a very gracious Answer On the 22th of January according to the grand Appointment the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster the Lord Marquess of Halifax officiated the Place of Speaker in the House of Lords and the Commons chose Henry Powle Esq to be their Speaker who accordingly took his place After which a Letter from his Hâ—ghness the Prince of Orange was read in both Houses on the Occasion of their Meeting viz. My Lords I Have endeavoured to the utmost of my power to perform what was desired from me in order to the publick Peace and safety and I do not know that any thing hath been omitted which might tend to the preservation of them since the Administration of Affairs was put into my hands it now lieth upon you to lay the Foundation of a firm security for your Religion your Laws and Liberties I do not doubt but that by such a full and free Representative of the Nation as is now met the Ends of my Declaration will be attained and since it hath pleased God hitherto to bless my good Intentions with so great success I trust in him that he will complete his own Work by sending a Spirit of Peace and Vnion to influence your Counsels that no interruption may be given to a happy and lasting settlement The dangerous condition of the Protestant Interest in Ireland requiring a large and speedy succour and the present state of things abroad oblige me to tell you That next to the danger of unseasonable Division amongst your selves nothing can be so fatal as too great delay in your Consultations the States by whom I have been enabled to rescue this Nation may suddenly feel the in Effects of it both by being too long deprived of the Service of their Troups which are now here and of your early assistence against a powerfull Enemy who hath declar'd War against them and as England is by Treaty already engaged to help them upon any such Exigencies so I am confident that their chearfull Concurrence to preserve this Kingdom with so much hazard to themselves will meet with all the Returns of Friendship and Assistence which may be expected from you as Protestants and English men when ever their Condition shall require it This Letter being read and unanimously approved and applauded with the highest satisfaction the Lords and Commons resolved upon an Address to be presented to his Highness of Thanks for what he had done and humbly to desire him to continue the Administration of publick Affairs till farther application should be made by them to his Highness Which Address being presented to his Highness on Wednesday the 22th of January he was pleased to return them this Answer viz. Die Mercurii 23. Januarii 1688 / 9. My Lords and Gentlemen I Am glad that what I have done hath pleased you and since you desire me to continue the Administration of Affairs I am willing to accept it I must recommend to you the consideration of Affairs abroad which maketh it fit for you to expedite your Business not only for making a Settlement at home upon a good Foundation but for the safety of all Europe After this an Order was passed on the same day That no Papist or reputed Papist should presume to come into the Lobby Painted Chamber Court of Requests or Westminster Hall during the sitting of the Convention Then the Speaker of the honourable House of Commons put the House in mind of the present Affairs of the Kingdom recommending the speedy care of providing for its safety to the respective Representatives declaring The danger it was lately in and putting them in mind of the desperate State of Ireland He farther minded them of the growth of France and concluded in recommending these things to their prudent Care and Conduct c. After these and other weighty considerations an Order was made by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons for a publick Thanksgiving for our great and miraculous deliverance from the imminent Danger that so lately hung over our Heads Thursday the 31st of January instant being appointed for the City of London and Ten Miles distance and Thursday the 14th day of February following for the rest of the Kingdom Thus all things concurring towards a happy Settlement and Uniting of Protestants c. in England and Scotland let us look a little into the Affairs of Ireland which as yet has not the like prospect as being very much inhabited by Native Irish Papists devoted Enemies to the Protestant Religion The Earl of Tyrconnel whom the King had made his Lieutenant or Deputy of that Kingdom taking the advantage of the hurry and disorder the Affairs of England had put the People into magnified their Fears and used his endeavours to gain them to a Revolt but finding the Protestants in no wise forward to joyn or take part with him he instantly sent his Letters through all the Provinces and Countries to cause the Gentry and Peasants to take up Arms on the behalf of the King and the defence of their Religion declaring if the King himself should in that juncture desire it he would not deliver up his Sword so that leaving no endeavours to strengthen himself untried he in a short time drew together a formidable Army and secured divers Places of strength fortifying the Houses and Castles of several Noblemen whereupon it was thought fit to send to him and know his Intentions but no farther satisfaction at that time could be gained than that he was resolved to stand for the King's Interest and expect his Commands c. and accordingly upon notice that he upon his a second time withdrawing himself was in France the Report went currant that he sent thither to know his Pleasure in the mean while though he offered no open Hostilities to the Protestants yet in many Places he oppressed them by Quartering his Soldiers at discretion in their Houses seizing their Arms and taking Hostages His Highness the Prince
Majesty was likewise pleased to mind them of Ireland and to let them know that in his opinion 20000 men would be required to render the reducing it short and easie as likewise setting out a Fleet which in conjunction with that of Holland might be so entirely Master of the Seas that nothing might be sent from France to Ireland or elsewhere that might give a disturbance to us or our Allies farther recommending to their consideration the settlement of the Revenues that they might be collected without dispute promising that whatever should be given in order to publick ends should be strictly applyed to them with many other Gracious expressions concluding that as they so freely offered to hazard all that is dear to them so he would as freely expose his Life for the Support of the Protestant Religion and the Honour and Safety of the Nation And now the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled as a grateful Acknowledgment to the Lords and Commons for their excellent Conduction in Affairs and especially their resolution to assist and stand by his Majesty in supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland in defence of the Protestant Religion and Laws of the Kingdom drew up two humble Addresses of Thanks one to the Lords and the other to the Commons which were presented and very kindly received the first of these was presented by the Recorder and the last by the Sheriffs of the Honourable City who were dismissed with expressions of high Esteem c. For the said City an Address of Thanks was likewise presented to his Majesty by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council upon his most condescending and unparallell'd Goodness in the Message he was pleased to send to the two Houses in relation to the Duty of Hearth-mony promising as bound in duty and great obligations to be ready to serve and assist his Majesty as far as they were able in the support of his Crown and Dignity and for the maintaining the Protestant Religion and Laws of the Land and the speedy relief of the distressed Protestants in Ireland c. About this time we had News that the greatest part of the Regiment of Foot late commanded by the Lord Dumbarton and some Companies of Fuziliers made a Mutiny near Ipswych and seized on the Money sent down to pay them with four Field-pieces and refusing to obey the King's Orders marched away doing great damage and bringing a greater terrour upon the Country people proclaiming King James c. whereupon both houses Addressed his Majesty that he would be pleased to take such effectual Course as in his Princely Wisdom should be thought fit for the suppressing and bringing them to Justice and that in the mean time he would issue out his Royal Proclamation declaring them and their Adherents to be Rebels and Traitors requiring all good Subjects to apprehend subdue and prosecute them c. To which His Majesty was pleased to answer That he thanked both Houses for their Address and that he had sent a Force of Horse and Dragoons sufficient to suppress them and that he would issue out a Proclamation as was desired On the 16th of March His Majesty went by water to the House of Lords attended with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne and the Commons sent for up His Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act impowering him to apprehend such Persons as he should find just cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government and to an Act for annulling and making void the Attainder of William Russel Esquire commonly called Lord Russel and then in a gracious Speech amongst other things recommended to them the settling the Oaths to be taken by all persons to be admitted to places of Trust so that Papists might be excluded and room left for all Protestants that are willing to serve the better to strengthen us against the common Adversaries and the same day a Proclamation was signed by His Majesty declaring those mutinous Officers and Soldiers together with their Adherents Rebels and Traitors c. commanding all good Subjects to apprehend subdue and prosecute them as such To shew this was no general defection of the Soldiers but rather these few drawn into so great a folly and over-sight by sinister means the same day an Address was humbly presented to His Majesty signed by the Officers superiour and subordinate with the unanimous Subscriptions of the private Soldiers of the Regiment of Foot under the conduct of the Right Honourable the Lord Mordant expressing therein their unfeigned Loyalty willing Obedience and ready Zeal to serve his Majesty in all places and on all occasions Nor was it long e'er those in Rebellion were brought under for on the 19th of March the Regiments of Horse commanded by Sir John Lanier and Collonel Langston having joined the Dutch Troups of Horse and Dragoons under the command of Lieutenant General Ginkell and being informed that the Rebels were marching towards Seaford they advanced in good Order the Dragoons making the left Wing the Rebels no sooner perceived the Troups but they drew up in Batalia planting their four Field-pieces to the best advantage having on one side a great Hedge and on the other considerable Waters which obliged the Dragoons to swim but perceiving the Resolution of the King's Troups to reduce them to their Obedience they beat a Parly and laying down their Arms surrendred upon discretion so that there were taken the four Field-pieces and twenty Officers and five hundred Soldiers were made Prisoners and sent up to London under a Guard of Horse and there secured in divers Prisons whilst another party of Horse continued to search after such as had dispersed some of which were afterward taken and secured in divers Prisons Sir John Chapman Lord Mayor of the City of London dying on the of March the worthy Thomas Pilkington Esq since being Knighted elected Lord Mayor of that City for the remaining part of this Year was on the 22d presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal and afterwards sworn at the Hustings according to Custome and at five in the Afternoon was sworn without the Tower Gate by the Right Honourable the Lord Lucas chief Governour of the Tower in pursuance of their Majesties Writ to him directed and of the antient usage at such a time as the Exchequer Court is not holden at Westminster Having before made mention of the intended Convention in Scotland and now the time appointed for its sitting being come it will not seem foreign to this History to insert some remarkable passages and Transactions relating to it and the Affairs of that Kingdom On the 14th of March in obedience to the King of England's Letter the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons assembled at Edinburgh in one House as the Custome is and chose Duke Hamilton their President and considering the Duke of Gourdon a Roman Catholick held the Castle whose Cannon
Religion established by Law And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of this Realm and to the Churches committed to their Charge all such Rights and Privileges as by Law do or shall appertain to any of them King and Queen All this I promise to doe After this the King and Queen laying his and her hand upon the holy Gospel shall say King and Queen These things which I have here before promised I will perform and keep So help me God. Then the King and Queen shall kiss the book And this Oath by the same Act is to be administred to all the Kings and Queens that shall succeed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm at their respective Coronations by one of the Archbishops or Bishops and to be done in publick Thus every thing being in a readiness and the expected day arrived their Majesties being come from White-Hall to Westminster the Heralds began to put the Proceedings in order the Peers in the Lords House and the Peeresses in the painted Chamber so that about eleven in the morning their Majesties and the whole Proceeding were conducted into Westminster-Hall where at the upper end a Throne being erected their Majesties took their Seats under their Cloath of State on the inside the Table which done the Master of the Jewel-house presented to the Lord High Constable the Sword of State also the Sword Curtana and the two pointed Swords in their order who in the like order delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and he having drawn them out of the Scaboards laid them on the Table before their Majesties as likewise the Spurs After which the Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster bring the Crowns and other Regalia presented them severally and then they were delivered to those Lords whose Office or Trust it was to bear them Then the Proceeding began from Westminster Hall to the Abbey where being entered and each seated or placed in order the Lord Bishop of London began with the Recognition which ending with a general Shout and universal Acclamation of Joy their Majesties offered and the Lords who carried the Regalia offered them at the Altar severally to be there disposed after which the Litany was sung by the Bishops of St. Asaph and Bangor which ended the Communion Service began the Epistle taken out of the 1 Pet. 2. ver 13 17. was read by the Bishop of Carlisle and the Gospel out of Mat. 22. 16 22. was read by the Bishop of St. Asaph after which followed the Nicene Creed and by this time the Bishop of Salisbury being in the Pulpit after repeating the Lords Prayers took his Text 2 Sam. 23.3 4. viz. The Lord God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and he shall be as the Light of the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without Clouds as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after rain The Sermon which lasted half an hour being ended their Majesties took the new established Oath before mentioned and after Veni Creator was sung and the Holy Oil consecrated their Majesties were conducted to their Royal Chairs placed on the Theatre where the Honourable Members of the House of Commons who with their Speaker were seated in the north Cross might have a full prospect and there being disrobed of their Crimson Mantles their Majesties were solemnly annointed and presented with the Spurs and Sword which being offered up and redeemed by the Earl of Portland their Majesties were invested with the Imperial Robes and Orbs after that with the Rings and Sceptres and about four of the Clock the Crowns were placed on their heads by the Lord Bishop of London assisted by the Lord Bishop of Rochester upon which the Drums beat the Trumpets sounded the great Guns were fired yet were drowned in a manner by the loud shouts and joyfull Acclamations of the People and the Peers and Peeresses putting on their Coronets the holy Bible was presented to their Majesties and after the Benediction they vouchsafed to kiss the Bishops and then Te Deum was sung and they ascended the Throne the Archbishop and Bishops doing jointly Homage and kissed their Majesties left Cheeks and after them the Temporal Peers did the like whilest the Medals were cast about by the Treasurer of the Houshold inscribed on one side Ne totus absumatur and on the other Gulielmus Maria Rex Regina After this began the Communion their Majesties making their second Offering and having received the Holy Sacrament they went in State into St. Edward's Chapel where being divested of the Imperial Palls c. and robed in Purple Velvet returned to Westminster-Hall with their Crowns of State on their Heads the Peers and Peeresses wearing their Coronots where a very splendid Entertainment was furnished at sundry Tables and between the first and second course Charles Dymcke Esq their Majesties Champion came on Horseback completely armed between the Lord High Constable and Earl Marshal both on Horseback and made his Chalenge which was pronounced by York Herald in these words viz. If an Person of what degree soever high or low shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary King and Queen of England France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith to be rightfull King and Queen of this Realm of England or that they ought not to enjoy the Imperial Crown of the same Here is their Champion who saith he lyeth and is a false Traitor being ready in Person to combate with him and in this Quarrel will adventure his Life against him on what day soever be shall be appointed After which their Majesties Styles were proclaimed in Latin French and English and about eight in the evening they returned to White-Hall This caused great Rejoicing in Holland as well as England the States ordering it to be exprest by Bells Bonfires and Fireworks c. The Convention in Scotland declared their Majesties King and Queen in the following manner viz. After the Vote had passed the Estates assisted by the Ld. Provost Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh attended by Lyon King at Arms Heralds Pursuvants and Trumpets went to the Cross on foot proclaimed their Majesties ' King and Queen of Scotland and deputed some of the Estates to offer the Crown with an Instrument of Government for settling that Kingdom A Table of the chief Ministers of State and Officers of Trust newly made by the King and Queen of England The most Honourable Privy-Council HIS Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark Duke of Cumberland c. Lord A. B. Cant. Marquess of Caermarthen E. of Danby and L. President of the Council Marquess of Halifax L. Privy-Seal D. of Norfolk Earl-Marshal of England Duke of Bolton Marquess of Winchester E. of Lindsey L. Great Chamberlain of Engl. E. of Devonshire L. Steward of his Majesties Houshold E. of Dors Midds Ld. Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold