Phillip William of Nassaw,

Was Eldest Son to the Great W. P. of Orange; Phi­lip II. K. of Spain being his Godfather; who when his Father was compell'd to take Arms in his own defence, was a Student at the University of Lovain, and was ta­ken thence by force, to the Infringement of the Liber­ties of the Place, notwithstanding all the Protestations of the Rector to the contrary, and the Complaints of the Prince his Father, who publickly exclaimed a­gainst the Cruelty of the Spaniards, since no Privilege nor Innocence of Age could secure any from their Ty­ranny and Injustice. He was carried from thence into Spain at 13 Years of Age, and educated in the Roman Catholick Religion, where he continued a Prisoner above 30 Years; during which, his Jailor presuming to speak abusively of the Proceedings of his Father, the Prince who inherited his gallant temper, not en­during his insolent discourse, took him about the mid­dle and throwing him out of the Window broke his Neck; The K. of Spain consulted with his Council what Punishment to inflict for this great Action; but at length, by the interposing of a generous young Spa­niard who was present, and affirmed that the Captain's ill carriage was the occasion of his Death, it was passed over.

But at length, in hope to create some Jealousies be­tween his Brother Maurice and himself, K. Philip re­leased him and sent him into Flanders, where he lived [Page 26]in great State with the Spanish Governor of the Nether­lands at Brussels, and was imploy'd by that King to con­duct into the Netherlands his Bride and Spouse that was to be, the Infanta Isabella, to whom K. Philip had given in Dowry the Soveraignty of the 17 Provinces; This was a very astonishing Policy to all the Nether­lands, that the Son of a Prince who was so abhorr'd by the Spaniards, should be chosen for this honourable Imployment, and caused such a Jealousie in the States of the United Provinces towards him (the King of Spain having likewise restored to him all his Estate in the Spa­nish Low-Countries, and the French Comte) that they would not allow him to make any Visit, much less to reside in any of their Provinces, though he was very desirous so to do: And though his younger Brother Prince Maurice, out of his generous temper surrendred up all the great Estate that belonged to Philip his older Brother, as Breda, and other places; yet to prevent his being suspected by the States General, he declined seeing him in Person, rendring his Respects to him con­stantly by Persons deputed thereunto. He married Eleonora Burbon Sister to the Prince of Conde, and by marching with a Princess of the Blood, he was rein­stated in his Principality of Orange and died without Children at Brussels in 1618. leaving his Inheritance and Title to his Brother.

Maurice of Nassaw, Prince of Orange.

Successor to his Father both in Conduct, Courage, and Success, who being but 17 years old at the Death of his Father was yet called to the Government, and was no ways discouraged at the great Successes of Alexan­der Famese Duke of Parma who in a very short time had reduced several Cities and Towns to the Crown of Spain; Nor with the insolence of the Earl of Leicester, who at the desire of the State General was sent by Q. [Page 27]Elizabeth to be their Governor, though by his insup­portable Pride and Ambition he more endamaged the Low Countries, than the Succours he brought re­lieved them, so that for 4 years together that Com­monwealth laboured under dreadful Convulsions, oc­cassion'd by the Intrigues of the Earl of Leicester, and the Policies of the Spaniards, till at length by the fortunate and total destruction of the Nick-named, Invincible Spanish Armada, designed to have devoured all England, the Prince of Parma lost all his reputa­tion at once. Prince Maurice about the same time ob­liging him to his everlasting shame, to rise and run away from the Siege of Bergen [...] Zoom, And for Twen­ty Years after, even till the time of the Truce, For­tune was so favourable to the Prince, that Victory seemed to attend him; insomuch that he recovered near 40 Cities, and many more Fortresses, and in three pitched Battels defeated the Forces of the K. of Spain; besides the Victories his Admirals obtained at Sea up­on the Coasts of Flanders and Spain: The Stratagem by which he surprized Breda was very remarkable; For the Garrison of that Town being Italians, and greedy of Fuel in that cold Country, they very rea­dily assisted the Boatman to draw his Bark of Turffs over the Ice within the Castle Walls, under which the Prince had laid several armed Soldiers, who sud­denly starting up, surprized, and soon seiz'd the Guards, taking Possession of the Castle with the loss only of one Man, though it were an Action of such Danger and Importance: Soon after the Town of Gertrudenburg was surrendred to the Prince in View of the Spanish Army consisting of 30000 Men com­manded by Count Mansfield an experienced General who could not force the Prince out of his Trenches though he daily provoked him; so that Prince Maurice having sent a Trumpeter to the Count, he askt him, How his Master, being a young and fiery Prince could [Page 28]contain himself within his Trenches after such fair Pro­vocations. The Trumpeter replied, That the Prince of Nassaw was a Young Prince, but as old and expe­rienced a General as his Excellency.

The next Year the Prince took Groning, the Capital City of that province; also Rhineburg, Meurs, and Grave, and gained great Reputation by the defence of Ostend; for the Spaniards having made themselves Masters of it, after a Siege of three Years, with the loss of Sixty thousand Men, and the expence of above a Hundred Millions of Treasure, they were possessed of nothing but a heap of Ruins, more like a Burying place than a City; And the Prince soon af­ter gained Sluce, a place of far greater Importance. And at the Battle of Newport he had so great Success against far more numerous Forces than his own; That the Archduke Albert, with several other Persons of Quality were wounded: All the Spaniards Cannon with above 100 Cornets and Ensigns falling into the Victor's hands, with the slaughter of 6000 of the Ene­my upon the place; the Prince having before the Fight sent away all the Ships that Transported his Men into Flanders, telling them, That now there was no way to escape, but they must either march over the Bellies of their Enemies, or else drink Salt Water: After se­veral other successes against the Prince of Parma and other Spanish Generals, whereby he raised up the sinking Republick of the United Netherlands, he died in 1625. He was never Married, and left his Ti­tles and large Possessions to his younger Brother.

Henry Frederick of Nassaw Prince of Orange.

Who was third Son to the renowned W. P. of Orange; He was born in 1584. and was an excellent General, not in the least degenerating from the Courage and Gal­lantry [Page 29]of that Heroick Family, being every way equal in Fame to his Brother Prince Maurice, taking the fa­mous Cities of Odousel and Groll in despite of the Spanish General, who with a numerous Army was not able to relieve it; Nor was he less successful at Sea, his Vice Admiral Hein taking a Fleet of the Spaniards near Cuba in the West Indies, valued at above twenty Mil­lions. After this he took Bois le Duc which had with­stood all the attempts of his Brother Maurice, and would not be drawn away till he had reduced it, though Count Henry of Bergnes the Spanish General made an Incursion into the Province of Utrecht to divert him; And afterward happily surprised the City of Wessel, where the Magazine of Provisions and all the great Ar­tillery of the Spanish Army were laid up.

About this time Count John of Nassaw his Kinsman upon some discontent revolting to the Spaniards, was defeated by one of the Princes Captains near the Rhyne in the open Field, with half his number of men, him­self being carried Prisoner to Wessel, from whence he could not be redeemed without the payment of 18000 Rix Dollars; To revenge which dishonour, Count John when at liberty endeavoured with a strong Navy of Ships to seize the Town of Williamstadt, but was totally defeated by the Hollanders, and 4000 Prisoners taken, and the rest either kill'd or drowned; He himself and the Prince of Brabancon hardly escaping.

The States General to testifie their gratitude to Henry Prince of Orange for the great services he had performed; About this time by a publick Edict declared, That all the Dignities, Honours, and Employments which he then enjoyed shall descend to his Eldest Son Prince William, the Instruments whereof being drawn up and sealed by the States, were presented to the young Prince in a Box of Gold. After this Prince Henry continued still more successful, taking the Towns of Ru [...]emond, Veulo and Strall, and lastly undertak­ing [Page 30]the Seige of Mastricht, where he surrounded his Trenches with such strong circumvallations that both the Spanish and German Forces were obliged to march away with dishonour and leave him the honour of re­ducing so important a place.

Divers other prosperous attempts he made, as his retaking the Fort of Skink Scans, and regaining the Ca­stle and City of Breda, which the Marquess Spinola had been a whole year in taking, with vast loss and ex­pence, and yet the Prince now reduced it to his Immor­tal honour in four months, and answerable was his For­tune at Sea, where Admiral Trump falling upon a nume­rous Fleet of the Spaniards in the Downs, of 67 Men of War destroyed the greatest part of them to the number of 40 Ships sunk, wherein above 7000 men were lost and 2000 carried Prisoners into Holland, amongst whom was the great Gallion of Portugal called Maria Teresa, carrying 800 men, whereof not one escaped.

In 1641. Prince William only Son of the Prince of Orange married the Princess Mary Eldest Daughter to King Charles I. And soon after Prince Henry gained the strong Fort of Hulst in Flanders, which the Spa­niards were not able to relieve. Thus it may be ob­served, That William Prince of Orange laid the Foun­dations of the Commonwealth of Holland, Prince Maurice his Son fixed and strengthned them by his Victories, and Henry Frederick the Younger Brother by continuing his Conquests and enlarging their Terri­tories, at length compelled the Spaniard, to renounce his pretended right over them, and to acknowledge them an Independent State, treating with them by the title of The High and Mighty States General of the Ʋnited Provinces; So that by the Swords of the Illustrious House of Orange, this Potent Republick was first foun­ded, which is now arrived to that Grandeur as to send Ambassadors upon equal terms with the most Potent Princes of Christendom, even to the K. of Spain [Page 31]himself whose Subjects they were, not above 100 years, and whose revolt has proved a great advantage to that Crown, they having been so many years a Barrier to the Spanish Netherlands against the exces­sive power and ambition of France, which without their assistance had long since swallowed them up.

Prince Henry Married the Daughter of John Albert Count of Solms, who came with the Queen of Bohe­mia into Holland, a Lady of excellent Beauty, Mo­desty and Prudence, by whom he had one Son and four Daughters; The Eldest named Lovison, was Mar­ried to Frederick William Prince Elector of Branden­burg by whom he had several Children; The second Henrietia was Married to the Count of Nassaw, the third Catharina was espoused to John George Duke of Anhalt; The fourth was Married to the Duke of Simeren; Prince Henry died March 1 [...], 1647. and was succeeded by

William of Nassaw Prince of Orange.

Who was born in 1626. A Prince of worthy Hopes and Courage, but was suddenly taken away by Death in the 24 year of his Age, having been Married nine years to the Princess Mary Daughter to K. Charles the First, by whom he had Prince William Henry, who was born Nov. 4. 1650. some few days after his Fa­thers Death, the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand, and of the Cities of Dei [...]e, Leyden and Am­sterdam being his God fathers.

William Henry of Nassaw Prince of Orange.

THIS excellent Prince, our present Gracious [...]overeign [...] endowed with all the Noble and [Page 32]Virtuous Qualities of his Ancestors of the Illustrious House of Orange which seem'd designed by Heaven to be the Protectors of Religion and Liberty for several Ages, his Majesties glorious Predecessours being the Founders and Establishers, and himself the Restorer of the half ruined Batavian Republick as well as the Deliverer of these three Kingdoms from the utmost dan­ger of Popery and Slavery; This excellent Prince suf­fered many affronts by Barnevels Party, revived in the Persons of the De Wits, expecting with inimitable patience the advancement to those Honours and Dig­nities which of right belonged to his Family, and which by the Decree of a prevailing Faction he was deprived of, presently after the Death of his Father.

But King Lewis his inveterate Enemy, did acciden­tally very much contribute to his Exaltation, for hav­ing in 1672. like a rapid Torrent over-run the flourish­ing Batavian Republick, he thereby gave opportunity to the Prince to discover to the World, the Spirit of his Ancestors, in recovering the United Provinces from the ruine which seemed to attend them by the success of that King, even beyond his hopes, nay almost his wishes, which put that People into such a consternation as occasioned them to complain of the unhappy Con­duct of Cornelius and John De Wit, who had then the sole management of all affairs, and to believe that none but the glorious House of Nassaw was capable to support their tottering State in this Age against their Potent French Enemies, as they had formerly rescued them from the Tyranny of Spain.

Neither was the Grandmother of the Prince want­ing to engage the favourers of that Family to endea­vour to remove that Eclipse under which it had so long sustered, which Her Highness managed with a courage and magnanimity above her Sex, so that being awa­kened by Her Remonstrances, they began to consider how they themselves had of late been slighted and neg­lected, [Page 33]whilst all the great Imployments of the Com­mon-wealth were bestowed upon the Sons of Burgo­masters, and being seconded by the rage of the Com­monalty, who were dreadfully terrified to see a Victo­rious Army in the very bowels of their Countrey, they obliged the States General in the beginning of 1672. to depute Monsieur Beverning, John De Wit, and Jasper Fagel to invest His Highness the Prince of Orange in the Dignities belonging to his Ancestors, of Captain and Admiral General of the United Provinces, who having accepted the same, and taken his Oath, pre­sently went upon action against the French: But the Province of Holland still suspected the fidelity of their Magistrates, seeing their Frontier Towns and Garrisons fall daily into the hands of their Victorious Enemies, and at Dort they raised a dangerous Mutiny, and re­solved that His Highness should be advanced to the Stadt-Holdership also, as judging it absolutely neces­sary for the publick good: Upon which an Act was instantly drawn up, and read in the publick Hall by the Secretary, wherein the Magistrates declared His Highness the Prince of Orange Stadtholder, Captain and Admiral General of all their Forces by Sea and Land, with the same Power and Authority that His Ancestors of glorious Memory had formerly enjoyed; which occasioned great rejoycing in that City.

But Cornelius De Witt, an Antient Burgomaster of the Town, returning at the same time indisposed from the Fleet, and being desired to sign the said Act, re­plied, He would never do it, nor could all the perswa­sions of his Friends, nor the menaces of the multitude, who were ready to break into his house, nor the tears of his Wife, who was sensible of his danger, prevail upon his obstinate temper, till she threatned to shew her self to the People, and declare her own and Chil­drens Innocency, and abandon him to the fury of the ungoverned Populace; which soon after occasioned [Page 34]his Tragical Death, for they being fully perswaded that he and his Brother John were real Enemies to the Prince, and a certain Surgeon having charged Cor­nelius that he had made a private Proposal to him to take away His Highness Life, he was thereupon impri­soned and upon Trial was sentenced to forfeit all his Dignities and Imployments, and to be for ever banish­ed out of the Territories of Holland and Westfrieze­land.

The People who accounted the Prince to be their Protector and Deliverer, believed his Judges to be par­tial in punishing so great a Crime with so easie a Judg­ment, and the Trained Bands at the Hague being in Arms, they presently ran to the Prison, where while they were got together, it happened that John de Witt came in his Coach to fetch his Brother out of Pri­son: Upon which one of the Burgesses cryed out, ‘Now the two Traitors are got together, and it is our fault if they escape us.’ This had been enough to inflame the multitude, but a greater motive happened; for while they were all expecting the coming down of the two De Witts, an unhappy report was raised, that above a thousand Peasants and Fishermen were upon their March to plunder the Hague, upon which another Burger cryed out, ‘Come Gentlemen, let us pull these Traytors out by the Ears, do but follow me and I will lead the way.’ These words, with their great affection to the Prince, and the ruin of their Countrey, to both which they accounted the De Witts to be the greatest Enemies compleated their Rage, so that they Immediately broke open the Prison doors, and sorced down the two Brothers into the Street, where they were soon dispatcht by the multitude, who after they had laid the Pensionary John De Witt sprawling on the ground, cryed out, See there the Traytor that has betrayed his Countrey. Thus fell John and Cornelius de Witt, two violent Enemies to the House of Orange. It is said, [Page 35]that John was the Contriver of those Acts whereby His Highness was secluded from all the Great Imployments which were due to him from his Predecessors, and that a certain Ambassador being in private discourse with him, said, ‘Most Illustrious Sir, I have heard much of your singular prudence, and unwearied di­ligence, but far less than what I now observe, from whence I dare assuredly pronounce, that either you will be the ruin of the Prince, or else that one day for his sake you will come to destruction.’ It is likewise reported, that when he was a Youth of about eighteen years old, a certain Advocate being desired by his Father to examine him, gave this account of him; ‘That he found in him those great Parts and that ripeness of Wit, which was rarely to be seen in others:’ And afterwards when he was made Pensio­ner of Holland and Dort the same Advocate presaged of him, ‘That he would never die a natural death.’ ‘Thus (saith a worthy Person) ended one of the greatest Lives of any Subject of our Times in the 47th year of his Age, after having administred in that State as Pensioner of Holland for about eighteen years with great Honour to his Countrey and himself.’

It must be remarked that the present War with the States General was commenced in concert between the French King and Charles II. in a time of the great­est peace and security on the Dutch side, so that when the English fell upon their Smyrna Fleet, no clap of Thunder in a Frosty morning could be more surprizing, both to the Hollanders, and the rest of Christendom; Yea the Court of France it self could scarce believe that we would run so great an Adventure, though our Court had obliged themselves thereto; And though in the Declaration of War which the King published, the Dutch are charged with making abusive Pictures and denying the right of the Flag, which was an un­doubted Prerogative of the Crown of England, yet [Page 36]the Parliament and People were of opinion that this War was made in pursuance of the Instructions of the French King, sent over to Dover by the Dutchess of Orleance; whereby the destruction of the Com­mon-Wealth of Holland is declared to be the only means to settle Arbitrary Government and Popery in these three Nations.

Upon our Declaration of War, the French King began to march with his Vast Army into the Nether­lands which he over-ran with such a rapid motion that the People were astonished, and the States knew not what course to take to prevent it, which occasioned those Commotions aforementioned; But his Highness the Prince of Orange being advanced to the Stadthol­dership, the face of affairs began to alter, and their Courage was revived: Monsieur Fagel succeeded De Wit as Pensioner, and the Prince presently resolved to be upon action, rejecting all the applications made to him by the two Kings, of making him Soveraign of the Provinces with such disdain and greatness of Soul as is scarce to be matcht, always declaring, ‘That he would never betray a Trust that was given him, nor ever sell the Liberties of his Countrey that his Ancestors had so long defended.’

In pursuance of this generous Resolution his Highness took the Command of the Army upon him, who were more animated at the thoughts of being under the Conduct of so gallant a General. So that at Bodegrave an handfull of men twice repulsed above five thousand of the French from the Walls of Ardenburg, and besides the slain took five hundred Prisoners with se­veral Commanders, and Persons of Quality, through the extraordinary valour of no more than two hun­dred Burgers and one hundred Garrison Souldiers only that they were affisted by the Women and Chil­dren, the Women filling the Bandilcers, and the Children brought Bullets to their Parents.

Soon after the Seige of Groningen which had been beseigned with near three thousand men by the Bishop of Munster; was by the Courage of the Citizens raised with the loss of half the Enemies Army, and a prodi­gious quantity of Ammunition spent in vain in reduce­ing thereof, to which his Highness care in furnishing them with all necessaries for desence was highly contri­buting.

About the same time the Prince resolving to dislodge the Outguards of the French, gave a strong Alarm to them, and without moving from his Saddle all night, drove them to their Trenches before Utrecht, and car­tied several Lords Prisoners to Amsterdam. His Highness then resolved to attempt the reducing of Woerden, and after a bloody and obstinate Fight wherein above two thousand of the French were slain and not above seven hundred of the Dutch. His High­ness finding the Garison relieved with such a nume­rous supply, drew off his men and retreated to his Quarters. After which was held a Council of War of the Principal Officers of the Army, which being ended a certain Colonel would needs be imperti­nently inquisitive of the Prince to know what was his great design against the French at that time; His Highness demanded of him, whether he would discover to any other what he should declare to him; The Colonel said, No, he would not; Then said the Prince, my Tongue is also endued from Heaven with the same Grace, An answer becoming the wisdom of a Prince and the reservedness of a Great Commander.

His Highness being with the Army at Mastricht, sent out a Party to reduce the strong Castle of Valche­ren which was soon surrendred with a great quantity of Wheat and other Provisions. During this time the Dake of Luxemburg with fourteen thousand Horse and Foot resolved to Invade the Province of Holland, in hope to plunder Leyden and the Hague, and [Page 38]marcht from Woerden over the Ice with 3500 of the lightest of the Infantry of whith attempt his Highness having notice marched with all speed toward the French, who in the mean time had taken Swamer­dam, and by the retiring of Colonel Paine Vin from his Post at Niewerbrong had a free passage open­ed for their retreat, who must also have perished in the waters, or surrendred by reason of the sudden thaw; The Duke himself was like to have been lost by a fall into the thawed water, losing in this shippery expedition above six hundred of his best Souldiers The French committed horrid ravages at Swammer­dam; Ravishing Women, Stripping and Wounding the Aged and Decrepit, and throwing infants that smiled in their Faces into the fire

And now the strong City of Coverden the Key of the Provinces of Frizeland and Groning, which in that fatal year 1672. fell into the hands of the Bishop of Munster with great loss of men and a long Seige, was retaken in an hour and not above sixty men slain, and of the Enemy a hundred and fifty killed and 430 Prisoners; It was furnished by the Bishop with a predigious quantity of warlike Ammubition. This success highly incouraged the Dutch, and so furprized the Enemy that they instantly quitred seve­ral other Garrisons, and much advanced the Honour of the Prince, to whose prudent mannagement of affairs they attributed this happy alteration in the Fortune of their Countrey; Which his Highness like­wise extended to pacifie the Dissentions between the Old and New Magistrates of Frizeland who acted contrary to each other, but upon his Highness appear­ing in their Assembly, all discords vanisht, and all things were setled for the defence of the Netherlands by his visiting the Frontier Fortifications of Flushing, Sluce, Ardenburg, (where the Keys of the Town were delivered him in a Silver Bason by the Young [Page 39]Virgins of that City, deck'd with Garlands of several Flowers) and several other strong places.

In 1673. the Dutch were hetly assailed, on the one side by the French King with a puissant Army, while Conde and Luxemburg lay at Utrecht with pow­erful Forces to watch an opportunity to invade the very Centre of their Territories, and by Sea the King of England vigorously attackt them with his own and the French Fleet, so that the Prince of Orange was obliged not to stir abroad but to observe their designs, and prevent the threatned Descent of the English. In May the King of France with an Army of 42000 men sate down before Mastricht, the Garrison consisted of about 4000 Foot, and 900 Horse under Monsieur Farieux a resolute and experienced Com­mander, as appeared by the stout resistance he made against this mighty Force, so that though the French gained the place, yet it was with such a deluge of Blood, no less than 9000 of their bravest Souldiers being Slain in the Seige with an incredible number of his choicest Officers, that the purchase was sufficient­ly dear; And after three weeks valiant defence, with the loss of half the Garrison by innumerable essaults, Batteries and Storming of fresh Assailants night and day; The Couragious Governour would still have held it out, had not the Petitions of the Magistrates and Ecclesiasticks obliged him to surrender, of whose worthy conduct the Prince of Orange was so well satis­fied that he instantly preferred him to be Major General of the Army. And the French King was so mor­tified that when he had taken the Town he broke up his Army, and returned to Paris, sending part of them to Turrenne, to inable him to harrass the Coun­trey of Treves, because that Elector had assisted the Emperor against him.

The French Army being thus disperst, and the Eng­ish Fleet since the Ingagement of May 28. (wherein [Page 40]both sides claimed the Victory) being retired from the Coast of Holland, His Highness now more at liberty, resolved not to lie still, so that calling off his Forces which lay for the defence of Zealand to joyn with the rest of the Army, he sate down before Naerden with 20000 Men, upon which the Duke of Luxemburg with 10000, and four Reigments of Munster Horse, advan­ced within view of the Princes Intrenchments, but not daring to attempt the Relief of the Town, the Prince after three hours resistance beat the French from their Works, and forced them to retire in great con­fasion into the City, and the next day they furtendred it up. The Garrison marching out, the Governour made a profound Reverence to the Prince, and it is said assured him. ‘That he had Reasons sufficient to surrender the Town so soon:’ But it seems the King did not think them so, for he was condemned to per­petual imprisonment, and had his Sword broken over his head at Utrecht: For the Garrison consisted in near Three thousand Men and wanted neither Am­munition nor Provisions, and the French had much strengthned the Fortifications, yet the Prince took it in four days, and lost not above a hundred Men, and two hundred wounded.

And now His Highness to avoid so many Sieges as the Towns they had lost would cost to recover, resolved upon a gallant Action, the boldness of which amazed all Men, but the success extolked the prudence as well as the bravery of it. For the King of Spain and the Emperor having joyned in a Confederacy with the States General for mutual defence against the French as the common Enemy of both; The Prince, that he might perform something remarkable before the ap­proaching Winter, marched directly with his Army out of the Netherlands, and joyning with the Confe­derates, he resolved to besiege Bonne, which had been put into the hands of the French the beginning [Page 41]of the War, wherein the Elector of Cologne, and the Bishop of Munster had entred joyntly with France: It had a Garrison of Two thousand Men and was well furnisht with all provisions; and Eighty great Guns mounted on their Walls and Bulwarks. The Marshal D'Humieres, with Seven thousand Horse, faced the Leaguer, but durst not venture to succour it, so that the Confederates having finisht their Batteries, and brought three Mines to perfection, prepared for a ge­neral Storm, but willing to save their Men, sent a Sum­mons to the Governour to surrender the Town, since they were without Relief, and if they pleased might send out some to see what Mines were ready to play upon their refusal, which would be followed by put­ting to the Sword all in Arms if taken by Storm. This so affrighted them, that the next day they capitulated, and 1500 French marched out of the Town, the rest being either dead or wounded.

This successful Expedition of His Highness put the French into such a Consternation to see the reverse of their Fortune, that they who lately with insulting Pride threatned the ruin of others, were now at their wits end to save themselves; so that upon the loss of so many Men as had lately died by Sickness and the Sword, they were compell'd to abandon all their Con­quests in the Netherlands in less time than they gained them, retaining only Mastricht and the Grave of all they lately possest belonging to this Republick. Woer­den was the first that felt their Tyranny, and was first evacuated, but the Duke of Luxemburg extorted 16000 Livers of them, to save the Town from burning, by the King's Order. Harderwick paid 12000 Livers; Creveceur 3000 Pistols; Bommel a strong Fortress on which the King of France had bestowed 60000 Livers, gave Hostages to pay 36000 Livers to spare their Houses. Utrecht was obliged to give an hun­dred thousand Crowns; and the French all departing [Page 42]in one day, the Burgomasters absolved each other from their Oaths which they had taken against the Restoration of His Highness the Prince of Orange, to whom they sent their Deputies to acknowledge him their Stadtholder in the name of the whole Province of Utrecht. Thus His Highness may in some sense seem to have out-done Caesar himself, for he vanquisht even where he neither saw nor came, but only by the Ter­tour of his Arms and Victories. In consideration of this happy Turn of Affairs occasioned by the prudence and conduct of His Highness, the States General in February following published a Decree to declare their Gratitude, confirming the charge of Stad tholder of the Province of Holland and West-Friezeland on the Person of His Highness during Life, and also on the Heirs Males of his Body, as a standing Monument of his surpassing Merits. And that very day the States of Zealand likewise conferred the same Dignities upon His Highness, and made him withall Hereditary Noble of their Province.

In the beginning of the year 1674. the Parliament and People of England being weary of the War with Holland, which was entred into without their consent or liking, were very desirous of a Peace; so that the French-Court-party having little hope of wheedling the House of Commons to give any more Money to car­ry on their black designs against the Religion and Li­berties of the Nation under the pretence of this War, they were obliged to make a separate Peace with the Dutch exclusive of the French King, though to their great regret, that they were forced to abandon their dear Ally, from whom they had drawn such great sums of Money for secret service upon the strength and heart of this Peace, His Highness the Prince of Orange concerted with the German and Spanish Troops to begin an Offensive War, and in the head of an Army of 40000 Men to march into France: In [Page 43]pursuance hereof the three Armies being joyned, ar­rived at Nivelle the beginning of August 1674. where they continued for some days, but finding the Prince of Conde who lay not far off encamped with an Army of Fifty thousand, unwilling to come forth and ha­zard a Battel in the open Field, they endeavoured by all ways imaginable to provoke and draw him out of his Trenches, but all proving ineffectual, they resolved to besiege some place of importance, believing that Conde would endeavour to relieve it: Whereupon His Highness marched from Seneffe toward Brinch, Ge­neral Souches with the Imperial Forces leading the Van: Count Waldeck commanded the main Battel with the Holland Army, and Count de Monterey the Reer with the Spaniards, the Prince of Orange com­manding the whole Confederate Army.

The Prince of Conde having notice of their move­ment, and being sensible of the difficulty and strait­ness of the passages, put his Men in order, and letting the Van-Guard pass, and the greatest part of the main Body some Leagues before, he then fell in upon the Rere-Guard of the Spanish Horse and Dragoons con­sifting of Four thousand, commanded by the Prince de Vaudemont, and broke them with great flaughter, and not much resistance, taking several Prisoners of Quality, with the Baggage, which the Prince of Orange having notice of, he sent three Battalions of Infantry to their Relief. Conde warmed with success, drew his whole Army out of their Trenches, and fell with much fury upon the Dutch Squadron, breaking them to pieces, killing or taking all their Comman­ders, and gaining several Standards: And here His Highness the Prince of Orange gave particular Testi­monies of his undaunted Bravery, throwing himself with his Sword in his hand before the daunted Fugi­tives, endeavouring by all means imaginable to stop their flight, and by his own example encouraged them [Page 40] [...] [Page 41] [...] [Page 42] [...] [Page 43] [...] [Page 44]to renew the Battel, so that he was often in danger either of being slain or taken Prisoner? But at length His Highness joyning the rest of the Dutch who stood firm, whom he made the Right Wing, with the Im­perialists and Spaniards in the Left, the Fight was re­newed with more fury and vigour than ever, both Ar­mies being animated with hope of Victory, and seem­ing equally resolved rather to die than be overcome. His Highness omitted no pains upon this important oc­casion; so animating his Souldiers, that they strove with emulation to outdo one another, and both Ar­mies fought till night with an obstinacy on both sides hardly to be parallel'd, though the Fields were all strown over with the Bodies of the slain and wounded, while the Combatants covered with Blood and Sweat, encouraged each other the more by that dismal spe­ctacle. Thus the fury of the French, which at first carried all before them, about Ten a Clock at night began to abate, the French Infantry, of which they had lost a considerable part, drawing off at a distance, notwithstanding all the endeavours of the Prince of Conde to have brought them back again, who there­upon fearing some farther mischief might befall his Army, ordered the Horse also to retire, leaving the Victory by this means to His Highness the Prince of Orange, who two hours after the Retreat of the French, drew off his Army likewise to their ap­pointed Quarters.

Thus ended this bloody Battle, wherein at first the French prevailed but at length lost the Victory, having 7000 men slain outright, besides the wounded, of whom the P. of Conde left above 1500 in the Villages a­bout his Quarters at Pieton; On the Confederates side the Slain, Wounded, and Deserters, amounted to about 6500 in all. It was said that a Letter was intercepted from the Prince of Conde to the French King, giving him an account, ‘That upon a General [Page 45]review of his Army he found himself but in an ill condition, having lost the flower of his Infantry, and the best part of his Horse; and therefore did not think himself strong enough to venture a second Bat­tel.’ Having likewise lost a great number of Officers and Persons of Quality; and several Standards, a­mong which was one called, the White Standard of France, (which was afterward hung up with great solemnity in the Church of the Carmelites at Brussels) richly imbroidered with Gold and Silver with a Sun in the middle passing through the Zodiack, with this Haughty Motto, Nilobstabit Eunti; Nothing can stop his Course. But the principal honour of this Victory ought, next under God, to be ascribed to his Highness the Prince of Orange, of whom General Souches gives the following account in a Letter to the States Gene­ral.

‘I have endeavoured to discharge my Duty in at­tending his Highness the Prince of Orange, during the Bloody and Famous Battle between the Confede­rate Army and that of the Christian King, the happy Issue of which has proved so much to the Glory of the Prince of Orange, who shewed upon that occa­sion the prudence of an Aged Captain, the Courage of a Caesar, and the Undaunted Bravery of a Ma­rius, all which my Lords I speak without flattery, as being contrary to my Nature.’ And as the Friends so the Enemies of his Highness agreed to give him e­qual Glory for this Adventure, the Prince of Conde himself declaring, ‘That he had done in all things like an old Captain, but only in venturing himself too much like a Young man;’ Though this old Gene­ral had done the same in this days action, charging in­to the thickest Troops like a Young Cavaleer.

The next day after the fight his Highness marched with his whole Army near Mons, and took up his head Quarters at St. Gilaine till they had recovered their [Page 46]disorders in the late battel, and then began to think of further action; At length it was concluded to be­seige Oudenard, to draw the Prince of Conde out of his cautious marches to relieve it; The Confederates made their approches to the Town, and were alrea­dy Masters of the Counterscarp, when Conde de­camped from Beumont with his whole Army of Forty thousand men either to relieve or give the Confede­rates Battel; His Highness advised that they should immediately fall upon the enemy weary and tired with a long March, but General Souches pre­vented the execution of this magnanimous resolution, for instead of ranging his men in Battalia, he crost the River in so much haste that he left some Pieces of Can­non behind him, and thereby left a way open for the Prince of Conde to enter the Town with part of his Army, who thinking he had done enough in reliev­ing it avoided coming to a Battle. So that his High­ness finding no more good to be done, resolved to march back to Grave, where his presence would be more necessary, leaving Count Waldeck the com­mand of the Army in his Absence. The Seige of this place had been undertaken sometime before by Gene­ral Rabenhaupt, the Garrison consisted of 4000 Foot and 900 Horse, of which the Marques of Chamilly a valiant and expert Captain was Governour, wherein were 450 pieces of Cannon, of which 100 were mounted upon the Bulwarks, besides a vast quantity of Powder, Corn, Granadoes, and all manner of Warlike Ammunition, for the French had made a Magazine there of all that they had brought away from their deserted Conquests. Rabenhaupt sate down before it with about twenty Regiments of Foot and some Horse, and was after reinforced by the Troops of the Prince of Courland and the Elector of Branden­bourg, who Summoned the City on every side, assault­ing it with much violence, but was as vigorously [Page 47]defended by those within, though they were reduced to drink water; His Highness arrived there, Oct. 9. with 60 Cornets of Horse whose presence revived the Courage of the Besiegers; Yet the French held out till the twenty fifth, when Chamilly finding such large breaches made in the Fortifications, much widened by the fortunate blowing up of a Mine which almost destroyed a Covert way, so that it was impossible for him to hold out against the general Storm designed the next day, he surrendred the Town upon Honour­able Articles.

The following Winter was spent in preparing for an early Campagne, the next year 1675, in the beginning whereof the Hollanders made grateful acknowledge­ments to His Highness the Prince of Orange for his signal conduct and Services in redeeming them from the Calamities which they had suffered under a Cruel Forreign Enemy, offering him the Title of Duke of Guel­derland, but to convince the World of the sincerity of his intentions, and how little ambitious he was to agg­grandize himself by the War, His Highness refused those Honours, but being at the same time offered the command of Governour Hereditary of the same Pro­vince he readily accepted it, and in the management thereof discovered his excellent prudence in Civil as well as Military Affairs.

But whilst His Highness was intent to oppose the designs of the French for the ruin of his Countrey, he was visited with the Small Pox, which struck a great damp to the proggress of Affairs, and was the more la­mented, as having proved satal to his Family in the Persons of his Father, Mother, and his Uncle the D. of Glocester, but it pleased God that by the care and skill of an able Physitian, and certain peculiar Reme­dies sent him by the Duke of Brandenburg his High­ness recovered, and within 20 days was abroad again, and hastned to the General Rendesvouze of his Army [Page 48]at Rosendael, in order to the relief of Limburg then besieged by the Marquess of Rochefort, the King of France with an Army under the Prince of Conde post­ing himself advantagiously for covering the Siege; But such was the slowness of the Germans, and the weakness and disorder of the Spanish Troops that the Besieged having little hopes of relief and unable to op­pose the great numbers of the French Troops surren­dred sooner than was expected. After which having wasted a great part of the adjoining Countrey the King returned to Paris, being prevented from doing farther mischief by the diligence of his Highness, and the D. de Villa Hermosa.

Soon after the great General Tureine being kill'd by a Cannon Bullet in Alsatia, the Prince of Conde was sent thither as General, and the Count de Mont­morency was left to command the French Army, who though a Captain no less wary than his Predeces­sor, yet his Highness kept him so upon his guard that he could not disturb the Siege of Treves, which after the fatal overthrow of Monsieur Crequi fell into the hands of the Imperialists; So that Montmorency was unwilling to hazard a Battel with the Prince after two such great losses, for fear of a third, insomuch that he suffered Binch to surrender to his Highness at discretion, it being a Garrison of 350 men, and had great quan­tities of Provisions, even in the sight of his Army; But it appeared afterward the Count had positive Or­ders not to engage the Confederates, so that his High­ness finding Winter approaching broke up his Army and returned to the Hague.

The King of France at this time seemed very desi­rous of Peace, his Subjects being wearied and ruined with the charge of the War, and several Princes offer­ed to interpose in the matter, and the King of Eng­land continuing still in the French Interests, seemed very zealous therein, and took upon him to be a Me­diator [Page 49]between that King and his Enemies; At length in 1676 a Treaty was begun at Nimegen, whither the Pleinpotentiaries from all parts repaired as to the Ge­neral Rendesvouz; But the preparations for War went on as vigorously as ever, and his Highness was throughly imployed to get his Army ready early in the Spring, considering the formidable Musters the French made under Marshal Crequi, near Charleville, and Marshal d' Humieres having got together a Body of 15000 Men, fell into the Country of Alost, and the Spaniards being too weak to resist him, put all the Countrey under Contribution. Hereupon His High­ness marched with all speed to join the D. of Villa Hermosa at Cambron, which he did April. 26. But before this Marshal Crequi had surrounded the City of Conde with 16000 men, and the K. of France and D. of Orleans upon notice thereof joined him with 10000 more, who incessantly batter'd the Town four days together with much fury, insomuch that they were forced to surrender at Discretion, though his Highness was marched as far as Granville for their Relief. After this the King of France sent the D. of Orleans to be­siege Bouchain with some of his Troops, it being a strong Fortress of considerable consequence, the K. posting his Army so as to hinder the Prince from re­lieving it, but his Highness strugling through all diffi­culties of the Season, and want of Provisions and Ma­gazines in Flanders marched with his Army in view of the French King, facing him several days together, and at length was resolved to have attackt him with a Detachment of 12000 Men, and to endeavour to have relieved the Town, but understanding the place was taken, he altered his resolution; Nor would his Highness stir till the French K. first decamped, leav­ing to the Prince the honour of having dared the whole Power and Fortune of France, so that if the Confede­rates [Page 50]lost a small Town, the French lost the greater Ho­nour, of accepting so brave a challenge.

The K. of France returning home and leaving his Army under the Command of Marshal Schomberg; His Highness concluded with the Spaniards and the German Princes of the Lower Rhyne, to set down before Mastricht, which though strong before, yet had been extreamly Fortified since possest by the French, and had now a Garrison of 8000 choice men under Calvo a resolute Catalonian; To divert this Siege Schomberg sends the Marshal de Humieres with 15000 men to besiege Aire a City in the Province of Artois, and strongly incompast on three sides by a Marsh, the only way to approach it being defended by a strong Fort, with five Bastions and a Mote, but the Fort not having men sufficient to defend it against the great numbers of the French, who likewise threw Bombs incessantly into the Town, and fired the Houses, the Townsmen grew so impatient that they beat a Par­ley, and the Articles were soon agreed by the French, because they heard the D. of Villa Hermosa was coming to relieve it, and the Governour was forced to surren­der the Town.

His Highness continued the Siege of Mastricht all this while with much vigor, and the latter end of July the Trenches were opened, his Highness assigning to every one their Quarters; and among the rest the English under three Collonels, Fenwick, Widdrington and Ashly consisting in 2500 men besides Reformades and Volunteers; who presented a Petition to his High­ness, wherein they humbly desired, ‘That all of their Nation might be assigned a particular Quarter, and be commanded apart, that if they behaved themselves like Men they might have the honour due to their Courage, but if they did ill that they only might bear the disgrace of their Cowardice, there being no reason they should suffer for the miscarriages of [Page 51]others.’ The Prince readily granted their request, and ordered them a separate Post under Fenwick the Eldest Collonel, and they accordingly signaliz'd their valour during the Siege; Which was carried on with the utmost Conduct and Resolution, his Highness con­tinually animating his Souldiers by his Presence, and teaching them by his example to contemn danger; Many of the Outworks were taken with great slaughter on either side, but were again supplied by the unwea­ried industry of the Besieged; In one of these Assaults his Highness, who continually exposed his Person, receiv­ed a Musket Shot in the Arm, but to prevent his Men from being discouraged he pluckt off his Hat with the same Arm, and waved it about his head. But the Confederate Army being weakened both by sickness and the many Attacks against the Town, and the Germans not bringing in their promised supplies, a Council of War was called, in the Princes Camp, and there being advice, that Monsieur Schomberg was coming with all the French Forces for the relief of the Town, it was concluded to raise the Siege, and so this Campaign ended without success, occasioned by the weakness of the Spaniards, and the uncertainty of the German Councils, and soon after his Highness finding that Schomberg was satisfied with relieving Mastricht, and not to be brought to a Battel, He returned back to the Hague, where in a General Assembly of the States he gave an account of the Summers Expedition, so much to their satisfaction, that he received their Congratu­lations and new returns of thanks for the many toils, hardships, and dangers, to which he had exposed his Person for the preservation of his Country; In Sep­tember following his Highness received an account that the Imperial Army had taken Philipsburg, for want of being well provided, which was as unexpect­ed as the raising the Siege of Mastricht.

The following Winter was spent in Treating the Peace at Nimegen, which the Common People of Holland were very desirous of, the War being a great hindrance to their Trade, but the French insisted upon such high Terms that his Highness opposed it to the utmost, though K. Charles II. was still very earnest to bring his dear Ally out of his Troubles; But still the French pursued the War with their usual applica­tion, for in February 1677. though it were in the depth of Winter, their Forces marched into the Spa­nish Netherlands, and having provided sufficient Ma­gazines, they in a manner blockt up Valenciennes, Cambray and St. Omers at a distance, giving out they would be Masters of two, if not of three places before the Confederates could take the Field. The French at the same time broke into Germany on the other side the Rhyne, ravaging, burning, and ruining these Coun­treys with a barbarity peculiar to the most Christian King; Soon after the City of Valenciennes was sur­rounded with an Army of 40 or 50000 men, under the D. of Luxemburg, wherein was a Garrison of 2000 Foot, and about 1000 Horse and Dragoons, and the French King being arrived in the Camp, commanded that the Besieged should be kept awake all night by flinging Bombs, Granadoes and Fire pots into the Town, and the next morning when they were tired with the nights Toil, and gone to their repose, so that few were left to guard the Works, the Assailants car­ried all before them and turned the great Guns upon the Town, which so terrified the Besieged that they presently surrendred at discretion.

Animated with this success the French King imme­diately sate down before Cambray a Town of great Trade and had been in the Spaniards hands about 80 years; It had a Garrison of 1400 Horse, and four Re­giments of Foot, and after a few days Siege this City was, like the other Spanish Towns, surrendred upon [Page 53]Articles; And at the same time St. Omers was besieg­ed by the Duke of Orleans with a very great Army; The news of this sudden progress of the French so alarm'd all the Netherlands that his Highness the Prince of Orange was resolved to take the Field, the Dutch having reseived their payments from Spain, and con­cluded to continue the War another Campaign, being brought to this resolution by the vigour and courage of his Highness, who had begun to prepare his Troops to march upon the first motion of the French; But by the usual delays and neglects of the Spaniards, though the Prince used the utmost diligence and application, yet he could not arrive soon enough to succour Valen­ciennes and Cambray; But was now resolved to ven­ture a Battel to endeavour the relief of St. Omers; At Mount Cassal both Armies met, where after a sharp encounter, wherein his Highness shewed the utmost bravery, the French themselves confessing, That the Prince that day withstood no less than thirty nine Bat­talions of Foot, and an hundred equadrons of Horse, he made such an honourable retreat as wanted little of a Victory, which was occasioned by the plain Flight of his men, whom he was forced to resist like Enemies; Of which the States General were so sensible that in answer to his Letter wherein his Highness gave them an account of what had passed, they sent him another, returning their unfeigned thanks to his Highness for his indefatigable pains and care, not sparing his own Person; Of which they besought him to be more ten­der for the future, considering the great importance thereof for the preservation of his Countrey. After this followed the Surrender of the Cittadel of Cambray which had held out till now, though the Town was taken; And likewise St. Omers, which after a vigorous resistance wherein the French lost many considerable Officers, was surrendred upon Articles.

After this the French King returned to Paris, leav­ing [Page 54]Crequi to oppose the Duke of Lorrain; and Lux­emburg to observe the motions of the Prince of Orange, who July 23. 1677, having recruited his own Army, and received several Auxiliary supplies from the Ger­man Princes, marched in the Head of them (for the Confederates had all submitted to his Conduct) from Aloft to attack the French lying under the Walls of Aeth, but finding Luxemburg so advantagiously posted between two Rivers that he could not be forced to a Battel, He marched to Charleroy, and instantly Be­leaguered that Town, which had a Garison of 4 or 5000 French under the command of Count Montal, who mistrusting the design had furnished it with all manner of Ammunition and Provision, and such a number of great Guns that he had sent away a good part of them; The D. of Luxemburg hearing his Highness was sate down before the City, drained all the Garrisons of the French Conquests, and having made up a Body of 40000 men, posted himself so strongly, having a Wood upon his right Wing, and a River before him, that there was no forcing his Trenches, neither could the Confederates fetch any Forrage from the Countrey beyond the Sambre, from whence they used to be supplied; All which his High­ness considering, drew off and marched to Sembreef, thereby to preserve his Army wherein consisted the safety of his Country; though no man was ever more daring when there was any probability of prevailing. His Highness finding the French were resolved not to come to a Battel, but to be upon the defensive, and secure what they had gotten, leaving the Army near Brussels under Count Waldeck, returned to the Hague, and had the thanks of the States returned him a second time for his wary and prudent Conduct.

In October this year, his Highness went over into England, at the invitation of King Charles, in hopes that his presence would much contribute to a general [Page 55]Peace between France and the Confederates, which the King seemed very sollicitous to have concluded, by the instigation as it was thought of the French Court, who were willing to put an end to the War for the present; The Prince Oct. 19. arrived at Harwich, and went Post to Newmarket where the Court then was, which in two or three days returned to Whitehall, where his Highness having a sight of the Princess was so pleased therewith, that he immediately made suit to the King and Duke that she might be his Bride, which they seemed well pleased with, if a Peace were first concluded; But his Highness absolutely resusing that condition, the King being very well satisfied of his Highness excellent Merits resolved to grant his re­quest, and the next day declared in Council his design of marrying the Prince of Orange with the Princess Mary; Upon which the whole Council went in a body to complement the Prince and Princess; and the news was received both in City and Countrey with Bells, Bonfires and other signs of extraordinary joy and satisfaction, and they were married accord­ingly, Nov. 4. 1677. being his Highness Birthday.

Yet amidst these Nuptial Joys and Caresses his High­ness knowing how necessary his presence was in Hol­land made haste to return; So that he departed from London Nov. 29. with his Princess, and arriving at Homslaer dyke staid there till they made their publick entry at the Hague, which they did in a few days, in as magnificent a manner, as both the Magistrates and People could express to declare their joy and satisfacti­on for these happy Nuptials.

In 1678. even in January the French King made such mighty Preparations for the ensuing Campaign, as alarm'd all Europe, but more especially the Dutch and their Allies: So that the King of England sent the Earl of Feversham with a Project of Peace to the French King, consisting of several heads, which if should resuse [Page 56]to accept of that, then King Charles and the States Ge­neral would unite their Forces to compel him to rea­son; The French rejected the King's Propositions, continuing his mighty Warlike Preparations; Upon which King Charles recalled his Forces out of the French Service, who had often occasioned his gaining many considerable Victories, and the Parliament meeting soon after the King acquainted them, That he had made an Alliance with Holland to compel the King of France to a reasonable Peace; Upon which the Commons gave Money for raising 30000 Land Souldiers, and a Fleet of 90 Men of War; Though it appeared afterward the Court never intended any War, but to have used these Forces to far worse pur­poses, even to the advancing Arbitrary Government and Popery in these Kingdoms, of which the Dutch were so sensible that much doubting the sincerity of K. Charles his Negotiations, they were at last constrained to make Peace with the French upon disadvantagious Terms to pacifie the Factions and Discontents of the People.

The French King in March, this year came before Gaunt with an Army of 80000 Men, and by inceslant Batteries and Stormings took it in nine days time; having drawn the Spanish Forces toward Mons under pretence of Besieging it; And then fell upon Ipre with such rapid violence that he soon reduced that likewise, though with such loss of Officers and Souldiers that he put his Army into Garrisons, and then return­ed to Paris; This gave such a mighty Alarm to the Hollanders, that all things drove on violently for a Peace; Which the French King being sensible of, and having now gained his point in Flanders, to prevent the English from being in earnest against him, He sends an Imperious Project of a Peace declaring he would admit of these conditions and no other, which the Dutch were obliged to accept of, since they could ob­tain no better; But before the Peace was ratified the [Page 57]French made several Pretensions and Delays in per­forming even what themselves had agreed to, as his Highness the P. of Orange foresaw and foretold they would do, insomuch that they blockt up the City of Mons a chief Frontier of Flanders; Upon which his Highness resolved to march to the relief of it, great pre­parations being made to that purpose, and understand­ing that the Confederates had joined the Holland and Spanish Forces that lay near the Canal of Brussels, he de­parted by Night from the Hague, and marching to­ward Mons with his Armv, being accompanied with the Duke of Monmouth, he fell upon the Duke of Luxem­burg with such fury that he forced him to retire, and animating his Souldiers, with his Eyes sparkling like Fire, they despised all danger by their gallant Generals example, who in the midst of Fire, and Smoak, and Bullets flying thick as Hail, adventured so far that he had been in eminent danger had not Monsieur Over­kirk opposed himself against a daring Captain that was just ready to charge the Prince with a full Career, lay­ing him dead on the place. The Horse all this while were lookers on, not being able to advance into the the narrow Passages and steep Descents, so that all the weight lay on the Foot and Dragoons; Night coming on, the Duke of Luxemburg drew off in great silence and confusion, leaving to his Highness, as certain marks of Victory, the Field of Battel, his Tents, Baggage, wounded Men, store of Powder and other Ammuni­tion; The States General appointed Commissioners to congratulate his Highness for this Victory gained, with so much reputation and glory, beseeching him withal to be careful of his Illustrious Person, consider­ing the Tranquillity of his Countrey, and the repose of the Church and Protestant Religion depended so much thereon.

The very day this memorable Battel was fought the Peace between the Dutch and French was signed at [Page 58]Nimegen, of which intelligence was brought to his Highness the next morning, who would else have pur­sued the advantages he had gained to the full relief of the Town, having already in spight of so many disad­vantages, from an Army so suddenly drawn together, and so hasty a march as that of the Dutch, taken divers Posts fortified with so much skill and industry by the French, and attacqued them with a resolution and vi­gor that at first surprized them, and after an obstinate and bloudy Fight so disordered them, that though the night prevented the end of the action, yet it was verily believed, that if the Prince had been at liberty next day to pursue it with 7 or 8000 English, which were ready to join his Army, he must in all appearance not only have relieved Mous, but made such an impression into France as had been often design'd but never at­tempted since the War began; Upon which a French Officer present said, That he esteemed this the only Heroick Action that had been done in the whole course and progress of it. The Prince having received advice of the Peace sent a Deputy with the News to the Duke of Luxemburg, who desired to see the Prince, and accordingly met him in the Field in the Head of his Chief Officers, where all Civilities passed between them proper for the oc­casion; and the French with great cariosity crowded about this young Prince, who had the day before in­gaged in such a desperate Action as that of St. Dennis was esteemed to be; So that his Highness could not have ended the War with greater Glory, nor with greater spight to see such a great occasion wrested out of his hand by the sudden and unexpected signing of the Peace, which he had assured himself the States General would not have consented to without the Spaniards; Yet upon the certain News of it, he drew back his Army, returned to the Hague, and left the States to pursue their own measures in order to finish the Treaty betwixt France and Spain.

During which the King of England sent over a Per­fon of Honour to the States General, to acquaint them how much he was surprized at the news of their sign­ing a particular Treaty with France, even without the inclusion of Spain, declaring that if they would refuse to ratifie what their Ministers had signed at Nimegen, His Majesty would immediately declare War against France, and carry it on with all vigour pursuant to the Treaty lately entred into with them. All men were much amazed at this sudden Turn of the Court of England, and the Prince complained, ‘That nothing was ever more hot and cold, nor any Councils ever more unsteady than those of England, since if this Dispatch had come twenty days before, it might have changed the face of Affairs in Christendom, and have obliged the French to such Terms of Peace as should have left the World in quiet for many years to come, but would now have no effect at all;’ Which happened accordingly, for at last it appeared to pro­ceed only from the discovery of the Popish Plot, which extreamly alarm'd the People and Parliament who were much disturbed at the Treacherous Designs of our Court, in promoting the Popish and French Interest, and thereby forcing the Dutch to comply with that King almost upon his own Terms, and there­fore to divert the humour, King Charles pretended to be in earnest for engaging in a War against France; which for some time hinder'd the Ratification of the Treaty, and English Forces were daily transported in­to Flanders, as if the War were really to have been carried on, which encouraged those that were against the Peace in Holland, and occasioned the Spaniards to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the con­cluding it.

But the French King being unwilling to lose the great Advantages he had obtained by this Treaty, resolved to remove all difficulties, and satisfie the States in their [Page 60]demands: Yea he dispatched Ambassadors to the Hague with full Authority to remit all the differences about the Treaty with Spain and himself to their Determi­nation, which raised in the States such a good Opi­nion of the sincerity of that Kings proceedings, that they quickly adjusted all matters in contest between the two Crowns, so that the Treaty was signed Sep­tember 20. 1678. The other Confederates as the Em­peror the King of Denmark, the Duke of Branden­burg, &c. were very much inraged that they were left to treat singly with their potent Enemy, who demand­ed very severe Conditions from them, so that the Rati­fication of the Treaty with Spain being hereby delay­ed, the French King to quicken it, sent Marshal de Humieres with a great Army into Fianders, plundering and burning all before them, and putting these Coun­tries under Contribution with so much fury and inso­lence, that the common people complained heavily of the Calamities and Miseries which they undeservedly suffered by the flowness of the Spanish Conncils; so that at length both the Spaniard and Emperor were obliged to comply with the offers of France, who else threat­ned in a few days to make the Terms much higher. The other Princes, though they very much resented this sudden Conclusion of a Peace at such disadvantage, yet knowing their own inability, were forced to be con­tented to make a separate Peace for themselves. The King of England observing that he could not hinder it, sent his Plenipotentiaries again to Nimegen to sign the General Treaty; but in the interval some new pre­tences arising between the Spaniards and French, the States General were very diligent to compose them, the Transactions being seldom managed by them but in the presence of His Highness the Prince of Orange, whose prudence was still consulted in matters of gre a­test difficulty; he himself discovering an extraordinary Generosity, that while others preferr'd Points of Ho­nour [Page 61]before the publick Peace, His Highness quitted his own Interest in post-poning his demands for Repara­tion of the devastations in his own Estates and Terri­tories, so as not to impede the Tranquillity of his Coun­trey, many of his Lands being ruined and destroyed in the Spanish Netherlands and other adjacent parts; Of which and several other injustices in seizing upon His large possessions in other places, though the Pro­vinces of Guelderland, Zealand, and Utrecht, made loud complaints against the French in his Highness behalf, yet could the Prince obtain no satisfaction; But the States and their Subjects being quite tired out out with the War, the General Peace was signed in January 1678. And the English Mediators were called home by that King, who was fully imployed at home about the matter of the Popish Plot, which both Houses of Parliament and the generality of the Nation believed to be real, though the King and some of the Court credited no more of it than what themselves were concerned in, and the Prince of Orange at that time told a publick Minister, That He had reason to be confident that the King was a Roman Catholick though he durst not profess it.

Thus Europe for the present was left in a General Peace, though the French King soon after made such shameful pretences to the Dependancies upon his late Conquests both in Flandets and Germany, that he gained more after the Peace, than by his Arms in the War, no Prince nor State being either willing or able to op­pose him therein; These disputes began in 1681 and continued some years, at which time that King likewise began to raise a violent Persecution against his own Protestant Subjects, proceeding from the Perfidi­ousness and ingratitude peculiar to Lewis the XIV. For it is well known that for the signal Services which they performed to Henry IV. His Grand-Father in asserting the Rights of the Crown against the Papists [Page 62]who were then in rebellion against him, that great Prince in acknowledgment thereof confirmed to them an Edict for the free exercise of their Religion, which was called the Edict of Nants, whereby they were to enjoy all Liberties and Priviledges, both in Religious and Civil matters, and to be as capable of all Offices and Imployments as his other Subjects. This he de­clared should be inviolable, and it was accordingly confirmed both by his Son Lewis XIII. and likewise by the present King upon a very remarkable occasion; For he being very Young when he ascended the Throne, the Prince of Conde soon after raised a Ci­vil War in the Kingdom against him, but the Prote­stants by their unshaken Loyalty to him, defeated the designs of his enemies, and setled that Crown upon His Head which he wears this day, of which e­minent Service he seemed to be so sensible that in 1652. he made a publick Declaration of it at St. Germans, and every one endeavoured to exceed in proclaiming the merits of the Protestants, the Queen Mother her self acknowledging that they had preserved the State; But since by the Maxims of the Roman Religion, No Faith is to be kept with Here­ticks; the Jesuits and Ministers of State endeavoured to instil into the Kings mind this Treacherous Notion, That since the Protestants were so potent to advance the King, they might likewise upon another occasi­on remove him again, from this infernal reasoning, without their having given the least umbrage or suspi­tion of disloyalty, it was resolved they must be sup­prest and ruined.

Therefore so soon as the Kingdom was setled in Peace the Protestant Towns of Rochel, Montau­ban, &c. Which had shewed the greatest Zeal for the Kings service, were plundred by the Souldiers and otherwise impoverisht; Then their Churches and Exercises of Religion were prohibited them, under [Page 63]false pretences that they exceeded the Grants allowed them; Yea in matters of Law, Religion was urg'd by the Advocates at the instigation of the Priests, so that they cryed out, ‘I plead against a He­retick, an enemy to the State and to the Kings Reli­gion, whom he would have to be destroyed.’ So that the Judge durst not do them justice for fear of being counted a Favourer of Hereticks, and upon com­plaint they were told, ‘You have your remedy in your own hands, why do not you turn Catholicks.’ This was succeeded by Processes throughout the King­dom, to inquire what the Protestants had said or done for twenty years past about Religion or other matters, and there being no want of perjured Villains to swear what was absolutely false, the Judges, though sensible of it, incouraging them therein, the Prisons were soon filled, and many innocent and virtuous Persons were whipt and sent to the Gallies for Slaves. Next they were deprived of all publick Offices and imployments, contrary to an express Article in the Edict of Nants, yea were forbid to exercise several Arts and Trades for maintaining their Families.

This was in 1669. and in 1680. all Lords and Gentlemen were commanded to discharge their Pro­testant Officers and Servants, Nay they would not suffer Protestant Midwives to do their Office, but expresly ordained, That no Woman should receive any assistance in that condition but from Popish Mid­wives; And to consummate their miseries, they were forbid under severe penalties to go out of France to get their bread in other Countreys, whereby they were under the horrible necessity of perishing for hunger in their own; They laid severe Taxes upon them raising the sum from fourty or fifty Livers to seven or eight hundred, and Quartered Dragoons upon them till it was paid; Then an Edict was pub­lished that Children of seven years old should abjure [Page 64]their Religion, forcing their Parents to give them al­lowances beyond their abilities, taking them away, and suffering them to see them no more; even Persons of the best Quality were thus used; Protestant Schoolmasters were prohibited, and three Universi­ties supprest, though absolutely granted by the Edict of Nants; Papists were forbid to marry Protestants or Ministers to hinder People directly or indirectly from turning Papists. These and a multitude of other cruel and barbarous oppressions they greaned under, when the Elector of Brandenburg being pleased to interceed on their behalf the King assured him, ‘He was very well satisfied with the behaviour of his Protestant Subjects and that so long as he lived no wrong should be done them;’ And yet at the same instant, with his usual sincerity, he gave order for demolishing several of their Churches, and shutting up others, imprisoning their Ministers, and using divers manifest injustices against those he pretended to protect.

At this time some of the Persecuted People sent their Children to Orange as being a Soveraign Princi­pality to finish the course of their Studies in security. But this so displeased the King that He sent a Body of two thousand men under his Lieutenant General in Languedock, who positively commanded the Prince of Oranges Magistrates to send away all the Children home again, and not to receive any more for the fu­ture into their University or Schools, which though it appeared very unreasonable, yet the magistrates to prevent further mischief complyed therewith, and thought they had thereby given full satisfaction to his demands, but were strangely surprized to hear that during the Capitulation the Lieutenant General still approached with his forces nearer the City, and that he had absolute Orders to demolish their Walls; In short he advanced, and Quartered eight Companies [Page 65]of Dragoons in the Citizens Houses where they com­mitted many disorders, constraining as well the Inhabi­tants as the other Subjects of His Highness in the Vil­lages round about to assist at the ruine of their own Walls and Towers, which were blown up; At which the People laboured the more earnestly to be the sooner rid of those Arbitrary Guests, who were said to have already vitiated several Virgins. The Prince having news hereof, represented their Case to the States General, as a breach of the last Peace, desiring them to signifie their just resentment of these unrea­sonable proceedings of the French King, and to de­mand reparations for such horrid violations instantly upon concluding a General Peace, and without the least provocation given.

The States accordingly by their Ambassador repre­sented it as an Infraction of the Peace of Nimegen, and required satisfaction for the damages which the Prince and his Subjects had so Illegally and contrary to the Faith of Treaties and Leagues sustained. But could have only this answer from the French Court, That as to the money extorted from the Inhabitants it was done without the Kings Order, and he had com­manded restitution to be made; That upon the sub­mission of the People to his will and pleasure he had withdrawn his Forces out of the Principality and re­stored free commerce to the Inhabitants according to their desires; And for the rest he had reason for what he had done.

After the Peace was concluded his Highness applyed himself to reform the Government of Utrecht, and other Towns, and likewise to concert matters with the States General for the future security of his Coun­trey against the Treacheries and false pretentions of France; The Prince being usually present in the Prin­cipal Debates of the Assembly both as to Peace and War, who always appeared no less prudent and vigi­lant [Page 66]to prevent disorders at home than to repel For­reign Hostility: In July 1681. His Highness came over into England, and arriving at Whitehall Dined at Sir Stephen Foxes, and then went to Windsor where the Court then was, and having continued here about Ten Days returned back to Holland,

In the Interval of Affairs his Highness retired to Dieren or Soestdyke to divert himself, and at other times made progresses to take a review of the Frontier Towns belonging to the State, who in 1682. had or­dered the Towns of Breda, Grave, and Naerden to be strongly fortified, and it was proposed in the As­sembly of the States to raise 16000 men, and in­corporate them with the Old Regiments and to add a New Squadron of twenty four Men of War, both to prevent any sudden Insults of the French upon their Territories, and to assist the Spaniards if they should commit any Acts of Hostility which was much to be suspected, considering the shameful pretensions that King set up of Dependancies in the Spanish Nether­lands.

In 1682. the Marquess of Grana was made Gover­nour of Flanders of which he gave notice to the States General and the Prince, and soon after His Highness had an Interview with the Marquess between Breda and Antwerp, where they entred into Confer­ences about their future managements of Affairs; His Highness likwise visiting the Fortified Places in Flanders belonging to the States, being accompanied with the Princess, who was received with all kind of Respect and Splendor by the Cities of Brussels, Ant­werp, &c. About this time the Count de Avaux the French Ambassador arriving at the Hague put in a Memorial to the Assembly of the manner how he ex­pected to receive Audience; But the States replyed, That the things which he desired were wholly new and never practised before, and therefore they can in [Page 67]no wise comply with them; Whereupon his Audi­ence was put off till he was willing to receive it upon the former Terms. In November this year the Envoy of Moscovy came to wait upon the Prince then at Soest­dyke to give an account that the great Czar was dead, and that the two Princes now reigning were advanced to the Throne.

In the end of 1683. The K. of Spain being no long­er able to suffer the continual Invasions of the French upon his Cities and Towns in Flanders, and his cruel Treatment of his Subjects for not paying unjust and unreasonable Contributions, he proclaimed War against him both by Sea and Land, and ordered all the Effects of the French Merchants in his Dominions to be seized; And sent to the States General to assist him in this just defensive War, who thereupon concluded to raise a considerable Force, both for his aid and their own se­curity, and accordingly his Highness gave out several Commissions, and sent 8000 men toward Flanders. In the mean time the French King according to his usual method, having ordered great Detachments to be sent from all the Conquered Places toward Valenciennes, in April 1684. he himself accompanied with the Dau­phin and Dauphiness came from Paris thither. The P. was very desirous to have perfected the new Levies and to have marcht at the Head of them to oppose him, but the obstinacy of Amsterdam and some other Towns which refused to allow their Quota for main­taining them, prevented his Highness worthy de­signs; The French King having mustred his Army be­tween Conde and Valenciennes, he immediately in­rested the City of Luxemburg, and though the Go­vernor made a very notable defence, and the French lost a considerable number of Men, yet the greatness of their Army, which was posted so as to prevent any relief, at length obliged the Town to Capitulate, and June 7. following it was surrendred upon Articles, [Page 68]and soon after a Trace being made with Spain they were forced to suffer the loss of this City with the same temper as they had done many before.

And as the French King continued thus Tyrannically to injure his Neighbours so he Treacherously proceeded to exercise horrid cruelties upon his own Protestant Subjects, for though he had resolved upon their de­struction, yet at the same time he declared, That he had not the least intention to infringe the Edict of Nants, and accordingly in 1684. he absolutely concluded to cancel and make void that Edict, and to banish all the Ministers out of the Kingdom, and several young Priests were sent about the Country to inflame the Mobile against the Protestants; and it was declared in Print, ‘That the Catholick Faith must be planted by Fire and Sword, alledging the example of a King of Norway who converted the Nobles of his Countrey by threatning them to slay their Children before their Eyes, if they would not consent to have them Bap­tized, and to be Baptized themselves.’ The Pro­testants were very sensible of the mischiefs design'd against them, and exposed their grievances to the K. with all humility and submission, which produced no other effect upon his Tyrannical Temper than to hast­en their destruction by open force and violence, in so terrible a manner as is scarce to be parallell'd, At first they quartered Troops of bloudy and desperate Dra­goons upon them, who loudly bellowed, ‘That the K. would no longer suffer any Protestants in his King­dom, and that they must resolve to change their Re­ligion or else to suffer the utmost cruelty that could be inflicted upon them,’ To which these innocent Souls, replied, ‘That they were ready to Sacrifice their Lives and Estates for the Kings Service, but their Con­sciences being Gods, they could not in the same man­ner dispose of them;’ This answer did but inrage their hellish Adversaries, so that they first seized their goods, [Page 69]and then fell on their Persons inflicting all the Barba­rities imaginable to induce them to renounce their Re­ligion; They hung up Men and Women by the Hair of the Head, or by the Feet within their Chimneys smoaking them with wisps of wet Straw; They threw them into great fires & pluckt them thence half roasted; They tied them on the Rack, & poured wine down their Throats till the fame had deprived them of their reason; and then made them say they would be Catholicks; They stript them stark naked & larded them all over with Pins from head to foot; They kept them from sleeping 7 or 8 days and nights together; They tied Parents to Bed posts and ravished their Daughters before their eyes; They pluckt off the Nails from the Hands and Toes of others with most intolerable pain, and after these and a thousand other horrid indignities, if they refused to abjure their Religion, they threw them into close dark & stinking Dungeons exercising upon them all manner of inhumanity; And yet after all these barbarous usages they compelled those wretched People who had not courage and constancy enough to persist in the Faith, and therefore turned Catholicks, or new Converts, as they called them, to acknowledge, ‘That they had im­braced the Roman Religion of their own accord;’ And had the impudence to declare even against the evidence of Millions of Witnesses; ‘That force and violence had no share in the Conversions, but that they were soft, calm and voluntary, and that if there were any Dragoons concerned therein, it was because the Protestants themselves, desired them that they might have a handsome pretence to change their Religion.’ In the mean time their Houses were demolished, their Lands destroyed, their Woods cut down, and their Wives and Children seized, and put into Monasteries; and an Edict was published for pluck­ing down all the Protestant Churches in the Kingdom; and all for promoting the Catholick Peligion; Yea the mischief did not terminate here, for the French [Page 70]King being too potent to be resisted by the Duke of Savoy, He compell'd that Prince to publish an Edict for prohibiting the poor Waldenses and Vaudois to exer­cise their Religion upon pain of death, and being assisted with a great number of French Troops under Monsieur Catinat, the Souldiers committed the like Violences and Barbarities against them as they had done in France.

His Highness the Prince of Orange highly dis­approved of these Proceedings, and was a silent Mourner for the miseries of the Protestant Church, which now seemed to be threatned more than ever, for King Charles II. dying in February 1685. the D. of York succeeded him, who instantly declared him­self a Roman Catholick. And June 10 following the Duke of Monmouth landed with 150 Men at Lime in Dorsetshire, declaring, ‘That he had taken Arms for the defence and vindication of the Protestant Re­ligion, and of the Laws, Rights, and Priviledges of England, from the Invasion made upon them, and for delivering the Kingdom from the Tyranny of James Duke of York;’ About the same time the Earl of Argile setting sail from the Vlye in Holland landed in the West of Scotland, publishing a Declaration to the same purpose, but either by weakness or treachery they were both soon defeated, and both beheaded, and a multitude of their followers executed; For which great success King James published a Proclamation for a Thanksgiving, and among other expressions says; ‘That nothing now remained which could possibly disturb the future quiet of his Reign;’ In confidence where­of he with the advice of his Popish Counsellors and their Adherents, proceeded to commit several open violations upon the Laws of the Land and the Proper­ties of his Subjects.

Some time before, his Highness returning from Hounsleyrdike to the Hague, gave audience to several Forreign Ministers, and parted thence to visit the Gar­risons [Page 71]of Maestricht, Boisleduck and other Places, and in his return was met by the Princess at Loo, having in his progress given all necessary Orders for the well governing and strengthning of those Places. In Decem­ber 1687. the Marquess de Albeville Envoy Extraor­dinary from the King of England had Audience of his Highness and the States of Holland, and about the same time the States considering the danger that might arise from the great number of Forreign Popish Priests (not­withstanding the intercession of the Envoy of the Empe­ror of Germany on their behalf) they made a Decree commanding them to retire out of the Netherlands, and never to return again, promising a reward of 100 Ducatoons to any that should make discovery, and laying a penalty of 600 Florins upon those that should harbour or conceal any of them, for the first offence, 1200 for the second, and corporeal punishment for the third, whereupon many of them went over into Eng­land, where their hopes and expectations of having their Religion setled daily increased.

The King of England being unwilling to afford any assistance to the Heretical States against his dear Ally the French King, published a Proclamation in March 1687. commanding the return of all Subjects then in the Service of the States General either by Sea or Land, with no other Allegation but that the King thought it fit for his service. The States raised some dispute with the Marquess de Albeville about this matter, refusing to let them return into England, insomuch that the Marquess soon after delivered in a Memorial to the States by express Orders from the King, signifying, ‘That his Master was much surprized to find that their Lordships persisted in their Resolution, in refu­sing leave to his Subjects to return into England, and that whereas their Lordships alledged that there was nothing so agreeable to nature, as that he who was born free should have the right and liberty to settle [Page 72]himself wherever he should think it most advanta­geous to him, and that it was in his power to be Na­turalized and become a Subject to them under whose Soveraignty he submits his Person, and that the Government receiving him, thereby acquire over him the same Right it has over its own proper and natural Subjects.’ The Marquess replied, ‘That this pretended Natural Liberty could not subsist af­ter Obedience and Dominion had been introduced, so that the Rights of Soveraignty and Obedience were now only to be considered, and that in virtue of those Rights it had been the common opinion in all times, that no natural subject could withdraw himself from the Obedience he owed to his Lawful Prince, from whence it was that the Kings of Great Britain had in all times prohibited their Subjects to ingage in any Forreign service, and had recalled them from it, when, and as often as they thought fit.’ The Marquess further instanced a Capitulation made between the Earl of Ossory and his Highness the Prince of Orange, ‘That in case the King of Great Britain should recal his Subjects in the Service of the States, they should be permitted to retire, by Vir­tue of which Capitulation, and his Reasons alledged, the Marquess demanded their dismission, from which the King would never depart, neither was he willing to doubt of their Lordships compliance with it.’ But it seems few or none were willing, for very few return­ed, judging it may be, that they might do more ser­vice where they were for the interest of their Coun­trey than in fighting at home against their own Coun­treymen and Fellow Protestants, and as their unwil­lingness justified the resolution of the States General so it rendred the endeavours of the Marquess ineflectu­al; For the States having disbanded them, the great­est part listed themselves again under their Command as well Officers as Souldiers, though the King had or­dered [Page 73]the Masters and Captains of Ships and Vessels, to give such as would return free passage with promise of advancement when they came to England.

In May 1688. The Prince Elector of Saxony was splendidly entertained by his Highness the Prince of Orange at Homslaer Dyke, 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, which arrived from Schon­velt under the command of Vice Admiral Allemond, who upon their approach sent two light Frigats and a Shallop to meet them, and they were saluted with the Cannon of all the Ships, when having dined aboard the Vice-Admiral they returned to Scheveling, and from thence his Electoral Highness went to visit Delft, Rot­terdam, Dort, Maestricht, Leige, Aix and Cologne, and so returned home by the way of Franckfort; A­bout which time the Envoy of Brandenburg acquainted the Prince of Orange and the States with the Death of the Elector his Master, a Prince extream firm to the Protestant Interest, and whose Death was much regret­ted by the Protestant Princes and States; The Prince and States sending a Gentleman with Complements of Condoleance to his Son and Successor.

The King of England having obtained the opinion of his Judges for the Dispensing Power soon made use of it; For first he employ'd Popish Officers, and put them into chief Command, the Earl of Clarendon be­ing recalled from the Government of Ireland, and the Earl of Tyrconnel a Papist sent to succeed him, to the great terror of the Protestants of that Kingdom. The Earl of Castlemain was sent Ambassador to Rome; An Army was raised and Mustred at Hunslow Heath; The Lord Bishop of London was convented before a New and Illegal Court of Judicature for Ecclesiastical Affairs, and suspended from his Office for refusing to suspend the Reverend Dr. Sharp, under pretence [Page 74]that he had uttered seditious words in his Sermons; Then a Declaration is published for Liberty of Con­science, and suspending all the Penal Laws in matters of Religion, and acquitting all Persons from taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, both in England, Scotland and Ireland, The Popes Nuncio arrived in England being received with much respect by the King, and Dined with the King and the Lord Maver at Guild­hall, Popish Chappels were erected in several places in London, and other Cities and Towns in England; The Charters of several Corporations that were yet unseized were now taken away; These and divers other Illegal proceedings put the Nation into a ferment, and they were inraged at the Authors of them; Nay, they do not stop here, for after this the King again re­newed his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience, with a peremptory Order, to command all the Clergy to read it in their several Churches and Chappels through­out the Kingdom, and that the Bishops should distri­bute them through their several Diocesses; But the ri­gorous proceedings against the Lord Bishop of London the last year, and against the Vice-Chancellor of Cam­bridge and the Follows of Magdalen Colledge in Ox­ford this year were such evident breaches of his Indul­gence to Tender Consciences that it gave still greater dissatisfaction to the Nation, and portended some sud­den alteration; The Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge being deprived of his Office, and suspended of his Headship, or refusing to admit one Alban Francis a Benedictine Monk to be Master of Arts without taking the Oaths, by virtue of the Dispensing power, though contrary to the Statutes which he was sworn to maintain; And the fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford being 26 in number for refusing to admit one Farmer a scan­dalous Popish Priest to the Presidentship of that Colledge, and Electing Dr. Hough, were pronourced guilty of dis­obedience to his Majesties Commands and deprived and [Page 75]expelled from their respective Fellowships; And the Bishops judging that their distributing the Declaration would be an owning and asserting the Kings assumed Dispensing Power, and foreseeing the pernicious con­sequences thereof, the Archbishop of Canterbury and six others drew up a Petition in behalf of themselves and their Brethren setting forth the Reasons why they could not comply therewith; This was so ill re­sented by the King and his Popish Councellors that the Petition was judged Tumultuary, and all the seven Bishops were committed Prisoners to the Tower; And now the Jesnits acted their Master piece of Policy, as they imagined, though it proved very fural to them; For knowing that the King grew old, and that on his life the hopes of Restoring their Religion depended, since the Heir Apparent was a Protestant who would soon ruin all their Machinations. They resolved if possi­ble to advance a Popish Successor, and thereby ensure Popery and Slavery to the Nation; Hereupon they raised a report sometime before that the Queen was with Child though the People did not believe it, and several Lampoons were made upon that Subject; And the Bishops being now secured, this was thought the proper time for the Queen to fall in Labour, and ac­cordingly June 10. 1683. It was published that she was Delivered of a Frince, for which the King ordered all signs of rejoicing to be made, and a day of Thanksgiv­ing was appointed; as being a thing of mighty conse­quence for advancing the Catholick Cause; though the joy was somewhat abated by the Acquittal of the seven Bishops five days after, who being Tried at the Kings Bench Bar were brought in Not Guilty, at which the People, yea the Kings own Army at Hounslow Heath, shouted for joy, to the severe mortification of the Court.

The King having declared that he intended to call a Parliament to turn his Declaration of Liberty of Con­science [Page 76]into a Law, and likewise to abrogate all the Penal Laws and Tests both against the Dissenters and the Roman Catholicks, the Jesuits had a great desire to sound the intentions and thoughts of their High­nesses the Prince and Princess of Orange, upon that Subject; To which purpose Mr. James Steward un­dertook to write a Letter to Pensionary Fagell not without the knowledge and approbation of the King, which occasioned Minheer Fagels answer, to this ef­fect.

‘That Their Highnesses had 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 dissers 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 to their Religion with as much Liberty as is allowed the by the States of the United Provinces; And as for the Protestant Dissenters Their Highnesses did not only consent, but heartily approve of their having an Intire Liberty, for the full exercise of their Religion without any trouble or hindrance. That Their Highnesses, were ready in case His Majesty of England should desire it, to de­clare their willingness to concur in the setling and confirming this Liberty as far as it lay in them, and were ready if desired to concur in Repealing the Laws, provided always that those Laws remain still in their full force and vigor whereby the Roman Catholicks are excluded out of both Houses of Par­liament, and out of all publick Imployments 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 [Page 77]not agree to the Repealing of the Tests, or those Penal Laws that tend to the security of the Prote­stant Religion, since the Roman Catholicks receive no other prejudice from these than the being exclud­ed from Parliaments or from Publick Imployments, 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 the Roman Catholicks. That Their Highnesses have thought and do still think that more than this ought not be asked nor expected from them, since by this means the Roman Catholicks, and their Posterity would be for ever secured from all Troubles in their Persons and 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 imployment; or because those Laws wherein the security of the Protestant Religion chiefly consists are not repealed, by which they may be in a conditi­on to overturn it; That their Highnesses also be­lieved, that the 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 pretence whatsoever.’

This was the substance of the Letter written by that Great Minister of State as discovering the just senti­ments of Their Highnesses, which did no ways please [Page 78]the Papists who had high expectations of carrying all before them, and therefore Mr. Steward in his se­cond Letter to the Pensioner a while after says, ‘That the Court was quite beyond it, and had taken other measures;’ And what they were soon after appeared, namely to defeat their Royal Highnesses of their just Interest and Right to the Succession of the Crown, by pretending that the Queen was delivered of a Prince of Wales.

But the Nobility and Gentry of England beholding the deplorable State of the Nation, and foreseeing the subversion of their Ancient Laws, and Established Re­ligion to be designed by him who had largely promised the Protection of both; And at the same time seeing Popery and Arbitrary Power hovering over their Heads, and ready to seize on their Liberties and Pro­perties, and that both were designed to be perpetuat­ed and en [...]ailed upon them and their Posterity by a succession of Popish Princes, Mrs. Cellier having declar­ed in Print before the pretended Birth, That it would be a Prince, and that the Queen would likewise bring forth a Duke of York and a Duke of Glocester; After several consultations whither to fly for succour, at length they resolved to apply themselves to His Highness the Prince of Orange, to whose Illustrious Family it had been an Inherent Glory for some Ages to relieve the Distressed, and support the Protestant Cause; His Highness they saw inherited all the surpas­sing Qualities of his Ancestors, Their matchless Pru­dence, Justice, Courage, their Truth, and Magnani­mity, and besides all these excellent Endowments they were well assured of the fair Title he had to the Crown it self: To him therefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal with a great number of the Chiefest Gentry of the Kingdom make their application, and in an humble Memorial represent their Grievances to their Highnesses, to this effect.

‘That their Highnesses cannot be ignorant, that the Protestants of England, who continue True to the Government and Religion, have been many ways troubled and vexed by many Devices and Machina­tions of the Papists, carried on under pretence of Royal Authority, and things required of them unan­swerable before God and Man; Several Ecclesiasti­cal Benefices of Churches taken from them, without any other Reason given than the Kings Pleasure; themselves Summoned and Sentenced by Commissio­ners appointed contrary to express Law, deprived of their free choice of Magistrates, divers Corpora­tions dissolved; The Legal Security of their Religion and Liberty established by King and Parliament abo­lished and taken away by a pretended Dispensing Power; New and unheard of Maxims broached, That Subjects have no Right, but what is founded and derived from the Kings Will and Pleasure; the Militia put into the Hands of Persons unqualified by Law, and a Popish Mercenary Army maintained in the Kingdom in times of Peace, directly contrary to Law; executing of ancient Laws against several Crimes and Misdemeanors obstructed and prohibited, and the Statutes against corresponding with the Court of Rome, against Papal Jurisdictions, and Popish Priests suspended in the Courts of Justice; those Judges displaced, who acquit any whom the Court would have condemned, as happened to the Judges Holloway and Powel for acquitting the seven Bishops; the free choice of Members of Parliament wholly ta­ken away, notwithstanding all the Care and Provi­sion made by the Law in that behalf, by the Quo Warranto's against Charters, and proposing ensnaring Questions; all things levell'd at the Propagation of Popery, for which the Courts of England and France have now for a long time so strenously bestirr'd themselves; Endeavours and Practices used to per­swade [Page 80]their Highnesses to Consent to the abolishing the Penal Laws and Tests, (though herein disappoin­ted.) The Queens being with Child first Proclaim­ed, and Divulged by Popish Priests, and in the Se­quel thereof, a Child produced without any clear Proof or Evidence of sufficient and unsuspected Wit­nesses, besides that it cannot be believed that the said Child was ever born of the Queen, by Reason of her known Sickness and Indisposition, and many other Arguments, as not being confirmed by any certain foregoing Signs of Conception, the place of her lying in being often changed, and her pretended Deli­very Celebrated in the absence of the Princess of Denmark, and while the English Ladies were at Church, in a Bedstead which was provided with a Convenient Passage in the side of it, by which means the Child was conveyed to the Queen by the Ladies L' Abadie and Teurarier; that these be matters left to the Discretion of a Free Parliament, and that in the Name of your Highnesses and the whole Nation the Queen may be desired to prove the real Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales by a competent num­ber of credible Witnesses of both Sexes, or in Case of a failure herein, that the reports of any such Birth may be supprest for the time to come. That they humbly crave the Protection of their Highnesses in this matter as well as with respect to the Abolition and Suspension of the Laws made to maintain the Protestant Religion, their Civil Rights, Fundamental Liberties, and Free Government, and that their Highnesses would be pleased to insist that (besides the business of the Child) the Government of Eng­land according to Law may be restored; the Laws against Papal Jurisdiction, Priests, &c. be put in Ex­ecution, the Suspending and Dispensing Power be declared Null and Void, and the Priviledges of the City of London, Free Choice of Magistrates, and [Page 81]all the other Liberties, as well of that as other Cor­porations be restored and maintained.’

Their Highnesses with no less Willingness than Ge­nerosity, and out of their Zeal for the Protestant Re­ligion, and Compassion of the Oppressed, listned to their Complaints. And his Highness well weighing the justness of their Requests, and the Reality of their Grievances, instantly began to take Measures in Order to their Deliverance. And soon after his Highness went to meet the Elector of Brandenburgh and some other Princes and Noblemen of Germany at Minden, which so alarmed the French King, that Monsieur D' Avaux his Ambassadour presented a Memorial to the States General intimating, that the King his Master be­ing informed of the Motions and Conferences, that were made and held towards the Frontiers of Cologne against the Cardinal of Furstemburgh and the Chap­ter, He was resolved to maintain the Cardinal and their Priviledges, against all those who should go a­bout to trouble them; but herein, the Politicks of King Lewis fail'd him, his Highness the Prince of O­range managing his Affairs with such an exact Secrecy, that neither that King nor his Sagacious Council could penetrate into the Design, till it was upon the Point of Execution, and out of danger of being Defeated. For upon his Highness return from that Conference to Loe, Orders were given for drawing the Forces the States had raised for his Highness Assistance, and in­camping them upon the Mocker Hyde, and the Forces of those other Princes, whom his Highness had inga­ged to aid him in this Glorious Expedition, had Or­ders to be upon their March, as those of Brandenburgh, Hesse-Cassel, &c. And the States General assembled at the Hague, where his Highness was present, and their Debates and Consultations having been kept very Private for some days, at length they published the following Manifesto.

‘That the States had resolved with their Ships and Men to assist the Prince of Orange, who being invi­ted by the Reiterated Importunities of the Nobility, and Gentry of England, to oppose that Arbitrary Go­vernment, which His Britannick Majesty is designing to introduce into that Kingdom, has fully determined to go over to that Countrey, as well for that Reason, as to save the English Religion, which his Majesty has also resolved to destroy; Both which enterprises be­ing so contrary to the Laws of God and Man, and par­ticularly of those of the Kingdom of which they threaten the utter Subversion; the Prince of Orange, instigated by the Motives of his own innate Piety, which will not permit him to suffer the ruine of Reli­gion, nor the overturning of so fair a Kingdom, has resolved to call a Free Parliament, &c. For which Reasons, and because the Design of the King of Eng­land is manifestly apparent by the stri [...]t Alliance which he has Contracted with the most Christian King, who bears no good will to the United Provin­ces, and whose Proceedings are justly therefore by them to be suspected; so that if His Brit [...]niek Ma­jesty should be suffered to become Absolute in his Dominions, the United Provinces could no longer be in Security, and therefore it being their Interest that the Fundamental Laws of that Kingdom, and the English Religion should be preserved, they hoped that God would bless the Prince of Orange with Hap­py Success.’

King James though at first, he would not believe that the Vast Preparations in Holland concerned him, though the French King had given him notice of them some time before, was now fully convinced thereof by this M [...]nifesto, and all of a sudden the Bells [...] to ring [...] at White-Hall, and the first N [...] we heard, of th [...] disturbance was a Proclamati [...]n [...] 28, 1688, by which it was intimated, ‘That the King [Page 83]had received undoubted Intelligence, that a great and sudden Invasion from Holland was to be speedily made in an Hostile manner upon this Kingdom, under the false pretences of Liberty, Prop my and Religi­on, but that an absolute Conquest of his Kingdoms, and the subduing him and his Dominions to a Foreign Power, &c. However relying upon the Ancient Courage, Faith and Allegiance of his People, as he had formerly ventured his Life, for she Honour and Safety of the Nation, so he was now resolved to Live and Dye in Defence thereof against all Enemies whatsoever, &c.’ After this, the King published a Proclamation of General Pardon, with some few Ex­ceptions; Restored the injured Gentlemen of Oxford and Cambridge to their Rights; Dissolved the Eccle­siastical Commissions, Vacated the Quo Warranto a­gainst the City of London, and issued forth a Procla­mation for restoring all Corporations to their Ancient Charters, Liberties, Rights and Franchises; In short, He undid almost in one day all that he had been doing since his first coming to the Crown.

Yet such was the Folly of the Romish Party in the midst of this Consternation, that the show of the Prince of Wales, still went on, and Oct. 15 the [...]hild was Christned, the Pope represented by his Nuncio being God-father, and the Queen [...] on [...]ger God-mo­ther, and two days after the King to secure his Terri­tories, commanded his Lord and Deputy-Leiutenants, and all other Officers concerned, to cause the Coasts to be strictly Guarded, and that upon the first ap­proach of the Enemy, all the Ox [...]n, Horses and Cat­tel, which might be fit for Draught should be driven twenty Miles from the Place where the Enemy should attempt to Land.

Oct. 22. The King commanded a particular Ass [...]m­bly of his Privy Council, and sent for all such Peers, Spiritual and Temporal, as were in Town, together [Page 84]with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Lon­don, the Judges and several of his Council Learned in the Law, telling them, ‘That he had called them to­gether upon a very extraordinary Occasion, but that extraordinary Diseases must have extraordinary Re­medies, that the Malicious Endeavours of his Adver­saries had so poysoned the Minds of some of his Sub­jects, that very many of them did not believe that the Child wherewith God had blest him was his, but a supposed Child; However he could say that by a particular Providence scarce ever any Prince was born, where there were so many Persons present; that he had taken time to have the matter heard and examined, expecting that the Prince of Orange with the first Easterly Wind would Invade the Kingdom, and therefore as he had often ventured his Life for the Nation, before he came to the Crown, so he thought himself more obliged to do the same being King, and did intend to go against him in Person, by which in regard he might be exposed to various Accidents, he therefore thought it necessary to have this done first, to satisfie his Subjects, and prevent the Kingdoms be­ing ingaged in Blood and Confusion after his Death.’

After this the Affidavits of several Ladies were pro­duced, of which some swore that they saw Milk upon her Majesties Smock (for they did not think fit to mince the matter;) others, that they saw the Midwife take the Child out of the Bed; another that she stood by the Bedside, when her Majesty was delivered of the Prince; another swore, that having had the Honour to put on her Majesties Smock she saw the Queens Milk; another deposed, that she saw the Queen in Labour, and heard her cry out much; another, that she saw the Midwife give the Prince three drops of the Blood of the Navel-string mixt with Black Cherry-water, with a great deal of other Nauseous stuff. Then the Affi­davits of the Lords were produced, among whom, one [Page 85]swore, that he saw Mistris Labadie carry the Child in­to another Room, whither he followed her, and saw the Child, when she first opened it, and that it was Black and Reeking; another swore, that he saw the Child, and that it had the Marks of being new Born; another, that he heard the Queen make three Groans, or Squeeks, and that at the last of the three, the Queen was delivered of a Child; the Physicians swore, what was proper, but not fit to be repeated; Howe­ver the whole was at length published to the shame and scandal of all modest Eyes and Ears.

‘And now my Lords,’ said the King, after all the the Depositions were read, ‘although I did not Que­stion, but that every Person here present was satisfied before, yet by what you have heard, you will be the better able to satisfie others; Besides could I and the Queen have been thought so wicked as to impose a Child upon the Nation, we saw how impossible it would have been; neither could I my self have been imposed upon, having constantly been with the Queen during her being with Child, and the whole time of her Labour, and therefore there is none of you but will easily believe that I who have suffered so much for Conscience-sake, cannot be capable of so great a Viliany, to the prejudice of my own Chil­dren; I thank God that those that know me know well, that it is my Principle to do as I would be done by, and that I would rather die a thousand Deaths, than do the least wrong to any of my Chil­dren.’

Yet this Zealous Harangue had but little Influence upon the Generality of the People (with whom the King by his late Actions had wholly forfeited his Re­putation) who daily discovered, as far as they durst, their longing desires for the Arrival of his Highness the Prince of Orange to deliver them from the appa­rent Mischiefs that impended over the Nation.

His Highness Preparations for his Expedition went on apace, and the Marquess of Albeville King James his Ambassador at the Hague, presented a Memorial to the Deputies of the States General upon that Subject, but while he expected an Answer, the Troops Em­barqued, and his Highness and the Marshal Schom­berg came to the Hague, and on Friday, Oct. 16. The Fleet cons [...]ing of 635 Men of War, Fireships, Tenders, &c. For the carriage of Horse, Foot, Arms and Ammunition, sailed about four Afternoon from the Flats near the Brill with the Wind at S. W. and by S. The Prince Embarqued on a Vessel of between 28 and 30. Guns, with Count Solmes, Count Stirum, the Sieur Bentwick, the Sieur Overkirk, Marshal Schomberg, Count Charles his Son, with several o­thers, as well English Noblemen as Strangers who were in the Fleet; next day they came in sight of Schevelinge, but meeting with a very terrible Storm, which continued for two days and nights together, was forced to put into Harbour again, some Ships and small Vessels on which the Horse were aboard suffering some prejudice; upon their return the Prince immediate­ly gave an account to the States General of the Condi­tion of the Fleet, which was not so much damaged as was published in the English Gazette, but rather turn­ed to the Advantage of his Highness as the Affair was managed; for to make the English Court more re­miss in their Preparations the Haarlem and Amster­dam Gazettes told a most lamentable Story of what had happened, ‘As that the Prince was returned with his Fleet so miserably Torn and Shattered that he had lost nine of his Men of War and several lesser Vessels; That 1000 of his Horse were utterly lost; that a Calenture was got among the Seamen; that Dr. Butner and several of the Princes chief Mini­sters were drowned and that the States had an ill opinion of the Expedition in General, so that it was [Page 87]a thing almost impossible that the Prince should be in a Condition to pursue his Design till the next Spring.’

This Stratagem had some effect upon the Court, for the Papists hopes hereupon began so to revive, that the King Ordered the Restoring the Charters, and the Fel­lows of Magdalen Colled; the Vacaring the Ecclesiasti­cal Commission and the other Grants which he had new­ly made, to be suspended till he heard the Prince was again put to Sea, and thereby made the whole Nation sensible how little Trust or Credit was to be given to his most solemn Promises and Declarations; but all hands being at work the damage that had been sustain­ed, was repaired in eight days time, so that Nov. 3. about ten in the Morning upon a signal given the whole Fleet once more set Sail; about Midnight an Advice Boat brought Intelligence, that the English Fleet consisting of thirty three Sail lay to the West­ward of the Princes; upon which the Prince fired a Gun which caused a great Consternation through the whole Fleet; but the small Advice Boats Cruising for more certain Intelligence brought news, that instead of the English Fleet which had given the Alarm, it was only Admiral Herbert with a part of the Dutch Fleet which had been for some hours separated from the main Body; in the Morning the Prince gave a Sig­nal for the Admirals to come aboard of him, and soon after the Fleet was got into the North Forelands, at what time the Fleet was Order [...]d to close up in a Body fourteen or fifteen Foot deep, his Highness leading the Van in the Ship called the Brill, carrying a Flag with Eng­lish Colours with this Motto, The Prote [...]tant Religion and Liberties of England; and underneath, I will maintain it, in the mean time the Council of War sent three small Frigates into the Mouth of the Thames who re­turning brought news, that the English Fleet lay at the B [...]oy in the Oar about thirty four Sail, the Wind [Page 88]centrary at E. N. E. Upon which the Prince gave Order for stretching the whole Fleet between Dover and Calice seventy five deep, which extended in breadth within a League of each Place, the Flanks and Rear being guarded by Men of War, the Trumpet; founding and Drums beating at least three hours toge­ther; after which the Prince giving the Signal for the Eleet to close, they sailed that night as far as Beachy, and the next Morning came within view of the Isle of Wight, and then Order was given to extend the Fleet in a Line as before; the next Morning they made di­rectly for To [...]ay; upon his Highness Arrival, the People flocking in great numbers to the Shoar signified their welcomes in loud Acclamations of Joy; soon af­ter the Prince gave two signals for the Admirals to come aboard, and then the whole Fleet cast Anchor and Preparation was made for Landing whilst the Ad­mirals stood out to Sea as a Guard, and the small Men of War at ended, for the Defence of those that Land­ed, besides six men of War that were Ordered to run in and guard the Bay it self. It is remarkable that his Highness had a brisk East and North Easterly Wind for two days which brought them directly toward Tor­bay, and the Wind then turning Westerly carried them into the Bay, which otherwise might have been very troublesome and dangerous.

The Prince now displayed a Red Flag at the Mizen yards Arm, while General Mackay with six Regi­ments of Foot was the first that set Foot on Shoar, un­der the Protection of the little Porpoise which was ordered to run her self aground to secure their Land­ing; this was upon Nov. 5. a day memorable to the English before, but now doubly remarkable for a se­cond Deliverance from the Bloody Designs of the Pa­pists. But the People were so far from making Oppo­sition, that they only stood there to welcome their Guests with all manner of Provisions and Refresh­ments. [Page 89]So that his Highness safely Landed his whole Army consisting in 10692 Foot, and 3660 Horse, in all 14352.

The News of the Princes being Landed was carried to the Earl of Bath at Exeter, and Captain Hicks go­ing thither, the People flock'd to him in great numbers to List themselves in the Service of the Prince of O­range, for which the Mayor of the City would have sent him to Prison, but was prevented by the People, the next day the Lord Mordaunt with Dr. Burnet came thither, with three or four Troops of Horse, and commanding the Gates to be opened, released the Captain, and going to the Mayor askt him, if he would wait upon the Prince at his Entrance, who plea­ding his Obligation of an Oath to King James, and de­siring that his Conscience might not be imposed on, he was excused. The next day the Prince with his Guards marched into the City, and went to the Deans House where he resided during his stay at Exeter; af­ter whom followed the whole Body of his Army, who were quartered about Tiverton, Culhampton, Hony­ton, and other places. The Sunday following his Highness went to the Cathedral, where his Highness Declaration of the Reasons inducing him to appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England, for preserving the Protestant Religion, and for restoring the Liberties of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was read by Dr. Burnet before a numerous Auditory, the Substance whereof was.

Soon after his Highness published an Additional De­claration to this Effect.

‘That after He had prepared and Printed the former Declaration, his Highness understood that the Subver­ters of the Religion and Laws of the Kingdom, hear­ing of his Preparations to assist the People against them, had began to Retract some of their Arbitrary and Des;potick Powers, and vacated some unjust Judg­ments and Decrees, occasioned by the Sence of their Guilt, and the distrust of their Force, hoping there­by to quiet the People and divert them from deman­ding the re-establishment of their Religion and Laws, under the shelter of his Highness Arms; and do also give out that his Highness intended to Conquer and Inslave the Nation; though his Highness is Confident that no Persons can have such hard thoughts of Him, as to imagine that He hath any other Design in this Undertaking than to procure a Settlement of Religion [Page 98]and of the Liberties and Properties of the Subject up­on so sure a Foundation, that there may be no danger of the Nations relapsing into the like Miseries at any time hereafter, and as the Forces that his Highness brought along with Him are utterly Disproportioned to that wicked Design of Conquering the Nation, if he were capable of Intending it; so the great num­bers of the Principal Nobility and Gentry that are men of eminent Quality and Estates, and of known Inte­grity and Zeal for the Religion and Government of England who do accompany, and have earnestly sol­licited his Highness to this Expedition, will cover him from all such malicious Insinuations; since it can­not be imagined that these should join in a wicked attempt of Conquest to make void their own Lawful Titles to their Honours, Estates and Interests. His Highness is likewise Confident that all men see how little weight is to be laid on all the Promises and In­gagements that can be now made, since there has been so little Regard had to them in times past; and the imperfect Redress that is now offered, as it is a plain Confession of the Violations of the Government, which his Highness hath set forth, so the defect there­of appears, since they lay down nothing, but what they can can take up at Pleasure, still reserving entire their Claims and Pretences to that Absolute Power, which has been the root of all their Oppression, and the Subversion of the Government; and it is plain, there can be no remedy, no Redress but in Parlia­ment, by a Declaration of the Rights of the Subjects that have been Invaded, and not by any pretended Acts of Grace, to which the Extremity of their Af­fairs has driven them; therefore it is that his High­ness hath thought fit to declare, that he will refer all to a Free Assembly of this Nation in a Lawful Parlia­ment.’

His Highness likewise sent the following Letter, to all the Officers and Seamen of the English Fleet; ‘Gen­tlemen and Friends, We have published a Declarati­on, containing a full and true Account of our Intenti­ons in this Expedition; since it is evident that the Pa­pists have resolv'd the total Extirpation of the Prote­stant Religion in Great Britain, and will infallibly re­duce you to the same Condition in which you see France, if they can once get the upper hand. You are now at last sensible, that you are made use of only as Instruments to bring this Nation under Popery and Slavery, by means of the Irish, and other Foreigners, that are assembling for your Destruction. Therefore we hope that Almighty God will inspire you with such Thoughts as may facilitate your Deliverance, and preserve you, your Countrey and Religion from all these impending Miscries. And whereas (in all pro­bability) this can never be effected, unless You joyn with Us (who labour for your Deliverance,) we do expect your Assistance herein: And shall always re­member, &c.’

The Prince sent a Letter also to the Kings Army to the same purpose, intimating to them, ‘What they might expect both from the Cashiering of all the Pro­testant and English Officers and Souldiers in Ireland, and by the Irish being brought over to be put in their places, when it should be thought convenient for themselves to be turned out; Hoping withal that they would not be abused by a false Notion of Honour, but would consider what they owed to God, their Reli­gion and their Countrey, Themselves and their Poste­rity, which were to be prefer'd before all Private Con­siderations and Engagements whatsoever.’

Whilst his Highness continued at Exeter, the King seemed very resolute at London to oppose him in Per­son, mustering his Army at Hounslow Heath, and beat­ing up for Volunteers in the Streets, though with little [Page 100]Success; He then sent for the Bishops, whom he had lately so contemptuously used, to advise him what measures to take in this Exigency, who accordingly came in a Body, and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the Name of the rest delivered himself to this Effect. ‘That it was necessary for him to restore all things to the State wherein he found them, when he came to the Crown, by committing all Offices of Trust to those qualified by Law, and to redress such Grievances as were generally complained of; to put an effectual stop to all Dispensations, and recal and cancel those which had been obtained of him. To Dissolve the Ecclesiastical Commission, and Promise the People never to erect the like for the future. To restore the Universities to their Legal State, particularly both the Magdalen Colledges, and not permit any to enjoy Preferment, but those qualified by the Statutes of the University and Laws of the Land. To suppress the Jesuits Schools, and grant no more Licenses to such, being apparently against Law, and his own Interest. To send Inhibitions after those four Romish Bishops, who under the Title of Apostolick Vicars, presumed to exercise Illegal Jurisdiction within the Bingdom; to suffer no more Quo Warra [...]o's against Corporati­ons, and to restore those Charters, which had been taken away. To fill up the vacant Bishopricks with Persons qualified by Law. To Act no more by Vir­tue of a Dispenting Power, but permit it to be setled by Act of Parliament. That upon the Restoration of Corporations, he would call a Free Parliament and suffer them to sit, to redress Grievances. Lastly, to permit the Bishops to lay such Motives and Argu­ments before him, as by the Blessing of God might bring him back to the Communion of the Church of England, into whose Catholick Faith, he had been Baptized.’ Not long after the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, presented the King the following Petition.

To which the King returned the following Answer.

His Highness lay some days at Exeter, expecting that such Gentlemen as resided nearest his Court should have come to him sooner than those at a Distance, but finding something of an unexpected slowness, he could not forbear to signifie some little Resentment to some of the Principal Gentlemen of Somersetshire and Devon­shire, that came to join him, Nov. 15. 1688. in the following Speech.

But quickly after his Highness found the English No­bility and Gentry no less faithful to him, than he had been to them, and that His several Declarations had the wished Effect; the Lord Wharton and the Lord Colchester with a strong Party, marched through Ox­ford to his Highnesses Camp without Opposition. The Lord Lovelace with another Party out of Oxfordshire got as far as Cirencester, but were opposed and him­self taken Prisoner by the County Militia, yet his whole Party, except four or five that were slain or maimed in the Skirmish, broke there way through, and his Lordship was soon after released out of Glocester Pri­son, by a Young Gentleman of that County, who took up arms for the Prince, and drove out all the Popish Cr [...] [Page 104]that were setled in that City; the Lord Delamere ha­ving raised a Considerable Force in Cheshire, advan­ced to Nottingham to join the Gentlemen of that Coun­ty, who were ready to receive him; And Nov. 22. at the Rendezvous there the following Declaration was publisht.

The Lord Delamere being assured of the Resolution and Couragious Zeal of all his Followers, continued a while in those Parts to watch the Morions of the Pa­pists in Lancashire, who began to take Arms under the [Page 107]Lord Molineux, and for a time assisted to Guard Che­ster for the King, but upon the surprizal of that Gar­rison for the Prince were soon after beaten or rather run away out of the Town, and disbanded of them­selves. In the North the Earl of Danby, the Lord Fairfax, and other Persons of Quality seized upon the City of York, and turned out the Lord Mayor, and other Magistrates that were Papists or ill-affected. Collonel Copley the Deputy Governour of Hull, seized upon all the Guards of that Garrison, and with the Assi­stance of some of the Townsmen, and some Seamen made the Lord Langdale the Governour, and the Lord Mont­gomery, the Marquess of Powis his Sons Prisoners, till he had secured the Citadel wherein was a plentiful Magazine of Powder, and all sorts of Provisions with a Train of Artillery ready fixed to be drawn out into the Field. Plymouth also with the Earl of Huntington and all the Popish Officers and Souldiers was seized by the Earl of Bath for his. Highness, and at the same time all the chief Sea-Port Towns in Cornwal de­clared for the Prince; so that there was no Enemy be­hind him to disturb the R [...]re of his advancing Army.

But the King being as yet in hopes to force his way, through all the great Opposition made him by the whole Kingdom, having sent his Army before to Salis­bury, goes thither to them; yet before he went, he thought it requisite to provide for the Safety of the pre­tended Prince of Wales, and not daring to trust to the Validity of the forementioned Affidavits, for more Security, he sent him away with a strong Guard to Portsmouth, that if things went ill, he should be con­veyed over to France; when the King came to Salis­bury, he began to bleed at the Nose; and was observed to continue bleeding for some time, which seened at that time Ominous to him; But in the midst of these sarprizes, more ill News arrives to increase his Asto­nishment, for besides the Lord Cornbury, who had [Page 108]carried off a considera [...] Party of Horse to the Prince some time before, several other Regiments of Foot had now Deserted, and were gone the same way; up­on His arrival near to Salisbury, he was met by the Duke of Berwick, the Earl of Feversham, and several other Officers on Horseback, and by them attended to the Gates of the Town, being met by the Mayor and Aldermen in their Formalities and Conducted to the Bishops Pallace, but these flatte [...]ing appearances soon vanisht, He quickly perceiving that his English Forces were generally dissatisfied, and seem'd unwilling to en­gage in Civil Bloodshed against their own Countrey­men and of their own Religion, which was to Fight with their Bodies against their Consciences, and like­wise discovered the Discontents of the People, who supplied the Machels very sparingly for his Army, so that not judging himself safe among them, and upon a false Alarm that Marshal Schomberg was within thirty or twenty Miles of him, he returned back in all haste to Windsor, and from thence to London, being extreamly discouraged that Prince George, and the Lord Churchil were gone both to the Prince, and that the Princess Ann of Denmark was also retired from the Court. The Prince of Denmark, and the Lord Churchil left each of them, the following Letters be­hind them, directed to the King.

The Lord Churchil's Le [...]ter, ran thus, ‘Sir, Men are seldom suspected of Sincerity when they Act con­trary to their Interests; and tho' my dutiful Behavi­our to your Majesty in the worst of times, (for which I acknowledge my Poor Services much over paid) may not be sufficient so incline You to a Charitable Inter­pretation of my Actions yet I hope, the great Ad­vantage I enjoy under Your Majesty, which I can ne­ver expect in any other Change of Government, may reasonably convince Your Majesty and the World, that I am acted by a higher Principle, when I offer that Violence to my Inclination, and Interest, as to desert Your Majesty at a time when your Affairs seem to challenge the strictest Obedience from all Your Sub­jects, much more from one who lies under the great­est personal Obligations imaginable to Your Majesty. Thi [...], Sir, could proceed from nothing but the invi­olable Dictates of my CONSCIENCE, and necessary concern for my RELIGION (which no good Man can oppose) and wi [...]h which I am instructed, nothing ought to come in Competition; Heaven knows with what Partiality my dutiful Opinion of Your Majesty hath hitherto represented those unhappy Designs, which inconsiderate and self interested Men have fra­med against Your Majesties true Interest and the Pro­testant Religion. But as I can no longer joyn with such to give a pretence by Conquest to bring them to effect, so will I always with the hazard of my Life and Fortune (so much Your Majesties due) endea­vour to preserve Your Royal Person and Lawful Rights with all the tender Concern and dutiful Re­spect, that becomes, Sir, Your Majesties most duti­ful and most obliged Subject and Servant.’

The Princess Ann of Denmark, likewise directed the following Letter to the Queen upon her withdraw­ing.

The King now issued out a Proclamation of Pardon to all his Subjects, that had taken up Arms under the Prince, if they returned in twenty days; but very few [Page 112]or none came back, and about the same time a Party of the Princes Men being abroad, and advancing beyond their Strength, were pursued and charged by Collonel Sarsfield with seventy horse, and thirty Dragoons, and Granadiers, who overtaking them at Wincanton, they posted themselves behind the Hedges. Where­upon the Kings Party dismounted, and marched up to them, and they began to Fire [...]riskly, several being killed and wounded, But [...]olonel Sarsfield getting into the Field with his Horse, and Charging them in the Reer, they were most of them killed or taken Pri­soners, Lieutenant Cambel, who commanded them be­ing slain, and of the Kings Party four were killed, and Cornet Web mortally wounded. This slender success was soon damped, by an Address from the Fleet, for a Free Parliament; which now began to grow Cold in his Service, and the continual Desertions of his Army; So that the King not thinking it Convenient to hazard a Battel with them, upon the approach of the Princes Forces, with whom now were a great part of the No­bility, He recalled his Remainder of them, with the Train of Artillery; and upon his return to White Hall, he appointed Colonel Beril Skelton to be Lieutenant of the Tower, in the place of Sir Edward Hales, and in pursuance of the Advice of the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, Ordered the Chancellor Jefferies to issue out writs for summoning a Parliament to sit, Jan. 15. following; the Bishop of Exeter, who left that City upon the approach of the Prince, was likewise no­minated Arch-Bishop of York, which had been vacant for some time, and was thought to have been designed for Father Peters, if things had gone on. But the King Affairs growing daily more desperate, and the Prince of Orange marching forward with his Army; and being advanced to Hungerford, after a Consultati­on with the Queen, and the Jesuits, it was resolved to send the following Proposals of Accommodation to his [Page 113]Highness, which were soon after published with the Princes Answer thereto.

But these Proposals of the Prince, proving of too hard Digestion at White-Hall, the Offer of Accommo­dation was thought to be Designed only to gain time, and the Romish Councellors perceiving that this would not obtain, began to think of other measures; So that the Child being sent for back from Portsmouth to White-Hall in great haste, the Queen having made up [Page 115]her Equipage Dec. 10. took her Solemn Leave of the King, and with the pretended Prince of Wales, and her Attendants (whereof it is said, Father Peters was one) but it was thought with a large proportion of Treasure and Jewels: She Crossed the Water at Lam­beth, where three Coaches with Six Horses awaited them, and with a Strong Guard went to Greenwich, and so to Graves-End; where she and her Retinue Im­barked in a Yatch for France, and Landed the next Day about four a Clock in the Afternoon; the Queen and several Courtiers being gone, the Popish Priests began to shift for themselves; and the same Night, the King called an Extraordinary Council, and sent for the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London, Charging them to preserve the Peace and Quiet of the City, as much as in them lay, after which they were Dismist; But the Council continued their Debates upon the pre­sent Exigency of Affairs a great while longer, and were ordered to meet again the next Morning, when to the Surprize of the City and Kingdom: About three a Clock in the Morning, the King took Barge at the Pri­vy Stairs, with a small Equipage, and went down the River, without being so much as known to many of the Officers of his Houshold, who were then in wa [...] ­ing; whose sudden Departure, may be supposed to be occasioned by the News that Alarm'd the Court the Day before, that the Princes Forces had made their way through Beading, and gain'd the Pass of Twyford-Bridg, without any Considerable Resistance; for about 1500 Horse, and three Troops of Dragoons being Quartered in the Town of Reading, they had notice that a Detatchment of the Princes Army were Mar­ching up towards them, which put them into such a Consternation, that not finding themselves strong enough to maintain the Town, the Officers upon Con­sultation, Concluded to draw off and make good their Post at Twyford-Bridge; out their Scouts coming in [Page 116]with News, that the Roads were clear, the Comman­der ordered a Scoten Regiment of Horse, and the Irish Dragoons to march back, and Repossess themselves of Reading, which they did, and were placed in the Market-place, and other Posts, continuing on Horse­back most part of the Night, to prevent Surprize; yet hearing no more of the Princes Advanced Party, their Officers ordered them to alight and refresh themselves and their Horses; But about ten in the Morning, the Trumpet Sounded to Horse, the Princes Forces being at the Towns-end, almost before they were Discover­ed; and thereupon sharp Firing began on both sides, the Irish Dragoons bearing the Brunt of the Encounter, and though the Scotch Horse in small Detached Bodies, made some Fire; yet they were over-poured, driven out of Town, and obliged to Retreat to Twyford-Bridge; and at length, many of the Kings Party De­serted, and the rest were Constrained to quit the Pass, and make the best of their Retreat, there being about thirty killed, and several wounded in this Skirmish.

Upon this ill Success, and the King having no Con­siderable Forces left, the Day before his going away, he sent a Letter to his General, the Earl of Feversham to this Effect; ‘That things being come to that Extremi­ty, that he had been forced to send away the Queen and his Son, the Prince of Wales, lest they should fall into his Enemies Hands: He was resolved to se­cure himself the best he could; that if he could have relyed on all his Troops, he was resolved to have had at least one Blow for it; But that his Lordship knew, that both his Lordship, and several of the General Of­ficers of the Army had told him, that it was not safe to venture himself at the Head of his Troops, or to think to fight the Prince of Orange with them; and therefore it only remained for him, to thank those Of­ficers and Souldiers that had been truly Loyal to him; not expecting they sheuld farther expose themselves [Page 117]in resisting a Foreign Enemy, and a Poysoned Nati­on.’ In pursuance of this Letter, the Earl of Fever­sham sent another to his Highness the Prince of Orange, to let him understand, ‘That he had received a Letter from the King, with the unfortunate News of his Re­solution, to go out of England, and he was actually gone, with Orders to make no Opposition against any Body; which he thought Convenient to let his High­ness know, so soon as it was possible, to hinder the effusion of Blood, having already given Order to that purpose, to all the Troops under his Command, which would be the last Order they should receive from him, &c.’

The Kings Departure being publickly known, the Multitude got together in divers places, as is usual in such Disturbances and Dissolutions of Government, Spoiling and Demolishing the new erected Mass-Hou­ses and Chappels, pulling down, Burning and Destroy­ing all before them; they pluckt down the New Con­vent for Monks at St. John's, which had been two years in Building, at vast Expence, and burnt the greatest part of the Timber and Materials in Smithfield, having before Seized upon the Goods, as they were Removing, and burnt them in Holborn; they like­wise Defaced the Chappels in Limestreet, and Lincolns Inn Fields, with that of the Spanish Ambassadors at Wild-House, where some common Thieves mixing with the more harmless Boys, they got great store of Plunder in Plate, Money, and Rich Goods; They likewise committed Violences at the Lodgings of the Resident of the Duke of Florence, and much Defaced the Dwelling-Houses of several Eminent Papists, who were fled for fear of being Secured, and though the Magistrates Laboured to quiet these Tumults and Dis­orders: Yet they found their Authority too weak, till the Mobile had in some measure vented their Rage, they being grown so Numerous, that neither the [Page 118]Watches nor Trained Bands, thought it safe to oppose their Fury.

Therefore for Redress of these Mischiefs, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal then in Town Repaired to Guild-Hall and sending for Colonel Skelton, then Lieutenant of the Tower, Demanded the Keys, which being by him readily Resigned, they committed the Charge of that Important Place, to the Lord Lucas, a Person of known Honour and Integrity to his Country; Nor were they less Active, in Suppressing those Lawless Rioters: So that in a short time, they were all Dispersed and Quelled, and some of the Principal committed to Prison; and then taking into Consideration, the Great and Dange­rous Conjuncture of the Time, in regard of the Kings having withdrawn himself, they drew up a Declaration to this Effect: ‘That they did Reasonably hope, that the King having Issued out his Proclamation, and Writs for Calling a Free Parliament, they might have rested securely under the Expectation of that Meeting; but that the King having withdrawn himself, as they apprehended, in Order to his Departure out of the Kingdom, by the Pernicious Councils of Persons ill Affected to the Nation, they cannot without being wanting to their Duty, be silent under the Calamities, wherein the Popish Councils which have so long pre­vailed, had miserably involved them; and therefore unanimously resolved to apply themselves 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, had undertaken (by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament) to Rescue them with as little Effusion of Christian Blood, as possible from the Imminent Dangers of Popery and Slavery; Declaring further, that they would with their utmost Endeavours, Assist his Highness in the Obtaining of such a Parliament with all Speed; wherein their Laws, Liberties, and Properties might [Page 119]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, might be Supported and Encou­raged, to the Glory of God, the Happiness of the Established Government, and the Advantage of all Princes and States in Christendom, that may be there­in Concerned.’

This was Signed by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, 22 Temporal Lords, and 5 Bishops; and the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Weymouth, Lord Bish­op of Ely, and the Dord Culpeper were Ordered to Attend his Highness with the said Declaration, at Henley upon Thames; the same Day the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, Assembled in the same place, and Drew up an Humble Address to be Presented to his Highness in their Names, on the be­half of the City; of like Effect with the Declarati­on, four Aldermen being appointed to Wait upon the Prince therewith and the Lieutenancy of London meet­ing that Day also, Drew up an Address to his Highness, on the behalf of themselves and the rest of the Militia, to the like purpose, which were accordingly Presen­ted to the Prince, and very favourably Received, Im­ploring his Highness Protection, and beseeching him to Repair to the City; where he would be received with Universal Satisfaction.

The next day the Tumults being somewhat allayed, search was made in divers places, for such as were fled from Justice; and among others, to the great Rejoi­cing of the People, the Lord Chancellor Jeffery's, was taken in an obscure House at Wapping, Disguised like a Saylor, and endeavouring to make his Escape in a Vessel that lay there for Hamburg; who being brought before the Lord Mayor with a Numerous and inraged Guard of Attendants, his Lordship was sud­denly Seized with such a frightful Indisposition, that [Page 120]he was incapable of examining the Matter: So that the Chancellor was carryed to the Tower by his own Consent, to preserve himself from the Fury of the Rabble.

Dec. 14. His Highness by easy Marches came to Windsor, where he was received with all kind of Res­pect and Submission by the Mayor and Aldermen in their Formalities, and Congratulated in an Elegant Speech, the Prince of Denmarks Lodgings being provided for his Reception; whilst his Highness was preparing for London, he had notice that the King designing to pass the Seas in Disguise, having betaken himself (accompanyed only by two or three Persons) in a small Vessel to Sea, was forced by foul Weather, upon the Coast of Kent, near Feversham, and as soon as he came to that Town, was seized upon by the Mul­titude, there being a Report at that time, that seve­ral Persons were making their Escapes out of the Land, and being ignorant who he was, they carryed him to a House in the Town, rifling him of some Jewels, a considerable quantity of Gold, and his Crucifix which he very much valued; but at last, the King being known by a Gentleman who came to see the Prisoners they had taken, and fell on his Knees to pay him Duty the Common People were strangely Surprized, a great number instantly retiring, and others begged his Par­don, offering to restore what they had taken from him; but the King refused to take his Gold again, giving it them freely: However his Person was detained till the News of his being there could be carryed to London.

The Lords who first Assembled in the City, being then at White-Hall, and having notice of it, sent the Lords, Feversham, Alesbury, Yarmouth and Middleton to the King, with their earnest Desires, that he would be pleased to return to his Royal Pallace at London, to which, though at first he shewed some unwillingness, [Page 121]yet being pressed thereto, he at length Condescended, the Servants of his Houshold, who went along with the Lords, having brought him Money and Cloaths, those he had being Old, and rent in the Searching him be­fore he was known; But His Highness the Prince of Orange, being fully Determined to come to London with all speed, it was upon Consultation thought very inconvenient, in regard it might Create daily Disputes and Quarrels between the Souldiers of both Parties, and in divers other Respects for the King and himself, to be there at one and the same time, therefore upon notice of the Kings returning, Monfr. Zalestein was sent to meet him on the way, and to intreat him to re­turn to Rochester, which the King would certainly have done, had not Mounsieur Zulestein missed him, by ta­king another Road: So that the King Arrived at White-Hall on Sunday, Dec. 16. in the Evening, attended by three Troops of the Life-Guard, and a Troop of Gra­nadeers, a Set of Boys following him through the Ci­ty, and making some Huzza's, while the rest of the People silently looked on; From thence the King sent the Earl of Feversham to the Prince then at Windsor, to invite his Highness to come to St. James's, and take that Pallace as his Residence, with what number of Troops he thought Convenient; The Prince Delibe­rating with the Lords about this Message, was advised by no means to accept of this Invitation, and there being a necessity his Highness should be in Town the next Day, the following Paper Signed by the Prince, was ordered to be carryed the King the next day by the Lords therein mentioned.

‘We Desire you, the Lord Marquess of Hallifax, the Earl of Shrewsbury, and the Lord Delamer, to tell the King that it is thought Convenient for the greater Safety of his Person, that he do remove to Ham, where he shall be Attended by Guards, who [Page 122]will be ready to preserve him from any Disturbance. Given at Windsor, Dec. 17. 1688.’

And further to prevent the possibility of any distur­bance, it was resolved, that his Highnesses Guards should be possest of all the Posts and Avenues about White-Hall before the Paper was delivered, and it was Computed that these Guards might have reached White-Hall by eight a Clock at Night, but they were so hindred by the foulness of the ways, that it was past ten before they arrived, and there being difficulty made of withdrawing the Kings Guards, so much time was spent that the Lords could not proceed in their Mes­sage till past twelve, so that the King was in bed; but to preserve Decency and Respect, and not break hasti­ly in upon him, they sent the Lord Middleton, his Principil Secretary of State, the following Letter.

‘My Lord, There is a Message to be delivered to his Majesty from the Prince, which is of so great impor­tance, that we who are charged with it, desire we may be immedlately admitted, and therefore desire to know where we may find your Lordship, that you may introduce, My Lord, your Lordships most hum­ble Servants, &c.’

The Lord Middleton upon the Receipt hereof, came and introduced them to the King, and their Lord­ships having made an Apology, for coming at a time that might disturb him, the Princes Message was deli­vered to the King, who reading it said, that he would readily comply; the Lords as they were directed hum­bly desired, that if it might be with his Majesties Conveniency, he would be pleased to remove so early, as to be at Ham by Noon, thereby to prevent his meeting the Prince in his way to London; to this the King readily agreed, and asked if he might not [...]ppoint what Servants should attend him; The Lords replied, it was wholly left to his Majesty. The Lords then took their leaves, but were instantly sent for back by the [Page 123]King, who told them, He had forgot to acquaint them with his Resolution before the Message came, to send the Lord Godolphin the next Morning to the Prince, to propose his going back to Rochester, he finding by the Message Monsieur Zulestein was charged with, that the Prince had no Mind he should be at London, and therefore he now desired that he might rather return to Rochester; The Lords replied, that they would immediately send an account to the Prince, and doubt­ed not of an Answer to his Satisfaction, and according­ly disparching a Messonger to the Prince, who was then at Ston House, the Sieur Benting by eight next Morning, sent a Letter by the Princes Order, agreeing to the Kings Proposal, and the Guards and Barges be­ing prepared to attend him, and his Coaches and Sum­pters to follow, he reached Gravesend on the eighteenth in the Evening, and passed over Land in his Coach at­tended by the Earl of Arran and several others, and made his Residence in Sir Richard Heads House.

In the Afternoon of the same day, his Highness with a very splendid Equipage, and a numerous attendance arrived at St. Jameses, and received the Congratulati­ons of all the Nobility, and Persons of Chiefest Quali­ty in the Town; the People crowding to see their De­liverer, and expressing their Satisfaction at so Happy a Revolution, by Ringing of Bells, Bonfires and all the publick Demonstrations of joy imaginable.

A Remarkable Accident happened between the Kings first going to Rochester, and his return to London, a general Alarm being given one Night about Midnight, at almost one and the same time in the most considera­ble Cities and Towns in England, upon pretence that the Irish were Killing, Burning and Destroying all be­fore them, which seem'd to be carried on industrious­ly by Persons set on purpose to spread that false Report, or else it can hardly be imagined, how it should have been done at so many distant places at once, which [Page 124]threw the People into a great Surprize, and Conster­nation, till the day appeared and Convinced them of the Fallacy; But the real occasion hereof was never yet generally understood.

Upon the Arrival of his Highness, the Common Council of London assembled, and unanimously agreed, that the Sheriffs and all the Aldermen of the City with their Deputies, and two Common Council Men for each Ward, should wait on and Congratulate his Highness, upon his Happy Arrival in the Name of the City of London, and accordingly Dec. 20, the Lord Mayor being indisposed by Sickness, Sir George Treby the Recorder, in a most Elegant Speech, thus Addrest his Highness.

At the same time, the High Sheriff, Nobility, and Gentry of the County of Cambridge, presented another Address to his Highness; wherein they implored his Pro­tection and aid to rescue the Nation from Popery and Slavery, and assared him; they would Contribute their utmost endeavours, for perfecting so glorious a work, returning his Highness their unfeigned Thanks, for the progress he had made therein with so much cost, labour, and hazard both by Sea and Land.

But in the midst of these Transactions, the King ha­ving continued some days at Rochester, Dec. 23. be­tween two and three in the Morning, going a back way with great Secrecy and Caution hastned to the Sea-side, taking only with him, Mr. Ralf Sheldon, and Mr. De­labody with whom he imbarqued in a vessel that lay for his Transportation to France, to follow his Queen as [Page 126]had been agreed betwixt them leaving the following Paper of Reasons behind him, for withdrawing him­self from Rochester, said to be written by his own hand, and ordered by him to be Publisht.

Upon these Reasons, we may make these few Curso­ry Remarks; That as to the detaining of the Earl of Feversham, who was sent without a Pass in a time of open War, it may be very well justified; He having likewise disbanded the Army, and left them at large [Page 128]to lie upon the Countrey; The Message for his remo­val from Whitehall was managed, as we have heard, with all the respect and decency imaginable, and abso­lutely necessary upon several accounts, as well as for the preservation of his own Person, whose late Actions especially his extraordinary Severity in the West, had raised him many inveterate Enemies, who now might have taken the opportunity of offering Violence to him; that his Highness had sufficient Reason for this Glorious Expedition, the King had made the Nation too sensible of; and as to the business of the Child, it is well known that his Zeal for the Catholick Cause made him shut his Eyes to all other Considerations whatsoever, and besides it was managed with such a number of Suspitious Circumstances, that we are told one of his own Commanders in Ireland should say, ‘That the Prince of Orange had one plausible pretence for his Invasion, namely that of the Prince of Wales, since if it was a real Birth, the Court managed the matter so, as if they had Industriously contrived the Nation should give no Credit to it;’ as to his Hopes of Conquering is, we have as great Hopes and better Reason to believe the contrary, since the People will scarce be ever fond of giving up their Religion, Laws, Liberties, and Estates to the Will of an Arbitrary Prince, or ever submit to a French Government; as to a Parhament, we may think he did not design to call any, since some time before his departure, he or­dered all the Writs that were not sent out to be burnt, and a Caveat to be entred against the making use of such as were already sent into the Countreys; as to Li­berty of Conscience, which he seems so much to value, his Proceedings in freland, and against the Universi­ties, together with his recalling the Protestant Mini­sters from Preaching to the English Merchants in Po­pish Countreys, with many other Instances that might be given, are sufficient Demonstrations of the reality of his Intentions therein.

Soon after we had an account, that the King was arrived in France, and gone to the Court, where his Queen came some time before, having as soon as she landed sent, as it is said, the following Letter to that King.

‘An unfortunate Queen all bathed in Tears, has Deemed it no trouble to expose her self to the great­est Perils of the Sea, on purpose to seek an Asy lum and Protection in the Dominions of the greatest and most Glorious Monarch in the World; Her bad For­tune has procured her a Happiness, which far distant Nations have sought with eagerness; nor does the ne­cessity lessen the value, while she makes choice of this same Sanctuary before any other, that she might have found in any other place; She is perswaded his Majesty will look upon it, as a Demonstration of the singular Esteem she has of his Great and Royal Qualities, that she intrusts him with the Prince of Wales, who is all she has most dear, and precious in the World; He is too Young to partake with her in the acknowledgments due for his Protection; that ac­knowledgment is entirely in the Heart of his Mo­ther, who in the midst of all her sorrows enjoys this Consolation, to live sheltred under the Lawrels of a Prince, who surpasses all that ever was of most Ex­alted, and Mighty upon Earth.’

These fulsom Flatteries, which are so admired by that King, doubtless moved him to entertain her with great Tenderness, and made way for the Recep­tion of the King her Husband; who soon after Arrived there, and had St. Germains allowed for their Resi­dence, with such a Revenue, as that King can spare from his other mighty Expences, for their Subsistance; though it is a question, whether King James consulted his own Interest, in Flying to the French King; for certainly after all that he had done at home, to see him Harbour himself with the Enemy of the English [Page 130]Name, the Contriver and Adviser of all the Mischiefs for several years, perpetrated in the Kingdom, what could more Convict him of the Oppressions of his Reign, or more Inveterately Alienate the Peoples Affections from him? Upon the Kings second withdrawing, Ports­mouth that held out with some Obstinacy under the D. of Berwick, and Sir Edward Scot Deputy Gover­nor, submitted and Received a Garrison sent thither by the Princes Order.

And now to fill up this Breach and Rupture in the Government, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal im­mediately met in the House of Peers at Westminster, where they drew up an Humble Address, which they presented to his Highness, Requesting him in this Conjuncture, to take upon him the Administra­tion of Publick Affairs, both Civil and Military; and the Disposal of the Publick Revenue, for the Preser­vation of the Protestant Religion, Rights, Laws, Li­berties, Properties, and the Peace of the Nation, and to take into his particular Care, the present Condition of Ireland, and to use Speedy and Effectual means to prevent the danger threatning that Kingdom.

At the same time, these Honourable Lords further Humbly Requested; ‘That His Highness would please to cause Letters to be Written, Subseribed by himself, and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Pro­testants, to the several Counties, Universities, Ci­ties and Boroughs, &c. directed to the Chief Ma­gistrates of each, within Ten Days after the Receipt thereof, to chuse such a Number of Persons to Re­present them, as are of Right to be sent to Parliament.’ Both which Addresses were Presented to the Prince at St. Jamese's, who answered, that he had considered their Advice, and that he would endeavour to secure the Peace of the Nation till the meeting of the Con­vention, Jan. 22. next, and that he would forthwith Issue out Letters to that purpose; and that he would ap­ply [Page 131]the Publick Revenues to their proper use, and like­wise Endeavour to put Ireland into such a Condition, as that the Protestant Religion, and the English Interest, might be maintained in that Kingdom; Further assu­ring them, that as he came hither for the Preserva­tion of the Protestant Religion, and the Laws and Li­berties of the Kingdom, so he should always be rea­dy to Expose himself in any Hazard for the Defence of the same.

His Highness likewise sent for all such as had been Members of Parliament, in the Reign of Charles the II. together with the Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London, to meet him at St James's, to advise the best manner how to pursue the ends of his Declaration, in Calling a Free Parliament, for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, the Resto­ring of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom, and Setling the same, that they may not be in Danger of being again Subverted. Upon which, they met accor­dingly, and after his Highness had thus Graciously exprest himself to them, they instantly Concluded to go to the House of Commons, where being Sate, they chose Henry Powle Esq; their Chair-man, and then drew up an Address to the Prince, returning his High­ness their hearty Thanks, and expressing their Extra­ordinary Acknowledgment; for the Care he had ta­ken of their Religion, Laws and Liberties, Humbly Intreating him to take upon him the Administration of the Government, &c. which being presented to his Highness at St. James's, he returned the same answer, as he had done to the Lords.

The News of his Highness Snccess, and Prosperous proceedings Arriving in Holland, all the Persons of Quality that were at the Hague, appeared at Court to Complement Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange thereupon, and soon after their Electoral Highnesses of Brandenburg arrived there, and were [Page 132]Entertained very Splendidly upon that Occasion; And the States General, sent three Deputies to Eng­land, to Congratulate his Highness, who Land­ing at the Tower, were received with the Discharge of the Cannon, and Conducted to the Lodgings appointed for them, with a very Spleudid Equipage.

Dec. 30. His Highness Issued out a Declaration, to Authorize Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, and all other Officers, except Papists, to Continue and Act in their Respective Places, till further Order; And a second Declaration, for the better Quartering of Souldiers: That none should be Quartered upon Private Houses, without the free and voluntary Consent of the Owner; And a while after, the following Association for the Preservation of his Highnesses Person, which had been promoted, and Signed through most Counties of En­gland, with great Cheerfulness and Alacrity, was Sign­ed also by several Noblemen and others, at St. James's.

‘We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed, who have Joyned with the Prince of Orange, for the Defence of the Protestant Religion; and for main­taining the Ancient Government, and the Laws and Liberties of England, Scotland and Ireland: Do en­gage to Almighty God, to his Highness the Prince of Orange, and to one another, to stick firm to this Cause, and to one another in Defence of it; and never to depart from it till our Religion, our Laws and Liber­ties are so far secured to us in a Free Parliament, that we shall be no more in Danger of Falling under Po­pery and Slavery; And whereas we are ingaged in this Common Cause, under the Protection of the Prince of Orange; by which means his Person may be exposed to Dangers, and to the Desperate and Cur­sed Attempts of the Papists, and other Bloody Men: We do therefore Solemnly engage, both to God and to one another, that if any such Attempts are made up­on [Page 133]him, we will pursue not only those that make them, but all their Adherents, and all that we find in Arms against us, with the utmost Severities of a just Re­venge to their Ruin, and final Destruction; and that the Execution of any such Attempt (which God of his Mercy forbid) shall not divert us from prosecu­ting this Cause, which we do now undertake; but that it shall ingage us to carry it on with all the vigor that so Barbarous a Practice shall deserve.’

After this, His Highness published a Declaration, to Command all Papists to depart within three Days out of London and Westminster, and Ten Miles about, un­der penalty of Suffering, the utmost Severity of the Law, and about the same time, the Country People Seiz­ed a great number of Persons in Kent and other places, endeavouring to make their escape beyond Sea, who were committed to several Prisons, till further Order. And to shew the readiness and zeal of the People to Support his Highness: He had no sooner signified to the City of London, that the necessary Expences he had been at, had near exhausted the publick Reve­nues; but that they instantly ordered a Committee to attend him, to know what Sum might be necessary, and 100000 l. being Named, the Generous Citizens im­mediately came to Guild-Hall, and made Subscripti­ons for 300000 l. which was paid in to Admiration, within a very few days.

Affairs being now in a promising way of settlement in England, let us take a brief view of Scotland, to whom his Highness before his arrival had likewise sent a Declaration to the same effect with that sent to Eng­land, some Expressions only being varied according to the different Circumstances of both Nations; his Highness declaring, ‘That by the influence of those evil Counsellors, who designed to render themselves the absolute Masters of the Lives, Honours, and Estates of the Subjects without being restrained by any Rule [Page 134]or Law, a most exorbliant Power had been exerci­sed in imposing Bonds and Oaths upon whole Shires; In permitting Free Quarters to Souldiers; In impri­soning Gentlemen without any Reason, forcing them to accuse and witness against themselves; In imposing Arbitrary Fines, frighting and haressing many parts of the Countrey, with intercommuning, making some incur the forfeiture of Life and Fortune for the most general and harmless converse even with their nearest Relations Outlawed; Impowering Officers and Soul­diers to act upon the Subjects, living in quiet, and full Peace the greatest Barbarities, in destroying them by Hanging, Shooting, and drowning them without any Form of Law, or respect to Age or Sex, not gi­ving some of them time to pray to God for Mercy; and this for no other Reason, but because they would not answer or satisfie them in such Questions, as they proposed to them, without any warrant of Law, and against the common Interest of mankind, which frees all men from being obliged to discover their secret Thoughts, besides a great many other Violences and Oppressions, to which that poor Nation hath been ex­posed, without any hope of having any end put to them, or to have relief from them. And that the Arbitrary and illegal Proceedings of there Evil Coun­sellors might be justified, such a Declaration hath been procured by them, as strikes at the root of the Government, and overturns the most Sacred Rights of it; in making all Parliaments unncressary, and ta­king away all Defences of Religion, Liberty, and Property. [...] assumed and asserted Absolute Pow­er, to which Obedience is required without reserve, Which every good Christian is perswaded is due to God Almighty alone, all whose Commandments are always Just and Good, &c.’

Upon his Highness Arrival, and Happy Progress in England, the Terror thereof wrought so effectually [Page 135]upon those Popish and Arbitrary Ministers of State in Scotland, who were sensible of their own guilt, that they thought of nothing, but to make their escape from Justice, which some had the luck to do, others were seized, and the Multitude rising in divers places, de­molished the Mass Houses, and burnt the Popish Trin­kets, yea proceeded to several Violences and Disorders, which occasioned the Death and Wounding of many Persons, even in Edenburg it self; of which the Scots Noblemen and Gentlemen in London, having notice, they resolved to attend his Highness the Prince of O­range, and lay before him the willingness of the Peo­ple of Scotland to submit to his Protection, and his Highness having notice of their Intentions caused such of them, as were in Town to be advertiz'd to meet him at St. Jameses, Jan. 7. to whom he made the follow­ing Speech.

After which, the Lords and Gentlemen went to the Council-Chamber at Whitehall, and chusing Duke Hamilton their President, they drew up an Address, which they presented to the Prince to this Effect, ‘That they rendred his Highness their humble Thanks, for his pious and generous Undertaking, &c. Desi­ring him to take upon him the Administration of Affairs, Civil and Military in Scotland, till the gene­ral [Page 136]Meeting of the Estates, which they humbly pray­ed his Highness to call to be held at Edenburg. March 14. following.’ This Address was subscribed by thirty Lords, and eighty Gentlemen; his Highness as­sured them, that He would do all that they required, and the news thereof coming to Edenburgh was recei­ved with the utmost Demonstrations of Joy and Satis­faction.

The Elections for the Convention at Westminster, had in some places been generally made without those strivings and hears that are usual upon such Occasions, and seemed to be a good Prognostick, that their De­bates would be calm, and tend to a speedy Settlement, and accordingly the [...] of January being come, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assem­bled at Westminster, the Lord Marquess of Hallifax Officiated as Speaker in the House of Lords, and the Commons chose Henry Poule Esquire, to be their Speaker, after which a Letter from his Highness the Prince of Orange was read in both Houses on the Occa­sion of their Meeting, wherein his Highness declared, ‘That he had endeavoured to the utmost of his Power to perform what was dented of him in Order to the Publick Peace, and Safety, and that he did not know any thing, which had been omitted, that might tend to the Preservation of them, since the Admini­stration of Affairs was put into his hands, and that it now lay upon them to lay the Foundation of a firm Security for their Religion, Laws, and Liberties; That he did not doubt, but that by such a full and free Representative of the Nation as was then met, the ends of his Declaration would be attained, and since it had pleased God hitherto to bless his good In­tentions with so great Success He trusted in Him that he would Comple [...] his own work by sending a Spirit of Peace and Union to influence their Councils, that no interruption might be given to a Happy and lasting [Page 137]Settlement; He then represented to them the dange­rous Condition of the Protestants in Ireland, and the present State of things abroad, which required their early Assistance against a Powerful Enemy, who had declared War against them, and which he did not doubt but without any unseasonable Divisions among themselves, they would take that Effectual care about.’

This Letter being read and approved of the Lords and Commons presented an Address to his Highness; ‘That being highly sensible of the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and Arbitrary Power and that their Preservation next under God was owe­ing to his Highness, they returned Him their hum­ble Thanks as the glorious Instrument of so great a bles­sing, and did further acknowledg the great care he had taken in the administring the publick Affairs to that time, humbly desiring that his Highness would conti­nue the Administration thereof, till further Applica­tion should be made by them, which should be expe­dited with all convenient speed. This Address being presented, Jan. 23. 1688.’ His Highness returned them this Answer.

After this the Lords and Commons Ordered a day of publick Thanksgiving, to be kept throughout the Kingdom, to render Praise to Almighty God, for ha­ving made his Highness the Prince of Orange, the glo­rious Instrument of the great Deliverance of this King­dom from Popery and Arbitrary Power.

As to the Condition of Ireland, the Earl of Tyr­connel a violent Papist, being made Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom by King James, as a fit Instrument to carry on his Designs, gave the Irish great Hopes of Subduing the English, by his first Cashiering the Pro­testant Officers and Souldiers that were in Arms, and then by turning out the Officers and Ministers of Ju­stice; and though Complaints were made against his proceedings in the Court of England; yet they were not regarded, but he rather incouraged in his Enter­prizes, which occasioned such Dread of future Mis­chiefs, that divers left the Kingdom, some going for Holland, others for Scotland and England; things continued in this Dangerous posture, till the News of the intended Enterprize of the Prince of Orange Ar­rived there, upon which Tyrconnel was very active to secure the Roman Catholick Interest in Ireland, Im­prisoning and Disarming the Protestants, and sending over 3000 of the Choicest Irish Souldiers to Assist King James. But upon notice of his Flight into France, he called his Popish Council together, and told them, That now was the time for their standing up for their Country, to secure it against all their Enemies; and as for his part, if his Master himself, should command him to deliver up the Sword, he should think it his Duty to refuse it in this Juncture; and thereupon spreading the News all over the Country, he caused the Irish every where to Arm themselves with such Weapons as they could get; This Tumultuous Rab­ble Herding together, plundred the Protestants Hou­ses, drove away their Cattle, fired their Stack; of Corn and Hay, Murthered some, and Barbarously used others; insomuch, that the Protestants being extreamly affrighted, many of them fled for their Lives, leaving their Estates behind them, and though several of the Protestant Nobility and Gentry made Head in the North: Yet they found themselves un­able [Page 139]to Resist the Fury of their Numerous Adversa­ries; However they Defeated several Parties of Irish, and Fortified London-Derry, Slego, the Isle of In­niskilling, and other places which they thought Te­nable; For now Tyrconnel gave Order for stopping the Ports, to prevent any more from going away, and made many large and plausible Proposals, to induce them to join with him, though they had very little effect upon them.

The Convention at Westminster, were still upon serious Debates about the present Condition of the Kingdom, and in the mean time it was thought neces­sary, to have the Presence of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange in England; Whereupon a Squa­dron of English and Dutch Men of War, were Or­dered to wait upon her, till her Equipage could be got ready, and the Wind served to bring over her Highness; And after the Lords and Commons had duly weighed the Circumstances of the Kings Depar­ture, they at length came to the following Reso­lution.

In pursuance of which Resolution, the following Declaration was drawn up in Order to such an Esta­blishment, as that the Religion, Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, might not again be in Danger, and for Vindicating the Ancient Rights and Liberties of the People in these words.

I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear, That I will be Faithful, and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties, King WILLIAM and Queen MARY; So help me God.

I A. B. Do Swear, That I do from my Heart Abhor, Detest and Abjure, as impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position, That Princes Ex­communicated or Deprived by the Pope, or any Au­thority of the See of Rome, may be Deposed or Mur­dered by their Subjects, or any other whatsoever.

And I do Declare, That no Foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate, hath, or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superiority, Preeminence or Authority, Ecclesiastical or Spiritual, within this Realm; So help me God.

This Declaration being Presented to their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange, in the Banqueting House at White-Hall on Wednesday Feb. 13. 1688. and their Consent thereunto Received, they were both the same Day Proclaimed King and Queen of England, France and Ireland, &c. at White-Hall Gate, Temple-Bar, and the Royal Exchange, many of the Lords and Commons attending, and the Peo­ple proclaiming their Joys, by Repeated Shouts and Acclamations; The Tenor of the Proclamation was as followeth.

It is Reported, that his Majesty should thus gene­rously express himself upon this Occasion: ‘That though the Regulations seem'd somewhat harsh, they were easy to him that desired only to be a great King; But in respect to one that Aim'd to be a Tyrant, they were not strict enough.’

Having thus brought their Majesty to the Throne, let us make a few Remarks upon this Wonderful and Unparallel'd Revolution, and so conclude the History of the House of Orange;

Had a Prince of less Secresie, Prudence, Courage and Interest, undertaken this mighty Affair, it might probably have miscarryed; but as his Cause was bet­ter, so his Reputation, Conduct and Patience, infi­nitely [Page 146]exceeded that of King James; He would not stir till he saw the French Forces sit down before Phi­lipsburg, and that he was sure France and Germany were irrecoverably ingaged; and that he should have no other Opposition, than what the Irish and English Roman Catholicks could make against him; For no English Protestant would fight his Country into Vassa­lage and Slavery, to Popish Priests and Italian Wo­men; when a Parliament sooner or later must have Determined every thing in Controversy, except they were Resolved once for all, to have given up their Religion, Laws, Liberties and Estates, to the Will of their Arbitrary Kings, and submitted for ever to a French Government; and indeed, a Nation of less Sense than the English, might have been imposed up­on; Of less Bravery and Valour, might have been frighted; Of a more Servile Temper, might have neg­lected their Liberties, till it had been too late to re­cover them again; And none but a parcel of Jesuits, unacquainted with their Temper and Constitution, would ever have hoped to have carryed two such things as Popery and Arbitrary Power, both at once, upon a People so Jealous as the English are; and who hate Idolatry and Tyranny, above any Nation in the World.

As for King James II. had he undertaken any thing but these two, his vast Revenue, his Reputed Personal Valour, and the Fame he had gained both at Home and Abroad, by the Defeat of Monmouths Invasion, would have gone near to have effected it; And after all, if he had in the beginning of October, freely granted all the Proposals made him by the Nobility, and suffered a Parliament to have met, and given up his Evil Ministers to Justice, and permitted the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales to have been freely Debated and Determined in Parliament, it would in all probability, have prevented this Expe­dition [Page 147]of the Prince of Orange; But whilst he thought to preserve the pretended Succession, the Dispensing and Suspending Power, and the Eccle­siastical Commission, to promote his future De­signs, when he had once baffled the Prince of Orange, the Nation saw through the Project, and he lost all.

As for the English in general, their Interest Cen­ters in the maintaining the Rights and Franchises of their Kingdom; which renders them this Day the freest Nation in Europe; A Character so far from suppo­sing them to be like other Nations, a People Head­strong and unconstant, that it shews them to be the most Considerate and Understanding People in the World; in short, though the example of a Neigh­bouring Prince, had served for a Platform for other Crowned Heads, to enlarge their Power beyond the Limits prescribed by the Constitutions of the Kingdom: We see that at the very Moment, that the King began to act like his Neighbour, they pre­sently put a S [...]op to his Designs, without the least respect to his Dignity; They saw how Soveraign Authority Reigned in France, as Independent from the Laws, as in Turkey: They beheld the face of the Kingdom of Sweden and Denmark, changed by Introducing Hereditary Succession, whereas they were Elective before; They viewed the Face of the Kingdom of Hungary, heretofore the Seat of Liberty, Disfigured by the same Innovation; and Poland that boasts to have preserved the Ancient Laws entire, has notwithstanding suffered Injurious Alterations; In short, which way soever we cast our Eyes, we shall find Attempts of the same Nature prosper, only in England they have failed; whence we may conclude that maugre all which has been said of the English Nation, they are the Wisest, and most Prudent People that we know of under the Sun.