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THE H I S T O \ R Y O F E N G L A N D, 1 FROM THE RE VOL U T I O N TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE THE SECOND. BOOK I. CHAPTER I. i ^ I. State of the nation Immediately after the Revolution. § II. Ae count of "the new Miniftry. § III. The Convention converted into a Parliament, § I V. Mu- tiny in the army, . § V. The Coronation, and ahli- tion ofhearth-ynoney. § VI. The Commons vote a film of money to indemnify the Butch, § VII. mi- liam' s efforts in favour of the Bijfenters, § VIIL A5l for a toleration, § IXi Violent difputes about the bill for a not be veRed with a parliamentary authority by any management whatfoever. The Whigs replied. That the eilence of a Parliament confifted in the meeting and co-operation of the King, Lords, and Com- mons ; and that it was not material whether they were convoked by writ or by letter : they proved this aflertion by examples deduced from the ITiRory of England : they obferved, that a new eledlion would be attended with great trouble, expence, and lofs of time ; and that fuch delay might prove fatal to the Proteflant intereft in Ireland, as well as to the allies on the continent. In the,midRof this debate, the bill was brought down from the Lords, and be- ing read, a committee was appointed to make fome amendments. Thefe were no fooner made than the Commons fent it back to the Upper Houfe, and it immediately received the royal affent. By this a6t the Lords and Commions allembled at Weftminfter were declared the two Houfes of Parliament to all intents and purpofes : it likewife ordained. That the prefent aft, and all other afts to which the royal aiTent fhould be given before the next prorogation, ffiould be underftood and adjudged in law to begin on the thirteenth day of February : That the mem- bers, inftead of the old oaths of allegiance and fupre- macy, ffiould take the new oath incorporated in this aft under the ancient penalty ; and. That the prefent Parliament ffiould be diifolved in the ufual manner. Immediately after this tranfiftion, a v/arm 'debtD. BOOK above thrice his number, well-difciplined; healthy, and conduced by able officers. Neverthelefs, he "'"768^ was certainly blameable for having chofen fuch an iinwholefome fituation. At the approach of winter he retired into quarters, in hopes of being rein- forced with feven thoufand Danes, who had already arrived in Britain. Thefe auxiliaries were ftipulated in a treaty which William had juft concluded with the King of Denmark. The Englifli were not more fuccefsful at fea than they had proved in their operations by land. Admiral Herbert, now created Earl of Torrington, having failed to Ireland with the combined fquadrons of England and Holland, made a fruitlefs attempt upon Cork, and loft a great number of feamen by ficknefs, which was imputed to bad provifion. The Dartmouth ffiip of war fell into the hands of the enemy, who infefted the channel with fuch a number of armed ffiips and privateers that the trade of England fuftained incre- dible damage. § IV. The affairs of France wore but a gloomy ' afpecl on the continent, where all the powers of Europe feemed to have confpired her deftrudtion. King William had engaged in a new league with the States-Genera], in which former treaties of peace and com^merce were confirmed. It was ftipulated, that in cafe the King of Great-Britain ffiould be attacked, the Dutch fhould affift him with fix thou- fand infantry and tvv^enty ffiips of the line ; and that, provided hoftiiities ffiould be committed againft the States-General, England ffiould fupply them with ten thoufand infantry and twenty flilps of w^ar. This treaty was no fooner ratified than King William defpatched the Lord Churchill, whom he had by this time created Earl of Marlborough, to Holland, in order to command the Britiffi auxiliaries in that fervice, to the number of eleven thoufand, the greater part of which had been in the army of King James i iWU4S‘fie£( the ht' /.Lexeme U anx:/ Ji. Baiiitv/n •Tifne- I'^^Jjoc . _ its •* ^1- V *f 1 *^ t-r^ ' I* % A i./ # * p H r n * ^ .t V ?./• .f / 3 ‘- ':? ^ r*. 4 . it^f; hi V 'te. . -a. ■v •: >■ r-t : ': '-t'- -n tt\ 'f*^, ♦[ • i - L . ^ / ■ • r . - . ■ .---. Vtf r-V* ^ t-... • 5 *"'h'v^c;;d. hi 1 nt-hi’ ■ ,r A ' / <■ .t'-N-‘-:h^ 'C. %, ' . 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V. ^ ' ■2 - ^ ‘ * vdv IJr. '‘-I *rHI- • A:-^;r^u! i;h'^'>hbr >p^rh ii..'iJiC'ui:^ ' ■■ ■ ■:-“>• -rr Ih^e; arrd Ciia^'v - ih nv n-P'=\(.i: :! agamlf the ^ '- 3! ' v‘ -.'fc- !■-. ' - -id l}k f * i : ' t. i: t '; *■>. arctn -rrh f^. «'vf « -i -.-^ ± w -to'-* • =k»_ ' ^ •i' .<►■ ■. '-■■ ■» ■• • tii ■■■ -An ■' ' >i.-.d Ih# %.V : .?n.in\J! ■' >% ' .v ^•■a i .. .A., ...A^.-es -A Ah', hKHilanO.,. ’\r.r -'.■ ^ 5 'V- .5 . -e- . 5 -. ,- AAA.y A ^ V ■ ■ - ‘ 1 ^ rid ■ d Smi/Zt I iii>lisheJ as the Ac( diretts hi ' T^CaeZeU and .R.Bahhy/rt -Zime I’^bjtyc . 64 BOO II, -V— 1685. History of fnglano, :c union of the German Princes than their refentmenf of the fhocking barbarity with which the French had "^plundered, wafted, and depopulated their country. Louis having, by his intrigues in Poland, and at Conftantinople, prevented a pacification between the Emperor and the Ottoman Porte, the campaign was opened in Croatia, where five thoufand Turks were defeated by a body of Croats between Vihitz and Novi. The Prince of Baden, who commanded the Imperialifts on that fide, having thrown a bridge over the Morava at Paftarowitz, crofted that river, and marched in queft of the Turkifh army, amount- ing to fifty thoufand men, headed by a Seralkier. On the thirteenth day of Auguft he attacked the enemy in their entrenchments near Patochin, and forced their lines, routed them with great daughter, and took poftfelTion of their camp, baggage, and artillery. They retreated to Niffa, where the Gene- ral finding them ftill more numerous than the Im- perialifts, refolved to make a ftand ; and encamped in a fituation that was inaccelTible in every part except the rear, which he left open for the con- venience of a retreat. Through this avenue, he was, on the twenty- fourth day of September, attacked by the Prince of Baden, who, after a defperate re- fiftance, obtained another complete vidtory, enriched his troops with the Ipoil of the enemy, and entered NiftTa without oppofition. There he found above three thoufand horfes and a vaft quantity of pro- vifion. Having repofed his army for a few days in ' this place, he refumed his march againft the Turks, who had chofen an advantageous poll: at Widen, ^ and feemed ambitious of retrieving the honour they had loft: in the two former engagements. The Germans attacked their lines without hefitation; and though the MuftTulmen fought with incredible fury, they were a third time defeated with great flaughter. This defeat v/as attended with the lofs of Widen, whicli being furrcndered to the vidor, he L L I A M AND M A R Y. 6^ he diRributed his troops in winter-quarters, and re- CHAP, turned to Vienna, covered with laurels. ' § VI. The French were like wife baffled in their ^“'76^7^ attempt upon Catalonia, where the Dukede Noailles had taken Cairipredon, in the month of May. l.eaving a garrifon in this place, he retreated to the frontiers of France, while the Duke de Villa FJer- mofa, at the head of a Spanifh army, blocked up the place, and laid Roufillon under contribution. He afterwards undertook the fiege in form, and Noailles marched to its relief; but, he was fo hard prelTed by the Spaniards, that he withdrew the gar- rifon, difmantled the place, and retreated with great precipitation. The French King hoped to derive fome confiderable advantage from the death of Pope Innocent XL which happened on the twelfth day of Auguft. That Pontiff had been an inveterate ene- my to Louis ever Tince the affair of the franchifes, and the feifure of Avignon^. Cabals were imme- diately formed at Rome by the French fabtion againft the Spaniffl and Imperial intereft. The French Cardinals de Bouillon and Bonzi, accom- panied by Furftemberg, repaired to Rome with a * The Franchifes were privileges of afyium, annexed not only to the ainbaffadors at Rome, but even to the whole diftrift in which any ambaffadcr chanced to live. This privilege was become a terrible nuifance, in as much as it afforded protection to the moft atrocious criminals, who filled the city with rapine and murther. Innocent XL refolving to remove this evil, publiflied a bull, abolifhing: the panchifes 5 and almoft all the Catholick powers of Europe acquidced in what he had done, upon being duely informed of the grievance. Louis XIV. however, from a fpirit of pride and infolence, refufed to part with any thing that looked like a prerogative of his crown. He laid, the King of France was not the imirator, but a pattern a n,d example for other Princes. He rejefted with difdain the mild repre^ lentations of the Pope: he lent the Marquis de Lavarden as his ambaflador to Rome, wijh a formidable train, to infult Innocent even in his own city. That nobleman fwaggered through the ftreets of Rome like a bravo, taking all opportunities to affront the Pope, who^ excommunicated him in revenge. On the other hand the Parliament of Pans appealed from the Pope’s bull to a future coun- cil. Louis^ caufed the Pope’s Nuncio to be put under arrelf, took pofleffion of Avignon which belonged to the See of Rome, and fet the holy Father at defiance. VOL. I. large F y 66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. E 0^0 K large fiim of money. Peter Ottoboni, a Venetian, ^ _ A . was elefted Pope, and affumed the name of Alex- ander VIII. The Duke de Chaulnes, ambailador from France, immediately fignified in the name ol his mailer, that Avignon diould be reltored to the patrimony of the church ; and Louis renounced the franchifes, in a letter written in his owm hand to the Pontiff. Alexander received thefe marks of relpedb with the warmeft acknowledgements; but, when the Ambaffador and Furftemberg befought him to re-examine the election of the Biffiop of Cologn, which had been the fource of fo much calamity to the empire, he lent a deaf ear to their follicitations. Fie even confirmed the difpenfations granted by his predeceffor to the Prince of Bavaria, who was thus empowered to take poffeffion of the ele61;orate, though he had not yet attained the age required by the canons. Furffemberg retired in difguft to Paris, where Louis immediately gratified him with the Abbey of St. Germains. § VII. King William found it an eafier tafic to unite the councils of Europe againff the common, enemy, than to conciliate and preferve the affec- tions of his own fubjeds, among whom he began vifibly to decline in point of popularity. Many were diffatisfied with his meafures; and a great number even of thofe who exerted themfelves for his his elevation, had conceived a difguft from his per- Ibnal deportment, which w^as very unfuitable to the nfanners and difpofition of the Englifli people. Inftead of mangling with his nobility in fociai amiife- ments and familiar converfation, he maintained a difigreeable referve which had all the air of fullen pride : he feldom or never fpoke to his courtiers or attendants , he fpent his time chiefly in the clofet, retired from all communication; or among his troops, in a camp he had formed at Flounflow ; or in the exercife of hunting, to which he was immode-. rately addiefted. This had been, preferibed to him by / William and mary. 67 by Phyficians as necelTary to improve his conftitu- Cii^AP. tion, which was naturally weak, and by pradtife had ‘ ^ become lb habitual, that he could not lay it alide. . 16B9. His ill health, co-operating with his natural aver- fion to fociety, produced a peevifhnefs which could not fail of being difpleafing to thofe who v/ere near his perfon: this was encreafed by the difputes in his cabinet, and the oppofition of thofe who were profelTed enemies to his government, as well as by the alienation of his former friends. As he could not breathe without difficulty in the air of London, he refided chiefly at Hampton- Court, and expend- ed confiderable Lims in beautifying and enlarging that palace: he likewife purchafed the houfe at Kenfmgton of the Earl of Nottingham; and fuch profufion, in the expenfive war, gave umbrage to thfe nation in general. Whether he was advifed by his counfellors, or his own fagacity pointed out the expediency of conforming with the Engliffi humour, he now feemed to change his difpofition, and in forne manner adopt the manners of his pre- deceffors. In imitation of Charles II. he reforted to the races at New-maaket: he accepted an invi- tation to vifit Cambridge, where he behaved him- felf with remarkable affability to the members of the Univerfity: he afterwards .dined with Lord- Mayor of London, accepted the freedom of the city, and condefcended lb far as to become fovereign-m af- ter of the company of grocers. § VIII. While William thus endeavoured to Remove the prejudices which had been conceived againft his perfon, the period arrived which the Par- liament had preferibed for taking the oaths to the new government. Some individuals of the Clergy facrificed their benefices to their fcruples of con- fcience ; and abfolutely refufed to take oaths that were contrary to thofe they had already fworn in favour of their late fovereign. Thefe wxre diflin- ^uiffied by the epithet of Nonjurors : but tlieir F 2 number 68 ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK number bore a very fmall proportion to that of others, who took them w'ith fuch refervations and diftinftions as redounded very little to the honour of their integrity. Many of thofe who had been the warmdl advocates for non-refiflance and paf- five obedience made no fcruple of renouncing the allegiance to King James, and complying with the prefent adl, and having declared that they took the oaths in no other fenfe than that of a peaceable fubmilTion to the powers that were. They even af- firmed that the kgiflature itfelf had allowed the dif- tindtion between a king de fadio and a king de jii- re^ as they had dropped the w^ord “rightful,” wLen the form was under debate. They alledged that as prudence obliged them to conform to the letter of the oath, fo confcience required them to give it their own interpretation. Nothing could be more infamous and of worfe tendency, than this pradlice of equivocating in the moft facred of all obliga- tions. It introduced a general difregard of oaths, which hath been the fource of univerfal perjury and corruption. Though this fet of temporifers were bitterly upbraided both by the Nonjurors and the Papifls, they all concurred in reprefenting William as an enemy to the church ; as a Prince educated in the dodlrine of Calvin, which he plainly efpou- fed, by limiting his favour and preferment to fucli as were Latitudinarians in religion, and by his abo- liHiing Epifcopacy in Scotland. The Prefbyterians in that kingdom now tyrannifed in their turn. They were headed by the Earl of Crawford, a nobleman of a violent temper and ftrong prejudices. He was chofen Prefident of the Parliament by the intereft of Mdvil, and oppreffed the Epifcopalians in fuch a manner, that the greater part of them', from refent- ment, became well-wifhers to King James. Every circumftance of the hardfliips they underwent was reported in England ; and the Earl of Clarendon, as well as the fufpended Bilhops, circulated thefe par- • ticulars I WILLIAM AND MARY^ 69 ticulars witli great afTiduity. The oaths being re- CHAP, jected by the Archbilliop of Canterbury, the Bi- ^ Iliops of Ely, Chichefter, Bath and Wells, Peterbo- 1639. rough and Gloucefcer, they were fufpended from their funftions, and threatened with deprivation. Lake of Chichefter, being feized v/ith a dangerous difteinper, figned a folemn declaration, in which he profelfed his adherence to the doctrine of non-re- fifliance and paffive obedience, which he believed to be the diftinguifliing charafleriftick of the Church of England. After his death this paper was pub- iilhed, induftrioufly circulated, and extolled by the party, as an infpired oracle pronounced by a mar- tyr to religious truth and fmeerity. § IX. All the clamour that was raifed againft the King could not divert him from profecuting the fcheme of Comprehenfion. He granted a commif- fion under the great feal to ten bilhops, and twenty dignitaries of the church, authorifing them to meet from time to time in the Jerufalem-chamber, to prepare fuch alterations of the Liturg}’’ and the Ca- nons, and fuch propofals for the reformation of Ec- clefialtical courts as might moll conduce to the good order, edification, and uniting of the Church, and tend to reconcile all religious differences among the proteftant fubjeds of the kingdom. A cry was im- mediately raifed againft this commiftion, as an Ec- clefiaftical court illegal and dangerous. At thejr firft meeting, the authority of the commiffion was queftioned by Sprat, Bilhop of Rochefter, who re- tired in difguft, and was followed by Me\v of Win- chefter, and the Dodors Jane and Aldrich. Thefe were averfe to any alteration of the forms and con- ftitution of the Church in favour of an infolent and obftinate party, which ought to have been fatisfied with the toleration they enjoyed. They obferved, that an attempt to make fuch alteration wmild di- vide the Clergy, and bring the Liturgy into dif- efteem wjth the people, as it would be a plain ^ E 3 ‘ acknow- HISTORY OF. ENGLAND. K acknowledgement that it wanted corredion. They thought theylkould violate the dignity of the Church, by condefcending to make offers which the Diffenter^ were at liberty to refufe; and they fulpe6led fome of their colleagues of a defign to give up epifcopal ordination — a ftep inconfiftent with their honour, duty, oaths, and fubfcriptions. § X. The commiffioners, notwithflanding this feceffion, proceeded to debate v/ith moderation on the abufes of which the Diffenters had complained, and correfted every article that feemed liable to any juft objection 3 but the oppofite party employed all their art and induftry to inflame the minds of the people. The two univerflties declared againft all alterations, and thofe who promoted them. The King himfelf was branded as an enemy to the hie- rarchy 5 and they beftirred themfelves fo fuccefs- fully in the ele6lion of members for the Convoca- tion, that they procured a very confiderable majo^ rity. At their firft meeting, the friends of the Comprehenfion Scheme propofed Dr. Tillotlbn, clerk of the clofet to his Majefty, as prolocutor; but the other party carried it in favour of Dr. Jane, who was accounted the moft violent churchman in the whole affembly. In a Latin fpeech to the Bifliop of London as prefident, he, in the name of the Lower Houfe, afferted that the Liturgy of Elngland needed no amendment, and concluded with the old declaration of the Barons, Nolumus leges uiytglia mutari. W e will not fuffer the laws of Eng- land to be changed.” The Biftiop, in his reply, exhorted them to moderation, charity, and indul- gence towards their brethren the Diffenters, and to make fuch abatements in things indifferent as might ferve to open a door of falvation to multitudes of ftraying Chriftians. His injun6lions, however, pro- duced no favourable effecft. The Lower Houfe feemed to be animated by a fpirit of oppofition. Next day the Prefident prorogued them, on pre- tence WILLIAM AND M A R Y, tence that the royal commiffion, by which they C were to ad!, was defeftive for want of being fealedj and that a prorogation was necelTary until that fanc- tion Ihould be obtained. In this interval means were ufed to mollify their noncompliant tempers, ■but all endeavours proved inefledual. When they met again, the Earl of Nottingham delivered the King’s commiffion to both Houfes, 'with a fpeech of his own, and a meffiage from his Majefly, im- porting, that he had fummohed them out of a pious zeal to do every thing that might tend to the beft eftabliffiment of the Church of England, which Ihould always enjoy his favour and protection. Ele exhorted them to lay afide all prejudice, and confi- der calmly and impartially whatever fliould be pro^ pofed : he allured them he would offer nothing but what fhould be for the honour, peace, and advan- tage of the proteftant religion in general, and par- ticularly of the Church of England. § XL The Bilhops, adjourning to the Jerufalem chamber, prepared a zealous addrefs of thanks to his Majefty, which, being fent to the Lower Houfe for their concurrence, met with violent oppofition. Amendments were propofed; a conference enfued, and, after warm debates, they agreed upon a cold addrefs, which was accordingly prefented. The ma- jority of the Lower Houfe, far from taking any meafures in favour of Diffenters, converted all their attention to the relief of their norjuring brethren. Zealous fpeeches were made in behalf of the fuf- pended Bilhops ; and Dr. Jane propofed that fome- thing might be done to qualify them to fit in the Convocation. This, however, was fuch a dange- rous point as they would not venture to difcufs ; yet, rather than proceed upon the bufinefs for which they had been affembled, they began to take cog- nizance of fome pamphlets lately publilhed, v/hicli they conceived to be of dangerous confequence to the Chrillian religion.' The Prehdent and his F 4 party HISTORY OF ENGLAND. party, perceiving the difpofition of the Houfe, did not think proper to communicate any propofal touching the intended reformation, and the King fuffered the feflion to be difcontinued by repeated prorogations. § XII. The Parliament meeting on the nineteenth day of October, the King, in a fpeech of his own compofing, explained the neceffity of a prefent fup- piy to carry on the war. He defired that they might be Ipeedy in their determinations on this fub- jedt, for thefe would in a great meafure influence the deliberations of the Princes and States concerned in the war againfl; France, as a general meeting of them was appointed to be held next month at the Hague, to fettle the opperations of the enfuing cam- paign. He concluded with recommending the defpatch of a bill of indemnity, that the minds of his fubjedls might be quieted, and that they might unanimoufly concur in promoting the honour and welfare of the kingdom. As feveral inflammatory bills and difputes, which had produced heats and animofities in the lafl: fefilon, v/ere ftill depending, the King after having confulted both Houfes, re- folved to put an end to thofe difputes by a proroga- tion. He accordingly went to the Houfe of Lords, and prorogued the Parliament till the twenty-firfl: day or October, by the mouth of the new Speaker, Sir Robert Atkins, the Marquis of Hallifax having refigned that office. When they re-affembled, the King referred them to his former fpeech : then the Comm.ons unanimoufly refolved to aflifl his Majefly in reducing Ireland, and in joining with his allies abroad for 2 . vigorous profecution of the war againft France : for thefe purpofes they voted a fupply of two millions. § XIII. During this feflion the Whigs employed all their influence and intrigues in obflrufting the biil ^of indemnity, which they knew would open a door for favour and preferment to the oppofite party, which i WILLIAM AND MARY, 73 which began to gain ground in the King’s good CHAP, graces. With this view they revived the profecution ^ , of the Rate prifoners, A committee was appointed to prepare a charge againft Burton and Graham. The Commons refolved to impeach the Earls of Pe- terborough, Salifbury, and Caftlemain, Sir Edward Hales/ and Obadiah Walker, of high-treafon, for having been reconciled to the church of Rome, con- ti-ary to the laws of the realm. A bill was ordered to be brought in, to declare the eftate of the late Lord Chancellor Jeffries forfeited to the crown, and attaint his blood ; but it met with fuch oppofition that the meafure was dropped : the Houfe however agreed, that the pecuniary penalties incurred by thole perfons who had exercifed offices contrary to the laws againft popifli recufaUts lliould be Ipeedily levied, and applied to the publick fervice. The Lord Griffin being detedted in maintaining a cor- refpondence with King James, and his partifans, v/as committed to the Tower: but, as no other evi- dence appeared againft him than written letters, found in the falfe bottom of a pewter bottle, they could not help confenting to his being releafed upon bail, as they had lately refolved that Algernon Sid- ney was unjuftly condemned in the reign of Charles 11. becaufe nothing but writings had been produced againft him at his trial. The two Houfes concurred in appointing a commitee to enquire who were the advifers and profecutors in taking away the lives of Lord Rufiek Colonel Sydney, Sir Thomas Arm- ftrong, Alderman Corniffi, and others; and who were chiefly concerned in the arbitrary pra6tices touching the writs of Warranto^ and the furren- der of charters. This enquiry was levelled at the Marquis of Hallifax, who had concurred with the miniftry of Charles in all thefe feverities. Though no proof appeared, upon which votes or addrelfes could be founded, that nobleman faw it was neceflfary jor him to withdraw hinafelf from the adminiftration ; he HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o K he, therefore, refigned the privy- feal, which was piic ^ J ' in commiffion, and reconciled hirnfelf to the Tories^ 1689. of whom he became the patron and prote 61 :or. § XIV. The Commons likewife refumed the examination of the mifearriages in Ireland, and defired the King would appoint commiiTioners, to go over and enquire in the condition of the army in that kingdoh. Schomberg underftanding that he had been blamed in the Houfe of Commons for his ina6livity, tranfmitted to tlie King a fatisfa6lory vindication of his own condudl; and it appeared that the mifearriages in Ireland were wholly owing to John Shales, purveyor-general to the army. The Commons immediately prefented an addrefs to his Majefty, praying that Shales might be taken into cuftody ; that all his papers, accounts, and ftores, hiould be fecuredi and that Duke Schomberg might be empowered to fill his place with a more able purveyor. The King gave them to underhand, that he had already fent orders to the General for that purfofe. < Neverthe- iefs, they in another petition requefted his Majefly to name thofe who had recommended Shales to his fervice, as he had exercifed the lame office under King James, and was fufpedled of treafonablc pradtices againft the government. William de- clined gradfying their requell ; but he afterwards fent a melfage to the Houfe, defiring them to re- commend a certain number of commiffioners to fuperintend fuch provifions and preparations as might be necefifary for that fervice, as well as to ' nominate certain perfons to go over and examine the hate of the army in Ireland. The Commons were fo mollified by this inftance of his con- defcenfion, that they left the whole affair to his own direftion, and proceeded to examine other branches of mifconducl. Inftances of mifmanage- ment appeared fo numerous and fo flagrant, that they refoKed upon a fubfequent addrefs, to explain tire t WILLIAM AND MARY. 7S the ill condu 61 : and fuccefs of his army and navy ; ^ to defire he would find out the author of thefe mif- ' j carriages, and for the future entruft unfufpedled 1689,' perfons with the management of affairs. They ordered the victuallers of the fleet to be taken into cuftody, on fufpicion of their having furnifhed the navy with unwhoiefome provifion, and new com- miffioners were appointed, Bitter reproaches were thrown out againft the miniftry. Mr. Hambden • expreffed his furprife that the adminiflration fhould confifl of thofe very perfons whom King James had employed, when his affairs were defperate, to treat with the Prince of Orange, and moved that the King fhould be petitioned in an addrefs to remove fuch perfons from his prefence and councils. This was a flroke aimed at the Earl of Nottingham, whofe office of fecretary, Hambden defired to poffels; but his motion was not feconded, the court-members • obferving that Tames did not depute thofe lords to the Prince of Orange becaufe they were attached to his own intereft, but for a very different reafon, namely, that they were well known to difapprove of his meafures, and therefore would be the more agreeable to his Elighnefs. The Houfe, hovv^ever, voted an addrefs to the King, defiring that the authors of the mifcarriages might be brought to condign puniffiment, § XV. In the fequel, the queftion was pro- pofed. Whether a placeman ought to have a feat in the Houfe.? and a very warm debate enfued; but it was carried in the affirmative, on the fuppofition that by fuch exclufion the commonwealth would be de^ prived of fome of the ableft fenators of the king- dom. But what chiefly irritated William againft the Whigs was their backwardnefs in promoting the publick fervice, and their difregard of the earneft defire he expreffed to fee his revenue fettled for life. He faid his title was no more than a pageant, and wqrft of all goveniments was that of a king with- out ^5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK out treafure. Nevertherlefs, they would not grant the civil lift for a longer term than one year. They began to think there was fomething arbitrary in his difpofition. His fullen behaviour, in all probability, firft infufed this opinion, which was ftrengthened and confirmed by the infmuations of his enemies. The Scots, who had comie up to London to give an account of the proceedings in their Parliament, ^ were infeJled with the fame notion. One Simpfon, a prefbyterian of that country, whom the Earl of Portland employed as a fpy, had infinuated himfelf into the confidence of Nevil Payne, an aftive and intelligent partilan and agent of King James; by which means he fupplied the Earl with fuch intelli- gence as raifed him to fome degree of credit with that minifter. This he ufed in prepoireffing the Earl againft the King’s beft friends, and infufing jealoufies which were foon kindled into mutual dil- truft and animofity. § XVI. Sir James Montgomery, who had been a warm advocate for the Revolution, received advice that the court fufpefled him and others of difaffeftion, and was em.ployed in feeking evidence by which they might be profecuted. They were equally alarmed and incenfed at this intimation, and Payne feifed the opportunity of feducing them into a correfpondence ' with the exiled King. They demanded the fettle- ment of Prefbytery in Scotland, and adually en^ gaged in a treaty for his reftoration. They recon- ' ciled themfelves to the Duke of Queenfberry, and the other noblemen of the epifcopal party : they wrote to J ames for a fupply of money, arms, and ammunition, together with a reinforcement of three thoufand men from Dunkirk. Montgomery had acquired great intereft among the Whigs of England, and this he employed in animating them againft the King and the miniftry. He reprefented them as a fet of wicked men, who employed infamous fpies to enfnarc and ruin the fall friends of the government WILLIAM AND MARY. 77 Eovernment, and found means to alienate them fo C H A p. much from William, that they began to think in , ' ^ earneft of recalling their banifhed Prince. The j68o, Duke of Bolton, and the Earl of Monmouth, were almoft perfuaded into a confpiracy for the purpofe ; they feemed to think James was now fo well con- vinced of his former errors, that they might truE him without fcruple. Montgomery and Payne were the chief managers of the fcheme, and they admitted Eergufon into their councils, • as a veteran in the arts of treafon. In order to blaft William’s credit in the city, they circulated a report that James would grant a full indemliity, feparate himfelf entirely from the French intereft, and be contented with a fecret connivance in favour of the Roman Catholicks. Montgomery’s brother affured the Bifliop of Salifbury, that a treaty with King James was ab- folutely concluded, an invitation fubfcribed by the whole cabal. He faid this paper would be fent to Ireland by the way of France, as the diredl com- munication was difficult; and he propofed a method for feizing it before it fhould be conveyed out of the kingdom. Williamfon, the fuppofed bearer of it, had obtained a pals for Flanders, and a meffenger ' ♦ being fent in purfuit of him, fecured his clothes and portmanteau ; but, after a very ftridl: examina- tion,^ nothing appeared to juftify the intelligence. \yilliamfon had previoufly delivered the papers to Simpfon, who hired a boat at Deal, and arived in fafety at France. He returned with large affurances, and twelve thoufand pounds were remitted to the Scottifh undertakers. Montgomery, the informer, feeing^ his intelligence falfified, loft his credit with the Biffiop, and, dreading the refentment of the other party, retired to the continent. The con- fpirators loudly complained of the falfe imputations they had incurred. The pretented difcoveries were looked upon as fidtions of the miniftry, and the HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK King on this occafion fufFered greatly in the opinion of his fubje^ls. '^1689?^ § XATI. The Tories ftill continued to carry on a fecret negociation with the Court. They took advantage of the ill-hunnour fubfifting between the , King and the Whigs ; and promifed large fupplies of money, provided this parliament fliould be diffolved, and another immediately convoked. The oppofite party, being apprifed of their intention, brought a bill into the Houfe of Commons for reftoring cor- porations to their ancient rights and privileges. They knew their own ftrength at elections confided in thefe corporations ; and they inferted two ad- ditional fevere claufes againft thofe who were in any" drape concerned in furrendering charters. The whole power of the Tories was exerted againft this t:laufe ; and now the Whigs vied with them in mak- ing court to his Majefty, promifmg to manifeft the moft fubmiffive obedience ftiould this bill be ena6led into a law. The ftrength of the Tories was now be- come fo formidable in the Houfe, that they outvoted the other party, and the claufes were reje6ted ; but the bill paftM in its original form. The Lords debated upon the point. Whether a corporation could be forfeited or furrendered ? Lord Cheif Juftice Holt and mo other Judges declared their opinion in the affimative : the reft thought otherwife^ as no precedents could be produced farther back than the reign of Flenry VIII. when the Abbies were furrendered ; and tliis inftance feemed too violent to authorife fuch a meafure in a regular courfe of adminiftration. The bill, however, pafled by one voice only. Then both parties quickened their applications to the King, who found himfelf fo per- plexed and diftracled betv/een mo fa6lions which he equally feared, that he refolved to leave the go- vernment in the Queens hands, and retire to Hol- land. He communicated this defign to the Marquis ot Caermarthen, the Earl of Shrewfoury, andfome 3 other V/ILLIAM AND MARY. 79 t>ther noblemen, who prefled him to lay afide his C H A p. refolution, and even mingled tears with their re- ^ ^ Frances. ^ ^ § XVIII. He at length complied with their re-^ qiieft, and determined to finifli the Irifh war in perfon. This defign was far from being agreeable to the Parliament. His friends dreaded the climate of that country, which might prove fatal to his W'eak conftitution. The well-wifhers of James were afraid of that prince’s being hard preded, fliould William take the field againft him in perfon: both Houfes, therefore, began to prepare an addrefs againft diis expedition. In order to prevent this < ' remonfl-Tance, the King went to the Parliament, and formally fignified his refolution. After his fpeech they were prorogued to the fecond day of April. On the fixth day of February they were diflblved by proclamation, and a new parliament was fummoned to meet on the twentieth day of March. During this felTion, the Commons in an addrefs to the King, defired that a revenue of fifty thoufand pounds might be fettled upon the Prince and Princefs of Denmark, out of the civil lift ; and his Majefb/ gratified them them in this particular : yet, the w^armth and in- duftry with which the friends of the Princefs exerted themfelves in promoting the fettlemiCnt produced a coldnefs and mifunderftanding between the two filters j and the fubfequent difgrace of the Earl of ' Marlborough was imputed to the part which his wife a6led on the occafion. She was lady of the bed- chamber, and chief confident to the Princefs, whom Ike ftrenuoufly advifed to infift upon the fettlement, ratlier than depend upon the generofity of the King and Queen. § XIX. About this period. General Ludlow, who at the Reftoration had been excepted from the a6t of indemnity, as one of thofe who fate in judge- ment upon Charles I. arrived in England, and offered his fervice in reducing Ireland, where he had formerly f So HISTORY OF ENGLAND; BOO K formerly commanded. Though a rigid republican, , he was reputed a confeientious man, and a good 26^9. officer. He had received ibme encouragement to come over, and probably would have been employ- ed, had not the Commons interpofed. Sir Edward Seymour, who enjoyed by grant an eflate in Wilt- fhire, which had formerly belonged to Ludlow, ' began to be in pain for his poffeffion. He obferved in the Houfe, that the nation would be difgraced, ihould one of the parricides be fuffered to live in the kingdom. An addrefs was immediately prefented to the King, defiring a proclamation might be iffued^ promifing a reward for apprehending General Ludlow. This was accordingly publiffied ; but not before he had landed in Holland, from whence he returned to Vecay in Swifferland, where he wrote the memoirs of his life, and died after an exile of thirty years. § XX. While King William fluftuated between two parties in England, his intereft in Scotland had well nigh given way to a coalition between the ori- ginal Jacobites and Montgomery’s party of difeon- tehted Prefbyterians. Colonel Cannon, who fuc- ceeded the Vifeount Dundee in command, after having made feveral unfuccefsful efforts in favour of of the late King’s intereft, retired into Ireland ; and the Highlanders chofe Sir El ugh Cameron for their leader. Under him they renewed their incurftons with the better profpebb of fuccefs, as feveral regi- ments of the regular troops had been fent to re-inforce the army of Schomberg. James affifted them with , cloaths, arms, and ammunition, together with fome officers, amxOngft whom was Colonel Bucan, appoint- ed to a6l as their chief commander. This officer, at the head of fifteen hundred men advanced into the fhire of Murray, in hopes of being joined by other malcontents but he was furprifed and routed by Sir Thomas Livingftone, while Major Fergufon de- ftroyed the places they pofleffed in the Ifle of Mull; fo that the Elighlanders were obliged to retire, and I i WILLIAM AND MARY. 8r tind conceal themfelves among their hills and faft- chap. , neffes. The friends of James, difpairing of doing ^ ^ any thing effedual for his fervice in the field, con- verted ail their attention to the proceedings in Parliament; where they imagined their intereft was much ftronger than it appeared to be upon trial. T hey took the oaths without hefitation, and hoped, by ’ by the affiftance of their new allies, to embroil the government in fuch a manner that the miajority of the people would declare for a reftoration. But the viev/s of thefe new-cemented parties were altogether incompatible ; and their principles diametrically op- pofite. Notwithftanding their concurrence in Parlia-' ment, the Earl of Melvil procured a fmail majority. The oppofition was immediately difcouraged : fome individuals retra6led, rather than fall with a finking caufe ; and mutual jealoufies began to prevail. The leaders of the coalition treated feparately with King J ames ; made inconfiflent demands ; reciprocally con- cealed their negociation : in a word, they diflrufbed, and hated one another with the mod implacable re- fentment. § XXL The Earls of Argyle, Anandale, and Braidalbin withdrew from their council, and re- paired to England. Montgomery, terrified at their defedlion, went privately to London, after he had hinted fomething of the plot to Melvil, and follicited a pafs from the Queen, which was refufed. Anan- daie, having received information that Montgomery had difclofed all the particulars of the negociation, threw himfelf upon the Queen’s mercy and dif- covered all he knew of the confpiracy. As he had not treated with any of the malcontents in England, they remained fecure from his evidence ; but he in- formed againfl; Nevil Payne, who had been fent down as their agent to Scotland, where he now re- fided. He was immediately apprehended by the council of that kingdom, in confequence of a letter frorn the Earl of Nottingham ; and twice put to the \oL, L G torture , HISTORY OF ENGLAND. book torture, which he refolutely bore, without difcover-^ , ing his employers. Montgomery ftill abfconded in , ^ London, folliciting a pardon ; but, finding he could not obtain it, except on condition of making a full difcovery, he abandoned his country, and chofe to die in exile, rather than betray his confederates. This difunion of the confpirators, and difcovery of the plot, left the Earl of Melvil in a pofTeflion of a greater majority; though even this he was fain to fecure by overftraining his inftrudtions in the arti- cles of patronage, and the fupremacy of the crown, which he yielded up to the fury of the fanatick Prefbyterians, contrary to the intention of King William. In lieu of thefe, however, they indulged him with the tax of chimney or hearth-money : as ' well as with a teft to be impofed upon all perfons in office and parliament, declaring William and Mary* their lawful fovereigns, and renouncing the pre- tended title of King James. All the laws in favour of epifcopacy were repealed. Threefcore of the Pref- byterian miniflers, who had been ejefted at the Ref- toration, were ftill alive ; and thefe the Parliament declared the only found part of the Church. The government of it was lodged in their hands ; and they W'ere impowered to admit fuch as they fhould think proper, to their affiftance. A few furious ' fanaticks being thus aflfociated, proceeded with un- governable violence to perfecute the epifcopal party, exercifing the very fame tyranny againft which they themfelves had fo loudly exclaimed. An, is^o. § XXII. While the Prefbyterian intereft thus tri- umphed in Scotland, the two parties that divided England employed their whole influence and atten- ' tion in managing the eie6lions for a new parliament ; and the Tories obtained, the vi6lory. The King feemed gradually falling into the arms of this party. They complained of their having been totally ex- cluded from the Lieutenancy of London at the King’s acceffion to the crown; and now a con- fiderablc I WILLIAM AND MARY. 83 fiderable number of the moft violent Tories in theC H A P* city were admitted into the commiiTion by the inte- ^ ^ reft and addrefs of the Bifliop of L>ondon, the Mar- j6yo. quis of Caermarthen, and the Earl of Nottingham. To gratify that party, the Earls of Monmouth and Warrington were difmifled from their employments : nay, when the Parliament met on the twentieth day of March, the Commons chofe for their Speaker Burner. Sir John Trevor, a violent partifan of that who had been created Mailer of the Rolls by the TindaJ. late King. He was a bold, artful man, and under- B-aiph. took to procure a majority to be at the devotion of the Court, provided he fhould be fupplied with the neceflary fums for the purpofes of corruption. Wil- liam, finding there was no other way of maintaining his adminiftration in peace, thought proper to coun- tenance the pradlife of purchafing votes, and appoint- ed Trevor firft commifiioner of the great feal. In his fpeech to the new Parliament, he gave them to underftand, that he Hill perfiiled in his refolution of going in perfon to Ireland. He defired they would make a fettlement of the revenue, or eftablifh it for the prefent, as a fund of credit, upon which the ne- ceflary fums for the fervice of the government might be immediately advanced : he fignified his intention of fending to them an a6l of grace, with a few ex- ceptions, that he might manifeft his readinefs to ex- tend his protedion to all his fubjeds, and leave no colour of excufe for raifing difturbances in his abfence, as he knew how bufy fome ill-affeded men were in their endeavours to alter the eftablifhed government : he recommended an union with Scotland, the Parlia- ment of which had appointed commiflioners for that purpofe : he told them he fhould leave the admini- ilration in the hands of the Queen, and defired they would prepare an ad to confirm her authority : he exhorted them to difpatch the^bufinefs for which they were aflembled, to avoid debates, and exprefied his G 2 hope ^4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK hope that they fhoiild foon meet again^ to finifli what might be now left imperfe6l. § XXIII. The Commons, in compliance with his requeil, voted a fupply of twelve hundred thou- I'and pounds, one million of that fum to be raifed by a claufe of credit in the revenue- bill ; but he could not prevail ujx)n them to fettle the revenue for life. They granted, however, the hereditary excife for that term, but the cuftoms for four years only. They confidered this Ihort term as tlie befl: fecurity the kingdom could have for frequent Parliaments ; though this precaution was not at all agreeable to their fovereign. A poll-bill was likewife paffedi other fupplies were granted, and both parties feemed to court his Majelly, by advancing money on thole funds of credit. The Whigs, however, had another battery in referve. They produced, in the Upper Houfe, a bill for recognizing their Majefties as the rightful and lawful fovereigns of thefe realms, and for declaring ail the adls of the laft Parliament to be good and valid. The Tories were now reduced to a very perplexed fituation. They could not oppofe the bill without hazarding the intereft they had fo lately acquired, nor alfent to it without folemnly re- nouncing their former arguments and diftindtions* They made no great objeSions to the firft part, and even propofed to enaft, That thofelhould be deemed good lavy^s for the time to come ; but they refufed to de- clare them valid for that which was paft. After a long debate, the bill was committed j yet the Whigs loft their majority on the report; neverthelefs, the bill was I'ecovered, and pafied with fome alteration in the words, in confequence of a nervous, fpirited proteft, figned Bolton, Macclesfield, Stamforda Newport, Bedford, Plerbert, Suffolk, Monmouth, Delamere, and Oxford. The whole intereft of the court was thrown into the fcale with this bill, before it would preponderate againft the Tories, the chiefs of whom, with the Earl of Nottingham at their head^ WILLIAM AND MARY. head, jprotefted in their turn. The fame, party in the Houfe of Commons were determined upon a vigorous oppofition ; and in the mean time fome ■trifling objedlions were made, that it might be com-* mitted for amendment ; but their defign was pre- maturely difcovered by one of their fadhion, who chanced to.queftion the legality of the Convention, as it was not fummoned by the King’s writ. This infmuation was anfwered by Somers, the Soliicitor- General, who obferved, that if it was not a legal Parliament, they who were then met, and v/lio had taken t]ie oaths ena6ted by that Parliament, were guilty of high-treafon : . the laws repealed by it were Hill in force : it was their duty, therefore, to return to King James; and all concerned in collefting and paying the money levied by the a6ts of that Parli- rnent were highly -criminal. The Tories were fo Hruck with thefe arguments, that the bill paffed with- out further oppofition, and immediately received the royal aflent. Thus the fettlement w^as confir- med by thofe very people who had fo loudly ex- claimed againfl: it as illegal: but the Whigs, with all their management, would not have gained their 'point, had not the Court been interefled in the dilpute. § XXIV. There was another violent contefl be- tween the two parties, on the import of a bill re- •quiring all fubjecls in office to abjure King James, on pain of imprifonment. Though the clergy were at Hrft exempted from this teft, the main body of the Tories oppofed it with great vehemence; while the the Whigs, under countenance of the miniftry, fup- ported it with equal vigour. It produced long and violent debates ; and the two faftions feemed pretty equally balanced. At length, the Tories reprefented to the King, that a great deal of precious time would be loft in fruitlefs altercation : that thofe who de- clared againfl the bill would grow fullen and in- tra^able, fo as to oppofe every other motion that . G 3 might C H AP. II. 1650, S6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK might be made for the King’s fervice : that, in cafe ^ '_f of its beibg carried, his Majefty muft fall again into the hands of die Whigs, who would renew their former practices againft the prerogative ; and many in- dividuals, who were now either well affedled to him, or at lead: neutral, would become Jacobites from re- fentment. Thefe fuggeftions had fuch weight with King William, that he fent an intimation to the Commons, defiring they would drop the debate, and proceed to matters that were more prefiing. The Whigs in general were difgufted at this interpofition ; and the Earl of Shrewfbury, who had interefted himfelf warmly in behalf of the bill, refented it fo deeply, that he infilled on refigning his office of Secretary of State. The King, who revered his talents and in- tegrity, employed Dr. Tiilotfon and others, who were fuppofed to have credit with the Earl, to dif- fuade him from quitting his employment : but he continued deaf to all their remonftrances, and would not even comply with the requell of his Majelly, who prelTed him to keep the feais until he fhould return from Ireland. Long debates were likewife managed in the Houfe of Lords, upon the bill of abjuration, or rather an oath of fpecial fidelity to William, in oppofition to James. The Tories pro- felTed themfelves willing to enter into a negative en- gagement againll the late King and his adherents : but they Oppofed the oath of abjuration with all their might j and the Houfe was fo equally divided that neither fide was willing to hazard a decifion : fo that all the fruit of their debates was a prolongation of the feffion. ' ' • § XXV. An a6l was prepared for inveiling the Queen with the adminillration dating the King’s abfence ; another for reverfing the judgment on a Warranto againll the city of London, and re- lloring it to its ancient rights and privileges ; and at length, the bill of indemnity fo cordially recom- .. mended / - - . t ■ / W I L L I A M • A N D M A R Y: S7 innended by the, King paflfed both Floufes*. On the CHAP, twenty-firft day of May, the King clofed the feffion ^ ^ with a Ihort fpeech, in which he thanked them for the fupplies they had granted ; and recommended to them a pundual difeharge of their duties in their refpe6live counties, that the peace of the nation might not be interrupted in his abfence. The Houfes were adjourned to the feventh day of July; when the Parliament was prorogued and adjourned fucceffively. As a further fecurity for the peace of the kingdom, the deputy-lieutenants were authorifed to raife the militia in cafe of neceffity. All Papifts were prohibited to ftir above five miles form their v refpedtive places of abode : a proclamation was pub- iilhed for apprehending certain difaffefled perfons : Sir John Cochran and Fergufon were affually arr refted, on fufpicion of treafonable practice?. On the fourth day of June the King fet out for Ireland, attended by Prince George of Denmark, the Duke of Ormond, the Earls of Oxford, Scarborough, Manchefler, and many other perfons of diftinclion : on the fourteenth day of the month he landed at Carrickfergus, from whence he immediately pro- ceeded to Belfaft, were he was met by the Duke of Schomberg, the Prince of Wirtemberg, Major- General Kirke, and other officers. By this time Colonel Wolfey, at the head of a thoufand men, had defeated a ftrong detachment of the enemy near Bel- furbat: Sir John Lanier had taken Bedloe-caftle ; and that of Charlemont, a ftrong poll of great im- G 4 ' portance * The following perfons were excepted frorn the benefit of this a^. William, Marquis of Powis, Theophilus, Earl of Hunting- don ; Robert, Earl of Sunderland j John, Earl of Melfort ; Roger, Earl of Caftlemain ; Nathaniel, Lord Bifhop of Durham ; Thomas, Lord-Blfliop of St. David’s 5 Henry, Lord Dover 5 Lcrd Thomas Howard : Sir Edward Hales, Sir Francis Withers, Sir Edward Lutwych, Sir Thomas Jenner, Sir Nicholas Butler, Sir William Herbert, Sir Richard Holloway, Sir Richard Heath, Sir Roger L’ Eftrange, William Molineux, Thomas Tyndefiy, Colonel Townly, Colonel Lundy, Robert Brent, Edward Morgan, Philip Burton, Richard Graham, Edward'Petre, Obadiah Walker, Matthew Crone, and George Lord Jeffries, deccaftd, S8 BOOK HISTORY OF ENGLAND. portanCe, together with Baiingargy, near Cavan, had been reduced. King William having repofcd himfeif for two or three days- at BeifaR, vifited the the Duke’s head-quarters at Lifburne : then advan- cing to Hilllborough, publiihed an order againft prelT- ing horfes, and committing violence on the country- people. When fome of his general-officers propofed cautious meafures, he declared he did not come to Ireland to let the grafs'grow under his feet. He ordered the army to encamp and be reviewed at Loughbriiland, were he found it amount to fix-and- thirty thoufand effective men well appointed. Then he marched to Dundalk j and afterwards advanced to Ardee, which the enemy had juft abandoned. § XXVI. King James trufted fo m.uch to the difputes in the Engliffi Parliament, that he did not believe his fon- in-law would be able to quit that kingdom ; and William had been fix days in Ireland before he received intimation of his arrival. This was no fooner known, than he left Dublin under the guard of the militia commanded by Luttrel, and with a reinforcement of fix thoufand infantry, which he had lately received from France, joined the reft of his forces, which now almoft equalled William’s army in number, exclufive of about fif- teen thoufand men vdio remained in different garri- fons. Lie occupied a very advantageous poft on the bank of the Boyne, and, 'contrary to the advice of his general officers, refolved to ftand battle. They propofed to ftrengthen their garrifons, and retire to the Shannon, to wait the effe£t of the operations at fea. ^ Louis had promifed to equip a powerful ar- mament againft the Engliffi fleet, and fend over a great number of fmall frigates to deftroy William’s tranfports, as foon as their convoy ffiould be re- turned to England. The execution of this fcheme was not at all difficult, and muft have proved fatal to the Engliffi army ; for their ftores and ammuni- tions were ftiil on board s the fliips failed along the CO aft W I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 89 coaft as the troops advanced in their march ; and chap. there was not one fectire harbour into wliich they could retire on any emergency. James, however, ‘ was bent upon hazai-ding an engagement ; and ex- prefTed uncomimon confidence and' alacrity. Eefides the river, which was deep, his front was fecured by a morafs and a rifing-mound : fo that the Enslifh army could not attack him without mahifeft difad- vantage. § XXVII. King William marched up to the oppofite bank of the river, and, as he reconnoitred their fituation, was expofed to the fire of fome field pieces, which the enemy purpolely planted againft his perlbn. They killed a man and two horfes clofe by him ; and the fecond bullet rebounding from the earth, grazed upon his right fhoulder, fo as to car- ry off part of his clothes and Ikin, and produce a confiderable contufion. This accident, which he bore without the leafl: emotion, created fome con- fufion among his attendants, which the enemy per- ceiving, concluded he was killed, and fhouted aloud in token of their joy. The whole camp refounded with acclamation j ‘and feveral fquadrons' of their horfe were drawn down towards the river, as if they had intended to pafs it immediately, and at- tack the Englifh army. The report was inftantly cpmmunicated from place to place, until it reached Dublin ; from thence it was conveyed to Paris, where, contrary to the cuftom of the Erench court, the people were encouraged to celebrate the event with bonfires and illuminations. William rode along the line to fhow himfelf to the army after this nar- row efcape. At night he called a council of v/ar ; and declared his refblution to attack the enemy in the morning. Schomberg at firft oppofed his de- fign : but finding the King determined, he advi- fed that a ftrong detachment of horfe and foot fhould that night pafs the Boyne at Slane-bridge, 3nd take poll between the enemy and the pafs of Duleck, 5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^ Duleck, that the a6lion might be more decilivc, *- This coiinfel being rejeded, the King determined, 3650. that, early in the morning, Lieutenant-General Douglas, with the right wing of infantry, and young Schomberg with the horfe, diould pafs at Slane- bridge, while the main body of foot diould force their palfage at Old-bridge, and the left at certain fords between the enemy’s camp and Drogheda. The Duke, perpeiving his advice was not relillied 'by the Dutch Generals, retired to his tent, where the order of battle being brought to him, he re- ceived it with an air of difcontent, faying, it was the firil that had ever been fent him in that manner. The proper difpofidons being made, William rode quite through the army by torch-light and then re- tired to his tent, after having given orders for the foldiers to diftinguifh themfelves from the enemy by wearing green boughs in their hats during the addon. § XXVIII. At fix o’clock in the morning, Gcr neral Douglas, with young Schomberg, the Earl of Portland, and Auverquerque, marched towards Slane-bridge, and palled the river with very little oppofition. W^hen they reached the farther bank, they perceived the enemy 4rawn up in two lines, to a confiderable number of horfe and foot, with a morafs in their front i fo that Douglas was obliged to wait for a reinforcement. This being arrived, the infantry was led on to the charge through the morafs, while Count Schomberg rode round it with his cavalry, to attack the enemy in flank. The Irifli, inftead of waiting the aflTault, faced about, and retreated towards Duleck with Ibmc precipita- tion; yet not fo fall, but that Schomberg fell in among their rear, and did confiderable execution. King James, however, foon reinforced his left wing from the centre ; and the Count was in his turn pbliged to fend for aflillance. At this junfture. King Yvilliam’s main body, confining of the Dutch guards W I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 91 guards, the French regiments, and fome battalions C H A P. of Englifh, pafled the river, which was waift high, under a general difcharge of artillery. King James liad imprudently removed his cannon from the other fide ; but he had polled a ftrong body of mufquet* eers along the bank, behind hedges, houfes, and fome works raifed for the occafion. Thefe poured in a clofe fire upon the Englifh troops before they reached the fliore ; but it produced very little ef- fe6l : then the Irifli gave way ; and fome battalions landed without further opposition. Yet, before they could form, they were charged with great impetuofity by afquadron of the enemy’s horfe and a confiderabJe body of their cavalry and foot, commanded by Gene- ral Hamilton, advanced from behind fome little hil- locks to attack thofe that were landed, as well as to prevent the reft from reaching the fhore. His infantry turned their backs and fled immediately i but the horfe charged with incredible fury, both up- on the bank and in the river, fo as to put the un- formed regiments in confufion. Then the Duke of Schomberg pafled the river in perfon, put himfelf at the head of the French Proteftants, and point- ing to the enemy, Gentlemen (faid he) thofe are your perfecutors;” with thefe words he advanced to the attack, where he himfelf fuftained a violent pnfet from a party of the Irifli horfe, which had }iroke through one of the regiments, and were now on their return. They were miftaken for Englifli, and allowed to gallop up to the Duke, who received two fevere wounds in' the head : but the French regiments being now fenfible of their mif- take, raflily threw in their fire upon the Irifli while they were engaged with tlie Duke ; and iii- ftead of Saving, fliot him dead upon the fpot. The fate of this general had well nigh proved fatal to the Englifli army, wliich was immediately involved* in tumult and diforder; while the infantry of King J?jnies rallied, and returned to their pofts with a face - HISTORY OF ENGLAND. of refolution. They were juft ready to fall the centre, when King William having pafled with the left wing, compofed of the Danifh, Dutch, and Innifliillin horfe, advanced to attack them on the right. They were ftmck with fuch a panick at his appearance, that they made a fudden halt, and then facing about, retreated to the village of Dunore. There they made fuch a vigorous ftand, that the Dutch and Danifh horfe, though headed by the King in perfon, recoiled j even the Innifkilliners gave way ; and the whole wing would have been routed, had not a detachment of dragoons, belong- ing to the regiment of Cunningham and. Levifon, difmounted, and lined the hedges on each fide of the defile through which the fugitives were driven* There they did fuch execution upon the purfuersj as foon checked their ardour. The horfe, which were broken, had now time to rally, and returning to the charge, drove the enemy before them in their - turn. In this action General Hamilton, who had been the life and foul of the Irifli during the whole engagement, was wounded and taken : an incident which difcouraged them to fuch a degree, that they made no further efforts to retrieve the advantage they had loft. He was immediately brought to the King, who aflved him if he thought the Iriffi would make any further refiftance ; and he replied. Upon my honour, I believe they wilH for they haveftill a good body of horfe entire.” William, eying him with a look of difdain, repeated, “ Your honour! your honour!” but took no other notice of his having adted contrary to his engagement, when he was permitted to go to Ireland, oh pro- mife of perfuading Tyrconnel to fubmit to the new government. The Irifh now abandoned the field with precipitation ; but the French and Swifs troops, thatadled as their auxiliaries, under Lauzun, retreated in good order, after having maintained ■2 -the WILLIAM AND MARY. • 9:^ tile battle for fome time with intrepidity and per- c H A P. feverance. ^ § XXIX. As King William did not think pro- per to purfue the enemy, the carnage was not great. The Irifii loil fifteen hundred men, and the Englifh about one third of that number j though the vidory was dearly purchafed, confidering the death of the gallant Duke of Schomberg, who fell in the eighty- lecond year of his age, after having rivalled the beft generals of the time in military reputation. He was defcended of a noble family in the Palatinate, and his mother was an Englifh woman, daughter of Lord Dudley. Being obliged to leave his coun^ try on account of the troubles by which it was agi- tated, he commenced a foldier of fortune, and ferved fucceffively in the armies of Holland, Eng- land, France, Portugal, and Brandenburgh. He attained to the dignities of Marefchal in PYance, Grandee in Portugal, Generaliffimo in Pruffia, and Duke in England. He profelled the proteflant re- ligion ; was courteous and humble in his deport- ment : cool, penetrating, refolute, and fagacious ; nor was his probity inferior to his courage. This battle likewife proved fatal to the brave Caillemiore, who had followed the Duke’s fortunes, and com- manded one of the protcftant regiments. After having received a mortal woundj he was carried back through the river by four foldiers, and though almoft in the agonies of death, he with a chearful countenance encouraged thofe who were croffino- to do their duty, exclaiming, A la gloire, mes enfans ; a la gloire ! To glory, my lads: to glory!” The third remarkable perfon who loft his life on this oc- cafion, was Walker the clergyman, who had fo va- liantly defended Londonderryagainft the whole army of King James. He had been very gracioufty re- ceived by King William, who gratified him with a reward of five thoufand pounds, and a promife of further favour ; but, his military genius ftill predo- minating. w ^ I HISTORY OF ENGLAND. o o K minating, he attended his royal patron in thi^ ^ , battle, and, being Ihot in* the Belly, died in a few 1690. minutes. The perfons of diftindlion who fell on the other fide were the Lords Dongan and Carlingford, Sir .Neile O Neile, and the Marquis of Hocquin- ' court. J ames himfelf flood aloof during the aftion^ on the hill of Dunmore, furrounded with fome fquadrons of horfe ; and feeing vidlory declare againfb him, retired to Dublin, without having made the leafl effort to re-affemble his broken forces. Had he poffefled either fpirit or conduct, his army might have been rallied, and reinforced from his garri- fons, fo as to be in a condition to keep the field, and even a6l upon the offenfive 3 for his lofs was in- confiderable, and the viftor did not attempt to molefl his troops in their retreat — an omiffion which has been charged upon him as a flagrant inflance of mifcondu6l. Indeed, through the whole of this en- gagement, William’s perfonal courage was much more confpicuous than his military fkill. § XXX. King James no fooner arrived at Dub- lin, then he affembled the magiftrates and council of the city, and in a fhort fpeech refigned them to the fortune of the vidlor. He complained of the cowardice of the Irifh; fignified his refolution of leaving the kingdom immediately ; forbade them, on their allegiance, to burn or plunder the city after his departure ; and affured them, that, though he was obliged to yield to force, he would never ceafe to labour for their deliverance. Next day he fet out for Waterford, attended by the Duke of Berwick, Tyrconnel, and the Marquis of Powis. He ordered all the bridges to be broken down behind him, and embarked in a veffel which had been prepared for his reception. At fea he fell in with the French fquadron, commanded by the Sieur de Foran, who perfuaded him to go on board one of his frigates, which was a prime failer. In this he was fafely con- veyed to France, and returned to the place of his form.er I WILLIAM AND MARY. former refidence at St. Germain’s. He had no fooner quitted Dublin, than it was alfo abandoned by all the Fapifts. The Proteftants immediately took pofleffion of the arms belonging to the militia, under the condubt of the Bifhops of Meath and Limerick. A committee was formed to take charge of the adminiftration ; and an account of thefe tranf- aclions was tranfmitted to King William, together with a petition, that he would honour the city with his prefence. § XXX L On the morning after the battle of the Boyne, William fent a detachment of horfe and foot, under the command of M. Mellionere, to Drog- heda, the governor of which furrendered the place without oppofition. The King, at the head of the army, began his march for Dublin, and halted the hrft night at Bally-Breghan, where, having received advice of the enemy’s retreat from the capital, he fent the Duke of Ormond, with a body of horfe, to take pofleffion. Thefe were immediately followed by the Dutch guards, who fecured the caftle. In a few days the King encamped at Finglas, in the neighbourhood of Dublin, where he was vifited by the Bilhops of Meath and Limerick, at the head of the proteilant clergy, whom he alTured of his favour and proteblion. Then he publiflied a declaration of pardon to all the common people who had ferved againft him, provided they fhould return to their dwellings, and furrender their arms by the firft day of Auguft. Thofe that rented lands of Popifh pro- prietors who had been concerned in the rebellion were required to retain their rents in their own hands, until they Ihould have notice from the commiffioners of the revenue to whom they fhould be paid. The defperate leaders of the rebellion, who had violated the laws of the kingdom; called in the French, au- thorifed the depredations which had been committed upon theProe Hants, and rejefted the pardon offered to them on the King’s firft proclamation, were left to the / 96 HISTORY OF itNGLAND. BOOK the event of war, unlefs by evident demonftrations of repentance they fhoiild deferve mercy, which would **^' 76 ^ 7 ^ never be refufed to thofe who were truely penitent. The next ftep taken by King William was to iffiie a proclamation, reducing the brafs money to nearly its intrinfick value. In the mean time, the principal officers in the army of James, after having feen him embark at Waterford, returned to their troops, de- termined to profecute the war as long as they could be fuppiied with means to fupport their operations. § XXXII. During thefe tranfaftions, the Queen, as Regent, found herfelf furrounded with numberlefs cares and perplexities. Her council was pretty equally divided into Whigs and Tories, who did not always a6t with unanimity. She was diftradled between her apprehenfions for her father’s fafety and her hufband’s life : ffie was threatened witli an in- vafion by the French from abroad, and with an in- furredlion by the Jacobites at home. Neverthelefs, Ihe difguifed her fears, and behaved with equal pru- dence and fortitude. Advice being received that a fleet was ready to fail from Breft, Lord Torrington hoifted his flag in the Downs, and failed round to St. Helen’s, in order to affemble fuch a number of fhips as v;ould enable him to give them, battle. The enemy being difeovered off Plymouth, on the twentieth day of June, the Englifli Admiral, reinforced with a Dutch Iquadron, flood out to fea, with a view to in- tercept them at the back of the Ifle of Wight, fhould they prefume to fail up the channel : not that he thought himfelf ftrong enough to cope with them in battle. Their fleet confifted of feventy-eight fhips of war, two-and- twenty firefhips ; whereas, the combined fquadrons of England and Holland did not exceed fix-and-fifty ; but he had received orders to hazard an engagement, if he thought it might be done -v^ith any profpefl of fuccefs. After the hoflilc fleets had continued five days in fight of each other. Lord Torrington bore down upon the enemy off Beachy WILLIAM AND MARY, Reachy-head, on the thirueth day of June, at day- ^ ^ break. The Dutch fquadron, which compofed the ^ van, began the engagement about nine in the morn- 1690. ing : in about half an hour the blue divifion of the Englilli were clofe engaged with the rear of the French: but the red, which formed the centre, under the command of Torrington in perfon^ did not fill the line till ten o’clock, fo that the Dutch were almoft furrounded by the enemy, and, though they fought with great valour, fuftained confiderable damage. At length, the Admiral’s divifion drove between them and the French, and in that fituation the fleet anchored about five in the afternoon, when the a6tion was interrupted by a calm. The Dutch had fufFered fo feverely, that Torrington thought it would be imprudent to renew the battle ; he, there- fore, weighed anchor in the night, and with the tide of flood retired to the eafhward. The next day the difabled fhips were deftroyed, that they might not be retarded in their retreat. They were purfued as far as Rye: an Englifli fliip of feventy guns being ftranded near Winchelfea, was fet on fire, and de- ferred, by the captain’s command. A Dutch fliip of fixty-four guns met with the fame accident, and fome French frigates attempted to burn her j but the captain defended her fo vigoroufly that they were obliged to defifl, and he afterwards found means to carry her fafe to Holland. In this engagement the Englifli lofl: two flaips, two fea-captains, and about four hundred men ; but the Dutch were more unfor- tunate: Six of their great fliips were deftroyed. Dick and Brackel, rear-admirals, were flain, toge- ther with a great number of inferior officers and fea- men. Torrington retreated without further inter- ruption into the mouth of the Thames, and, having taken precaution againft any attempts of the enemy in that quarter, returned to London, the inhabitants of which were over-v/helmed with confternation. VoL. 1. H § XXXIIL HISTORY OF ENGLAND. § XXXIII. The government was infefted with the fame panick. The miniftry pretended to believe that the French a6ted in concert with the malcontents of the nation ; that infurre6i;ions in the different parts of the kingdom had been projeded by the Jacobites; and that there would be a general revolt in Scotland. Thefe infinuations were circulated bv •< the court-agents, in order tojuftify, in the opinion of the publick, the meafures that were deemed ne- celfary at this jundure ; and they produced the de- fired effe61:. The apprehenfions thus artfully raifed among the people inflamed their averfion to nonju- rors and Jacobites. AddreflTes were prefented to the Queen by the Cornifli tinners, by the lieutenancy of Middlefex, and by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Lieutenancy of London, filled with profelfions of loyalty, and promifes of fupporting their Majefties, as their lawful fovereigns, againft all oppofition. The Queen, at this crifis, exhibited remarkable proofs of courage, a6livity, and difcretion. She iffued out proper orders and dire61:ions for putting the nations in a pofture of defenfe, as well as for refitting and augmenting the fleet ; flie took meafures for appeafing the refentment of the Statcs-General, who exclaimed againft; the Earl of Torrington for his behaviour in the late a6lion. He was deprived of his command, and fent prifoner to the Tower ; and commiflioners were appointed, to examine the particular circumftances of his condud. A camp was formed in the neighbourhood of Torbay, where the French feemed to threaten a defeent. Their fleet, which lay at anchor in the bay, cannonaded a a'fmall village called Tingmouth. About a thon- land of their men landed without oppofition, fet fire to the place, and burned a few coafting veffels : then they re-embarked, and returned to Breft, fo vain of this achievement, that they printed a pompous account of their invafion. Some of the Whig par- tiftins, publiftied pamphlets, and diffufed reports, implying WILLiAM AND MARY. implying, that the fufpended bifhops were con cerned in the confpiracy againft the government : and thefe arts proved fo inflammatory among the com- mon people, that the prelates thought it neceflfary to print a paper, in which they aflTerted their innocence in the moft folemn proteftations. The court feems to have harboured no fufpicion againft them, other- wife they vvould not have efcaped imprifonment. The Queen ifliied a proclam-ation for apprehending the Earls of Lichfield, Ayiefbury, and Caftlemain; Vifcount Preftoiij the Lords Montgom.ery and Bellafisj Sir Edward Hales, Sir Robert Tharold, Sir Robert Hamilton, Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, Colonel Edward Sackville, and fome other officers. Thefe were accufed of having confpired wnth other clilaffeded perfons to difturb and deftroy the govern- ment, and of a defign to concur with her Majefty’s enemies in the intended invafion. The Earl of Torrington continued a prifoner in the Towner till next felfion, when he was brought into the Houfe of Commons, and made a fpeech in his owm defence. His cafe produced long debates in the Upper Houfe, wliere the form of his commitment was judged illegal : at length he was tried by a court- martial, appointed by the commiflaoners of the Ad- miralty, though not before an act had paffed, de-, daring the power of a lord high-admiral vefted in. thofe commiflioners. The prefident of the court was Sir Ralph Delaval, who had adted as vice-ad- miral of the blue in the engagement. The Earl was acquitted, but the King difmiflfed him from the fervice ; and the Dutch exclaimed againft the par- tiality of his judges. § XXXIV. William is faid to have intercepted all the papers of his father-in-law and Tyrconnel, and to have learned from them, not only the defign projedled by the French to burn the Englifh tranf- ports, but'*likewife the undertaking of one Jones, who engaged to alTaflinate King William. No fuch H 2 attempt 99 .CHAP. II. 100 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK attempt, however, was made, and, in all proba- I* bility, the whole report was a fidtion, calculated to throw an odium on J ames’s charadler. On the ninth day of July, William detached General Douglas with a confiderable body of horfe and foot towards Ath- lone, while he himfelf, having left* Trelawny to command at Dublin, advanced with the reft of his • army to Inchiquin, in his way to Kilkenny. Co- lonel Grace, the governor of Athione for King J ames, being fummoned to furrender, fired a piftol at the trumpeter, faying, Thefe are my terms.’" Then Douglas refolved to undertake the fiege of the place, which was naturally very ftrong, and defended by a refolute garrifon. An inconfiderable breach was made, when Douglas, receiving intelligence that Sarsfield was on his march to the relief of the be- fieged, abandoned the enterprife, after having loft above four hundred men in the attempt. The King continued his march to the weftward > and, by dint of fevere examples, eftablifhed fuch order and dif- cipline in his army, that the peafants were fecure from the leaft violence. At Carlow he detached the Duke of Ormond to take pofleffion of Kilkenny, where that nobleman regaled him in his own caftle, which the enemy had left undamaged. While the army encamped at Carrick, Major-General Kirke was fent to Waterford, the garrifon of which, con- fifting of two regiments, capitulated, upon condition of marching out with their arms and baggage, and being condufled to Mallow. The fort of Dun- cannon was furrendered on the fame terms. Here the Lord Dover and the Lord George Howard were admitted to the benefit of the King’s mercy and protedlion. § XXX V. On the firft day of Auguft, William being at Chapel-Hard, publifhed a fecond declara- tion of mercy, confirming the former, and even ex- tending it to perfons of fuperior rank and ftation, whether natives or foreigners, provided they would. 4 lOI WILLIAM AND MARY. by the twenty-hfty day of the month, lay down their C 'arms, and fubmit to certain -conditions. This offer ^ of indemnity produced very little effedtj for the Irifh were generally governed by their priefts, and the news of the vi6tory which the French fleet had obtained over the Englifh and Dutch was circulated with fuch exaggerations as elevated their Ipirits, and effaced all thoughts of fubmiffion. The King had returned to Dublin, with a view to embark for England ; but receiving notice that the defigns of his domeffick enernies were difcovered and fruft- rated, that the fleet was repaired, and the French ' navy retired to Breff: he poftponed his voyage, and refolved to reduce Limerick ; in which Monfieur Boifffeleau commanded as governor, and the Duke of Berwick and Colonel Sarsfield afted as inferior -officers. On the ninth day of Auguft, the King having called in -his detachment, and advanced into -the neighbourhood of the place, fummoned the .commander to deliver the town; and Boiffeleau anfwered, that he imagined the beft way to gain the good opinion of the Prince of Orange would be a vigorous defenfe of the town which his Majefty had -committed to his charge. Before the place was fully in veiled. Colonel Sarsfield, with a body of hoiTe and dragoons, paffed the Shannon in the night, in- tercepted the King’s train of artillery on its way to the camp, routed the troops that guarded it, difabled the cannon, deftroyed the carriages, waggons, and ammunition, and returned in fafety to Limerick. Notwithflanding this difafter, the trenches were opened on the feventeenth day of the month, and a battery was raifed with fome cannon brought from W aterford. The fiege was carried on with vigour, and tlie place defended with great refolution. At length, the King ordered his troops to make a lodge- ment in the covered way or counterfcarp, which was accordingly alfaulted with great fury : but the aflailants met with fuch a warm reception from the H 3 befieged H A P- II. — — J 1650. 102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK befieged, that they were repulfed with the lofs or twelve hundred men, either killed on the fpot or mortally wounded. This difappointment concur- ring Vv'ith the badnefs of the weather, which became rainy and unwholefome, induced the Ring to re- nounce his undertaking. The heavy baggage and cannon being fent away, the army decamped, and marched tov/ards Clonmel. William having con- ilituted the Lord Sidney and Thomas Coningfhy Lords JuRices of Ireland, and left the command of the army with Count Solmes, embarked at Dun- cannon with Prince George of Denmark, on the fifth of September, and next day arrived in King- Rord, near Briftol, from whence he repaired to Windfor. . ^ XXXVI. About the latter end of this month tlte Earl of Marlborough arrived in Ireland, with five thoufand Engliili troops, to attack Cork and Kinfale, in conjnndlion with a detachment from the great army, according to a fcheme he had propo- fed to King William. Having landed his foldiers without much oppohtion in the neighbourhood of Cork, he was joined by five thoufand men, under the Prince of Wirtemberg, between whom and the Earl a difpute arofe about the command ; but this was compromifed by the interpofition of La Melli- onere. The place being invefted, and the batteries raifed, the befiegers proceeded with fuch rapidity that a breach was foon effedled. Colonel Mackilli- cut, the governoi'j demanded a parley, and hoftages were exchanged ; but he reiedted the conditions that were offered, and hoftilities re-commenced with redoubled vigour. The Duke of Grafton, Yt^ho ferved on this occafion as a volunteer, was mortally wounded in one of the attacks, and died regretted as a youth of promifing talents. Prepa- rations being made for a general affault, the befieged thought proper to capitulate, and furrendered themielves prifoners of war. Bcfides the Governor and WILLIAM AND MARY. 103 and Colonel Ricaut, the vl6lor found the Earls of C H A p. Clancarty and Tyrone among the individuals of ,^ ^ the garrifon. Marlborough having taken poffef- fion of Cork, detached Brigadier Villiers with a bo- dy of horfe and dragoons to fummon the town and forts of Kinfale, and next day advanced with the reft of the forces. The old fort was immediately taken by aftault; but Sir Edward Scot, who com- manded the other, fuftained a regular fiege, until the breach was pra6licable, and tlien obtained an honourable capitulation. Thefe iTiaritime places be- ing reduced, all coiTimunication between France and the enemy, on this ftde of the ifland, was cut off, and the Iriili were confined to Ulfter, where they could not fubfift without great difficulty. The Earl of Marlborough having finiflied this expedition in thirty days, returned with his prifoners to Eng- land, where the fame of this exploit added greatly to his reputation. § XXXVII. During thefe tranfadlions. Count de Lauzun, commander of the French auxiliaries in Ireland lay inablive in the neighbourhood of Gal- way, and tranfmitted fuch a lamentable account of his fituation to the court of France, that tranfports were fent over, to brin'g home the French forces. In thefc he embarked with his troops, and the com- mand of the Iriffi forces devolved to the Duke of Berwick, though it was afterwards transferred to M. St. Ruth. Lauzun was difgraced at Verfailles for having deferted the caufe before it was defperate : ^ Tyrconnel, who accompanied him in his voyage, foilicited the French court for a further fupply of officers, arms, clothes, and ammunition for the Irifii army, which he faid would continue firm to the intereft of King James, if thus fupported. Mean while they formed themfelves into feparate bodies of freebooters, and plundered the country, under the appellation of Rapparies : while the troops of King V' iiliam either enjoyed their eafe in quar- H 4 ters 104 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK tcrs, or imitated the rapine of the enemy j fo that, , between both, the poor people were miferably har- raffed. § XXXVIII. The affairs of the continent had not yet undergone any change of importance, ex- cept in the condu6t of the Duke of Savoy, who renounced his neutrality, engaged in an alliance with the Emperor and King of Spain ; and, in ' a word, acceded to the grand confederacy. He had no fooner decl^'cd himfeif than Catinat, the French general, entered his territories, at the head of eigh- teen thoufand men, and defeated him in a pitched battle near Saluces, which immediately furrendered to the Conqueror. Then he reduced Savillana, Villa Franca, with feveral other places, purfued the Duke to Carignan, furprized Suza, and diftributed his forces in winter-quarters, partly in Provence, and partly in the duchy of Savoy, which St. Ruth had lately reduced under the dominion of France. The Duke finding himfeif difappointed in the fuc- cours he expelled from the Emperor and tl'^e King of Spain, demanded affiftance of the States-Gene- ral and King William ; to this laid he fent an arn- baffador, to congratulate him upon his acceffion to the thione of England. The Confederates in their General Congrefs at the Hague, had agreed that the army of the States under Prince Waldeck fhould op- pofe the forces of France, commanded by the Duke of Laixembourg in Flanders j while the Elector of Brandenburgh fhould obferve the Marquis de Bouf- flers on the Mofelle : but, before the troops of Bran- . denburgh could be affembled, Boufflers encamped between the Sambre and the Meufe, and majntEned a free communication with Luxembourg. § XXXIX. Prince Waldeck underftanding that this General intended to crofs the Sam^bre between Namur and Charleroy, in order to lay the Spanifh' territories under contribution, decamped from the fiver Pieton, and detached the Count of Berio, with ‘ ' ‘a great; WILLIAM AND MARY. 105 21 great body of horfe, to obferve the motions of c H A P. the enemy. He was encountered by the French, army near Fleurus, and (lain': and his troops, though fupported by twoi other detachments, were hardly able to rejoin the main body, which continued all night in order of battle. Next day they were at- tacked by the French, who were greatly fuperior to them in number : after a very obllinate engagement the allies gave way, leaving about five thoufand men dead upon the field of battle. The enemy took about four thoufand prifoners, and the greateft part of their artillery ; but the viftory was dearly bought. The Dutch infantry fought with furprifing refolu- tion and fuccefs. The Duke of Luxembourg owned, with furprife, that they had furpaffed the Spanifh foot at the battle of Rocroy. “Prince Waldeck (faid he) ought always to remember the French horfe ; and I fhall never forget the Dutch infantry.” The Dutch general exerted himfelf with fuch adlivity, that the French derived very little advantage from their vidory. The Prince being reinforced with the five Englifh regiments, nine thoufand Hanove- rians, ten thoufand from the bifhoprick of Leige and Holland, joined the Eledor of Brandenburgh ; fo that the confederate army amounted to five-and fifty thoufand men, and they marched by the way of Genap to Bois-Seigneur-Ifaac. They were now fuperior to Luxembourg, who thought proper to fortify his camp, that he might not be obliged to fight, except with confiderable advantage. Never- thelefs. Prince Waldeck would have attacked him in his entrenchments, had he not been prohibited from hazarding another engagement, by an exprefs order of the States-General ; and, when this re- ftridion was removed, the Eledor would not venture a battle. § XL. By this time the EmperoPs fon Jofeph was by the Eledoral College chofen King of the Romans i but his intereft fuflained a rude fhock in the io6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK the death of the gallant Duke of Lorraine, who was fiiddenly feifed with a quinfey, at a fmall village near Lintz, and expired, not without fulpicion of having ^ fallen a facrihee to the fears of the French King, againft whom he had formally declared war, as a lovereign Prince iiniuftly expelled from his territo- ries. He poffelTed great military talents, and had threatened to enter Lorraine, at the head of forty thoufand men, in the courfe of the enfuing fummer. The Court of France, alarmed at this declaration, is laid to have had recourfe to poifon, for preventing the execution of the Duke’s defign. At his death the command of the Imperial army was conferred upon the Elector of Bavaria. Hiis Prince, having joined the Elector of Saxony, advanced againft the Dauphin, who had pafted the Rhine at Fort Louis, with a confiderable army, and intended to penetrate into Wirtemberg ; but the Duke of Bavaria checked Iris progrefs, and he afted on the defenfive during the remaining part of the campaign. The Emperor w^as lefs fortunate in his efforts againft the Turks, who rejected tlie conditions of peace he had ottered, and took the held, under a new Vilir. In the month of Auguft Count Tekeli defeated a body of Impe- rialifts near Cronftadt, in Tranfylvania; then con- voking the States of that pio^ince at Albajulia, he compelled them to debt him their fovereign ; but his reign was of lliort duration. Prince Louis, of Baden, having taken the command of the Auftrian army, detached four regiments into Belgrade, and advanced againft Tekeli, who retired into Valachia at his approach. Mean while, the Grand Vifir in- vefted Belgrade, and carried on his attacks 'with furprifing refolution. At length, a bomb falling upon a great tower, in which tlie powder-magazine of the befieged was contained, the place blew up with a dreadful expiofion. Seventeen hundred fol- diers of the garrifon were deftroyed ; the w^alls and ramparts w^ere overthrown 5 the ditch w^as filled up, 2 and t WILLIAM AISID MARY. 107 snd fo large a breach was opened, that the Turks c H A P, entered by fquadrons and battalions, cutting in pieces all that fell in their way. The fire fpread from ma- , gazine to magazine until eleven were' deftroyed j and, in the confufion, the remaining part of the garr. rilbn efcaped to Peterwaradin. By this time the Imperialifts were in poTeffion of Tranfylvania, and cantoned at Cronftadt and Claufinburgh. Tekeli undertook to attack the province on one fide, while a body of Turks fliould invade it on the other ; diefe lad: were totally difperfed by Prince Louis of Baden; but Prince Auguftus of Hanover, whom he had detached againft the Count, was flain in a nar- row defile, and his troops were obliged to letreat with precipitation. Tekeli, however, did not im- prove this advantage. Being apprifed of the fate of his allies, ai^d afraid of feeing his retreat cut off by the fnow, that frequently choaks up the pafies of the mountains, he retreated again to Valachia, and i^rince Louis returned to Vienna. § XLI. King William having publilhed a pro- clamation, requiring the attendance of the members on the lecond day of October, both Houfes met ac- cordingly, and he opened the fefiion with a fpeech to the ufual purport. He mentioned what he had done tov/ards the reduction of Ireland ; commended the behaviour of the troops ; told them the fupplies were not equal to the neceffary expence ; reprefented the danger to which tlie nation v/ould be expofed, unlefs the war fhould be profecuted with vigour ; conjured them to clear his revenue, which was mortgaged for the payment of former debts, and enable him to pay off the arrears of the army ; affured the;Ti that the fuccefs of the confederacy abroad would depend upon the vigour and difpatch of their proceedings j expreffed his refentment againft thofe who had been guilty of mifcondudt in the management of the fleet ; recommended unanimity and expedition ; and declared, that whoever fliould attempt to divert their atten- loH HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAP, attention from thofe fubjecls of irnpoKance which , he had propofed, could neither be a friend to him, 1^90,. ^ well-wifher to his country. T he late attempt .of the French upon the coaft of England, the rumours of a con^iracy by the Jacobites, the per- fonal valour which William had dilplayed in Ireland, and the pufillanimous behaviour of James, con- curred in warming t!ie refentment of the nation againft the adherents of the late King, and in raifing a tide of loyalty in favour of the new government. Both Houfes prefented feparate addreffes of .congra- tulation to the King and Queen, upon his courage and condu6t in the field, and her fortitude and faga- city at the helm, in times of danger and difquiet. The Commons, purfuant to an eftimate laid before them of the next year’s expences, voted a fupply of four millions for the maintenance of the army and navy, and fettled the funds for that purpofe. § XLII. They propofed to raife one million by the fale of forfeited eftates in Ireland : they refolved, that a bill hiould be brought in for confifcating thofe eftates, with a claufe, empowering the King to beftow a third part of them on thofe who had ferved in the war, as well as to grant fuch articles and ca- pitulations to thofe who were in arms, as he fhould think proper. This claufe was rejecfted; and a'great number of petitions were offered againft the bill, by creditors and heirs, who had continued faithful to the government. Thefe were fuppofed to hav^ been fuggefted by the Court, in order to retard the progrefs of the bill j for the eftates had been already promifed to the King’s favourites : neverthelefs, the bill pafled the Lovv^er Floufe, and was fent up to the Lords, among whom it was purpofely delayed by the influence of the Miniftry. It was at this junfture that Lord Torrington was tried and acquitted, very much to the diflatisfadion of the King, who not only difmifled him from the fervice, but even for- bade him to appear in his prefence. When William came WI LLI AM AND MARY, came to the Houfe of Lords, to give the royal affent ^ A P. to a bill for doubling the Excife, he told the Parlia- . ment, that the pofture of affairs required his pre~ 1690. fence at the Hague ; that, therefore, they ought to lofe no time in perfecting fuch other fupplies as were (till neceffary for the maintenance of the army and navy ; and he reminded them of making fome ■ provifion for the expence of the civil government. Two bills were accordingly paffed for granting to their Majefties the duties on goods imported, for five years ; and thefe, together with the mutiny-bill, received the royal affent : upon which occafion the King obferved, that if fome annual provifion could be made for augmenting the navy, it would greatly conduce to the honour and fafety of the nation. In confequence of this hint, they voted a confiderable fupply for building additional fliips of war % and proceeded with fuch alacrity and expedition, as even feemed to anticipate the King’s defires. This libe- rality and difpatch were in a great meafure owing to the management of Lord Godolphin, who was now placed at the head of the Treafury, and Sir John Somers, the Sollicitor-General. The place of Secre- tary of State, which had remained vacant fince the refignation of the Earl of Shrewfbury, was now filled with Lord Sidney ; and Sir Charles Porter was ap- pointed one of the Juftices of Ireland, in the room of this nobleman. § XLIII. Notwithflanding the a£t for reverfing the proceedings againfi: the city-charter, the Whigs had made fhift to keep pofieflion of the magiftracy : Pilkington continued Mayor, and Robinfon retained * This fupply was raifed by the additional duties upon beer, ale, and other liquors. They alfo provided in the bill, that the impofi- tions on wines, vinegar, and tobacco, fhould be made a fund of credit; That thefurplusof the grants they had made, after the cur- rent fervicewas provided for, fhould be applicable to the payment of the debts contrafted by the war; and. That it fhould be lawful for their Majefties to make ufe of five hundred thoufand pounds, out of the faid' grants, on condition of that fuin being repaid from the revenue,— —Ralphs the no HISTORY OF EHGLAlSfHV BOO Kthe office of Chamberlain. The Tories of the city;, prefuming upon their late fervices, prefented a peti^ tion to the Houfe of Commons, complaining, That ^ the intent of the late ac^t of Parliament, for reverfmg the judgement on the IVarranto^ was fruftrated by fome doubtful expreffion ; fo that the old Aider- men defied by commiffion under the late King’s great feal ilill afled by virtue of that authority : That Sir Thomas Pilkington was not duely returned as Mayor by the Common-hall ; and. That he and the Aldermen had impofed Mr. Leonard Robinfon upon them as Chamberlain, though another perfon was duely defied into that office : That divers mem- bers of the Common-council were illegally excluded^ and others, dudy defied, were refufed admittance. They ij^ecified other grievances, and petitioned for relief. Pilkington and his affiociates undertook to prove that thofe allegations were either falfe or fri- volous ; and reprefented the petition as a contrivance of the Jacobites, to difturb the peace of the city, that tlie fupply might be retarded, and the govern- ment diflrelfed. In the late panick which over- Ipread the nation, the Whigs had appeared to be the monied men, and fubferibed largely for the fecu- rity of the fettlement they had made, while die To- ries kept aloof with a fufpicious caution. For this reafon, the Court now interpoied its influence in fuch a manner, that little or no regard was paid to tlieir remonflrance. § XidV^. I'he Marquis of Caermarthen, Lord Prefident, v/ho was at the head of the Tory interefl: in the minillry, and had acquired great credit with die King and Queen, now fell under the difpleafure of th(f oppofite faflion ; and they refolved (if pof- fible) to revive his old impeachment. The Earl of Slirewfbuiy, and thirteen other leading men, had engaged in this defign. A committee of Lords was appointed to examine precedents, and enquire whe- tlicr impeachments continued in ftatu quo from Par- liameni: If ] I. WILLIAM AND MARY. liament to Parliament. Several fuch precedents were c H A P. reported ; and violent debates enfued : but the Mar- quis eluded the vengeance of his enemies, in confe- quence of the following queftion, “ Whether the Earls of Salifbury and Peterborough, who had “ been impeached in the former Parliament, for being reconciled to the Church of Rome, fliall be difcharged from their bail The Houfe re- folved in the affirmative, and feveral L.ords entered a proteft. The CoiTimons having finiflied a bill for appointing commiffioners to take and Rate the pub- lick accounts, and having chofen the commiffioners from among their own members, fent it up to the Houfe of Lords. There the Earl of Rocheller m.oved. That they ffiould add fome of their num.ber to thofe of the Commons : they accordingly chols an equal number by ballot; but Rochefter himfelf, being elected, refufed to a6t: the others followed his example, and the bill paffied without alteration. On the fifth day of January, the King put an end to the feffion with- a fpeech, in which he thanked them for the repeated inftances they had exhibited of their affedtion to his perfon and government. He told them it \vas high time- for him to embark for Hol- land ; recommended unanimity ; and affured them of his particular favour and proteftion. Then Lord Chief Baron Atkins fignified his Majefty’s pleafure, that the two Houfes ffiould adjourn themfelves to the thirty-firft day of March § XLV. William, having fettled the affairs of An, iSjr, the nation, fet out for Alargate on the fixth day of January ; but the ffiip in wffiich he propofed to em- bark being detained by an eafterly wind and hard froff, he returned to Kenfington. On the fixteenth, however, he embarked at Gravefend with a numerous retinue, and fet fail for Elolland, under convoy of ( * In this year the Englilh planters repofTelTed themfelves of part of the ifland of St, Chriftopher’s, from which they had been driven hy the French, twelve tiz HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK twelve lliips of war, commanded by Admiral Rooke. ^ I Next day, being informed by a fifherman that he was within a league and a half of Goree, he quitted the yatchy and went into an open boat, attended by the Duke of Ormond^ the Earls of Devonlhirej Dorfet, Portland, and Monmouth, withAuverquerque^ and Zuyleilein. Inftead of landing immediatelyi they loft fight of the fleetj and, night coming on> were expofed in very fevere weather to the danger of the enemy and the fea, which ran very high for eighteen hours, during which, the King and all his attendants were drenched with fea-water* When the failors exprefted their apprehenfions of periftiing, the King aflted if they were afraid to die in his- company? At day-break, he landed on the I fie of Goree, where he took fome refrefhment in a fiflier- man’s hut ; then he committed himfelf to the boat again, and was conveyed to the fhore in the neigh- bourhood of Maeflandfluys. A deputation of the States received him at Hounflardyke : about fix in the evening he arrived at the Hague, where he was immediately complimented by the States-General, the States of Holland, the Council of State, the other Colleges, and the Foreign Minifters. He af- ' terwards, at the requeft of the Magiftrates, made his publick entry with furprifing magnificence j and the Dutch celebrated his arrival with bonfires, illu- minations, and other marks of tumultuous joy. He affifted at their different affembiies ; informed them of his fucceffes in England and Ireland ; and afliired them of his conftant zeal and affedion for his native country. § XLVI. At a folemn congrefs of the confederate Princes, he reprefented, in a fet fpeech, the dangers to which they were expofed from the power and ambition of F ranee ; and the neceflity of acting with vigour and difpatch. He declared he would fpare neither his credit, forces, nor perfon, in concurring with their meafures j and that in the Spring he would come ! WILLIAM AND MARY. 113 C'lsme at the head o 5 his troops to fulfil his engage- CHAP, ments. They fcrthv/ith refolved to employ two hun- f 'dred and tv/enty-two thoufand men againft France 4691. in the elifuing "campaign. The proportions of the ‘ different Princes and States were regulated ; and the King of England agreed to furnifh twenty thoufand. He fuppiied the Duke of Savoy fo liberally, that his affairs foon afllimed a more promiling afpeft. The plan of operations was fettled ; and they tranfa6led. their affairs with fuch harmony, that no difpute in- terrupted their deliberations. In the beginning of March, immediately after the Congrefs broke up, the fiege of Mons vras undertaken by the French ■ King in perfon,,., accompanied by the Dauphin, the Dukes of Orleans and Chartres. . The garrifon con- fifted of about fix thoufand men, commanded by the Prince of Bergue : but the befiegers carried on their works with fuch rapidity as they could not with- Hand. King William no fooner imderlfood that the place was invefted, than he ordered Prince W aldeck to affernble the army, determined to march againfl: the enemy in perfon. Fifty thoufand men were foon collected at Halle, near BruiTels ; but when he went thither, he found the Spaniards had negle£l:ed to provide carriages, and other neceffaries for the ex- pedition. Mean while, the burghers of Mons, leeing their town in danger of being utterly deftroyed by the bombs and cannon of the enemy, preffed the governor to capitulate, and even threatened to intro- duce the befiegers : fo that he was forced to com- * ply, and obtained very honourable conditions. Wil- liam, being apprifed of this event, returned to the Hague, embarked for England, and arrived at Whitehall on the thirteenth day of April * A few days before his arrival, great part of the palace of White- hall was confiuned by hre, through the negligence of a female fervant, . • VoL. I, I C H A P. I HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1 14 \ CHAP. III. BOOK § I. Conjpracy againft the go^oerr.ment hy Lord Prefton and others, §11. Lhe King fills up the vacant hifjopricks. § III. Affairs of Scotland, § IV, Campaign in Flanders. § V. Progrefs of the French in Piedmont. § VI. Election of a new Pope. § VII. Fhe EmperoPs fuccefs againft the Turks. § VIII. Affairs of Ireland. § IX. General Ginckel reduces Athlone. § X. Defeats the Frijh at Aghrim. § XI. Undertakes the fiege of Ihnerick. § XII. The drench and Irifto obtain an honourable capitulation. § XIII. Twelve th 01 fan d Irifto Catholicks are tranf- p or ted to France. § XIV. Meeting of the Englifh Parliament. § XV. Difcontent of the nation. § XVL TranfaSf ions in Parliament. § KNW. Difputes con- cerning the bill for regulating tryals in cafes of high treafon. § XVIII. The Englijh and Dutch fleets worfted by the French in an engagement off Beachy- Mead. § XIX. The Kmg dif obliges the Prejby- terians of Scotland. § XX. The Earl of Breadal- bane undertakes for ihe fubmiffton of the Flighlanders. § XXL Maffacre of Glencoe. § XXII. Prepara- tions for a dcfcent upon EngFid. § XXIII. Decla- ration of King James. § XXIV. Efforts of his Friends in England. § XXV. Precautions taken by the ^een for the defence of the nation. § XXVI. Admiral Ruff el puts to fea. § XXVII. He obtains a complete victory czier the French fleet off La Horne. § XXVIII. Troops embarked at St. Helen s for a defcent upon France. § XXIX. The defign laid afide. The troops landed at Oflend. § KDUK. The French King takes Namur in fight of King IVilUam. § XXXI. The allies are defeated at Steenkirk. § XXXII. Extravagant rejoicings in France on ac- count of this viSlory. § XXXIII. Conjpiracy againft the life of King William^ hatched by the French mini- Jlry. § XXXIV. Mifcarriage of a defign upon Dunkirk, WILLIAM AND MARY. rrs Dunkirk. § XXXV. Dhe campaign is inakiive on the Rhine and in Hungary . § XXXA'I. Dhe Duke ' of Savoy invades Dauphin'e. % XXXVII. Dhe Duke of Hanover created an eleSlor of the empire. § A" Confpiracy againft the government had been CHAP, lately difcovered. In the latter end of De- . . cember, the mailer of a velTel who lived at Barking, ,691. in Eliex, informed the Marquis of Caermarthen, that his wife had let out one of his boats to carry over fome perfons to France; and that they would embark on the thirtieth day of the month. This intelligence being communicated to the King and council, an order was fent to Captain Billop, to watch the motion of the velTel, and fecure the paf- fengers. Fie accordingly boarded her at Gravefend, and found in the hold Ford Prellon, Mr. 111 ton, a fervant of the late Queen, and one Elliot. He like- wife feized a bundle of papers, fome of which were fcarce intelligible ; among the rell, two letters, fup- pofed to be written by Turner, Bifhop of Ely, to King James and his Queen, under lidlitious names« The whole amounted to an invitation to the French King, to affiUKkig James in re-afcending the throne, uuon certain conditions, wFile William fhould be abfent from the kingdom : but the fcheme was ili laid, and countenanced but by a very few perfons of confideration, among whom the chiefs were the Earl of Clarendon, the Bifnop of Ely, Lord Prellon, his brother, Mr. Graham, and Penn, the famous quaker. Notwithllanding the outcries v/hich had been made againft the feverities of theTate govern- ment, Prellon, and his accomplice Afnton, were tried at the Old Bailey for compalTing the death ot their Majellies King Vv^illiam and (Qaeen Mary ; and their tryals were hurried on, without any regard to their petitions for delay. Lord Prellon alledged, in his deienfe, that the treafons charged upon him were not^ committed in the county of Middkfex, as I 2 laid ti6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK laid in the indi6tment ; that none of the witnefleS' declared he had any concern in hiring the veffel ; that the papers were not found upon him ; that there ought to be two credible witnelTes to every fad';, v/hereas, the whole proof againft him relied on fimilitude of hands, and mere fuppofition. He was, neverthelefs, found guilty. Afliton behaved w'itJi great intrepidity and compofure. He owned his purpofe of going to France, in purfuance of a pro- mife'he had made to General Worden, who, on his death-bed, conjured him to go thitheir, and finifla fome affairs of confequence which he had left there depending; as well as with a viev/ to recover a con- fiderable ilirn of money due to himdelf. He denied that he was privy to the contents of the papers found i]pon him : he complained of his having been denied time to prepare for his" trial ; and called feyeral perfons to prove him a Proteftant of exemplary piety and irreproachable morals. Thefe circumftances liad no weight with the court. He was brow- beaten by the bench, and found guilty by the jury, as he had the papers in his cuftody : yet, there was no privity proved ; and the V/hig party themfelves had often exprefsly declared, that of all forts of evidence, that of finding papers in a perfon’s pofieffion is the weakeft, becaufe no man can fecure himfelf from fuch danger. Afhton fulfered with equal courage and decorum. In a paper which he delivered to the Sheriff, he owned his attachment to King James; he witneffed to the birth of the Prince of W ales ; denied his knowledge of the contents of the papers that were comimitted to his charge; com- plained of the hard meafure he had met with from the judges and the jui-y, but forgave them in the Burnet. h^^ven. This man was celebrated by the State trads Nonjurors as a martyr to loyalty; and they boldly Tindtr* chief crime in the eyes of the. Ka"ph. ‘ government, was his having among his baggage an account of fuch evidence as v/ould have been con- vincing WILLIAM AND MARY. vinclng to all the world, concerning the birth of the Prince of Wales, which by a great nunnber of people was believed fuppofititious*. Lord Preilon obtained a pardon : Elliot was not tried, becaufe no evidence appeared againft him : the Earl of Clarendon was fent to the Tower, where he re- mained fome months, and he was afterwards con-^ fined to his own houfe in the country: an indulgence, v/hich he owed to his confanguinity with the Queen, who was his firft coufin. The Bifhop of Ely, Gra- ham, and Penn abfconded ; and a proclamation was ifilied for apprehending them as traitors. § IL This prelate’s being concerned in a con^ Ipiracy furniihed the King with a plaufible pretence for filling up the vacant biiliopricks. The deprived biiliops had been given to underfiand, that an a6l of Parliament might be obtained to excufe them from taking the oaths, provided they would perform their epifcopal fundlions : but, as they declined this ex- pedient, the King refolved to fill up their places at his return from Elolland. Accordingly, the Arch- bifhoprick of Canterbury was conferred upon Dr. Tillotfonf, one of the moft learned, moderate, and virtuous ecclefiafticks of the age, who did not accept of this prom.otion without great reludtance, becaufe he forefaw that he fliould be expofed to the (lander and malevolence of that party which efpoufed the caufe of his predecefibr. The other vacant fees were given to divines of unblemifhed character ; and the publick in general feemed very well fatisfied I J with * To one; of the pamphlets publifhed on this occafion, is annexed a petition to the pjefent government, in the name of King James’s adherents, importing, that fonte grave and learned perlbn tliould be authoiifed to compile a treatife, Ihowing the grounds of William’s declaring, that in cafe the performance Ihould carry con- viction along with It, they would lubmit to tljat title, as they hitherto oppofed it from a principle of confcience. The bed anfwer that could be made to this fummons, was Lock’s hook upon government, which appeared at this period Ralph. J' Beveridge was promoted to the fee of Bath and W^ells, Fowlor to that of Gloucefter, Cumberland to Peterborough, Moor to Nor*’ wich, Grove to Chichelter, and Patrick to Ely, ii8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK with this exertion of the King’s fupremacy. The deprived bifhops at hrfl: affedled all the meeknefs of 1691. refignation. They remembered thofe fliouts of popular approbation, by which they had been ani- mated in the perfecution they fuffered under the late government ; and they hoped the fame cordial would fupport them in their prefent affliftion : but, finding the nation cold in their concern, they determined to warm it by argument and declamation. The prefs groaned with the efforts of their learning and refent- mentj and every effay was anfwered by their oppo- nents. The Nonjurors affirmed, that Chriftianity was a doftrine of the crofs; that no pretence what- ever could juftify an infurredion againft the fove- reign ; that the primitive Chriftians thought it theii* indifpenfible duty to be paffive under every invafion of their rights j and, that non-refiftancc was the doflrine of the Englifh church, confirmed by all the fan6lions that could be derived from the laws of God and man. The other party not only fupported the natural rights of mankind, and explained the life that might be made of the dodrine of non-refift- ance, in exciting frefh commotions, but they alfb argued, that if paffive obedience was right in any inftance, it was conclufively fo with regard to the prefent government; for the obedience required by fcripture was indifcriminate, the powers that be, are ordained of God — let every foul be fubjeft ' to the higher powers.” From thefe texts they in- ferred, that the new oaths ought to be taken without fcruple ; and that thofe who refufed them, concealed party under the cloak of confcience. On the other hand, the fallacy and treachery of his argument were demonftrated. They faid, it levelled all dif- tinftions of juflice and duty ; that thofe who taught fuch doflrines, attached themfelves folely to pof- feffion, how^ever unjuftly acquired; that if tv/enty 'different ufufpers fhould fucceed one another, they Would recognife the laft, notv/ithilanding the alle- giance WILLIAM AND MARY, 119 glance they had fo folemnly fvvorn to his predeceflbr, CHAP, like the fawning fpaniel that followed the thief who , mounted his mailer’s horfe, after having murthered’ the right owner. They alfo denied the juilice of a lay-deprivation, and with refpe 6 l to church-govern- ment flarted the fame diilindtions “ De jure and De fa^oj' which they had formerly made in the^ civil adminiitrarion. They had even recourfe to all the bitternefs of inve61ive againil Tillotfon and the new bifnops, whom they reviled as intruders and ufur- pers : their acrimony w^as chiefly dire61ed againil IDr. Sherlock, who had been one of the moil violent fticklers againil the Revolution, but thought proper to take the oaths upon the retreat of King James from Ireland. They branded him as an apoilate, who had betrayed his caufe, and publiihed a review of his whole condu61, v/hich proved a fevere fatire upon his character. Their attacks upon individuals were mingled with their vengeance againil the go- vernment ; and indeed the great aim of their divines, as well as of their politicians, was to lap the foun- dation of the new fettlement. In order to alienate the minds of the people from the intereils of the reigning prince, they ridiculed his charader: in- veighed againil his m.eafures : they accufed him of facrificing the concerns of England to the advantage of his native country ; and drew invidious compa- rifons between the wealth, the trade, the taxes of the lail, and of the prefent reign. To fruilrate thefe eitorts of the malcontents, the court em- ployed their engines to anfwer and recriminate : all forts of informers were encouraged and careifed : in a proclamation iifued againil Papiils and other dif- affeded perfons, ail magiilrates were enjoined to make fearch, and apprehend thofe who iliould, by feditious difcourfes and libels, prefume to defame the government. Thus the Revolutioners com- menced the profeiTed enemies of thofe very arts and I 4 pradice^ \ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. praclices which had enabled them to bring their fcheme to perfection. § III. The Prelbyterians in Scotland acted with fuch folly, violence, and tyranny, as rendered them equally odious and contemptible. The tranfactions in their general affembly were carried on with fuch peevifnnefs, partiality, and injuftice, that the King diffolved it by an a6t of ftate, and convoked another for the month of November in the following year. The epifcopal party promifed to enter heartily into the interelts of the new government, to keep the^ Highlanders quiet, and induce the clergy to ac- knowledge and ferve King William, provided he would balance the power of Melvill and his partifans in fuch a manner, as would fecure them from vio^ lence and oppreffion; provided the epifcopal rnini- fters fliould be permitted to perform their functions among thofe people by whom they were beloved ; and that fuch of them as were willing to mix with the Prelbyterians in their judicatories, diould be ad- mitted without any fevere impofition in point of opinion. The King, who was extremely difgufted at the Preihyterians, relifhed the propofal: and young Dairymple, fon of Lord Stair, was appointed joint fecretary of ftate with Melvill. He undertook to bring over the majority of the Jacobites, and a great number of them took the oaths : but at the lame time they iTiaintained a correlpondence wifti the court of St. Germains, by the connivance of which they fubmitted to V/illiam, that they might be in a condition to ferve James the more eiTecluaily. The Scottilli P^arli ament w'as adjourned by pro- clamation to the fixteenth day of September. Precautions were taken to prevent any dangerous communication with the continent ; a committee was appointed to put the kingdom in a poiture of defence ; to exercife the powers of the Regency, in fecuring the enemies of the governm_ent 3 and the ♦ WILLIAM AND MARY- i2^ Earl of Home, with Sir Peter Frafer and Sir ^Eneas G H /^P. Macpherfon were apprehended and imprifoned. § IV. The King, having fettled the operations of ^631. the enfuing campaign in Ireland, where General Ginckel exercifed the fupremie command, manned his fleet by dint of prefling failors, to the incredible annoyance of commerce : then, leaving the Queen as before at the helm of government in England, he returned to Llolland, accompanied by Lord Sidney, fecretary of Rate, the Earls of Marlborough and Portland, and began to make preparations for taking the field in perfon. On the thirtieth day of May, the Duke of Luxembourg having paflTed the Scheld at the head of a large armiy, took poffeflion of Halle, and gave it up to plunder, in fight of the confederates, who were obliged to throw up en- trenchments for their prefervation. At the fame time the Marquis de Boufflers, with a confiderable body of forces, entrenched himfelf before Liege, with a view to bombard that city. In the beginning of June, King Williaim took upon himfelf the com- mand of the allied army, by this time reinforced in Rich a rnanner as to be fuperior to the enem.y. He forthwith detached the Count de Tilly, with ten thoufand men, to the relief of Leige, which was already reduced to ruins and defolation by the boiTibs, bullets, and repeated attacks of Boufflers, wlio now thought proper to retreat to D inant. Tilly, having thus raifed the fiege, and thrown a body of troops into Huy, rejoined the confederate army, wliich had been augmented ever fince liis, departure with fix thoufand men from Branden*- burgh, and ten thoufand Heflians, commanded by the Landgrave in perfon. Such was the vigilance of Luxembourg, that William could not avail him- felf of his fuperiority. In vain he exhauRed his invention in marches, counter-marches, and Rrata- gems, to bring on a general engagement: the French marflial avoided it with fuch dexterity, as Ipafle^ J22' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK baffled all his endeavours. In the courfe of this ^ , campaign, the tv/o armies twice confronted each 36^1. other: but they were fituated in fuch a manner that neither could begin the attack without a manifeft difadvantage. While the King lay encamped at Court-fur-heure, a foldier, corrupted by the enemy, fet fire to the fufees of feveral bombs, the explofion of which might have blown up the whole magazine, and produced infinite confufion in the army, had not the mifchief been prevented by the courage of the men who guarded the artillery ; even while the fufees were burning they difengaged the waggons from the line, and overturned them down the fide of a hill ; fo that the communication of the fire was intercepted. The perfon who nnade this treache^ rous attempt bein.Q; difcovered, owned he had been employed for this purpofe by the Duke of Luxem- bourg. He w'as tried by a court-martial, and fuffered the death of a traitor. Such perfidious practices not only fix an indelible fiiare of infamy on the French General, but prove how much the capacity of William w^as dreaded by his enemies. King William, quitting Court-fur-heure, encamped ' upon the plain of St. Girard, where he remained till the fourth day of September, confuming the forage, and exhaufting the country. Then he paffed the Sambre near Jemeppe, while the French crolTed it at La Bufiere, and both armies marched towards Flnghien. The enemy, perceiving the confederates were at their heels, proceeded to Gramont, paffed the Dender, and took poffeffion of a firong camp between Aeth and Oudenarde : William followed the fame route, and encamped betv/een Aeth and Leufe. While he continued in his poft, the Heffian forces and thofe of Leige, amounting to about eighteen thoufand men, feparated from the army, and paffed the Meufe at Namur: then the King returned to the Hague, leaving the command to Prince Waldeck, wLo forthwith removed to Leufe WILLIAM AND MARY. ' f-3 Leufe, and on the twentieth day of the month c H A P. began his march to Cambron. Luxembourg, who watched his inotions with a curious eye, found means ,5^1. to attack him in his retreat fo fuddenly, that his rear was furprifed and defeated, though the French were at lafl obliged to retire : the Prince continued his route to Cambron, and in a little time both armies retired into winter-quarters. In the mean time, the Duke de Noailles befieged and took Urgel in Catalonia, while a French fquadron, com.- manded by the Count D’Etrees, bombarded Bar- celona and Alicant. § V. The confederates had propoled to act vigo- roufly in Italy againft the French; but the feafon was far advanced before they were in a condition to take the field. The Emperor and Spain had under- taken to furnifn troops to join the Duke of Savoy; ' and the Maritime powers contributed their propor- tion in money. The Eledlor of Bavaria was no- minated to tire fupreme command of the Imperial forces in that country : the Marquis de Leganez, governor of the Milanefe, afted as truftee for the Spanifh monarch : Duke Schomberg, fon of that great General who loft his life at the Boyne, late- ly created Duke of Leinfter, managed the inte- refl of William, as King of England and Stad- holder, and commanded a body of the Vau- dois paid by Great-Britain. Before the German auxiliaries arrived, the French had made great pro- grefs in their conquefts. Catinat befieged and took Villa-Franca, Nice, and fome other fortifications ; then he reduced Villana and Carmagnola, and de- tached the Marquis de Feuquieres to invefl Coni, a Erong fortrefs garrifoned by the ^^audois and French refugees. The Duke of Savoy was now reduced to ^e brink of ruin. He faw almoft aU his places of ftrength in the pofleffion of the enemy : Coni v.^as befieged ; and La Hoguette, another French Gene- rak had forced the pafifes of the valley of Aofte, fo 4 that 124 - HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^ooK that he had free admiOlon into the Verceiilois, and the frontiers of the Milanefe. , Turin was threatened 1651. with a bombardment ; the people were difpirited and clamorous, and their fovereign lay with his little army encamped on the hill of Montcallierj, from whence he beheld his towns taken, and his palace of Rivoli deftroyed. Duke Schomberg ex- horted him to a6t on the offenfive, and give battle to Catinat, while that officer’s army was weakened by detachments, and Prince Eugene * fnpported his remonftrance : but this propofal was vehemently oppofed by the Marquis de Leganez, who forefaw that, if the Duke llioukl be defeated, the French v/ould penetrate into the territories of Milan. The relief of Coni, however, was undertaken by Prince fiugene, who began his imarch for that place with a convoy gaiarded by two-and-twenty hundred horfe : at Magliano he was reinforced by five thoufand militia : Bulonde, who commanded at the fiege, no fooner heard of his approach than lie retired with the utmiofc precipitation, leaving behind fome pieces of cannon, mortars, bombs, arms, ammunition, tents, provifions, iitenfils, with all his fick and v/oucded. When he joined Catinat, he was imine- diately put under arreft, and afterwards cafhiered with difgrace. IToguette abandoned the valley of Aofte : Feuquieres was fent with a detachment to change the garrifon of Cafal 5 and Catinat retired with his army tovrards Villa Nova d’Afle, § VI, * Prince Eiigcna, of Savoy, wlio in tlie fecjuel rivalled the fame of the greatell warriors of ^antiquity, was defcended on the father’s Sde from the home of Savoy, and on the mother’s from the family of Soiffons, a branch of the Hoiife of Bourbon. His father was Eugene Maurice, of Savoy, Count of Soiffons, Colonel of tlie Switr zers, and Governor of Champagne and Brie: his niothtr was tha celebrated Olympia deMancini, niece of Cardinal Mazarine. Prince Eugene, finding hinn'eif neglected at the Court of France, encaged as a foldier of fortune in the fervice of the Emperor, and loon dil- tinguifhed himfelf by his great niilitaiy talents : he was, rnoreovei-j an accompliriied gentleman, learned, liberal, mild, and courteous ; an unfnaken friend; a generous enemy; an invincible captain, a, foniummate politician. W I L 1. 1 A M A M A R V l2< ■ ^ VI. The mifcarnage of the French before ConiC ir a p. rifieLled Lonvois, the miniller of Louis, fo deeply,, that he could not help fhedding tears v/hen he com- mimicated the event to his mailer, v/ho told him, with great compofure, that he was fpoiled by good fortune. But the retreat of the French from Pied- mont had a ftill greater influence over the refolu- tions of the conclave at Rome, then fitting for the elehlion of a new Pope, in the room of Alexander VIII. who died in the beginning of February. Not- withflanding the power and intrigues of the French faftion, headed by Cardinal D’Etrees, the affairs of Piedmont had no fooner talcen this turn, than the Italians joined the Spanifn and Imperial intereft, and Cardinal Pignatelli, a Neapolitan, was defied Pon- tiff. He affumed the name of Innocent, in honour of the lafl Pope known by that appellation, and adopted all his maxims againft the French Monarch. When the German auxiliaries arrived, under the command of the Eledor of Bavaria, the confede- rates refolved to give battle to Catinat; but he re- paired the Po, and fent couriers to Verfailles, to Ibllicit a reinforcement. Then Prince Eugene ip- vefted Carmagnola, and carried on the liege with fuch vigour, that in eleven days the garrifon capi- tulated. Mean while the Marquis de Hoqiiincourc undertook the conqiiell of Montmelian, and reduced the town without much refiftance. The caftle, how- ever, made fuch a vigorous defence, that Catinat marched thither in perfon ; and, notwithftanding all liis efforts, the place held out till the fecond day of December, when it furrendered on honourable con- ditions. § VII. This fummer produced nothing of impor- tance on the Rhine» The French endeavoured to liirprife Mentz, by maintaining a correfpondence with one of the Emperor’s comimiflioners ? but this being difeovered, their defign was frullrated. Tire Imperial army, under the Eieclor of Saxony, paffed die I 126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK the Rhine in the neighbourhood of Manheim ; and ^ , the French, croffing the fame river at Philipfburgh, 1651. reduced the town of Portzheim in the marquifate of Baden-Dourlach. The execution of the fcheme, projefted by the Emperor for this campaign, was prevented by the death of his genera], the Elector of Saxony, which happened on the fecond day of Sep- tember. His affairs w^ore a more favourable afpedl in Hungary, where the Turks w^ere totally defeated by Prince Louis of Baden on the banks of the Danube. The Imperialiifs afterw^ards undertook the fiege of Great Waradin in Tranfylvania ; but this was turned into a blockade, and the place was not furrendered till the following fpring. I'he Turks were fo difpirited by the defeat by which they had lofl the Grand Vifir, that the Em.peror might have made peace upon very advantageous terms ; but his pride and ambition overfhot his fuccels. He was weak, vain, and fopei-ftitious ; he imagined that now the war of Ireland was almoft extinguifhed. King William, with the reft of his allies, would be able to humble the French power, though he himfelf • fhould not co-operate with Hereticks, whom he ab- horred ; and that, in the mean time, he fhould not only make an entire conqueft of Tranfylvania, but alfo carry his victorious arms to the gates of Con- ftantinople, according to fome ridiculous prophecy by which his vanity had been flattered. The Spa- nifli government y/as become fo feeble, that the miniftry, rather than be at the expence of defending the Netherlands, offered to deliver the whole coun- try to King William, either as Monarch of England, or Stadtholder of the United Provinces. He de- clined this ofter, becaufe he knew the people would never be reconciled to a Proteftant government; but he propofed that the Spaniards fhould confer the adminiftration of Flanders upon the Eledlor of Ba- varia, who was ambitious of fignalifing his courage, and able to defend the country with his -own troops and I WILLIAM AND MARY. and treafure. This propofal was relillied by the C Court of Spain : the F.mperor imparted it to die Ele6lor, w'ho accepted the ofhee without hefitation ; and he was immediately declared Governor of the Low-Countries by the Council of State at Madrid. King William, after his return from the arm.y, con- tinued fom.e time at the Hague, fettling the opera- tions of the enfuing campaign. That affair being difeuffed, he embarked in the Maefe, and landed in England on the nineteenth day of October. § VIII. Before we explain the proceedings in Par- liament, it will be neceffary to give a detail of the late tranfadtions in Ireland. In the beginning of the feafon, the French King had fent a large fuppiy of provifion, clothes, and ammunition, for the ufe of the Irifh at Limerick, under the condud of Mon- fieur St. Ruth, accompanied by a great number of FYench officers, furniffied with commiffions from King James, though St. Ruth iffued ail his orders in the name of Louis. Tyrconnel had arrived in 'January, with three frigates and nine veffeis, laden with fuccours of the fame nature : otherwife the Irifli could not have been fo long kept together. Nor, indeed, could thefe fupplies prevent them from form- ing feparate and independent bands of Rapparees, who plundered the country, and committed the moft fhocking barbarities. The Lords Juftices, in con- jundion with General Ginckel, had taken every hep their prudence could fuggeft, to quiet the difturbances of the country, and prevent fuch violence and rapine, of which the foldiers in King William’s army were not entirely innocent. The Juftices had iffued pro- clamations, denouncing fevere penalties againft thofe who ffiould countenance or conceal fuch ads of cruelty and oppreffion : they promifed to proted all ' Papifts who ffiould live quietly within a certain fron- tier line: and Ginckel gave the Catholick rebels to underhand, that he was authorifed to treat with them, if they were inclined to Return to their duty. Before nS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Before the armies took the field feveral fkirmifhes had been fought between parties i and thefc had al- ways turned out fo unfortunate to the enemy, that their fpirits were quite deprefied, while 'the confi- dence of the Englifii rofe in the fame proportion. § IX. St, Ruth and Tyrconnel were joined by the Rapparees, and General Ginckel w^as reinforced by Mackay, with thofc troops which had reduced the .Highlanders in Scotland. Thus ftrengthened, he^ in the beginning of June, marched from Mullingar to Bally more, which was garrifoned by a thoufind men under Colonel Bourke, who, when fumrnoned to furrender, returned an evafive anfwer. But, wlien a breach was made in the place, and the befiegers began to make preparations for a general afiault, his men laid down their arms, and fubmitted at dif- cretion. The fortifications of this place being re- paired and augmented, the General left a garriibn for its defence, and advanced to Athlone, fituated on the other fide of the Shannon, and fupported by the Irifi army, encamped almoft under its walls. The Englilh town, on the hitlier fide of the river, was taken fword in hand, and the enemy broke down an arch of the bridge in their retreat. Batte- ries were raifed againll the Irifli town, and feveral unfuccefsful attempts were made to force the pafiage of the bridge, which was defended with great vigour. ’ At length, it was refolved, in a council of v/ar, that a detachment fhould pafs at a ford a little to the left of the bridge, though the river was deep and rapid, the bottom foul and Itony, and the pafs guarded by a ravelin, erebted for that purpofe. The forlorn- hope confifted of fixty grenadiers in armour, headed ‘ by Captain Sandys and two Lieutenants. They were feconded by another detachment, and this was fup- ported by fix battalions of infantry. Never was a more deiperate fervice, nor was ever exploit per- form.ed with more valour and intrepidity. They palled twenty a-breafl, in the face of the enemy^ through WILLIAM AND MARY. 129 through an inceffant ihower of balls, bullets, and c hap. grenades. Thofe who followed them took poffeffion . ^ of the bridge, and laid planks over the broken arch. Pontoons were fixed at the fame time,- that the troops fnight pafs in different places. The Irilli were amazed, confounded, and abandoned the town in the utmoft confternation ; fo that, in half an hour, it was wholly fecured by the Englifli, who did not lofe above fifty men in this attack. Mackay, Tet- teaii, and Ptolemache, exhibited proofs of the mofi: undaunted courage in paffing the river • and General Ginckelj for his condud, intrepidity, and fuccefs, on this otcafion, was created Earl of Athlone. When St. Ruth was informed, by exprefs, that the Englifh had entered the river, he faid^ it was impoffible they fhould pretend to take a town which he covered with his army, and that he would give a thoufand piftoles they would attempt to force a paffage. Sarsfield infifted upon the truth of the intelligence, and prefied him to fend fuccours to the town : he ridiculed this officer’s fears, and fome warm expof- tulation paffed between them; Being at length con-- vinced that the Englifh were in poffeffion of the place, he ordered fome detachments to drive them out again * but, the cannon of their'own works being turned againft them, they found the tafic imprac- ticable , and that very night their army decamped. St. Ruth, after a march of ten miles, took poft at Aghrim ; and having, by drafts from garrifons, aug- mented his army to five- and- twenty thoufand men, refolved to hazard a decifive engagement. § X. Ginckel having put Athlone in a poflure of defence, paffed the Shannon, and marqhed up to the enemy, determined to give them battle ^ though his forces did not exceed eighteen thoufand, and the Irifh were polled in a very advantageous fituation. St. Ruth had made an admirable difpofition, and taken every precaution that military flcill could fug- gefl. His centre extended along a rifing ground, , ^ K uneven 130 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, BOOK uneven in many places, interfered with banks anti ^ ditches, joined ' by lines of communication, and 1691. fronted by a large bog almoft impaffable. His right was fortified with entrenchments, and his left fecured by the caftle of Aghrim. He harangued his army in the m.ofl pathetick fcrain, Gonjuring them to exert their courage in defence of their holy religion, in the extirpation of herefy, in recovering their ancient honours and eflates, and in refloring a pious king to the throne, from whence he had been ex- pelled by an unnatural ufurper. He employed the priefls to enforce his exhortations j to affure the men that they might depend upon the prayers of the^ church 5 and that, in cafe they fhould fall in battle, the faints and angels would . convey their fouls to heaven. They are faid to have fworn upon the facrament, that they would not defert their colours, and to have received an order that no quarter fhould be given to the French hereticks in the army of the Prince of Orange. Ginckel had encamped on the Rofcommon fide of the river Sue, within three miles of the enemy : after having reconnoitred their pofhure, he refolved, with the advice of a council of war, to attack them on Sunday the twelfth day of July. The neceffary orders being given, the army pafied the river at two fords and a ftone bridge, and, advancing to the edge of the great bog, began about twelve o’clock to force the two paffages, in order to pofiTefs the ground on the other fide. The enemy fought with furprifing fury, and the horfe were feveral times repulfed 5 but at length, the. troops upon the right carried their point by means of fome field pieces. The day was now fo far ad- - ' vanced, that the General determined to poflpone the battle till next morning ; but perceiving fome diforder amiong the enemy, and fearing they would decamp in the night, he altered his refolution, and ordered the attack to be renewed. At fix o’clock in the evening, the left wing of the Englifh advanced^ to W I L L I AM AN D M AR Y. 131 to the right of the Irifli, from whom they met withe HAP, fuch a warm and obflinate reception, that it was riot * y without the moft furprifing efforts of courage and ^e^i, perfeverance that they at length obliged them to give ground ; and even then they loft it by inches. St. Ruth, feeing them in danger of being over- powered, immediately detached fuccours to them from his centre and left v/ing. Mackay no fooner perceived them weakened by thefe detachments, than he ordered three battalions to fkirt the bog, and attack them on the left, while the centre ad- vanced through the middle of the morafs, the men wading up to the w^aift in mud and water. After they had reached the other fide, they found them- felves obliged to afeend a rugged hill, fenced with hedges and ditches ; and thefe were lined with muf- queteers, fupported at proper intervals with fquadrons of cavalry. They made fuch a defperate refiftance, and fought with fuch impetuofity, that the affailants were repulfed into the middle of the bog with great lofs, and St. Ruth exclaimed — Now will I -drive the Englifh to the gates of Dublin.’' In this critical conjunfture Ptolemache came up with a frefh body to fuftain them, rallied the broken troops, and renewed the charge with fuch vigour, that the Irifli gave way in their turn, and the Englifh re- covered. the ground they had loft, though they found it impoffible to improve their advantage. Mackay brought a bo 4 y of horfe and dragoons to the affiftance of the left wing, and firft turned the tide of battle in favour of the Englifh. Major- • General Rouvigny, who had behaved with great gallantry during the whole a6lion, advanced with five regiments of cavalry to fupport the centre, when St. Ruth perceiving his defign, refolved to fall upon him in a dangerous hollow way, which he w'as obliged to pafs. Eor this purpofe, he began to defeend Kircommodon-hill v/ith his whole referve ef horfe : but in his way was killed by a cannon- K 2 baLh I HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I K ball. His troops immediately halted, and his guards retreated with his body. His fate dilpirited the j^Tttoops, and produced fuch confufion as Sarsficld could not remedy ; for though he was next in com- mand, he had been at variance with St. Ruth fincc the affair at Athlone, and was ignorant of the plan he had concerted, Rouvigny, having paffed the hollow way without oppofition, charged the enemy in flank, and bore down all before him with furprifmg impetuofity : the centre redoubled their efforts, and pufhed tlie Irifh to the top of the hill, and then the whole line giving way at once from right to left, threw down their arms. The foot fled towards a bog in their rear, and their horfe took the route by the highway to Loughneagh : both were purfued by the Englifh cavalry, who for four miles made a terrible daughter. In the battle which lafled two hours, and in the purfuit, above four thoufand of the enemy were flain, and fix hundred taken, to- gether with all their baggage, tents, provifion, am- munition, and artillery, nine-and-twenty pair of colours, twelve ftandards, and almoft all the arms of the infantry. In av/ord, the vidlory was decifive, and not above eight hundred of the Englifh were killed upon the field of battle. The vanquifhed retreated in great confufion to Limerick, where they refolved to make a final ftand, in hope of re- ceiving fuch fuccours from France as would either enable them to retrieve their affairs, or obtain good terms from the Court of England. There Tyrconnel died of a broken heart, after having furvived his authority and reputation. He had incurred the contempt of the French, as well as the hatred of the Irifh, whom he had advifed to fubmit to the new government, rather than totally ruin themfelves and their families. § XL Immediately after the battle, detachments were fent to reduce Portumny, Bonnachar, and Moor-caftle, coiifiderable paffes on the Shannon, I which \ W I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 133 •which were accordingly feciired. Then Ginckel^^^^^ advanced to Galway, which he fummoned to fur- _ _ render j but he received a defiance from Lord Dillon 1691. and General D’Uffone, who commanded the gar- rifon. The trenches were immediately opened ; a fort which commanded the approaches to the town was taken by affault ; fix regiments of foot, and four fquadrons of horfe, paffed the river on pon- toons ; and the place being wholly invefted, the Governor thought proper to capitulate. The gaf- rifon marched out with the honours of war, and was allowed fafe condud to Limerick. Ginckel direded ills march to the fame town, which.was the only poll: of confequence that now held out for King James. Within four miles of the place he halted, until the heavy cannon could be brought frorn Athlone. Hearing that Luttrel had been feized by the French general D’UlTone, and fentenced to be fhot for having propofed to furrender, he fent a trumpet, to tell the commander, that if any perfon fhould be put to death for fuch a propofal, he would make retaliation on the Irifh prifoners. On the twenty-fifth day of Auguft the enemy were driven from all their ad- vanced polls : Captain Cole, with a fquadron of fliips, failed up the Shannon, and his frigates an- chored in fight of the town. On the twenty-fixth day of the month the batteries were opened, and a line of contravallation was formed: the Irifh army lay encamped on the other fide of the river, on the road to Killalow, and the fords were guarded with four regiments of their dragoons. On the fifth day of September, after the town had been almofl laid in ruins by the bombs, and large breaches made in the walls by the battering cannon, the guns were difrnounted, the out-forts evacuated, and fuch other motions made as indicated a refolution to abandon the fiege. The enemy expreffed their joy in loud acclamations ; but this was of fliort continuance, the night the befiegers began to throw a bridge K 3 ^ of HISTORY OF ENGLAND. of pontoons over the river, about a mile higher up^ than the camp ; and this work was finifhed before morning. A confiderable body of horfe and foot had paffed when the alarm was given to the enemy, who were feized with fuch confternation, that they threw down their arms, and betook themfelves to flight, leaving behind them their tents, baggage, two pieces of cannon, and one ftandard. The bridge v;as immediately removed nearer the tow^n, and fortified ; all the fords and paffes were fecured, and the batteries continued firing incelTantly till the twenty*fecond day of the month, when Ginckel paffed over with a divifion of the army, and four- teen pieces of cannon. About four in the afternoon, the grenadiers attacked the forts that commanded Thomond-bridge, and carried them fword in hand, after an obftinate refiflance. The garrifon had made a Tally from the town to fupport them j and this detachment was driven back with fuch precipitation, that the French officer on command in that quarter, fearing the Engliffi would enter pell-mell with the fugitives, ordered the bridge to be drawn up, leaving his own men to the fury of a viftorious enemy. Six hundred were killed, two hundred taken prifon-, ers, including many officers, and a great number were drowned in the Shannon. § XII. Then the Engliffi made a lodgement within ten paces of the bridge-foot; and the Iriffi, feeing themfelves furrounded on all fides, determined to capitulate. General Sarsfield and Colonel W ahop fignified their refolution to Scravenmore and Rou- vigny : hoflages were exchanged ; a negociation w'as immediately begun, and hoftilities ceafed on both Tides of the river. The Lords Juftices arrived in the camp on the firfl day of Odiober, and on the fourth the capitulation was executed, extending to all the places in the kingdom that were ftill in the hands of the Iriffi. The Roman catholicks were rcftored to the enjoyment of fuch liberty in the exercife WILLIAM AND MAR Y. cxerclfe of religion as was confiftent with the lav/s cf Ireland, and conformable with that which they poiTelfed in the reign of Charles IL All perfons whatever were entitled to the prote6lion of thefe laws, and reftored to the polTeffion of their eftates, privileges, and immunities, upon their fubmitting to the prefent government, and taking the oath of allegiance to their Majefties King William ‘and Queen Mary, excepting, however, certain perfons who were forfeited or exiled. This article even ex- tended to all merchants of Limerick, or any other garrifon poiTelTed by the Irifh, wmo happened to be abroad, and had not borne arms fmce the decla- ration in the lirft year of the prefent reign, provided they, fhould return within the term of eight months. All the perfons comprifed in this and the foregoing article w^ere indulged with a general pardon of all attainders, outlawries, treafons, mifprifions of trea- fon, premunires, felonies, trefpalTes, and other crimes and mifdemeanours whatfoever, committed fmce the beginning of the reign of James IL and the Lords Juftices promifed to ufe their befl: endea- vours towards the reverlal of fuch attainders and , outlawries as had paffed againft any of them in par- liament. In order to allay the violence of party, and extinguiihi private animofities, it was agreed, that no perfon fhould be fued or im.pleaded on either fide, for any trelpafs, or made accountable for the rents, tenements, lands, or houfes he had received or enjoyed fmce the beginning of the war. Every nobleman and gentleman comprifed in thefe articles was authorifed to keep a fword, a cafe of piflols, and a gun for his defence or amufement. The in- habitants of Limerick and other garrifons were per- rnitted to remove their goods and chattels, without fearch, vihtation, or payment of duty. The Lords JuRices promifed to ufe their bed; endeavours, that all perfons comprehended in this capitulation lliould for eight months be protected from all arrefts and K 4. executions j^6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK executions for debt or damage : they undertook, ^ their Majeflies fhould ratify thefe articles within ,651. the fpace of eight months, and ufe their endeavours that they might be ratified and confirmed in par- liament. The fubfequent article was calculated to indemnify Colonel John Brown, whofe eftate and eifefts had been feized for the ufe of the Irifh army by Tyrconnel and Sarsfield, which laft had been created Lord Lucan by King James, and was now mentioned by that title. All perfons were indulged with free leave to remove with their families and effects to any other country, except England and ' Scotland. All officers and foldiers in the fervice of King James, comprehending even the Rapparees, willing to go beyond fea, were at liberty to march in bodies to the places of embarkation, to be con- veyed to the continent with the French officers and timops. They were furnifhed with paffports, con- voys, and carriages by land and water ; and General Ginckel engaged to provide feventy fhips, if necef- fary, for their tranfportation, with two men of war for the accommodation of their officers, and to ferve as a convoy to the fleet. It was ftipulated. That the proviflons and forage for their fubfiftence fliould be paid for on their arrival in France : That hoftages fhould be given for this indemnification, as well as for the return of the fhips : That all the garrifons fhould march out of their refpeftive towns and fortreflfes with the honours of war: That the Irifli fhould have liberty to tranfport nine hundred horfes : That thofe who fhould choofe to flay behind, might difpofe of themfelves according to their own fancy, after having furrendered their arms to fuch Com- miffioners as the General fnould appoint : That all prifoners of war fhould be fet at liberty on both fides : That the General fhould provide two vefTels to carry over two different perfons to France, with intimation of this treaty ; and that none of thofe who were willing to quit the kingdom fhould be 3 detained -WILLIAM AND MARY. m detained on account of debt, or any other pretence. CHAP. — This is the fubftance of the famous treaty of Li- ^ ^ merick, which the Irifh Roman-catholicks eonfi- jggi, dered as the great charter of their civil and religious liberties. The town of Limerick was furrendered to Ginckel; but both fides agreed, that the two armies fliould entrench themfelves, till the Irifh could embark, that no diforders might arife from a communication. § XIII. The proteflant fubjefts of Ireland were extremely difgufted at thefe conceffions made in fa- vour of vanquifhed rebels, who had exercifed fuch a6ls of cruelty and rapine. They complained. That they themfelves, who had fuffered for their loyalty to King William, were neglected, and obliged to fit dov^n with their Ioffes, while their enemies, who had fhed fo much blood in oppofmg his government, were indemnified by the articles of the capitulation, and even favoured with particular indulgencies. They were difmiffed with the honours' of war: they were tranlported at the government’s expence, to fight againft the Englifh in foreign countries : an honourable provifion was made for the Rapparees, who were profeffed banditti : the Roman-catholick intereft in Ireland obtained the fanftion of regal au- thority : attainders were overlooked, forfeitures an- nulled, pardons extended, and laws fet afide, in order to effed a pacification. Ginckel had received orders to put an end to the war at any rate, that William might convert his whole influence and attention to the affairs of the continent. When the articles of capitulation were ratified, and hoftages exchanged for their being duely executed, about two thoufand irifh foot, and three hundred horfe, began their march for Cork, where they propofed to take Ihipping for France, under the condud of Sarsfield : but three regiments refufing to quit the kingdom, delivered lip their arms, and difperfed to their former habita- tions. Thofe who remained at Limerick embarked otx s HISTORY OF ENGLAND, on the feyenth day of November, in French tranO ports ^ and failed immediately to France, under the convoy of a French fquadron which had arrived in the bay of Dangle immediately after .the capitula- tion was ligned. Twelve thou fand men chofe to undergo exile from their native country, rather than fubmit to the government of King William. When they arrived in France, they were welcomed by a letter from James, vdio thanked them for their loyal- ty; affured them they fnould Hill ferve under his commifiion and command ; and that the King of France had already given orders for their being new clothed, and put into quarters of refrefhment. § X.I V. The redu6lion of Ireland being thus com- pleted, Baron Ginckel returned to England, where he was folemniy thanked by the Houfe of Commons for his great fervices, after he had been created Earl of Athlone by his Majefty. When the Parliament met on the twenty-fecond day of October, the King, in his fpeech, infilled upon the necelTity of fending a llrong fleet to fea early in the feafon, and of main- taining a confiderable army, to annoy the enemy abroad, as well as to protefl the kingdom from in- luit and invahon ; for which piirpofes, he faid, fixty- five thoufand men would be barely fufficient. Each Houfe prefented an addrefs of congratulation upon his Majefty’s fafe return to England, and on the re- du6lion of Ireland : they promifed to affill him, to the utmoft of their power, in profecuting the war with France; and^ at the fame time, drew up ad- dreffes to the Queen, acknowledging her prudent adminillration during his Majelly’s abfence. Not- withllanding this appearance of cordiality and com- plaifance, a fpirit of difeontent had infinuated itfelf into both Floufes of Parliament, and even infedled great part of the nation. § XV. A great number of individuals, who wifhed well to their country, could not, without anxiety and refentment, behold the intereft of the nation facri- hced WILLIAM AND MARY. ficed’ to foreign conne6lions^ and the King’s favour fo partially bellowed upon Dutchmen, in, prejudice to his Englifh fubje6ts. They obferved, that the number of forces he demanded was conliderably greater than that of any army which had ever been paid by the publick, even when the nation was in the moll imminent danger : that, inllead of contri- buting as allies to the maintenance of the war upon the continent, they had embarked as principals, and bore the greatell part of the burthen, though they had the leall hiare of the profit. They even infi- nuated, that fuch a fcanding army was more calcu- lated to make the King abfolute at home, than to render him formidable abroad ; and tlie fecret friends of the late King did not fail to enforce thefe infi- nuations. They renewed their animadverfions upon the difagreeable part of his charadler : they dwelt upon his proud referve, his fullen filence, his impe- rious difpofition, and his bafe ingratitude, particu- larly to the Earl of Marlborough, whom he had dif- mified from all his employments, immediately after the fignal exploits he had performed in Ireland. The difgrace of this nobleman was partly afcribed to the freedom with which he had complained of the King’s undervaluing his fervices, and partly to the intrigues of his wife, who had gained an afcendancv over the Princefs Anne of Denmark, and is faid to have employed her influence in fomenting a jealoufy between the two fillers. The malcontents of the whiggifli faction, enraged to find their credit de- clining at Court, joined in the cry which the Jaco- bites had railed againll the government. They Krupled not to fay, that the.arts of corruption were mamefully pradlifed, to fecure a majority in Parlia- ment : that the King was as tender of the preroga- tive as any ot his predeceffors had ever been j and, that he even ventured to admit Jacobites into his counci , becaufe they v/ere the known tools of arbi- trary power. Thefe refledions alluded to the Earls of 14 © HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK of Rochefter and Ranelagh, who, with Sir Edward ^ Seymour, had been lately created Privy-counfellors, i6£ii. Rochefter entertained very high notions of regal au- thority : he propofed feverity as one of the beft fup- ports of government ; was clear in his underftand- ing, violent in his temper, and incorrupt in his principles. Ranelagh was a man of parts and plea- jure, who poftefted the moft plaufible and winning addrefs ; and was capable of tranfa61;ing the moft important and intricate affairs, in the midft of riot and debauchery. He had managed the revenue of Ireland in the reign of Charles II.' He enjoyed the office of pay-mafter in the army of King James; and now maintained the fame footing under the go- vernment of William and Mary. Sir Edward Sey- mour was the proudeft commoner in England, and the boldeft orator that ever filled the Speaker’s chair. He was intimately acquainted with the bufinefs of the Houfe, and knew every individual member fo cxadly, that with one glance of his eye he could prognofticate the fate of every motion. He had oppofed the Court with great acrimony, queftioned the King’s title, cenfured his conduft, and refle6led upon his chara6ler. Neverthelefs, he now became a profelyte, and was brought into the Treafury. § XVI. The Commons voted three millons, four hundred and eleven thoufand, fix hundred and feventy-five pounds for the ufe of the enfuing year : but the eftabliffiment of funds for raifing thefe fup- plies was retarded, partly by the ill-humour of the oppofition, and partly by intervening affairs, that diverted the attention of the Commons. Several eminent merchants prefented a petition to the Houfe againft the Eaft-India Company, charging them with manifold abufes ; at the fame time, a counter- petition was delivered by the Company, and the affair referred to the examination of a committee appointed for that purpofe. After a minute enquiry into the nature of the complaints, the Commons voted / WILLIAM AND MARY. 24^ voted certain regulations with refpeft to the flock chap. and the traffick ; and refolved • to petition his Ma- jefly, that, according to the faid regulations, the ,691, Eafl-India Company fhould be incorporated by charter. The committee was ordered to bring in a bill for this eflabliihment : but divers petitions being prefented againfl it, and the Company’s an- fwers proving unfatisfa6lory, the , Houfe addreffed the King to diflblve it, and grant a charter to a new company. He faid, it was an affair of great im- portance to the trade of the kingdom; therefore, he would confider the fubjeft, and in a little time return a pofitive anfwer. The Parliament was like- wife amufed by a pretended confpiracy of the Papifls in Lancafhire, to raife a rebellion, and reflore J ames to the throne. Several perfons were feifed, and fome witneffes examined : but nothing appeared to juflify the information. At length, one Fuller, a prifoner in the King’s Bench, offered his evidence, and was brought to the bar of the Houfe of Com- mons, where he produced fome papers. Fie ob- tained a blank pafs from the' King for two perfons, who, he faid, would come from the continent to give evidence. He was afterwards examined at his own lodgings, where he affirmed, that Colonel Tho- mas Delaval, and James Hayes, were the witneffes for whom he had procured the pafs and the pro- tedlion. Search was made for them, according to his direftion: but no fuch perfons were found. Then the Floufe declared Fuller- a notorious im- poftor, cheat, and falfe accufer. He was, at the requefl of the Commons, profecuted by the Attor- ney-General, and fentenced to hand in the pillory ; a difgrace, which he accordingly underwent. ^ § XVII. A bill for regulating trials in cafes of high treafon having been laid afide by the Lords in the preceeding feffion, was now again brought upon . the carpet, ^ and paffed the Lower Floufe. The defign of this bill was to fecure the fubjedt from the rigours 14-2 BOOK I. — '/“T—J 1691. HISTORY OF ENGLAND, rigours to which he had been expcfed in the latj reigns : It provided, That the prifoner flioiild be fiirniflied with a copy of his indiftment, as alfo of the pannel, ten days before his trial and, That.his witneffes llioiild be examined upon oath, as w^ell as thofe of the crown. The Lords, in their own be- half, added a caufe, enadting, Thrt upon the trials of any peer or peerefs, for treafon or milprifion of treafon, all the peers who have a right to fit and vote in Parliament fhould be duly fummoned to afliil: at the trial; That this notice diould be given twenty days before the trial : and. That every peer fo fummioned, and appearing, fliould vote upon the occafion. The Commons rejedted this amendment; and a free conference enfued. The point was argued with great vivacity on both fides, which ferved only to infiame the difpute, and render each party the more tenacious of their own opinion. After three conferences that produced nothing but animofity; the bill was dropped ; for the Commons refolved to bear the hardfhips of which they complained, rather than be relieved at the expence of purchafing a new privilege to the Lords ; and without this advantnge, the peers would not contribute to their relief. § XVIII. The next objedl that engrolTed the at tention of the Lov/er Houfe, was the mifcarriage of the fleet during the fummePs expedition. Admiral RulTel, who commanded at lea, having been joined by a Dutch fquadron, failed in qnefl; of the enemy ; but, as the French King had received undoubted intelligence, that the combined fquadrons were fu- perior to his navy in number of fhips and w'eight of meta], lie ordered Tourville to avoid an engagement. This oflicer afted with fuch vigilance, caution, and dexterity, as baffled all the endeavours of Ruffel, who was, moreover, perplexed wnth obfcure and contradiflory orders. Neverthelefs, he ciuifed all fummer, either in the channel or in foundings, for the protedion of the trade, and, in particular, fe cured W I L L I A M AND MAR Y. fecured the homeward-bound Smyrna fleet, in which the Englifn and Dutch had a joint concern, amount- ing to four millions fterling. Having fcoured the channel, and failed along great part of the French coaft, he returned to Torbay in the beginning of Augiifl, and received frefn orders to put to fea again, notwithflanding his repeated remonftrances againft expofing large fhips to the Forms that always blow about the time of the equinox. He, therefore, failed back to foundings, vAxCre he continued cruifing till the fecond day of September, when he was overtaken by a violent tempeft, which drove him into the channel, and obliged him to make for the port of Plymouth. The weather being hazy, he reached the Sound with great difficulty : the Coronation, a fecond-rate, foundered at anchor off the Ram-Head : the Harwich, a third-rate, bulged upon the rocks, and perifned : two others ran affiore, but were got off with little damage : but the whole fleet was Mat- tered and diftreffed. The nation murmured at the fuppofed mifcondua of the Admiral, and the Com- l^Cwted him to an enquiry : bur, when they examined his papers, orders, and inftrudions, they preceived he had adhered to them with great punc« tuaiity, and thought proper to drop the profecution, out of tendernefs to the minillry. ^Then the Houfe took into confideration fome letters which had been intercepted in a French fliip taken by Sir Ralph. Delaval. Three of thefe are faid to have been* written by King James, and the red fealed with his feal. They related to the plan of an infarre therefore, exhorted them to be fpeedy and WILLIAM AND MARY. and fecret in their preparations, that they might be in readinefs to take arms, and co-operat^e in efFeding his reftoration. This officer, and one Johnfon, a prieft, are laid to have iJ^ertaken the aflaffination of King William; but, before they could execute their defign, his Majelty fet fail for Holland. § XXIII. Mean, while James ad dreffied aletterto feveral lords, who had been formerly -members of his council, as well as to divers ladies of quality and diftindion, intimating the pregnancy of his queen, and requiring them to attend as witnelTes at the labour. He took notice of the injury his family and honour had fuftained, from the cruel afperfions of his enemies concerning the birth of his fon, and as Providence had now favoured him with an oppor- tunity of refuting the calumny of thofe who affirmed that the Queen was incapable of child-bearing, he afilired them, in the name of his brother the French King, as well as upon his own royal word, that they ffiould have free leave to vifit his court, and return after the labour*. This invitation, however, no perfon would venture to accept. He afterwards employed his emiffaries in circulating a printed declaration, importing that the King of France had enabled him to make another effort to re- trieve his crown ; and that, althougii he was furjiiffied with a number of troops fufficient to untie the hands of his fubjeds, he did not intend to de- prive them of their fhare in the glory of reftoring their lawful King and their ancient government, * The letter was dlrefted not only for privy-counfellors, but alfo to the Duchefies of Somerfet and Beaufort, the Marchionefs of Hallitax, the Countefles of Derby, Mulgrave, Rutland, Brooks, Nottingham, Lumley, and Danby, the Dadies Fitzharding 'and Fretchville, thole of Sir John Trevor, Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Chriftopher Mufgrave, the wives of Sir Thomas Stamford, Lord Mayor of London, Sir Wil- liam Alhhurft and Sir Richard Levert the Sheriffs, and, laftly, to Pr, Chaniberlain, the faiisqus prai^litioner in midwifery. He HISTORY OF ENGLAND. He exhorted the people to join his llandard. Hv* affured them that the foreign auxiliaries Ihoiild behave with the molh regular difeipline, and be fent back immediately after his re-eftablifnment. Ele obferved, that when fuch a number of his fubjedts \yere fo, infatuated as to concur W'ith the unnatural defign of the Prince of Orange, he had chofen to rely upon the fidelity of his Englilh army, and refufed confiderable fuccours that were offered to him by his Moil Chriftian Majeffy ^ that when he was ready to oppofe force with force, he neverthelefs offered to give all reafonabie fatisfaflion to his lubjedls who had been miffed, and endeavoured to open their eyes, whth refpedl to the vain pretences of his adverfary, whofe aim w^as not the reformation but the fubverfion of the government ; that when he faw himfelf deferred by his army, betrayed by his. minifters, abandoned by his' favourites, and even his own children, and at lafl: rudely driven from his own Palace by a guard of infolent foreigners, he bad, for his perfonal fafety, taken refuge in France : that his retreat from the malice and cruel defigns of the ufurper had been conftrued into an abdication, and the whole conftitution of the monarchy de- ftroyed by a fet of men illegally affembled, who, in fad, had no power to alter the property of the meaneff: fubjed. He expreffed his hope that by this time the nation had fairly examined the account, and, from the Ioffes and enormous expenfe of the, ^ree laft years, were convinced that the remedy, was worfe than the difeafe ^ that the beginning, like the firff: years ot Nero^s reign, would, in all pro- bability, be found the, rnildeff: part of the ufurpatioji, and the inftruments of the new eftabliffiment live to fuffer feverely by the tyranny they had raifed ; that even, though the ufurpation fhould continue during his life, an igdifputable title would furvive in his jlTue, and expofe the kingdom to all the miferi ?s of a civil war. He not only folicited but commanded his WILLIAM AND MARY» 15? his good fubie6ls to join him, according to their C H A P. duty, and the oaths they had taken. He forb.ade f them to pay taxes or any part of the revenue to the ,65a, ufurper. He promifed pardon, and even rewards, to all thofe who Ihould return to their duty, and to procure in his firil: Parliamxnt an a6t of indemnity, with an exception of certain perfons '^ whom he now enumerated. He declared that all foldiers v^ho fnould quit the fervice of the ufurper, and inliil under his banners, might depend upon receiving their pardon and arrears; and tliat the foreign troops, upon laying down their arms, fhoulcl be paid and tranfpoited to their refpedlive countries. He folernnly protefted that he would protedt and maintain the church of England, as by law eftab- liflied, in ail their rights, privileges, and poiTeffions : he fignified his refolution to ufe his influence with the Parliament for allowing liberty of confcience to ail his fubjefls, as an indulgence agreeable to the fpirit of the Chriftian religion, and conducive to the wealth and profperity of the nation. He faid his principal care fliould be to heal the wounds of the late diflra 6 lions ; to refiore trade, by obferving the aft of navigation, which had been lately fo much violated in favour of llrangers ; to put the navy in a fiourifliing condition ; and to take every ftep that might contribute to the greatnefs of the monarchy and the happinefs of the people. He concluded * Thofe excepted were the Duke of Ormond, the Marquis of Winchefter, the Earls of Sunderland, Bath, Danby, and Norting- liam, the Lords Newport, Deiamere, Wiltfhire, Colcheder, Corn- bury, Dunblain, and Churchill? the Bi (hops of London and Sn Afaph, Sir Robert Howard, Sir John Worden, Sir Samuel Grim- itone. Sir Stephen Fox, Sir George Treby, Sir Bafil Dixwell, Sir Oxenden, Dr. John Tiilotfon, Dr. Gilbert Burnet; Francis ipiileJ, Richard Levifon, John Trenchard, Charles Duncomb, citizens of London : Edwards, Stapleton, and H.mt, fifhermen, and all others who had offered perfonal indignities to him at FeverOiam ; or had been concerned in the barbarous murther of John Alhton, Crop, or any other who had fuffered death for their loyalty ; and all Ipies, or Inch as had betrayed his council during his late abfence i|ioin England, ^ with 154 BOO I. I— «-v* a%2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Kwith profeffions of refignqition to the Divine Will, declaring, that all who lliould reje6t his offers of mercy, and appear in arms againft him, would be anfwerable to Almighty God for all the blood that Rioiiid be fpilt, and all the miferies in which thefe kingdoms might be involved by their defperate and unreafonable oppofition. § XXI y. While this declaration operated various- ly on the minds of the people. Colonel Parker, with fome other officers, inlifled men privately for the fervice of James, in the counties of York, Lancafter, and in the biffioprick of Durham : at the fame time, Fonntaine and Holeman were employed in raifing two regiments of horfe at London, that they might join their mailer immediately after his landing. His partifans fent Captain Lloyd with an exprefs to Lord Melfoot' Containing a detail of thefe particulars, with an alTurance that thev had brouffiit over Rear- Admiral Carter to the intereft of his Majefly. They likewife tranfmitted a lift of the ffiips that compofed the Engliffi fleet, and exhorted James to ufe his in- fluence with the French King, that the Count de Tourville might be ordered to attack them before they flnould be joined by the Dutch fquadron. It was in confequence of this -advice, that Louis com- manded Tourville to fall upon the Englifli fleet, even without waiting for tiiC Toulon fquadron, com^ manded by the Marquis D’Etrees. By this time J ames had repaired to La Hogue, and was ready to embark with his army, confifring of a body of French troops, together with fome Englifh and Scotch re- fugees, and the regiments which had been tranf- ported from Ireland by virtue of the capitulation of Limerick. §XXV. The minifery of England was informed of all thefe particulars, partly by fome agents of James, who betrayed his caufe, and partly by Ad- miral Carter, who gave the Queen to underftand he had been tampered with s and was inftructed to 4 amufe WILLIAM AND MARY, 15S amufe the Jacobites with a negociation. King V/ii- C H A P. liam no fooner arrived in Holland, than he haftened the naval preparations of the Dutch, fo that their lleet was ready for fea fooner than was expected ^ and when he received the firft intimation of the projedted defcent, he detached General Ptolemache with three of the Englifh regiments from Holland. Thefe, reinforced with other troops remaining in England, were ordered to encamp in the neighbourhood of Portfmouth. The Queen ilTued a proclamation, commanding all Papifts to depart from London and Weftminfter: the members of both Houfes of Par- liament were required to meet on the twenty -fourth day of May, that ihe might avail herfeif of their advice in fudi a perilous conjundure. Warrants were expedited for apprehending divers difalfeded perfons ; and they withdrawing themfelves from their refpeClive places of abode, a proclamation was pub- liflied for difcovering and bringing them to juftice. The Earls of Scarfdale, Litchfield, and Newburgh; the Lords Griffin, Forbes, Sir John Fenwick, Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, and others, found means to elude the fearch. The Earls of Huntingdon and Marlborough w^ere fent to the Tower : Edward Rid- ley, Knevitt, Haftings, and Robert Fergufon, were imprifoned in Newgate. The Bifficp of Rochefler was confined to his own houfe ; the Lords Brudenel and Fanfhaw were fecured: the Earls of Dunmore, Middleton, and Sir Andrew Forreller, weie difco- vered in a Quaker’s houfe, and committed to prifon, with feveral other oerfons of diftin6tion. The train- j bands of London and Weftminfter were armed by the Queen’s dire6lion, and Ihe reviewed them in per- fon : Admiral RufTel was ordered to put to fea with all poffible expedition ; and Ca.rter, with a fquadron of eighteen fail, continued to cruife along the P'rench Goaft, to obferve the motions of the enemy. § XXVI. On the eleventh day of May, RufTel failed from Rye to St. Helen’ where he was joined by 156 .HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o Kby the ffqnadrons under Delaval and Carter. There he received a letter from the Earl of Nottingham, ^692, intimating, that a report having fpread of the Queen’s fufpefting the fidelity of the fea-oflicers, lierMajefty had ordered him to declare in her name, that fhe repofed the moft entire confidence in their attach- ment ; and believed the report was raifed by the enemies of the government. The flag-officers and captains forthwith drew up a very loyal and dutiful addrefs, which was gracioudy received by the Queen, and publiffied for the fatisfadfion of the nation, Ruffel, being reinforced by the Dutch fquadrons, commanded by Allemonde, Callembergh, and Van- dergoes, fet fail for the coaft of France on the eighteenth day of May, with a fleet of ninety-nine flrips of the line, befides frigates and fire-fliips. Next day, about three o’clock in the morning, he ciifcovered the enemy, under the Count de Tour- vijle, and threw out the fignal for the line of battle, v/hich by eight o’clock was formed in good order, the Dutch in the van, the blue fquadron in the rear, and the red in the centre. 'I'he French fleet did not. exceed fixty-three fliips of the line, and, as they were to windward, Tourville might have avoided an engagement : but he had received a pofitive order to fight, on the fuppofition that the Dutch and Eng- lifh fquadrons had not joined. Louis, indeed, was . apprifed of their junclion before they were deferied by his admiral, to whom he difpatched a counter- manding order by two feveral veflels : but one of them v/as taken by the Englifli, and die other did not arrive till the day after the engagement. ‘ § XXVII. Tourville, therefore, in obedience to the firfi: mandate, bore down along fide of RufTel’s own fliip, v/hich he engaged at a very fmall diftance. He fought with great fury till one o’clock, when his rigging and fails being confiderably damaged, his ihip, the Rifmg-Sun, which carried one hundred ^nd four cannon, v/as tovted out of the line in great difor- WILLIAM AND MARYi ^Sl 0 tViforder. Neverthelefs, the engagement contiiiiicdc H A P. till three, when the fleets were.paited by a thick fog. ^ When this abated, the enemy were defcried flying ,69^. to the northward ; and Pvuffel made the fignal for chafing. Part of the blue fquadron came up witli the enemy about eight in the evening, anti engaged them half an hour, during which Admiral Carter was mortally wounded. Finding himfelf in extre- . mity, he exhorted his captain to fight as long as the Ihip could fvvdm; and expired with great compofiire* At length, the Pdench bore away for Conquet-Road, having loll four fliips in this day’s adion. Next day, about eight in the morning, they were difco- vered crowding away to the weflward, and the com- bined fleets chafed with all the fail they could carry, until Ruffel’s foretop-mafl came by the board. Though he was retarded by this accident, the fleet ftill continued the purfuit, and anchored near Cape La Hogue. On the tvrenty-fecond of the month, about feven in the morning, part of the French fleet was perceived near the Race of Alderney, fome at anchor, and fome driving to the eaftward with the tide of flood. Rufiel, and the fhips nearefl him, immediately flipped their cabals, and chafed. The Rifing-Sun, having loft her mafts, ran afliore near Cherbourg, where fhe was burned by Sir Ralph Delaval, together with the Admirable, another firft- rate, and the Conquerant of eighty guns. Eighteen other fhips of their fleet ran into La Hogue, where they were attacked by Sir George Rooke, who de- ft royed them, and a great number of tranfports laden with ammunition, in the midft of a terrible fire from the enemy, and in fight fif the Irifli camp. Sir John Afhby, with his own fquadron and fome Dutch fliips, purfued the reft of the French fleet, which efcaped through the Race of Alderney, by fuch a dangerous paflage as the Englifli could not atteimpt, without expofing their fliips to the moft imminent liazard. This was a very mortifying defeat to the French i 15 ^ H iStOR y OF ENGLAND, E o o K French King, who had been fo long flattered with ^ an uninterrupted feries of viflories : it reduced James to the loweft ebb of defpondence, as it fruf- trated the whole fcheme of his embarkation, and ' overwhelmed his friends in England with grief and defpair. Some hiftorians alledge, that Ruflfel -did not improve his victory with all advantages that might have been obtained, before the enemy reco- vered their confternation. They fay his affection to the fervice was in a good meafure cooled by the dif- grace of his friend, the Earl of Marlborough : that he hated the Earl of Nottingham, by whofe chan- nel he received his orders ; and, that he adhered to the letter, rather than to the fpirit of his inftrudlions. But this is a malicious imputation j and a very un- grateful return for his manifold fervices to the na- tion. Fie acted In' this whole expedition with the genuine fpirit of a Britifh admiral. FFe plyed from the Nore to the Downs with a very fcanty wind> through the dangerous fands, contrary to the advice of all his pilots ; and by this bold paffage effefled a jundion of the different fquadrons, which otherwife the French would have attacked fmgly, and perhaps defeated. Fie behaved with great gallantry during the engagement ; and deflroyed about fifteen of the enemy’s capital lliips : in a word, he obtained fuch a decifive yidlory, that during the remaining part of the war, the French would not hazard another battle by fea with the Englifh. § XXVIII. RufTel having ordered Sir John Afli- by, and the Dutch Admiral Callemberg, to fleer towards Flavre de Grace, and endeavour to deflroy the remainder of the French fleet, failed back to St. Flelen’s, that the damaged fhips might be refitted, and the fleet furnifhed with frefh fupplies of provi- iion and ammunition : but his principal motive was, to take on board a number of troops provided for a defeent upon France, which had been projeded by England and Fiolland, with a view to alarm and diflrad: * \V I L L I A M AND MAR Y. diftrad the enemy in their own dominions. The ' Queen was fo pleafed with the vidory, that flie or- dered thirty thoufand pounds to be dihributed among the Tailors. She caufed medals to be ftriick in honour of the aftion ; and the bodies of Admiral Carter and Captain Haftings, who had been killed in the battle, to be interred with great funeral pomp. In the latter end of July, feven thoufand men, com- manded by the Duke of Leiniler, embarked on board tranfports, to be landed at St. Maloes, Breft, or Rochefort; and the nation conceived the moft fanguine hopes of this expedition. A council of war, confiding of land and fea-officers, being held on board the Breda, to deliberate upon the fcheme of the miniftry, the memibers unanimouily agreed, that the feafon was too far advanced to put it in. execution. Neverthelefs, the Admiral having de- tached Sir John Afhby with a fquadron, to intercept the remains of the French fleet, in their paflfage from St. Maloes to Bred, fet diil for La Hogue with the red of the fleet and tranlports : but, in a few days, the wind fhifting, he was obliged to return to St. Helen’s. § XXIX. The Queen immediately difpatched the Marquis of Caermarthen, the Earls of Devonfliire, Dorfet, Nottingham, and Rocheder, together with the Lords Sidney and Cornwallis, to confult with the Admiral, who demondrated the imipradicability of making an effectual defeent upon the coad of France at that feafon of the year. Tlie defign was, therefore, laid afide ; and the forces were tranlported to Flanders. The higher the hopes of the nation had been raifed by this arm.ament, the deeper they felt their difappointment. A loud clamour was raifed againd the minidry, as the authors of this mifear- riage. The people complained, that they w^ere plun- dered and abufed : that immenfe Turns were extorted from them by the mod grievous impofitions : that, by the infamous expedient of borrowing upon eda- blifhed HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ' BOOK biiflied funds, their taxes were perpetuated ; that their ^ , burthens would daily increafe : that their treafure was 1692. either fquandered away in chimerical proje6ls, or ex- pended in foreign connexions, of which England was naturally independent. They were the more excufable for exclaiming in this manner, as their trade had fuffered grievoufly by the French priva- • teers, which' fwantied in the Channel. In vain the merchants had recourfe to the Admiralty, which could not fpare particular convoys, wFile large fleets tvere required for the defence of the nation. The 'The French King, having nothing further to appre- hend from the Englilh armament, withdrew his troops from the coafl: of Normandy; and James re- turned in delpair to St; Germain’s, where his Queen had been in his abfence delivered of a daughter, who was born in the prefence of the Archbifliop of Paris, the Keeper of the Seals, and other perfons of dif- tinCdon. § XXX. Louis had taken the field in the latter end of May. On the twentieth day of that month he arrived at his camp in Flanders, with all the effeminate pomp of an Afiatick emperor, attended by his women and parafites, his band of mufick, his dancers, his opera, and, in a word, by all the mini- fters of luxury and fenfual pleafure. Flaving re- viewed his armyj which amounted to about one hundred and twenty thoufand men, he undertook the fiege of Namur, which he invefled on both fides of the Sambrej with about one half of his army; while the other covered the "fiege, under tlie com- mand of Luxembourg. Namur is fituated on the conflux of the Meufe and the Sambre. The citadel vt/as deemed one of the ftrongefl forts in Flanders, ftrengthened with a new work contrived by the fa- mous engineer Coehorn, who now defended it in perfon. The Prince de Barbafon commanded the garrifon, confiding of nine thoufand men. The place was well fupplied 5 and the governor knew that WILLIAM AND MARY. i6i that King William would make ftrong efforts for itsc H A P. relief: fo that the befieged were animated with many concurring confiderations. Notwithftanding thefe' 7"*^ advantages, the affailants carried on their attacks with fuch vigour, that in feven days after the trenches v/ere opened the tov/n capitulated, and the garrifon retired into the citadel. King William, being joined by the troops of Brandenburgh and Leige, advanced to the Mehaigne, at the head of one hun- dred thoufand effedive men, and encamped within cannon-fhot of Luxembourg’s army, which lay on the other hde of the river. That general, however, had taken fuch precautions, that the King of Eng- land could not interrupt the fiege, nor attack the French lines without great difadvantage. The be- fiegers, encouraged by the prefence of their Mo- narch, and affifled by the fuperior abilities of Vau- ban their engineer, repeated their attacks with fuch impetuofity, that the fort of Coehorn was furren- dered, after a very obftinate defence, in which he himfelf had been dangeroufly wounded. The cita- del being thus left expofed to the approaches of the enemy, could not long withftand the violence of their operations. The two covered ways were taken by affault : on the twentieth of May the governor capi- tulated, to the unfpeakable mortification of King William, who faw himfelf obliged to lie inadive S: the head of a powerful army, and be an eye witnefs of the lofs of the mofl important fortrefs in the Ne- therlands. Louis, having taken pofTefTion of the place, returned in triumph to Verfailies, where he was flattered with all the arts of adulation ; while W illiam’s reputation fuffered a little from his mif- carriage, and the Prince of Barbafon incurred the fufpicion of treachery or mifcondud. § jKXXI. Luxembourg having placed a flrono' garrifon in Namur, detached Boufllers with a body of troops to La BufTiere, and with the reft of his army encamped at Soignies. The King ofEngland VoL.I. M "fent i62 history of ENGLAND. BOOK feat off detachments towards Leige and Ghent ; and ^ , on the fixth day of July poffed himfelf at Genap, i 6 <^z. refolved to feize the firft opportunity of retrieving his honour, by attacking the enemy. Having received intelligence that the French general was in motion, and intended to take poft between Steenkerke and Enghien, he paffed the river Senne, in order to an- ticipate his purpofe : but, in Ij^ite of all his diligence, Luxembourg gained his points and William en- camped at Lembecq, within fix miles of the French army. Here he refolved, in a council of war, to attack the enemy 5 and every difpofition was made for that purpofe. The heavy baggage he ordered to be conveyed to the other fide of the Senne j and one Millevoix, a detedted fpy, was compelled by menaces to miflead Luxembourg with falfe intelligence, im- porting, that he need not be alarmed at the motions of the allies, who intended the next day to make a general forage. On the twenty- fourth day of July, the army began to move from the left, in two co- lumns, as the ground would not admit of their marching in ^an extended front. The Prince of Wirtemberg began the attack on the right of the enemiy, at the head of ten battalions of Englifh, Da- nifh, and Dutch infantry : he was fupported by a confiderable body of Britilli horfe and foot, com- manded by Lieutenant-General Mackay. Though the ground was interfedled by hedges, ditches, and narrow defiles, the Prince marched with fuch dili- gence, that he was in a condition to begin the battle about two in tlie afternoon, when he charged the French with fuch impetuofity, that they were driven from their polls, and their whole camp became a fcene of tumult and confufion. Luxembourg, trufting to the intelligence he had received, allowed himfelf to be lurprifed ; and it required the full exertion of his fuperior talents, to remedy the confequences of his neglect. He forthwith forgot a fevere indifpofition under which he then laboured 5 he rallied his broken 2 battalions : WILLIAM AND MARY. 163 battalions : he drew up his forces in order of battle, CHAP, and led them to the charge in perfon. The Duke ^ ^ de Chartres, who was then in the fifteenth year of his age, the Dukes of Bourbon and Vendome, the Prince of Conti, and a great number of volunteers of the firft quality, put themfelves at the head of the houfe- hold troops, and fell with great fury upon the Eng- lilh, who v/ere very ill fupported by Count Solmes, the officer who commanded the centre of the allies. The Prince of Wirtemberg had taken one of the enemies batteries, and adually penetrated into their lines : but finding himfelf in danger of being over- powered by numbers, he fent an aide-du-camp twice, to demand fuccours from Solmes, who derided his diftrefs, faying, “ Let us fee what fport thefe Eng- “ lifh bull-dogs will make.’' At length, when the King fent an exprefs order, commanding him to fuf- tain the left wing, he made a motion with horfe, wffiich could not ad while his infantry kept their ground ; and the Britiffi troops, with a few Dutch and Danes, bore the whole brunt of the engagement. They fought with furprifmg courage and perfeverance againft dreadful odds ; and the event of the battle continued doubtful, until Boufflers joined the French army with a great body of dragoons. The allies could not fuflain the additional weight of this rein- forcement, before which they gave way, though the retreat was made in tolerable order ; and the enemy did not think proper to profecute the advantage they had gained. In this adion the confederates loft the Earl of Angus, General Mackay, Sir John Lanier, Sir Robert Douglas, and many other gallant officers, together with about three thoufand men left dead on the fpot, the fame number wounded or talcen, a great many colours and ftandards, and feveral pieces of cannon. § XXXII. The French, however, reaped no folid advantage from this vidory, which coft them about three thoufand men, including the Prince of M 2 T urenne. i 64 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Tiirenne, the Marquis de Bellefond, Tilladet, and Fernacon, with many officers of diftin6lion : as for Millevoix the fpy, he was hanged on a tree, on the right wing of the allied army. King William re- tired unmolefted to his own camp ; and, notwith- Randing all his overthrows, continued a refpe6lable enemy, by dint of invincible fortitude, and a genius fruitful in refources. That he was formidable to the French nation, even in the midft of his ill fuccefs, appears from divers undeniable teftimonies, and from none more than from the extravagance of joy ex- prefTed by the‘ people of France, on occafion of this unimportant victory. When the princes who ferved in the battle returned to Paris, the roads through which they paffed were almoft blocked up witJi mul- titudes 3 and the whole air refounded with acclama- tion. All the ornaments of the faffiion peculiar to both fexes adopted the name of Steenkerke : every individual who had been perfonally engaged in the action was revered as a being of a fuperior fpecies ; and the tranfports -of the women rofe almoft to a degree of frenfy. § XXXIII. The French miniftry did not entirely depend upon the fortune of the war for the execution of their revenge againft King William. They like- wife employed affaffins to deprive him of life, in the moft treacherous manner. When Louvois died, his fon, the Marquis de Barbefieux, who fucceeded him in his office of fecretary, found, among his papers, the draft of a fcheme for this purpofe, and immedi- ately revived the defign, by means of the Chevalier de Grandval, a captain of dragoons in the fervice. Fie and Colonel Parker engaged one Dumont, who undertook to aftaffinate King William. Madame de Maintenon, and Paparel, paymafter to the French amiy, were privy to the fcheme, which they encou- raged : the confpirators are faid to have obtained an audience of King James, who approved of their un- dertaking, and affiired them of his protedion j but WILLIAM AND MARY. 165 that unfortunate Monarch was unjuftly charged chap. with the guilt of countenancing the intended mur- ther, as they communicated nothing to him but an attempt to feife the perfon of the Prince of Orange. Dumont aflually inlifted in the confederate army, that he might have the better opportunity to fhoot the King of England when he fliould ride out to vifit the lines, while Grandval and Parker repaired to the French camp, with orders to Luxembourg, to furnifh them with a party of horfe for the refcue of Dumont, after the blow Should be ftruck. Whe- ther this man’s heart failed him, or ^he could not find the opportunity he dehred, after having refided fome v/eeks in the camp of the allies, he retired to Hanover; but Hill correfponded with Grandval and Barbefieux. This laft admitted one Leefdale, a Dutch baron, into the fecret, and likewife imparted it to Monfieur Chanlais, quarter- mailer- general of the French army, v/ho animated Grandval and Leef- dale with the promife of a confiderable reward, and promifed to co-operate with Parker for bringing off Dumont, for this affaffin ftill perfifted in his under- taking. Leefdale had been fent from Holland, on purpole to dive to the bottom of this confpiracy, in confequence of advice given by the Britifh envoy at Hanover, where Dumont had dropped fome hints that alarmed his lufpicion. The Dutchman not only infmuated himfelf into the confidence of the confpirators, but likewife inveigled Grandval to t.yndhoven, where he was apprehended. Under- ftanding that Dumont had already difcovered the defign to the Duke of Zell, and that he himfelf had been betrayed by Leefdale, he freely confeffed all the particulars, without enduring the torture ; and, being found guilty by a court-martial, was executed as a traitor. § XXXI y. About this period the Duke of Leinfter arrived at Oflend, with the troops which ' had been embarked at St. Helen’s. He was fur- M 3 nifned i66 169a. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. nlllied with cannon fent down the Meufe from Maeftrichtj and reinforced by a large detachment from the King’s camp at Gramont, under the command of General Ptolemache. He took pof- feffion ofFurneSj was joined by the Earl of Portland and M. D’Auverquerque, and a difpofition was made for invefting Dunkirk ; but, on further de- liberation, the enterprife was thought very dangerous, and therefore laid afide. Fumes and Dixmuyde, lately reduced by Brigadier Ramfay, were ftreng- thened with new works, and fecured by ftrong garrifons. The cannon were fent back, and the troops returned to Oftend, re- embarked for England. This fruitlefs expedition, added to the inglorious iffue of the campaign, increafed the ill humour of the Britifh nation. They taxed William with having lain inadive at Gramont with an army of one hun- dred thoufand men, while Luxembourg was polled at Courtray with half that number. They faid, if he had found the French lines too ftrong to be forced, he might have palled the Scheld higher up, and not only laid the enemy’s conquefts under con- tribution, but even marched into the bowels of France 3 and they complained that Fumes and Dixmuyde were not worth the fums expended in maintaining their garrifons. On the twenty-fixth day of September King William left the army under the command of the Eledor of Bavaria, and repaired to his houfe at Loo : in two days after his departure the camp at Gramont was broken up 3 the infantry marched to Marienkerke, and the horfe to Caure. On the fixteenth day of 06lober, the King receiving intelligence, that Boufflers had invefted Charleroy, and Luxembourg taken poll in the neighbourhood of Conde, ordered the troops to be inftantly reaftembled between the village of Ixells and Halle, with defign to raife the fiege, and repaired to BrulTels, where he held a council of war, in which the proper meafures were concerted. He then re- turned WILLIAM AND MARY. turned to Holland, leaving the command with the Eledtor of Bavaria, who forthwith began his march for Charleroy. At his approach Boufflers abandoned the fiege, and moved towards Philipville. The Eledtor having reinforced the place, and thrown fupplies into Aeth, diftributed his forces into winter- quarters. Then Luxembourg, who had cantoned his army between Conde, Leuze, and Tournay, returned to Paris, leaving Boufflers to command in his abfence. § XXX Y. The allies had been unfuccefsful in Flanders, and they were not fortunate in Germany. The Landgrave of Heffe Caffel undertook the fiege of Eberemburgh, which, however, he was obliged to abandon. The Duke de Lorges, who com- manded the French forces on the Rhine, furprifed, defeated, and took the Duke of Wirtemberg, who had polled himfelf with four thoufand horfe near Eidelffleim, to check the progrefs of the enemy. Count Tallard having invefled Rhinefeld, the Land- grave marched to its relief with fuch expedition, that the French were obliged to defill, and retreat with confiderable damage. The Eledlor of Saxony had engaged to bring an army into the field : but he complained that the Emperor left the burthen of the war with France upon the princes, and converted his chief power and attention to the campaign in Hungary. A jealoufy and mifunderllanding enfued : Schoening, the Saxon general, in his way to the hot-baths at Dablitz in Bohemia, was feifed by the Emperor’s order, on fufpicion of having maintained a private correfpondence with the enemy, and very warm expoftulations on this fubjedl palled between the courts of Vienna and Drefden. Schoening was detained two years in cullody ; and at length releafed, on condition that he Ihould never be employed again in the empire. The war in Hungary pro- duced no event of importance. The minillry of the Ottoman Porte was diftraded by factions, and the M 4 feraglio i68 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOO Kferaglio threatened with tumults. The people were ^ maintaining an unfuccefsful war: the Vifir 1692. was depofed ; and, in the midft of this confufion, the garrifon of Great Waradin, which had been blocked up by the Imperialifts during the whole winter, furrendered on capitulation. Lord Paget, the Englilh ambaffador at Vienna, was fent to Con- ftantinople, with powers to mediate a peace : but the terms offered by the Emperor were rejedled at the Porte: the Turkifh army lay upon the defen- five, and the feafon was fpent in a fruitlefs negocia- tion. § XXXVL The profpe6l of affairs in Piedmont was favourable for the allies : but the court of France had brought the Pope to an accommodation, and began to tamper with the Duke of Savoy. M. Chanlais was fent to Turin, with advantageous pro- pofals, which, however, the Duke would not accept, becaufe he thought himfelf entitled to better terms, ' confidering that the allied army in Piedmont amounted to fifty thoufand effedive men, while Catinat’s forces were not fufficient to defend his conquefts in that country. In the month of July the Duke marched into Dauphine, where he plundered a number of villages, and reduced the fortrefs of Guilleftre 3 then paffing the river Darance, he in- vefted Ambrun, which, after a fiege of nine days, furrendered on capitulation : he afterwards laid all the neighbouring towns under contribution. Here Duke Schomberg, who commanded the auxiliaries in the Englifh pay, publiflied a declaration, in the name of King William, inviting the people to join his ftandard, alluring them that his mafter had no other defign in ordering his troops to invade France, but that of reftoring the nobleffe to their ancient fplendour, their Parliaments to their former autho- rity, and the people to their juft privileges. He even offered his protection to the Clergy, and pro- mifed to ufe his endeavours for reviving the edid of N antes. WILLIAM AND MARY. Nantes, which had been guaranteed by the Kings of C England. Thefe offers, however, produced little effect ; and the Germans ravaged the whole country, in revenge for the cruelties whicli the French had committed in the Palatinate. The allied army ad- vanced, from Ambrun to Gap, on the frontiers of Provence, and this place fubmitted without oppo- fjtion. The inhabitants of Grenoble, the capital of DauphinG‘, and even of Lyons, were overwhelmed with confternation ; and a fairer opportunity of humbling France could never occur, as that part of the kingdom had been left almoft quite defencelefs : but this was fatally neglefted, either from the fpirit of diflention which began to prevail in the allied army, or from the indifpofition of the Duke of Savoy, who was feifed with the fmall-pox in the midfl of this expedition or, laflily, to his want of fincerity, wFich was fhrewdly fufpedted. Fie is faid to have maintained a conftant correfpondence with the court of Verfailles, in complaifance to which he retarded the operations of the confederates. Certain it is, he evacuated ail his conquefts and about the middle of September quitted the French territories, after having pillaged and laid wafle the country through which he had penetrated *. In Catalonia the French attempted nothing of impor- tance during this campaign, and the Spaniards were wholly inaftive in that province. § XXXVII. The Proteftant interefi: in Germany acquired an accelfion of flrength, by the creation of a ninth eledlorate in favour of Erneft Auguftus, Duke of Hanover. He had, by this time, re- nounced all his connexions with France, and engaged to enter heartily into the intereft of the allies, in confideration of his obtaining the eledoral dignity. At this period Q^een Mary, underftanding that the Proteftant \ audois were deftitute of niiniiters to preach or teach the Gofpel, eftabliftied a fund from her own privy purfe, to maintain ten preach- ers, and as many fchoolmafters, in the vailies of Piedmont. King lyo HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o OK King William exerted himfelf fo vigoroufly in his ^ j behalf at the court of Vienna, that the Emperor 1692. agreed to the propofal, in cafe the confent of the other eleftors could be procured. This aflent, however, was extorted by the importunities of the King of England, whom he durft not difoblige. Eeopold was blindly bigotted to the religion of Kome, and confequently averfc to a new creation, that would v/eaken the Catholick interell in the ele6toral college. He; therefore, employed his emiffaries to thwart the Duke’s meafures. Some Proteftant princes oppofed him from motives of jealoufy, and the French King ufed all his artifice and influence, to prevent the elevation of the Houfe of Flanover. When the Duke had furmounted all this oppofition, fo far as to gain over a majority of the electors, new obje6f:ions were ftarted. The Emperor fuggefted that another Popifli electorate fhould be created, to balance the advantage which the Lutherans would reap from that of Hanover: and he propofed that Auftria fhould be raifed to the fame dignity: but violent oppofition was made to this expedient, which would have vefted the Emperor with a double vote in the electoral college. At length, after a tedious negociation, the Duke of Hanover, on the nineteenth Day of December, was honoured with the inveftiture, as eleCtor of Brunfwick; created Great Marfhal of the empire, and did homage to the Emperor : neverthelefs, he was not yet admitted into the college, becaufe he had not been able to procure the unanimous confent of all the eleClors^. * In the beginning of September the fhock of an earthquake was felt in London, and many other parts of England, as well as in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Violent agitations of the fame kind had happened about two months before in Sicily and Malta ; and the town of Port-Royal in Jamaica was almoft totally ruined by an earthquake: the place was lb fuddenly overflowed, that about fif- teen hundred perlbns perifiied. CHAP, WILLIAM AND MARY. iji CHAP. IV. § I . Falje information againft the Earl of Marlborough y the Bijhop of Rochefter, and others, § 11. Sources of national difcontent. §111. F)iJfention between the ^een and the Princefs Anne of Denmark, § IV, The Houfe of Lords vindicate their privileges in behalf of their imprifoned members, § V. Lhe Commons prefent addreffes to the King and ^een, § VI. Lhey aequit Admiral Rujfely and refolve to advife his Ma- § VII. Lhey comply with all the demands of the minifiry, § VIII. Lhe Lords prefent an addrejs of advice to the King, § IX. Difpute between the Lords and Commons concerning Admiral Rujfel, § X. Lhe Commons addrejs the King, Lhey ejtablijh the land-tax and other imp ofitions, § XI. Burnefspaf- toral letter burned by the hangman, § XII. Pro- ceedings of the Lower Houfe againji the practice of kidnapping men for the Jervice, \ XIII. Lhe two Houfes addrefs the King on the grievances of Ireland, § XIV. An account rf the place-bill ^nd that for triennial Parliaments, § XV. Lhe Commons petition his Majefty that he would dijfolve the Eaft -India com- pany, § XVI. Lryal of Lord Mohun for murther. Alterations in the miniftry, § XVII. Lhe King re- pairs to the continent^ and ajfembles the confederate army in Flanders, § XVIII. Lhe French reduce Huy, § XIX. Luxembourg refolves to attack the allies, § XX. IFho are defeated at Landen, § XXL Charier oy is befieged and taken by the enemy, § XXI I . Campaign on the Rhine, Lhe Duke of Savoy is de- feated by Catinat intheplainof Marjaglia, % XXIII. LranfaSiions in Hungary and Catalonia, § XXIV. Naval affairs, § XXV. A fleet of merchant fhipSy under convoy of Sir George Rooke, attacked, and partly deftroyed by^ the French fquadrons, § XXVI. Wheelers expedition to the Weft-Indies. § XXVII. Benbow nz HISTORY OF ENGLAND, Benhow bombards St, Makes, % XXVIII. The French King has recourje to the mediation of Denmark. ' § XXIX. Severity of the 'government againji the fa- cobites. § XXX. Complaifance of the Scottijh Par- liament. § XXXI. Fhe King returns to England makes fome changes in the miniftry, and opens the fef- Jion of P arliament . § XXXII. Both Houfes enquire intothe mijcarriagesby fea. § XXX III. Fhe Com- mons grant a vaft fum for the fervices of the enfuing year. § XXXIV. Fhe King rejects the bill againji free and impartial proceedings in Parliament ; and the Lower Houfe remonftrates on this JiibjeSl. . § XXXV. Eftablifhment of the Bank of England. § XXXVI. Fhe Eaft-India company obtain a new charter. § XXXVII. Bill for a general naturaliza- tion dropped. §. XXXVIII. Sir Francis Wheeler perifoes in a ftor?n. § XXXIX. Fhe Englijh attempt to make a defcent in Camaret-bay ^ but are repuljed with lofs. § XL. Fhey bombard Dieppe, Havre- de-Grace, Dunkirk, and Calais. % XLl. Admiral Fuff el fails for the Mediterranean, relieves Barcelo^ta, and winters aJ Cadiz. § XLII. Campaign in Flan- ders. § XLIII. Fhe allies reduce Huy . § XLIV. Fhe Prince of Baden pajfes the Rhine, but is obliged to repafs that river. Operations inHmigary. § XLV. Progrefs of the French in Catalonia. State of the war in Piedmont. § XLVI. Fhe King returns to England. Fhe Parliament meets. Lhe bill for tri- ennial Parliaments receives the royal ajfent. § X L VI I . Death of Archbifhop Fillotfcn and of Oueen Mary. § XLVI II. Reconciliation between the King and the Princefs of Denmark. BOOK TyHILE King Mniliam feemed wholly — j ’ ^ engroffed by the affairs of the continent, 1692. England was diftrafted by domeflick diffention, and overfpread with vice, corruption, and profanenefs. Over and above the Jacobites, there was a fet of malcontents, whofe number daily increafed. They ' not WILLIAM AND MARY. 173 not only murmured at the grievances of rhe nation, CHAP, but compofed and publifhed elaborate differtations ^ ^ upon the fame fubjed:. Thefe made fuch impref- fions upon the people, already irritated by heavy burthens, diflreffed in their trade, and difappointed in their fanguine expectations, that the Queen thought it necelTary to check the progrefs of thofe writers, by ilTuing out a proclamation, offering a reward to fuch as would difcover feditious libellers. The Earl of Marlborough had been committed to the Tower, on the information of one Robert Young, a prifoner in Newgate, who had forged that nobleman’s hand- writing, and contrived the fcheme of an affociation in favour of King James, to which he affixed the names of the Earls of Marlborough and Salifbury, Sprat, Biffiop of Rochefter, the Lord Cornbury, and Sir Bafil Firebrace. One of his emiffaries had found means to conceal this paper in a certain part of the Biffiop’s houfe at Bromley in Kent, where it was found by the King’s meflengers, who fecured the Prelate in confequence of Young’s information. But he vindicated himfelf to the fatisfadion of the whole council, and the forgery of the informer was deteded by the confeffiion of his accomplice. The Biffiop obtained his releafe immediately, and the Earl of Marlborough was admitted to bail in the court of King’s-Bench. § II. So many perfons of charafter and diftindion had been imprifoned during this reign, upon the flighteft fufpicion, that the difcontented part of the nation had fome reafon to infinuate, they had only exchanged one tyrant for another. They affirmed, that the Habeas-Corpus-Aa was either infufficient to protea the fubjedl from falfe imprifonment, or had been ffiamefully rnifufed. They expatiated upon the lofs of Ihips, which had lately fallen a prey to the enemy; the confumption of feamen; the ne~ glea of the fiffieries; the interruption of commerce, in which the nation was fupplanted by her allies, as well 174 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK well as invaded by her enemies ; the low ebb of the ^ , kingdom’s treafure exhauRed in hiring foreign bot^ toms, and paying foreign troops to fight foreign quarrels ; and the daughter of the befi: and braved: of their countrymen, whofe blood had been laviflily fpilt in fupport of connexions with which they ought to have had no concern. They demonftrated the mifchiefs that necefiarily arofe from the unfettled ftate of the nation. They obferved that the government could not be duely eftabliflied, until a folemn decla- ration fliould confirm the legality of that tenure by which their Majefties pofiefied the throne ; that the ftrufture of Parliaments was deficient in point of folidity, as they exifted entirely at the pleafure of the crown, which would ufe them no longer than they fhould be found neceflary in raifing fupplies for the ufe of the government. They exclaimed againft the pra6lice of quartering foldiers in private houfes, con- trary to the ancient laws of the land, the petition of rights, and the fubfequent a61; on that fubjedt pafled in the reign of the fecond Charles. They enumerated among their grievances the violation of property, by prefiing tranfport fliips into the fervice, without fet- tling any fund of payment for the owners ; the condi- tion of the militia, which was equally burthenfome and ufelefs ; the flagrant partiality in favour of allies, who carried on an open commerce with France, and fupplied the enemy with necelTaries, while the Eng- lifli laboured under the fevered: prohibitions, and were in elfedt the dupes of thofe very powers whom they prote6led. . They dwelt upon the miniftry’s want of conduft, forefight, and intelligence, and in- veighed againft their ignorance, infolence, and ne- gleft, which were as pernicious to the nation as if they had formed a defign of reducing it to the lowed: ebb of difgrace and deftrudlion. By this time, indeed, publick virtue was become the objeft of ridicule, and the whole kingdom v/as overfpread with immo- rality and corruption j towards the increafe of which many william and MARY. 175 many concurring circumftances happened to contri- CHAP, bute. The people were divided into three parties, ^ j namely, the Williamites, the Jacobites, and the 1691, difcontented Revolutioners : thefe fadions took all opportunities to thwart, to expofe, and to ridicule the meafures and principles of each other ; fo that patriotifm was .laughed out of doors, as an hypocri- tical pretence. This contention eftablifhed a belief, that every man confulted his own private intereft at the expence of the publick : a belief that foon grew into a maxim almoft univerfally adopted. The prac- tice of bribing a majority in Parliament had a per- nicious influence upon the morals of all ranks of people, from the candidate to the loweft bordugh- eleclor. The expedient of eftablifhing funds of cre- dit for raifing fupplies to defray the expences of go- vernment, threw large premiums and fums of money into the hands of low, fordid ufurers, brokers, and jobbers, who diftinguiflied themfelves by the name of the Monied-intereft. Intoxicated by this flow of wealth, they affedled to rival the luxury and magni- ficence of their fuperiors ; but, being deftitute of fentiment and tafte, to condud them in their new career, they ran into the moft abfurd and illiberal extravagancies. They laid afide all decorum ; be- came lewd, infolent, intemperate, and riotous. Their example was caught by the vulgar. All prin- ciple, and even decency, was gradually banifhed ; talent lay uncultivated, and the land was deluged with a tide of ignorance and profligacy. § III. King William having afcertained the winter- quarters of the army, and concerted the operations o£^ the enfuing campaign with the States-General, and the minifters of the allies, fet fail for England on the fifteenth day of Odober ; on the eighteenth landed at Yarmouth, was met by the Queen at Newhall, and pafTed through the city of London to Kenfing- ton, amidfl: the acclamations of the populace. He received a congratulatory addrefs from the Lord- Mayor HISTORY OF ENGLAND. K Mayor and Aldermen, with whom he dined in pub- lick by invitation. A day of thankfgiving was ap- pointed for the vidory obtained at fea. The lute- ftring company was efbablifhed by patent, and the Parliament met on the fourth day of November. The Houfe of Lords Vv^as deeply infedhed with dif- content, which in fome meafure proceeded from the diflention between the Queen and her fifter the Prin- cefs of Denmark, which laft underwent every morti- fication that the court could inflidt. Pier guards were taken away j all honours which had been paid to her rank by the magiilrates of Bath, where fhe fometimes refided, and even by the minifters of the church where fhe attended at divine fervice, were difcontinued, by the exprefs order of his Majefty. Her caufe was naturally efpoufed by thofe noblemen who had adhered to her in her former contefi: with the King, about an independent fettlement; and thefe were now reinforced by all the friends of the Earl of Marlborough, united by a double tie ; for they refented the difgrace and confinement of tliat Lord, and thought it their duty to fupport the Princefs Anne under a perfecution incurred by an attachment to his Countefs. The Earl of Shrewfbury lived in friendfliip with Marlborough, and thought he had been ungratefully treated by the King : the Marquis of Hallifax befriended him, from oppofition to the miniftry : the Earl of Mulgrave, for an opportunity to difplay his talents, and acquire that confideration which he thought due to his merit. Devonfhire, Montague, and Bradford, joined in the fame caufe from principle : the fame pretence was ufed by the Earls of Stamford, Monmouth, Warrington, and other Wlugs ; though in effed they were aduated by jealoufy and refentment againft thofe by whom they had been fupplanted. As for the Jacobites, they gladly contributed their affiftance to promote any fcheme that had a tendency to embroil the ad- miniilration. % * ,§IV. WILLIAM And MARY. W § IV. The King, in his fpeech to Parliament, chap. thanked them for their laft fupp)ies, congratulated ^^ ^ them upon the viftory obtained at fea, condoled them on the bad fuccefs of the campaign by land, magnified the power of France, reprefented the ne- ceflaty of maintaining a great force to oppofe it, and demanded fubfidies equal to the occafion. He exprefied his reluctance to load them wirii additional burthens, which, he faid, could not be avoided, without expofing his kingdom to inevitable deftruc- tion. He defired their advice towards lefTening the inconvenience of exporting money for the payment of the forces. He intimated a defign of making a defcent upon France; declared he had no aim but to make his fabjeCts a happy people ; and that he would again chearfully expofe his life for the wel- fare of the nation. ' -The Lords, after an adjourn- ment of three days, began with great warmth, to afifert their privileges, which they conceived had been violated in the cafes of the Earl of Marlbo- rough, and the other noblemen, who had been ap- prehended, committed to prifon, and afterwards ad- mitted to bail by the court of King’s-Bench. Thefe circumftances being fully difcuffed in a violent de- bate, the Houfe ordered Lord Lucas, Conftable of the Tower, to produce the warrants of commitment. and the clerk of theKing’s-Eench to deliver the affi- davit of Aaron Smith, the court-foilicitor, uponwhicli the Lords had been remanded to prifon. At the fame time, the whole affair was referred to a comi- mittee, empowered to fend for perfons, papers, and records. The Judges were ordered to attend : Aaron Smith w^as examined, touching the evidence againft the committed lords. The committee re- ported their general refolution, wliich produced a vehement difpute. The opinion of the judges was unfatisfaClory to both parties : the debate was re- ferred to a committee of the whole Houfe, in which it was refolvedj and declared, as the fenfe of that yoiA. . N affembiy. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. afifemblyi that in purluance of the Habeas-Corpu^ a6l, it was the duty of the Judges and Gaol-delive- ry to difcharge the prifoner on bail, if committed for high-treafon, unlefs it be made appear, upon oath, that there are two witneffes againfl the faid prifoner, who cannot be produced in that term, fef- fion, or general gaol- delivery. They likewife re- folved it was the intention of the faid ftatute, that in cafe there ihould be more than one prifoner to be bailed or remanded, there mufl be oath made that there are two witnefles againfl each prifoner, other- wife he cannot be remanded to prifon. Thefe refo- lutions were entered in the books, as {landing di- re6lions to all future Judges, yet not without great oppofition from the court-members. The next de- bate turned upon the manner in which the impri- foned lords fliould be fet at liberty. The conteft became fo warm, that the courtiers began to be afraid, and propofed an expedient, which was put in pradlice. The Houfe adjourned to the feventeenth day of the month and at its next meeting was given to underfland, that the King had difcharged the imprifoned noblemen. After another warm debate, a formal entry was made in the Journals, importing. That the Floufe being informed of his Majefly’s having given diredlions for difcharging the Lords under bail in the King’s- Bench, the debate about that matter ceafed. The refentment of the Peers being thus allayed, they proceeded to take his Majefly’s fpeech into confide- ration. § V. The Commons having voted an addrefs of thanks, and another, praying that his Majefly’s fo- reign alliances fhould be laid before them, determi- ned on a bill for regulating trials in cafes of high treafon. They pafTed a vote of thanks to Admiral Ruffel, his officers, and feamen, for the viflory they had obtained, and then proceeded to an enquiry, Why that vidory had not been purfued ^ why the defcent WILLIAM AND MARY. clefcent had not been made ; and why the trade had c not been better proteded from the enemy’s crui- fers- The Admiral having juftified his own con- ^ dud, they commanded the Lords of the Admiral- ty to produce copies of all the letters and orders which had been fent to the Admiral : they ordered Riiifel to lay before them his anfwers, and the commilTioners of the tranfports, viduallers, and Of- fice of Ordnance, to deliver in an account of their proceedings. They then prefented addrefles to the King and Queen, acknowledging the favour of God in reftoring him to his people ; congratulating him upon his deliverance from the fnares of his open and fecret enemies , and affuring him they would, ac- cording to his Majefty’s defire in his moft gracious fpeech, be always ready to advife and affift him in the fupport of his government. The Queen was thanked for her gracious and prudent adminiftra- tion during his Majefty’s abfence : they congratula- ted her on their fignal deliverance from a bold and cruel defign formed for their deftrudion, as well as on the glorious viftory which her fleet had gained ; and they allured her that the grateful fenfe they had of their happinefs under her government, Ihould al- ways be manifeftcd in conftant returns of duty and obedience. § VI. After this formal compliment, the Floufe, inftead of proceeding to the fupplies, infilled upon perufing the treaties, publick accounts, and eftimates, that they might be in a condition to advife, as well as to aiTift his Majefty, Being indulged with thofe papers, they paffed a previous vote, that a fupply Ihould be given: then they began to concert their articles of advice. Some of the members loudly complained of partiality to foreign generals, and particularly reflefled upon the infolence of Count, Solmes, and his mifcondud at Steenkerke. After fomfi warm altercation, the Houfe refolved .one N 2 article 179 H A P* IV. — v~— ^ 1692. i8o BOOK I. i 69 z. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. article of their advice fhould be. That his Majefty would be pleafed to fill up the vacancies that fhould happen among the general officers, with fuch only as were natives of his dominions, and that the com- mander in chief of the Englifh fhould be an Eng- iiffiman. Their next refolution implied. That ma- ny of the great affairs of the government having been for fome time paft unfuccefsfully managed, the Houfe fhould advife his Majefty to prevent fuch mifchiefs for the future, by employing men of knowledge, ability, and integrity. Individual mem- bers inveighed bitterly againft cabinet councils, as a novelty in the Britifh fyfcem of government, by which the privy-council was joftled out of its pro- vince. They complained that all the grievances of the nation proceeded from the vicious princi- ples of the miniftry : they obferved, that he who oppofed the eflablifhment could not be ex.pe6ted to fupport it with zeal. The Earl of Nottingham was mentioned by name, and the Houfe refolved.thac his Majefty ffiould be advifed to employ in his councils fuch perfons only whofe principles obliged them to fupport his rights againft the late King, and all other pretenders. Marlborough’s intereft ftill predominated among the Commons. His friend Ruffel acquitted himfelf to the fatisfa6lion of the Houfe, and fhifted the blame of the mifearriage up- on his enemy the Earl of Nottingham, by declaring that twenty days elapfed between his firft letter to that nobleman and his lordfhip’s anfwer. The Earl’s friends, of whom there was a great number in the Houfe, efpoufed his caufe with great vigour, and even recriminated upon Ruffel ; fo that a very vio- lent debate enfued. Both parties agreed that there had been mifmanagement in the fcheme of a de- feent. It was moved, that one caufe of the mifear- carriage was the want of giving timely and necef- faiy orders, by diofe 'to whom the management of 6 the WILLIAM AND MARY. the affair Vv^as committed. The Houfe divided, and it was carried in the affirmative by one voice only. At the next fitting of the committee, Sir Richard Temple propofed they ffiould confider how to pay the forces abroad, by means of Engliffi manufac- tures, without exporting money. They refolved that the Houfe fhould be moved to appoint a com- mittee to take this expedient into consideration. Sir Francis Winnington was immediately called upon to leave the chair, and the Speaker refumed his place. All that had been done v/as now void, as no report Iiad been made ; and the committee was diffolved. The Houfe, however, revived it, and appointed a day for its fitting ; but, before it could refume its deliberations, Admiral Ruffel moved for its being adjourned, and all its purpofeswere defeated. § VI 1. The court agents had by this time inter- pofed, and fecured a majority by the infamous arts of corruption. The Commons no longer infilled upon their points of advice. Their whole attention was now centered in the article of affiffance. Tliey granted about tv/o millions for the maintenance of fhree-and-thirty thoufand feamen, the building of fome additional fhips of war, and the finifhing of Plymouth-dock: and feven hundred and fifty thou- fand pounds to fupply the deficiency of the quarterly poll. The eflimates of the land-fervice were not difciiffed without’ tedious debates, and warm dif- putes. The miniftry demanded fifty-four thoufand men, twenty thoufand of whom fiiould be kept at home for the defence of the nation, while the reft fhould ferve abroad in the allied army. Many members declared their averfion to a foreign war, in which the nation had no immediate concern, and fo little profpeft of fuccefs. Others agreed that the allies fhould be affifted on the continent with a pro- portion of Britifh forces ; but that the nation fhould abl as auxiliary, not as a principal, and pay no more than what the people would chearfqUy con- N 3 tribute HISTORY OF ENGLAND. tribute to the general expence. Thefe reflexions, however, produced no other efFe6t than that of prolonging the debate. Minifterial influence had fur- mounted ail oppofition. The Houfe voted the num- ber of men demanded. Such was their fervile com- plaifance, that when they examined the treaties by which the Englifh and Dutch contra6led equally with the German princes, and found that, notwith- ilanding thefe treaties, Britain bore two thirds of the expence, they overlooked this flagrant inftance of partiality, and enabled the King to pay the proportion. Nay, their maxims were fo much altered, that, inftead of profecuting their refentment againfl: foreign generals, they aflented to a m.otion that the Prince of Wirtemberg, the Major-Generals, Tetteau and La Forefc, who commanded the Danifh troops 'in the pay of the States-General, fhould be indulged with fuch an addition to their appointments as would make up the difference between the pay of England and that of Holland. Finally, they voted above two millions for the fubflftence of the land forces, and for defraying extraordinary ex- pences attending the war upon the continent, inclu- ding fubfidies to the Electors of Saxony and Ha- nover. § VIII. The Houfe of Lords, mean while, was not free from animofity and contention. The Marl- borough fa6lion exerted themfelves with great viva- city. They affirmed, it was the province of their Houfe to advife the Sovereign : like the Commons they infifted upon the King’s having alked their advice, becaufe he had mentioned that word in his fpeech, though he never dreamed that they would catch at it with fuch eagernefs. They moved, that the taflc of digefting the articles of advice Ihould be undertaken by a joint commitee of both Houfes ; but all the dependents of the court, inclu- ding the whole bench of Bilhops, except Watfon of St. David’s, were marfhalled to oppofe this motion, - which WILLIAM AND MARY. 183 which was reje(5led by a majority of twelve ; and c H A P* this viftory was followed with a protefl of the van- . quiflied. Notwithftanding this defeat, they profe- , 5 ^ 2 . ciited their fcheme of giving advice; and, after much wrangling and declamation, the Houfe agreed in an addrefs or remonftrance, advifmg and befeech- ing his Majefty, That the commanding officer of the Britifb forces diould be an Engliffiman : That Engliffi officers might take rank of thofe in the confederate armies, who did not belong to crowned heads : That the twenty thoufand men to be left for the defence of the kingdom ffiould be all Engliffi, and commanded by an Engliffi general : That the praftice of preffing men for the fleet ffiould be re- medied: that fuch officers as were guilty of this praftice ffiould be caffiiered and puniffied: and, laftly. That no foreigners ffiould fit at the board of Ordnance. This addrefs was prefented to the King, who received it coldly, and laid he w^ould take it into confideration. § IX. Then the Lords refolved to enquire into the mifcarriage of the purpofed defcent, and called for all the papers relating to that affair: but the aim of the majority \vas not fo much to reflify the errors of the government, as to fcreen Nottingham, and cenfure Ruffel. That nobleman produced his own' book of entries, together with the whole correfpon- dence between him and the Admiral, whom he verbally charged with having contributed to the mifcarriage of the expedition. This affair was re- ferred to a committee. Sir John Affiby was exa- mined. The Houfe direded the Earl to draw up the fubftance of his charge; and thefe papers were afterwards delivered to a committee of the Com- inons, at a conference by the Lord Prcfident, and the reft of the committee above. They were offered for tne infpedion of the Commons, as they concer- ned lome members of that Houfe, by whom they might be informed more ^ fully of the particulars ^ 4- they HISTORY OF ENGLAND. they contained. At another conference, which- the Commons dem.anded, their committee declared, in the name of the Houfe, That they had read and well confidered the papers which their lordfliips had fent them, and which they now returned : That, finding Mr. Ruflel, one of their members, often mentioned in the fame papers, they had unanimoufly refolved. That Admiral Ruflel, in his command of the fleers, during the lafl: fummer’s expedition, had behaved with fidelity, courage, and condiid. The Lords, irritated at this declaration, and difap- pointed in their refentment againfl: Ruflhl, defired a free conference between the committees of both Houfes. The Earl of Rochefter told the Commons, he was commanded by the Houfe of L.ords to in- form them, that their lordfliips looked upon the late vote and proceeding of the Low^er Houfe, in returning their papers, to be irregular and unparlia- mentary, as they had not communicated to their lordfliips the lights they had received, and the rea- fons upon which their vote was founded. A paper to the fanr.e purport was delivered to Colonel Gran- ville, who promifed to prefent it to the Commons, and make a faithful report of what his lordflhip had faid. Thus the conference ended, and the enquiry was difeontinued. § X. The Low^er Houfe feemed to be as much fxaiperated againfl: the Earl of Nottingham as the Lords wTre incenfed at Ruflel. A motion w^as made that his Majefly fliould be advifed to appoint fuch commixflioners of the board of Admiralty as v/ere of known experience in maritime affairs. Although this was over-ruled, they voted an ad- drefs to the King, praying, that, for the future, all orders for the engagement of the fleet might pafs through the ^ hands of the faid commiffioners ; a proteft by implication againfl: the conduct of the fecretary. The confideration of w’ays and means was the next objed that engrofTed the attention of the V/ I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 185; the Lower Houfe. They refolved that a rate of ^ ^ four {hillings in the pounds for one year, ffiould be charged upon all lands, according to their yearly 16 value i as alfo upon all perfonal eftates, and upon all ofRces and employments of profit, other than military offices in the army or navy. The a6l founded on this refolution empowered the King to borrow money on the credit of it, at feven per cent. They further enabled him to raife one million on the general credit of the Exchequer, by granting annuities. They laid feveral new duties on a variety of imports. They renewed the laft quar- terly poll, providing, that in cafe it ffiould not pro- duce three hundred thoufand pounds, the deficiencies might be made up by borrowing on the general credit of the Exchequer. They continued the im- pofitions on wine, vinegar, tobacco, and fugar for five years : and thofe on Eaft-India goods for four years. They laid a new impofition of eight per cent, on the capital flock of the Eafl-India company, eflimated at leven hundred and forty-four thoufand pounds; of one percent, on the African; of five pounds on every ffiare of the flock belonging to the ITudfbn s-Bay company; and they empowered his Majefly to borrow five hundred thoufand pounds on thefe funds, which were exprefsly eflabliffied for maintaining the war with vigour. ^ . § XI. The money-bills were retarded in the Up- per-Houfe, by the arts of Hallifax, Mulgrave, and other malcontents. They grafted a claufe on the land-tax bill, importing, that the Lords ffiould tax themfelves. It was adopted by the majority, and the bill fent with this amendment to the Commons, by whom it was unanimoufly rejedled, as a flagrant attennpt upon their privileges. They demanded a . hearing how liberally William was fuppliecf, exclaimed with fome emotion, “ My little coufin the Prince of Orange IS fixed in the Caddie— but, no matter, the laft Louis d or muil carry vt.” conference HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK conference, in which they declared that the claufe in ^ , queftion was a notorious encroachment upon the right the Commons poflefTed, of . regulating all matters relating to fupplies granted by Parliament. When this report was debated in the Houfe of Lords, the Earl of Mulgrave difplayed uncommon powers of eloquence and argument, in perfuading the Houfe, that, by yielding to this claim of the Commons, they would diveft themfelves of their true greatnefs, and nothing would remain but the name and fhadow of a peer, which was but a pageant. Notwithftanding all his oratory, the Lords relinquifhcd their claufe, declaring, at the fame time, that they had agreed to pafs the bill without alteration, merely in regard to the prefent urgent (late of affairs, as being otherwife of opinion, that they had a right to infiff upon their claufe. A formal complaint being made in the Houfe of Com- mons againft the pamphlet, entitled, “ King William and Queen Mary Conquerors,” as containing affer- tions of dangerous confequence to their Majefties, to the liberty of the fubjeff, and the peace of the kingdom, the licenfer and printer were taken into cuftody. The book being examined, they refolved that it fhould be burned by the hands of the com- mon hangman ; and, that the King Ihould be, moved to difmifs the licenfer from his employment. The fame fentence they pronounced upon a paftoral letter ofBifhop Burnet, in which this notion of conquefi: had been at firft afferted. The Lords, in order to manifeft their fentiments on the fame fub- Je6l, refolved. That fuch an affertion was highly injurious to their Majefties, inconfiftent with the principles on which the government was founded, and tending to the fubverfion of the rights of the people. Bohun, the licenfer, was brought to the bar of the Houfe, and difeharged upon his own petition, after having been reprimanded on his knees by the Speaker^ ^XIL WILLIAM AND MARY- 187 % XII. Several members having complained that CHAP, their fervants had been kidnapped, and fent to ferve as foldiers in Flanders, the Houfe appointed a committee to enquire into the abufes committed by prefs- mailers ; and a fuitable remonllrance was pre- fented to the King, who exprelTed his indignation at this pra6lice, and alTured the Houfe that the de- linquents lliould be brought to exemplary punilli- ment. Underfbanding, however, in the fequel, that the methods taken by his Majelly for prevent- ing this abufe had not proved effedlual, they refumed their enquiry, and proceeded with uncommon vigour on the information they received. A great number of perfons who had been prelfed were dif- charged by order of the Floufe; and Captain Winter, the chief undertaker for this method of recruiting the army, was carried by the Serjeant be- fore the Lord Chief Jultice, that he might be pro- fecuted according to law. § XIII. Before the heats occafioned by this unpopular expedient were allayed, the difcontent of the nation was further inflamed by complaints from Ireland, where Lord Sidney was laid to rule with delpotick authority. Thefe complaints were exhi- bited by Sir Francis Brewller, Sir William Gore, Sir John Macgill, Lieutenant Stafford, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Kerne. They were examined at the bar of the Houfe, and delivered an account of their griev- ances in writing. Both Houfes concurred in this enquiry, which being finilhed, they feverally pre- fented addrelfes to the King. The Lords obferved. That theie had been great abules in difpohng of the forfeited ellates : That protedions had been granted to the Irilh not included in the articles of Limerick: fo that Proteftants were deprived of the benefit of the law againll them; That the quarters of the army had not been paid according to the provifion made y Parliament: That a mayor had been impofed upon the city of Dublin for two years fuccelfively, contrary m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK contrary to the ancient privileges and charter : That feveral perfons accufed of murder had been executed without proof: and one Sweetman, the moft guilty, difcharged without profecution. The Commons fpoke more freely in their addrefs : they roundly ex- plained the abufes and mifmanagement of that government, by expofing the Proteftant fubjefts to the free quarter and violence of a licentious army ; by recruiting the troops with Irifh Papifts, who had been in open rebellion againft his Majefty; by grant- ing protedlions to Irifh Roman-Catholicks, whereby the courfe of the law was flopped : by reverfing out- lav/ries for high treafon, not comprehended in the articles of Limerick ; by letting the forfeited eflates at an under value, to the prejudice of his Majefly’s revenue; by embezzling the flores left in the towns and garrifons by the late King J ames, as well as the effecls belonging to the forfeited eflates, which might have been employed for the better preferva- tion of the kingdom ; and, finally, by making addi- tions to the articles of Limerick, after the capitulation was figned, and the place furrendered. They mofl humbly befought his Majefly to redrefs thefe abufes, which had greatly encouraged the Papifls, and weakened the Proteftant intereft in Ireland. The King gracioufly received both addrefTes, and pro- mifed to pay a particular regard to all remonftrances that fhould come from either Houfe of Parliament : but no material ftep was taken againft the Lords Sidney, Athlone, and Coningfby, who appeared to have engrofifed great part of the forfeitures by grants from the crown ; and even Commiflioner Culliford, who had been guilty of the mofl grievous a(5ls of oppreftion, efcaped with impunity. § XIV. The old Whig principle was not yet wholly expelled from the Lower-Houfe. The undue influence of the court w'as exerted in fuch an open, fcandalous manner, as gave offence to the majority of the CoiKmons. L the midft of all their conde- fcenfiou « i \ w %■ .'■ V-1-, f) ' •#■ A > * ' • ‘ *v' '•ri '* •• •:- • r * > •<« # • - I \ w V. ’ . > ) \ ,/ 1 ■; 1 I .**- i. l'- 1— - 1693. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. § XVI. During the courfe of this feflion, Lord Mohun was indi6ted and tried by his peers, in Weft- minfter-hall, as an accomplice in the murder of one Montford, a celebrated comedian, the Marquis of Caermarthen adting as lord-fteward upon this occa- fion. The judges having been confulted, the peers pro- ceeded to give their judgements and Mohun was acquitted by a great majority. The King, who, from his firft: acceffion to the throne, had endea- voured to trim the balance between the Whigs and Tories, by mingling them together in his miniftry, made fome alterations at this period, that favoured of the fame policy. The great-feal, with the tide of Lord Keeper, was bellowed upon Sir John Somers, who was well ll^iiled in the law, as in many other branches of polite and ufeful literature. He pof- felTed a remarkable talent for bufmefs, in which he exerted great patience and alTiduity ; was gentle, can- did, and equitable : a Whig in principles, yet mode- rate, pacifick, and conciliating. Of the fame tem- per was Sir John Trenchard, now appointed fecretary of Hate. He had been concerned with the Duke of Monmouth, and efcaped to the continent, where he lived fome years ; was calm, fedate, well acquainted with foreign affairs, and confidered as a leading man in his party. Thefe two are faid to have been pro- moted at the recommendation of the Earl of Sun- derland, who had by this time infmuated himfelf into the King’s favour and confidence ; though his fuccefs confirmed the opinion which many enter- tained, of his having betrayed his old mailer. The leaders of the oppofition, were Sir Edward Seymour, Bench, and for the more eafy reverfal of outlawries in that Court— An A6l for the better difcovery of judgements in the Courts of Law — An Act for delivering declarations to prifoners for debt — An Aft for regulating proceedings in the Crown Office — An Aft for the more eafy difcovery and conviftion of fuch as ffiould deftrov the game of this kingdom — And an Aft for continuing the Afts for prohibit- ing all trade and commerce with France, and for the encouragement of privateers, again WILLIAM AND MARY. m again become a malcontent, and Sir Chrifloplier chap. Mufgrave, a gentleman of Cumberland, who, though . j an extravagant Tory from principle, had refufed to 1693. concur with all the defigns of the late King. He was a perfon of a grave and regular deportment, w'ho had reje6led many offers of the miniftry, which he oppofed with great violence : yet on fome critical Burnet. ^ occafions, his patriotifm gave way to his avarice, and he yielded up fome important points, in confidera- Burchet. tion of large fums which he received from the Court in fecret. Others declared war againft the admi- sione’s niflration, becaufe they thought their own talents . were not fufficiently confidered. Of thefe, the chief vohThe!"* were Paul Foley and Robert Harley. The firfl; was Kaiph. a lawyer of good capacity, extenfive learning, and virtuous principles, but peevifh, obftinate, and mo- Traas. rofe. He entertained a very defpicable opinion of the Court ; and this he propagated with equal affi- duity and fucccfs. Harley polfeffed a good fund of learning; was capable of uncommon application, particularly turned to politicks. He knew the forms of Parliament, had a peculiar dexterity at protraft- ing and perplexing debates ; and cheriihed the moft afpiring ambition. Admiral Ruffel was created tre%- iiirer of the houfehold ; but the command of the fleet was veiled in the hands of Kiligrew, Delaval, and Shovel. Sir George Rooke v/as declared vice- admiral of the red, and John Lord Berkeley, of the blue divifion ; their rear-admirals were Matthew Aylmer and David Mitchel. § XVII. The King having vifited the fleet and fortifications at Portfmouth, given inflrii6lions for annoying the enemy by fea, and left the adminiftra- tion in the hands of the Queen, embarked on the lafl day of March, near Gravefend, and arrived in Holland on the third of April. The troops of the confederates were forthwith ordered to aflemble : but while he was employed in making preparations for the campaign, the French King actually took the VoL. 1. O . held, f 194 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK field, attended by Madame de Maintenon, and all t 1 ' . the court ladies. His defign was fuppofed to be ,653. upon fome town in Brabant: his army amounted to one hundred and twenty thoufand men, completely armed, and abundantly fupplied with all necefiaries for every fort of military operation. King William immediately took poffeffion of the ftrong camp at Parke near Louvain, a fituation which enabled him to cover the places that w^ere moft expofed. Under- flanding that the French emifiaries had fown the feeds of difiention between the Bifhop and Chapter of Liege, he fent the Duke of Wirtemberg thither, to reconcile the different parties, and concert mea-* fures for the further fecurity of the place. He re- inforced the garrifon with nine battalions ; and the Eleffor Palatine lay v/ith his troops in readinefs to march to its relief. William likewife threw rein- forcements into Maeifrieht, Huy, and Charleroyj and he himfelf refolved to remain on the defenfive, at the head of fixty thoufand men, with a numerous train of artillery. § XVI II. Louis having reviewed his army at Gem.blours, and feen his defigns upon Brabant de- feated by the diligence of his antagonift, detached Boufflers with twenty thoufand men to the Upper Rhine, to join the Dauphin, who commanded in that quarter j then leaving the conduft of his forces in the Netherlands to the Duke de Luxembourg, he returned with his Court to Verfailles. Immediately after his departure, Luxembourg fixed his head- quarters at Mildert ; and King William ftrengthened his camp on that fide with ten battalions, and eight- and-twenty pieces of cannon. The enemy’s con- voys v/ere frequently furprifed by detachments from the garrifon of Charleroy ; and a large body of horfe, foot, and dragoons, being drafted out of Leige and Ma'eftricht, took poll at Huy, under the command of the Count de Tilly, fo as to firaiten the French in tlieir Quarters. Thefe, however, were diflcdged by WILLIAM AND MARY. 195 to pafs the Jaar with precipitation, leaving behind ^ * three fquadrons and all his baggage, which fell into the hands of the enemy. This check, however, was balanced by the fuccefs of the Duke of Wirtem- berg, who, at the head of thirteen battalions of in- fantry, and twenty fquadrons of horfe, forced the French lines between the Schelds and the Lys; and laid the whole counti-y as far as Lifie under contri- bution. On that very day, which was the eighteenth of July, Luxembourg marched towards Huy, which was next morning invefted byM. de Villeroy. The other covered the fiege, and fecured himfelf from the allies by lines of contravallation. Before their batteries began to play, the town capitulated. On the twenty-third day of the month, the garrifon mu- tinied ; the caftles were furrendered ; the governor remained a prifoner ; and his men were conduced to Leige. The confederate army advanced in order to relieve the town : but the King being appi'ifed of its fate, detached ten battalions to reinforce the garrifon of Leige, and next day returned to Neer- Hefpen. § X IX. Luxembourg made a motion towards Leige, as if he had intended to befiege the place ; and encamped at Hellecheim, about feven leagues from the confederates. Knowing how much they were weakened by the different detachments which had been made from their army, he refolved to attack them in their camp, or at lead fail upon their rear, Ihould they retreat at his approach. On the twenty-eighth day of July, he began his march in four columns, and paffed the Jaar near its fource, with an army fuperior to the allies by five-and-thirty thoufand men. The King of England, at firft, looked upon this motion as a feint to cover the de- fign upon Leige : but receiving intelligence that their whole army was in full march to attack him in his camp, he refolved to keep his ground; and im- O 2 mediately ig6 BOOK L 1693. 'HISTORY OF ENGLAND. mediately drew up his forces in order of battle. His j general officers advifed him to repafs the Geete : but he chofe to rifque a battle, rather than expofe the rear of his army in repaffing that river. His right wing extended as far as Neer-Winden, along the Geete, covered with hedges, hollow ways, and a ffin ail rivulet : the left reached to Neer-Landen; and thefe two villages w’ere joined by a flight en- trenchment, which the King ordered to be thrown up in the evening. Brigadier Ramfay, with the re- giments of OTarrel, Mackay, Lauder, Leven, and Monroe, were ordered to the right of the whole army, to line fome hedges and hollow ways, on the farther fide of the village of Lare. Six battalions of Brandenburgh were pofted to the left of this vil- lage 3 and General Dumont, wnth the Hanoverian infantry, poffeffed the village of Neer-Winden, which covered part of the camp, betv/een the main body and the right wing of the cavalry. Neer-Landen, on the left, was fecured by fix battalions of Engliffi, Danes, and Dutch. The remaining infantry was drawn up in one line behind the entrenchment. The dragoons upon the left guarded the village of Dor- mal upon the brook of Becks and from thence the left wing of horfe extended to Neer-I^anden, where it was covered by this rivulet. § XX. The King having vihted all the pofts on horfeback, and given the necelfary orders, repofed himftif about two hours in his coach ; and early in the morning fent for his chaplain, whom he joined in prayer with great devotion. At fun-rifing the enemy appeared drawn up in order of battle; and the allies began to play their cannon with good fuc- cefs. About eight in the morning they attacked the villages of Lare and Neer-Winden with great fury s and twice made themTeives matters of thefe polls, from whence they w^ere as often repulfed. The allies ttiil kept their ground ; and the Duke of Ber- wick was taken by his uncle Brigadier Churchill. Then WILLI AM AND MARY. 197 Then the French made an attack upon the left wing chap. of the confederates at Neer-Landen; and after a Very obftinate difpute, were obliged to give w^ay, though they ftiil kept pofifeiTion of the avenues. The Prince of Conti, however, renewed the chars:e with the flower of the French infantry ; and the con- federates being overpowered, retreated from the vil- lage, leaving the camp in that part expofed. Ville- roy marching this way with a body of horfe, was en- countered and repulfed by the Count D’Arco, gene- ral of the Bavarian cuirafiicrs ; and the Duke de Chartres narrowly efcaped being taken. Mean while, Luxembourg, the Prince of Conti, the Count de Marfin, and the Marflial de Joyeufe, charged on the right, and in different parts of the line, with fuch impetuofity as furmounted all refiftance. The camp of the confederates was immediately filled with French troops : the villages of Fare and Neer- Winden were taken, after a long and defperate dif- pute. The Flanoverian and Dutch horfe being bro- ken, the King in perfon brought the Englifli cavalry to their affiftance. They fought with great gallan- try : and for fome time retarded the fate of the day. The infantry were rallied, and flood firm until all their ammunition was expended. In a word, they were fcarce able to fuftain the weight of fuch a fupe- riority in point of number, when the Marquis D’Harcourt joined the enemy from Huy, with two-and-twenty frefli fquadrons, which immediately turned the fcale in their favour. The Eleclor of Bavaria, after having made extraordinary efforts, retreated with great difficulty over the bridge to the other fide of the river, where he rallied the troops, in order to favour the retreat of thofe who had not paffed. The King feeing the battle lofl, and the whole army in confufion, retired with the infantry to Dormal on the brook of Beck, where the dra- goons of the left wing were polled, and then ordered the regiments of Wyndham, Lumley, and Galway, ' O 3 to iqS history of ENGLAND. BOOK to cover his retreat over the bridge at Neer-Hefpen, which he effefted with great difficulty. Now all * was tumult, rout, and confternation ; and a great number of the fugitives threw themfelves into the river, where they were drowned. This had like to have been the fate of the brave Earl of Athlone : the Duke of Ormond was wounded in feveral places, and taken prifoner by the enemy ; and the Count de holmes was mortally wounded. Ptolemache brought off the greater part of the Englifh infantry with great gallantry and condudl : as for the baggage, it had been fent to Leige before the engagement : but the confederates loft fixty pieces of cannon, and nine mortars, a great number of ftandards and colours*, with about feven thoufand men killed and wminded in the adion. Itmuft be owned that the allies fought with great valour and perfeverance ; and that King William made prodigious efforts of courage and activity to retrieve the fortune of the day. He was prefent in all parts of the battle : he charged in per- fon both on horfeback and on foot, where the danger was moft imminent. His peruke, the fleeve of his coat, and the knot of his fcarf were penetrated by three different mufket-bullets ; and he faw a great number of foldiers fall on every fide of him.' The enemy bore witnefs to his extraordinary valour. The Prince of Conti, in a letter to his Princefs, which was intercepted, declared, that he faw the Prince of Orange expofing himfelf to the greateft dangers : and that fuch valour richly deferved the peaceable poffef- fion of the crown he wore. Y et here, as in every other battle he fought, his condudl; and difpofition were feverely cenfured. Luxembourg having ob- ierved the nature of his fituation immediately before the engagement, is faid to have exclaimed, “ Now, I believe ■ * The Duke of Luxembourg fent fuch a number of ftandards and enfigns to Paris, during the courfe of this war, that the Prince of Conti called him the Upholfterer ot Notre Dame, a church in winch thole trophies were diiplayed. W I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 199 I believe Waldeck is really deadj” alluding to c H A P. that general’s known fagacity in choofing ground for ^ an encampment. Be that as it will, he paid dear ^^3. for his viftory. His lofs in officers and men ex- ceeded that of the allies ; and he reaped no folid advantage from the battle. He remained fifteen days inactive at Waren, while King William, re- calling the Duke of W’^irtemberg, and drafting troops from Leige and other garrifons, was in a few days able to hazard another engagement. § XXI. Nothing remarkable happened during the remaining part of the campaign, until Luxem- bourg, being rejoined by Boufflers with a ilrong re- inforcement from the Rhine, invefled Charleroy. He had taken his meafures with fuch caution and dexterity, that the allies could not fruflrate his ope- rations, without attacking his lines at a great difad- vantage. The King detached the Elector of Bava- ria and the Duke of Wirtemberg, with thirty batta- lions and forty fquadrons, to make a diverfion in Flanders : but they returned in a few days, without having attempted any thing of confequence. The garrifon of Charleroy defended the place with fur- prifing valour, from the tenth of September to the eleventh of Odlober, during which period they had repulfed the affailants in feveral attacks: but, at length, defpairing of relief, the governor capitulated on the moil honourable conditions ; the redudlion of the place was celebrated with a Dewn, and other rejoicings at Paris. Louis, however, in the midfl of all his glory, was extremely moj tified when he reflected upon the little advantage he had reaped from all his late vidtories. The allies had been de- feated fucceffively at Flerus, Steenkerke and Lan- den : yet in a fortnight after each of thofe battles, William was always in a condition' to rifque another engagement. Formerly, Louis had conquered half of Holland, Flanders, and Franche-Comte, with- out a battle \ whereas, now he could not with his O 4 utmofl 200 ) HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK utmoft efforts, and after the moft fignal viftories, pafs the frontiers of the United Provinces. The ^653. conquefl: of Charleroy concluded the campaign in the Netherlands, and both armies went into winter- quarters. § XXIL The French army on the Rhine, under De Lorges, paffed that river in the month of May at Philipfburgh, and invefled the city of Heidelberg, which they took, plundered, and reduced to afhes. This general committed numberlefs barbarities in the Palatinate, which he ravaged without even fpa- riug the tombs of the dead. The French fbldiers, on this occafion, feem to have been a6luated by the mofl: brutal inhumanity. They butchered the inhabitants, violated the women, plundered the houfes, rifled the churches, and murthered priefts at the altar. They broke open the eledoral vault, and fcattered the afhes of that illuflrious family about the Rreets. They fet fire to different quarters of the city : they ftripped about fifteen thoufand of the in- habitants, without difl:in 61 :ion of age or fex, and drove them naked into the caflle, that the garrifon might be the fooner induced to capitulate. There they remained like cattle in the open air, without food or covering, tortured between the horrors of their fate and the terrors of a bombardment. When they were fet at liberty, in confequence of the fort's being furrendered, a great number of them died along the banks of the Neckar, from cold, hunger, anguifh, and defpair. Thefe enormous cruelties, which would have difgraced the arms of a Tartarian fi'eebooter, were a6ted by the exprefs command of Louis XIV. of France, who has been celebrated by fo many venal pens, not only as the greateft Mo- narch, but alfo as the mofl: polifhed Prince of Chrif- tendom. De Lorges advanced towards the Neckar againfl the Prince of Baden, who lay encamped on the other fide of that riven but in attempting to pafs, he v/as twice repulfed with confiderable da- mage. / WILLIAM AND MARY. aoi mage. The Dauphin joining the army, which now chap. amounted to leventy thoufand men, crolTed without ^ oppofition ; but found the Germans fo advantageouily polled, that he would not hazard an attack : having, therefore, repaired the river, he fecured Stutgard with a garrifon, lent detachments into Flanders and Piedmont, and returned in Augull to Verfailies. In Piedmont the allies were Hill more unfortunate. The Duke of Savoy and his confederates feemed bent upon driving the French from Cafal and Pignerol. The firll of thefe places was blocked up, and the other a6lually invefled. The fort of St. Bridget, that co- vered the place, was taken, and the tow^n bombarded. Mean while Catinat being reinforced, defcended into the plains. The Duke was fo apprehenfive of Turin, that he abandoned the fiege of Pignerol, after having blown up the fort, and marched in quefh of the enemy to the plain of Marfaglia, in the neigh- bourhood of his capital. On the fourth day of Oc- tober, the French advanced upon them from the hills, between OrbalTon and Profafque ; and a defpe- rate engagement enfued. The enemy charged the left wing of the confederates fword in hand with in- credible fury : though they were once repulfed, they renewed the atta,ck with fuch impetuofity, that the Neapolitan and Milanefe horfe were obliged to give way, and difordered the German cavalry. Thele falling upon the foot, threw the whole wing into confulion. Meanwhile, the main body and the other wing fufliained the charge without flinching, until they were expofed in flank by the defeat of the ca- valry : then the whole front gave way. In vain the fecond line was brought up to fuftain them : the horfe turned their backs, and the infantry was totally routed. In a word, the confederates were obliged to retire with precipitation, leaving their cannon, and about eight thoufand men killed or wounded on the fitld of battle. The Duke of Schomberg having been denied the poll which was his due, infilled up- 2 on ^02 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B O o K on fighting at the head of the troops maintained by the King of Great-Britain, who were polled in the ' centre, and behaved with great gallantry under the eye of their commander. When the left wing was defeated, the Count de los Torres defired he would take upon him the corrimand, and retreat with the infantry and right wing : but he refufed to a6l with- out the order of his Highnefs, and faid, things were come to fuch a pafs, that they mufl either conquer or die. He continued to animate his men with his voice and example, until he received a Ihot in the thigh. His valet feeing him fall, ran to his affif- tance, and called for quarter, but was killed by the enemy before he could be underftood. The Duke being taken at the fame inflant, was afterwards dif- miffed upon his parole, and in a few days died at Turin, univerfally lamented on account of his great and amiable qualities. The Earl of Warwick and Holland, who accompanied him as a volunteer, fhared his fate in being wounded and taken prifoner : but he foon recovered his health and liberty. This vi6lory was as unfubftantial as that of Landen, and almoft as dear in the purchafe ; for the confederates made an obftinate defenfe, and yielded folely to fu- perior number. The Duke of Savoy retreated to Moncalier, and threw a reinforcement into Coni, which Catinat would not venture to befiege, fo fe- verely had he been handled in the battle. He there- fore contented himfelf with laying the country under contribution, reinforcing the garrifons of Cafal, Pig- nerol, and Sufa, and making preparations for re- pairing the mountains. The news of the vi6lory no fooner reached Paris, than Louis difpatched M. de Chanlais to Turin, with propofals for detaching the Duke of Savoy from the interefl of the allies ; and the Pope, who was now become a partifan of France, fupported the negociation with his whole influence : but the French King had not yet touched upon the right W I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 203 right firing. The Duke continued deaf to all his CHAP, addrefles. ^ . § XXIII. France had been alike fuccefsful in her 165.3, intrigues at the courts of Rome and Conflantinople. The Vifir at the Porte had been converted into a penfionary and creature of Louis ; but the war in which the Turks had been folong and unfuccefsfully engaged rendered him fo odious to the people, that the Grand Signor depofed him, in order to appeafe; their clamours. The Englilh and Dutch ambaffa- dors at Conflantinople forthwith renewed their medi- ation for a peace with the Emperor ; but the terms they propofed were flill rejedted with difdain. In the mean time General Eleufler, who commanded the Imperialifls in Tranfylvania, reduced the for- treffes of Jeno and Villagufwar. In the beginning of July the Duke de Croy affumed the chief com- mand of the German army, paffed the Danube and the Saave, and invefled Belgrade. The fiege was carried on for fome time with great vigour : but, at length, abandoned at the approach of the Vifir, who obliged the Imperialifls to repafs the Saave, and fent out parties which made incurfions into Upper-Hun- gary. The power of France had never been fo con- fpicuous as at this jundlure, when fhe maintained a formidable navy at fea, and four great armies in dif- ferent parts of Europe. Exclufive of the operations in Flanders, Germany, and Piedmont, the Count de Noailles invefled Roles in Catalonia, about the latter end of May, while at the fame time it was blocked up by the French fleet, under the command of the Count d’Etrees. In a few days the place was furren- dered by capitulation, and the caftle of Ampurias met with the fame fate. The Spanifli power was reduced to fuch a degree, that Noailles might have proceeded in his conquefls without interruption, had not he been obliged to detach part of his army to re- inforce Catinat in Piedmont, § XXIV. m HISTORY OF ENGLAND* BOOK § XXIV. Nothing could be more inglorious fof ^ i Englilli than their operations by fea in the coiirfe 3693. of this fummer. The King had ordered the admi- rals to life all poffible difpatch in equipping the fleets, that they might block up the enemy in their own ports, and proted the commerce, which had fuflhred feverely from the French privateers. They were, however, fo dilatory in their proceedings, that the fquadrons of the enemy failed from their harbours before the Englifh fleet could put to fea. About the middle of May it was aflTembled at St. Helen’s, and took on board five regiments, intended for a defcent on Breft: j but this enterprife was never at- tempted. When the Englilli and Dutch fquadrons joined, fo as to form a very numerous fleet, the pub- lick expected they would undertake fome expedition of importance : but the admirals were divided in opinion, nor did their orders warrant their executing any fcheme of confequence. Killigrew and Dela- val did not efcape the fufpicion of being difaffefted to the fervice : and France was faid to have main- tained a f^cret correfpondence with the malcontents in Fnigland. Louis had m.ade furprifing efforts to repair the damage which his navy had fuflained. He had purchafed feveral large veflTels, and converted them into fliips of war : he had laid an embargo on all the flipping of his kingdom, until his fquadrons were manned : he had made a grand naval promo- tion, to encourage the officers and feamen ; and this expedient produced a wonderful fpirit of adivity and emulation. In the month of May his fleet failed to the Mediterranean, in three fquadrons, confifting of feventy-one capital fliips, befides bomb-ketches, fire- fliips, and tenders. § XXV. In the beginning of June, the Englifli and Dutch fleets failed down the channel. On the fixth. Sir George Rooke was detached to the Straits with a fquadron of three-and-twenty fliips, as con- voy to the Mediterranean trade. The great fleet reairned W I L L I A M A N D M A R Y. 205 returned to Torbay, while he purfued his voyage, having under his proteftion about four hundred _V j. nierchant Ihips belonging to England, Holland, 1693. Denmark, Sweden, Hamburgh, and Flanders. On the fixteenth, his Icouts difeovered part of the French fleet under Cape St. Vincent ; next day their whole navy appeared, to die amount of eighty fail. Six- teen of thefe plied up to the Englifh fquadron, while the vice-admiiral of the white flood off to fea, to intercept the Ihips under convoy. Sir George Rooke, by the advice of the Dutch vice-admiral Vandergoes, refolved, if poffible, to avoid an en- gagement, which could only tend to their abfolute ruin. He forthwith fent orders to the fmall fhips that were near the land, to put into the neighbour- ing ports of Faro, St. Lucar, and Cadiz, while he himfelf flood off with an eafy fail for the prote6lion of the reft. About fix in the evening, ten fail of the enemy came up with two Dutch fliips of war, commanded by the Captains Schrijver and Vander- Poel, who feeing no poffibility of efcaping, tacked in fhore; and, thus di'awing the French after them, helped to fave the reft of the fleet. When attacked they made a moft defperate defence, but at laft were overpowered by numbers, and taken. An Englifh Ihip of war and a rich pinnace were burned ; nine- and-twenty merchant veflels were taken, and about fifty deftroyed by the Counts de d'ourville and D’Eftrees. Seven of the largeft Smyrna fhips fell into the hands of M. de Coetlogon, and ,four he funk in the bay of Gibraltar. The value of the lofs fuftained on this occafion amounted to one million fterling. Mean while Rooke flood off with a frefh gale, and on the nineteenth fent home the Lark ihip of war with the news of his misfortune ; then he bore away for the Madeiras, where having taken in wood and water, he fet fail for Ireland, and on the thii'd day of Auguft arrived at Cork, with fifty fail, including fiiips of war and trading veflels. He detached 506 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. book detached Captain Fairborne to Kinfale, with all his fquadron, except fix fliips of the line, with which, in 169^^ purfuance of orders, he joined the great fleet then cruifing in the chops of the channel. On the twenty- fifth day of Aiigufl:, they returned to St. Helen’s, and the four regiments were landed. On the nine- teenth day of September, fifteen Dutch fhips of the line, and two frigates, fet fail for Holland; and twenty-fix fail, with feven firefhips, were afligned as guard-lhips during the winter. § XXVI. The French admirals, inftead of pur- fuing Rooke to Madeira, made an unfuccefsful at- tempt upon Cadix, and bombarded Gibraltar, where the merchants funk their fliips, that they might not fall into the hands of the enemy. Then they failed along tlie coafl of Spaii\, deftroyed fome Englifli and Dutch vefTels at Malaga, Alicant, and other places ; and returned in triumph to Toulon. About this period,’ Sir Francis Wheeler returned to England with his fquadron, from an unfortunate expedition in the Weil-Indies. In conjun61:ion with Colonel Codrington, governor of the Leew'ard Ifla.nds, he made unfuccefsful attempts upon the iflands of Mar- tinique and Dominique. Then he failed to Boflon in New-England, with a view to concert an expe- dition againfl: Quebec, which was judged impradti- cabie. He afterwards fleered for Placentia in New- foundland, which he would have attacked v/ithout hefitation ; but the defign was reje6led by a majority of voices in the council of war. Thus difappointed, he fet fail for England ; and arrived at Portfmouth in a very fhattered condition, the greater part of his men having died in the courfe of this voyage. § XXVH. In November another effort was miade to annoy the enemy. Commodore Benbow failed with a fquadron of twelve capital fliips, four bomb- ketches, and ten brigantines, to the coaff of St. Ma- loes, and anchoring within half a mile of the town, cannonaded and bombarded it for three days fuc- celffvely. WILLIAM AND MARY. ceflively. Then his men landed on an ifland, where C H they burned a convent. On the nineteenth, they ^ took the advantage of a dark night, a frefh gale, and j a ftrong tide, to fend in a firefhip of a particular contrivance, (tiled the Infernal, in order to burn the town : but, flte (truck upon a rock before (lie arrived at the place, and the engineer was obliged to fet her on fire, and retreat. She continued burning for fome time, and at laft blew up, with fuch an explo- fion as fnook the whole town like an earthquake, unroofed three hundred houfes, and broke all the glafs and earthen ware for three leagues around. A cap(tan that weighed two hundred pounds was tranf- ported into the place, and falling upon a houfe, le- velled it to the ground : the greateft part of the wall towards the fea tumbled down j and the inhabitants were overwhelmed with confbernation : fo that a fmall number of troops might have taken poffefiion without refiftance ; but there was not a foldier on board. Neverthelefs, the bailors took and dernO' lilhed Quince-fort, and did confiderable damage to the town of St. Maloes, which had been a ne(l of privateers that infefted the Englifli commerce. Though this attempt was executed with great fpirit, and fome (liccefs, the clamours of the people became louder and louder. They fcrupled not to fay, that the councils of the nation were betrayed ; and their fufpicions rofe even to the fecretary’s office. They obferved, that the French were previoufly acquainted with all the motions of the Englilh, and took their meafures accordingly for their deftrudion. They collefted and compared a good number of particulars, that feemed to juftify their fufpicion of treachery. But the misfortunes of the nation, in all probability, arofe from a motley miniftry, divided among them- felves, who, inftead of ading in concert for the pub- lick good, employed all their influence to thwart the views and blacken the reputations of each other. The people in general exclaimed againft the Marquis 2o8 history of ENGLAND. B o o Kof Caermarthen, the Earls of Nottingham and Ro- ^ . chefter. who had acquired great credit with the j 693. Queen, and, from their hatred to the Whigs, be- trayed the interefts of the nation. § XXVIII. But if the Englifh were difcontented, the Erench were miferable, in fpite of all their vic- tories. That kingdom laboured under a dreadful famine, occafioncd partly from unfavourable feafons, and partly from the war, which had not left hands fufiicient, to cultivate the ground. Notwithlland- ing all the diligence and prbvidence of their mini- ftry, in bringing fupplies of corn from Sweden and Denmark, their care in regulating the price, and furnifhing the markets, their liberal contributions for the relief of the indigent ; multitudes perifhed of want, and the v^^hole kingdom was reduced to poverty and dillrefs. Louis pined in the midft of his fuccefs. He faw his fubjeds exhaufted by a ruinous war, in which they had been involved by his ambition. He tampered with the allies apart, in hopes of dividing and detaching them from the grand confederacy : he folicited the northern crowns to engage as mediators for a general peace. A memorial was acllially prefented by the Danilh minifter to King William, by which it appears, that the French King would have been contented to pur- chafe a peace with fonae conliderable conceffions: but the terms were rejected by the King of England, whofe ambition and revenge were not yet gratified ; and whofe fubjeds, though heavily laden, could ftill bear additional burthens. § XXIX. The Jacobites had been very attentive to the progrefs of dilTatisfaclion in England, which they fomented with their ufual affiduity. The late declaration of King James had been couched in fuch imperious terms as gave offence even to fome of thofe who favoured his intereft. The Earl of Middleton, therefore, in the beginning of the year repaired to St. Germain’s, and obtained another. WILLIAM. AND MARY. another, which contained the promife of a general pardon without exception, and every other conceffion that a Britifh fubjedb Could demand of his fove- reign. About the latter end of May, two men, named Canning and Dormer, were apprehended for difperfing copies of this paper, tried at the Old- Bailey, found guilty of not only dilperfing, but alfo of compofing a falfe and feditious libel, lentenced to pay five hundred marks a-piece, to Hand three times in the pillory, and find fureties for their good behaviour. But no circumfiance refiedted more difgrace on this reign, than the fate of Anderton, the fuppofed printer of fomie trad's againfc the Go- vernment. He was brought to trial for high trea« fon: he made a vigorous defenfe, in fpite of the infults and difcouragement he fuftained from a partial bench. As nothing but prefiimptions ap- peared againft him, the jury fcrupled to bring in a verdid that would affed his life until they v/ere re- viled and reprimanded by Judge Treby; then they found him guilty. In vain, recourfe was had to the Queen’s mercy: he fuffered death at Tyburn j and left a paper, protefting folemnly againft the pro- ceedings of the court, which he affirmed was ap- pointed, not to try, but to convid him; and petitioning heaven to forgive his penitent jury. The feverity of the governmient was likewife exemplified in the cafe of fome adventurers, who having equip- ped privateers to cruife upon the Englifli, under joint commiffions from the late King Jamies and Louis XIV. happened to be taken by the Engiifti Blips of war. Dr. Oldys, the King’s advocate, being commanded to proceed againft them as guilty cf treafon and piracy, refufed to commeTice the pro- fecution ; and gave his opinion in writing, that they were neither traitors nor pirates. He fupported this opinion by arguments before the Council: thefe were anfwered by Dr. Littleton, who fucceeded hini in the office from which he w'as difinifted ; and the VoL, I, P prifoners 210 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o K prifoners were executed as traitors. The Jacobites ^ , did not fail to retort thofe arts upon the govern- 1693. ment, which their adverfaries had fo fuccefsfully pra£lifed in the late reign. They inveighed againft the vindi6live fpirit of the adminiftration, and taxed it with encouraging informers and falfe witnefles ; a charge for which there was too much foundation. § XXX. The friends of James jn Scotland ftill continued to concert dehgns in his favour: but their correfpondence was detefted, and their aims defeated, by the vigilance of the miniftiy in that kingdom. Secretary Jondon not only kept a watchful eye over all their tranfadlions, but by a dexterous management of court liberality and favour, appeafed the difcon- tents of the Prefl^yterians fo effeftually, that the King ran no rifque in aflembling the Parliament. Some offices were bellowed upon the leaders of the Kirk-party ; and the Duke of Hamilton, being re- conciled to the government, was appointed commif- fioner. On the i8th day of April, the feffiion was opened, and the King’s letter, replete witli, the moft cajoling expreffiions, being read, the Parliament proceeded to exhibit undeniable fpecimens of their good-humour. They drew up a very • affedlionate anfwer to his Majelly’s letter: They voted an addi- tion of fix new regiments to the Handing forces of the kingdom; They granted a fupply of above one hundred and fifty thoufand pounds flerling to his Majefty : They enadled a law for levying men to ferve on board the Royal Navy: They fined all abfentees, whether Lords or Commons j and vaca- ted the feats of all thofe commiffiioners who refufed to take the oath of affurance, which was equivalent to an abjuration of King James: They fet on foot an enquiry about an intended invafion : They pub- liffied fome intercepted letters, fuppofed to be writ- ten to King James by Nevil Payne, whom they committed to prifon, and threatened wdth a trial for high treafon ; but he eluded the danger, by threatening r WILLIAM AND MARY. an threatening in his turn to impeach thofe who had CHAP, made their peace v;ith the government : they pafTed ^ ^ an ad for the comprehenfion of Rich of the epifcopal 1693, clergy as fhoiild condefcend to take the oaths by the tenth day of July. All that .the general alTembly required of them,, was, an offer to fubfcribe the con- feffion of faith, and to acknowledge prelbytery as the only government of the Scottifli church ; but they neither fubmitted to thefe terms, nor took the oaths within the limited time, fo that they forfeited all legal right to their benefices. Neverthelefs, they continued in poffeffion, and even received private affurances of the King’s protedion. It was one of. William’s political maximis, to court his domeftick ^ enemies ; but it was never attended with any good effed. This indulgence gave oftence to the Prelby- terians, and former diftradfions began to revive. § XXXI. The King having prevailed upon the States-General to augment their land forces and navy for the fervice of the enfuing campaign, embarked, for England, and arrived at Kenfington on the thir- tieth day of Odober. Finding the people clamo- rous and difcontented, the trade of the nation de- cayed, the affairs of State mifmanaged, and the mi- nifters recriminating upon one another, he perceived the neceffity of changing hands, and refolved to take his m.eafures accordingly. Sunderland, his chief counfellor, reprefented, that the Tories were averfe to the continuance of a war, which had been pro- dudive of nothing but damage and difgrace ; where- as, the Whigs were much more tradablCj and would bleed freely, partly from the terrors of invafion and popery, partly from the ambition of being courted by the crown, and partly from the profped of ad- vantage, in advancing money to the government on the funds efiiabliflied by Parliament : for that fort of trafiick which obtained the appellation of the monied- intereil; was altogether a whiggiili inftitution. The King revolved thefe obfervations in his own mind i P 2 and., HISTORY OF ENGLAND. •_ , feventh day of November, purfuant to the laft pro 3693. rogation. In his fpeech, he expreffed his refent- ment againft thofe who were the authors of the mif- carriages atfea ; reprefented theneceffity of increafing the land forces and the navy ; and demanded a fuit- able fupply for thefe purpofes. In order to pave the way to their condefcenfion, lie had already difmiiled from his council the Earl of Nottingham, who, of all his minifters, was the moll odious to the people. His place would have been iminediately filled with the Earl of Shrewlbury ; but that nobleman fulpedl- ing this was a change of men rather than of mealures, Rood aloof for fome time, until he received fuch alTurances from the King as quieted his fcruples, and then he accepted the office of fecretary. The lieutenancy for the city of London, and all other commiffions over England, were altered with a view to favour the Whig intereft ; and the individuals of that party were indulged with many places of trull and profit : but the I'ories were too powerful in the Houfe of Commons to be exafperated, and there- fore a good number of them were retained in office. § XXXII. On the fixth day of the feffion, the Commons unanim^oufy refolved to fupport tlieir Majefties and their government ; to enquire into mifearriages j and to confider of means for preferving the trade of the nation. The Turkey company were fummoned to produce the petitions they had delivered to the commiffioners of the Admiralty for convoy: Lord Falkland, who fat at the head of that board, gave in copies of all the orders and diredtions fent to Sir George Rooke concerning the Straits fleet, together with a lift of all the fliips at that time in commiffion. It appeared, in the courfe of this enquiry, that the mifearriage of Rooke’s fleet was in a great meafure owing to the mifcondudl of the Admirals, and negledl of the Vidlualling-Office ; but they were fkreened by a majority. Mr. Har- ley, \ WILLIAM AND MARY. 2i3 1695. ley, one of the commiffioners for taking and Rating chap. the publick accounts, delivered a report, which con- tained a charge of peculation againfl Lord Falkland. Rainsford, receiver of the rights and perquifites of tlie navy, confelTed that he had received and paid more money than that which was charged in the accounts; and, in particular, that he had paid four thoufand pounds to Lord Falkland, by his Majefhy's order. This lord had acknowledged before the commiffioners, that he had paid one half of the fum, by the King’s order, to a perfon who was not a jiiember of either Houfe ; and that the remainder was Rill in his hands. Rainsford owned he had the original letter which he received from Falkland, demanding the money ; and this nobleman defiring £0 fee it, detained the voucher ; a circumRance that incenfed the Commons to Rich a degree, that a mo- tion was made for committing him to the Tower, and debated with great warmth, but at laR over- ruled by the majority. Neverthelefs, they agreed £0 make him fenfible of their difpleafure, and he was reprimanded in his place. The Houfe of Lords having alfo enquired into the caufes of the mifcar- riage at lea, very violent debates arofe, and at length the majority refolved, that the Admirals had done well in the execution of the orders they had received. This was a triumohover the Whio; lords, who had lb eagerly profecuted the affair, and now proteRed againR the refolution, not without great appearance of reafon. The next Rep of the Lords, was to ex- culpate the Earl of Nottingham, as the blame feemed to lie with him, on the fuDDofition that the admi- ^ Jl X rals were innocent. With a view, therefore, to transfer this blame to Trenchard, the whiggilh fe- cretary, the Earl gave the Houfe to underRand, that he had received intelligence from Paris in the begin- ning of June, containing, a liR of the enemies fleet, and the time of their failing ; chat this was commu^ aicated to a committee of the council, and particu- 214 BOOK I. 4l ■ ■— 1693. HISirORY OF ENGLAND. larly imparted to Secretary Trenchard, whofe pro-i vince it was to tranfmit inftructions to the admirals. Two conferences paflcd on this fiibjedl between the Lords and Commons. Trenchard delivered in his defence in writing ; and was in his turn llcreened by the whole efforts of the miniftry, in which the Whig influence now predominated. Thus, an enquiry of fuch national confequence, which took its rife from the King’s own exprelfion of refentment againft the delinquents, was ftifled by the arts of the court, be- caufe it was likely to affebt one of its creatures : for, though there was no premeditated treachery in the cafe, the intereft of the publick was certainly facri- ficed to the mutual animoflty of the miniflers. The charge of Lord Falkland being refumed in the Houfe of Commons, he appeared to have begged and re- ceived of the King the remaining two thoufand pounds of the money which had been paid by Rains- ford: he was the''efore declared guilty of a Iiigh rnifde- meanor and breach of trufl, and committed to the Tower ; from wLence, however, he was in two days' difcharged upon his petition. § XXXIII. Harley, Foley, and Harcourt, pre- fented to the Floufe a Rate of the receipts and ifllies of the revenue, together with two reports from the commiflioners of accounts, concerning fums iflued for fecret-fervices, and to members of Parliament. This was a difcovery of the mofl; fcandalous prac- tices in the miyfliery of corruption, equally exercifed on the individuals of both parties, in occaflonal bountif's, grants, places, penflons, equivalents, and additional fiilaries. The malcontents, therefore, juftly pbfejved, the Houfe of Commons was fo managed that tiie King could baffle any bill, quafli ail griev- ances, Rifle accounts, and rectify the articles of Li- merick. When the Commons took into confidera- tion the eRimates and fupplies of the enfuing year, the King demanded forty thoufand men for the na- vy, and above one hundred thoufand for the pur.- pofe^ W L L I A M AND MARY.. pofes of the land-fervice. Before the Hoiife confi- dered thefe enormous demands, they granted four hundred thoufand pounds by way of advance, to quiet the clamours of the feamen, who were become mutinous and defperate for want of pay, upwards of one million being due to them for v/ages. Then the Commons voted the number of men required for the navy : but they were fo afliamed of that for the army, that they thought it neceffary to a£l in fuch a manner as foould imply that they ftill retained fome regard for their country. They called for all the treaties fubfifting between the King and his al- lies : they examined the different proportions of the troops furnifhed by the refpedlive powers : they con- fidered the intended augmentations, and fixed the eftablifhment of the year at fourfcore and three thou- fand, one hundred, and twenty-one men, including officers. For the maintenance of thefe they allotted the fum of two millions, five Jiundred and thirty thoufand, five hundred, and nine pounds. They granted two millions for the navy, and about five hundred thoufand pounds to make good the defici- encies of the annuity and poll-bills ; fo that the fop- plies for the year amounted to about five mdllions and a half, raifed by a land-tax of four ffiillings in the pound, by two more lives in the annuities, a further excife on beer, a new duty on fait, and a lottery. § XXXI Y. Though the malcontents in Parlia- ment could not withfland this torrent of profufion, they endeavoured to diftrefs the court- interefl, by reviving the popular bills of the preceding feffion ; foch as that for regulating trials in cafes of high- treafon, the other for the more frequent calling and meeting, of Parliaments, and that concerning free and impartial proceedings in Parliament. Thefirft was neglefted in the Houfe of Lords ; the fecond was rejected ; the third was paffed by the Commons, on the foppofition that it would be defeated in the P 4 other 215 CHAP. Si5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Other Houle, The Lords returned it with certain I* anaendments, to which the Commons would not agree : a conference enfued ; the peers receded from their correftions, and palTed the bill, to which the King, however, refufed his alTent. Nothing could be more unpopular and dangerous than fuch a ftep at this juncture. The Commons, in order to recover fome credit with the people, detemined to difapprove of his Majefty’s conduct. The Floufe formed itfelf into a committee, to take the Rate of the kingdom into confideration. They refolved that whoever advifed the King to refufe the royal aiTent to that bill, was an enemy to their Majefties and the Kingdom. They likewife prefented an addrefs, exprelTing their concern that he had not given his confent to the bill, and befeeching his Majefty to hearken for the future to the advice of his Parliament, rather than to the councils of particular perfons, who might have pri- vate interefts of their own, feparate from thofe of his Majefty and his people. The King thanked them for their zeal, profefled a warm regard for their con^ ftitution, and allured them he would look upon all parties as enemies, who Ihould endeavour to leften the confidence fubfifting between the fovereign and people. The members in the oppofition v/ere not at all fatislied with this general reply. A day being appointed to take it into confideration, a warm de- bate was maintained v/ith equal eloquence and acri- mony, At length, the queftion being put, that an addrefs Ihould be made for a more explicit anfwer, it palTed in the negative by a great majority. § XXXV. The city of London petitioned that a parliamentary provifton might be made for the or- phans, whofe fortunes they had fcandaloufly fquan- dered away. Such an application had been made in the preceding felfton, and rejeded with difdain, as an impofition on the publick : but now thofe fcru- ples were removed, and die Houfe pafted a bill for iliis purpofe, confifting of many claufes, extending tQ WILLIAM AND MARY. to different charges on the city lands, aquedu6ls, and perfonal eftates ; impofing duties on binding apprentices, conffituting freemen, as alfo upon wines and coals imported into London. On the twenty- third day of March thefe bills received the royal affent ; and the King took that opportunity of re- commending dilpatch, as the feafon of the year was far advanced, and the enemy diligently employed in making preparations for an early campaign. The fcheme of a national bank, like thofe of Amlferdam and Genoa, had been recommended to the miniflry, as an excellent inftitution, as well for the credit and fecurity of the government, as the increafe of trade and circulation. One projedt was invented by Dr. Hugh Chamberlain, propofmg the circulation of tickets on land-fecurity : but William Paterfon was author of that which was carried into execution by the intereft of Michael Godfrey, and other aftive projedlors. The fcheme was founded on the notion of a transferable fund, and a circulation by bill on the credit of a large capital. Forty merchants fub- fcribed to the amount of five hundred thoufand pounds, as a fund of ready money, to circulate one million at eight per cent, to be lent to the govern- ment ; and even this fund of ready money bore the lame intereft. When it was properly digefted in the cabinet, and a majority in parliament fecured for its reception, the undertakers for the court in- troduced it into the Houfe of Commons, and ex- patiated upon the national advantages that would accrue from fuch a meafure. They faid it would refcue the nation out of the hands of extortioners and ufurers, lower intereft, raife the value of land, revive and eftablifh publick credit, extend circula- tion, confequently improve commerce, facilitate the annual fupplies, and conned the people the more clofely with the government. The projed was vio- lently oppofed by a ftrong party, who affirmed that it would become a monopoly, and engrofs the whole money tiS boo: I. V— 5^f2* HISTORY OF ENGLAND. C money of the kingdom; that, as it miifl infalUbly ^be fubfervient to government-views, it might ba employed to the wprft purpofes of arbitrary power : that, inftead of affilling, it would weaken commerce, by tempting people to withdraw their money from trade, and employ it in ftock-jobbing ; that it would produce a fwarm of brokers and jobbers to prey upon their fellow- creatures, encourage fraud and ganaing, and further corrupt the morals of the nation. Noiwithflanding thefe objections, the bill made its way through the two Houfes, eRabliHiing the funds for the fecurity and advantage of the fub- fcribers ; empowering their Majefties to incorporate them by the name of The Governor and Company of the Bank of England, under a provifo, that at any time after the foil day of Auguft, in the year one thoufand feven hundred and five, upon a year’s notice, and the repayment of the twelve hundred thoufand pounds, the faid corporation fhould ceafe and determine. The bill likewife contained claufes of appropriation for the fervices of the publick. The whole fubfcription was filled in ten days after its being opened ; and the court of directors com- pleted the payment before the expiration of the time prefcribed by the aCl, although they did not call in more than feven hundred and twenty thoufand pounds of the money fubfcribed. All thefe funds proving inadequate to the eftimates, the Commons brought in a bill to impofe ftamp-duties upon all vellum, parchment, and paper, ufed in almoil every kind of intercourfe between man and man j and they crowned the oppreflions of the year with another grievous tax upon carriages, under the name of a bill for licenfing and regulating hackney and ftage-coaches. ^ § XXX yi. The Commons, in a claufe of the bill for taxing feveral joint-flocks, provided, that in cafe of a default in the payment of that tax, within ■ the time limited by the ad:, the charter of the com- pany r WILLIAM AND MARY. ai9 pany fo failing fliould be deemed void and forfeited. C H AP. The Eaft-India Company aftually negle6ted their ^ payment, and the publick imagined the miniftry 1633, v/ould feize this opportunity of diffolving a mono- poly ^againft which fo many complaints had been made : but the Directors underflood their own flrength 3 and, inflead of being broken, obtained the promife of a new charter. This was no fooner known, than the controverfy between them and their adverfaries was revived v/ith fuch animofity, that the council thought proper to indulge l^oth parties with a hearing. As this produced no refolution, the merchants who oppofed the company petitioned, that, in the mean while, the new charter might be fufpended. Addreffes of the fame kind were pre- fented by a great number of clothiers, linen-drapers, and other dealers. To thefe a written anfwer was publiflied. by the company: the merchants printed a reply, in which they undertook to prove, that the company had been guilty of unjufl and unwarrantable a6lions, tending to the fcandal of religion, the dif- honour of the nation, the reproach of our laws, the oppreffion of the people, and the ruin of trade. They obferved, that two private fhips had exported in one year three times as many cloths as the com- pany had exported in three years. They offered to lend more cloth and Englilli merchandife to the Indies in one year, than tlie company had exported in five ; to fqrnifh the government with five hundred tons of fiilt-petre for lefs than one half of the ufual price ; and they reprefented, that the company could neither load the fhips they petitioned for in Eng- land, nor, reload them in the Eaft-Indies. In fpite of all thefe remmnflrances, the new charter paffed the great leal ; though the grants contained in it w'ere limited in fuch a manner, that they did not amount to an exclufive privilege, and fubje6led the company to fuch alterations, rellridtions, and quali- fications, as the King fliould diredt before the twenty- ninth 220 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK ninth day of September. This indulgence, and other ^ ■ favours granted to the company, were privately pur- ,6^3. chafed of the miniftry, and became produ6tive of a loud outcry againfl the government. The mer- chants publifhed a journal of the whole tranfadlion, and petitioned the Houfe of Commons that their liberty of trading to the Eaft-Indies might be con- firmed by Parliament. Another petition was pre- fen ted by the company, praying that their charter might receive a parliamentary fan6lion. Both par- ties employed all their addrefs in making private ap- plication to the members. The Houfe having exa- mined the different charters, the book 6f their new fubfcriptions, and every particular relating to the companyj refolved that all the fubjedts of England had an equal right to trade to the Eaft-Indies, un- lefs prohibited by aft of Parliament. § XXXVII. But nothing engroffed the attention of the Publick more than a bill which was brought into the Eloufe for a general naturalization of all fo- reign Proteftants. The advocates for this meafure alledged, That great part of the lands of England lay uncultivated : That the ftrength of a nation con- fifted in the number of inhabitants : That the people were thinned by the war and foreign voyages, and required an extraordinary fupply: I'hat a great number of Proteftants, perfecuted in France and other countries, would gladly remove to a land of freedom, and bring along with them their wealth and manufaftures : That the community had been largely repaid for the protection granted to thole refugees who had already fettled in the kingdom. They had introduced feveral new branches of ma- nufafture, promoted induftry, and lowered the price of labour j a circumftance of the utmoft importance to trade, oppreffed as it was with taxes, and expofed to uncommon hazard from the enemy. The oppo- nents of the bill urged with great vehemence. That it would cheapen the birthright of Engliftimen: That WILLIAM AND MARY. Z A That the want of culture was owing to the oppreffion c hap. of the times: That foreigners being admitted into ^ the privileges of the Britifli trade, would grow wealthy at the expence of their benefadlors, and transfer the fortunes they had gained into their na- tive country; That the redudtion in the price of labour would be a national grievance, while many thoufands of Englilh manufacturers were ftarving for want of employment, and the price of provifions continued fo high, that even thofe who were em- ployed could fcarce fupply their families with bread ; That the real defign of the bill was to make flich an acceffion to the Diffenters as would render them an equal match in the body-politick for thofe of the Church of England ; to create a greater dependence on the Crown, and, in a word, to fupply a foreign liead with foreign members. Sir John Knight, a member of the Houfe, in a Ipeech upon this fubjedl:, exaggerated the bad confequences that would attend fuch a bill, with all the wit and virulence of fatire : it was printed and difperfed through the kingdom, and railed fuch a flame among the people as had not appeared fince the Revolution. They exclaimed, tliat all offices would be conferred upon Dutchmen, who would become Lord-danes, and prefcribe the modes of religion and government; and they ex- tolled Sir John Knight as the Saviour of the nation, ddie courtiers, incenfed at the progrefs of this cla- mour, complained in the Houfe of the Ipeech which had been printed ; and Sir John was threatened wdth Burnet, cxpulfion and imprifonment. He, therefore, thought proper to dilown the paper, which was burned bywiiiiam. the hands of the common hangman. This facrifice ferved only to increafe the popular diftnrbance, R^ph."^ * which rofe to fuch a height of violence, that the^ohalre. court-party began to tremble; and the bill was dropped for the prefent. § XXXVIII. Lord Coningfby and Mr. Porter had committed the molt flagrant adls of oppreflion in 3 Ireland, 222 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Ireland. Thefe had been explained^ during the lafl I* refTion, by the gentlemen who appealed againft the adminiftration of Lord Sidney: but they were fcreened by the miniftry ; and, therefore, the Earl of Bellamont now impeached them in the Houfe of Commons, of which he and they were members. After an examination of the articles exhibited againft them, the Commons, who were by this time at the devotion of the Court, declared, that, confidering the ftate of affairs in Ireland, they did not think them fit grounds for an impeachment. — In the courfe of this feffion, the nation fuftained another misfortune in the fate of Sir Francis Wheeler, who had been appointed commander in chief of the Me- diterranean fquadron. He received inftrudlions to take under his convoy the merchant fhips bound to Turkey, Spain, and Italy; to cruife thirty days in a certain latitude, for the protedlion of the Span! fit plate-fleet homeward bound ; to leave part of his fquadron at Cadiz, as convoy to the trade for Eng- land ; to proceed with the reft to the Mediterranean ; to join the Spanifli fleet in his return ; and to a61: in concert with them, until he fhould be joined by the fleet from Turkey and the Straits, and accompany them back to England. About the latter end of Oftober he fet fail from St. Flelen's, and in January arrived at Cadiz with the fhips under his convoy. There leaving Rear-Admiral Hopfon, he proceeded for the Mediterranean. In the bay of Gibraltar he was overtaken by a dreadful tempeft, under a lee- fhore, which he could not poffibly weather, and where the ground was fo foul that no anchor would hold. This expedient, however, was tried. A great number of fhips were driven afhore, and many periflied. The Admiral’s fhip foundered at fea, and he and all his crew were buried in the deep, except two Moors, who were miraculoufly preferved. Two other fhips of the line, three ketches, and fix merchant fhips, were loft. The remains of the fleet were WILLIAM AND MARY- were fo much lhattered, that, inftead of profecuting chap. their voyage, they returned to Cadiz, in order to be refitted, and Iheltered from the attempts of the French fquadrons, which were ftill at fea, under the command of Chateau-Renaud and Cabaret. On the twenty-fifth day of April the King clofed the fefiion with a fpeech in the ufual ftile, and the Par- liament was prorogued to the eighteenth day of September § XXXIX. Louis of France being tired of the war, which had impoverifhed his country, continued to tamper with the duke of Savoy, and, by the canal of the Pope, made fome offers to the King of Spain, which were rejedted. Mean while he refolved to fband upon the defenfive during the enfuing cam- paign, in every part but Catalonia, where his whole naval force might co-operate with the Count de Noailles, who commanded the land-army. King William * Befides the bills already mentioned, the Parliament in this feHion pafled an aft for taking and dating the public accounts— another to encourage thip-building a third for the better difeiplining the na- vy — the ufual militia-aft and an aft enabling his Majefty to make grants and leafes in the duchy of Cornwall. One was alfo pafled for renewing a daufe in an old ftatute, limiting the number of Juftices of the peace in the principality of Wales. The Duke of Norfolk, brought an aftion in the Court of King’s Bench againft Mr. Ger- maine, for criminal converfation with his Dutchefs. The caufe was tried, and the jury brought in their verdift for one hundred marks, and cofts of fuit, in favour of the Plaintiff, Before the King embarked, he gratified a good number of his friends with promotions. Lord Charles Butler, brother to the Duke of Ormond, was created Lord Butler, of Weflon in England, and Earl of Arran in Ireland. The Earl of Shrewfbury was honoured with the title of Duke. The Earl of Mulgrave, being reconciled to the Court-meafures, v.as gratified with a pention of three thoufand pounds, and the title of Marquis of Normanby. Henry Herbert was ennobled by the title of Baron Herbert, of Cnerbury. The Earls of Bedford, Devonfliire, and Clare, were promoted to the rank of Dukes. The Marquis of Caeimarthen was made Duke of Leeds} Lord Vif- count Sidney, created Earl of Romney j and Vifeount Newport, Earl of Bedford. Rulfel was advanced to the head of the Admiralty- board. Sir George Rooke and Sir John Houblon were appointed joint-commifiioners, in the room of Kille?rew and Delaval. Charles Montagu was made Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and Sir William Xrumbal and John Smith commiffioners of the Tfcafury, in the room of Sir Edward Seymour and Mr. Hambden, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK William having received intelligence of the defigil . upon Barcelona, endeavoured to prevent the June- tion of the Breft and Toulon fquadrons, by fending RulTel to fea as early as the fleet could be in a con- dition to fail : but before he arrived at Portfmouth, the Breft fquadron had quitted that harbour. On the third day of May the Admiral failed from St. Helen’s, with the combined fquadrons of England and Holland, amounting to ninety fhips of the line, befides frigates, fire-fhips, and tenders. He detached Captain Pritchard of the Monmouth with two fire- fhips, to deftroy a fleet of French merchant-fhips near Conquet-bay ; and this fervice being performed, he returned to St. Elelen’s, where he had left Sir Cloudefley Shovel with a fquadron, to take on board a body of land-forces, intended for a defeent upon the coaft of France. Thefe being embarked, under the command of General Ptolemache, the whole fleet failed again on the twenty-ninth of May. The land and fea-oflicers, in a council of war, agreed that part of the fleet defigned for this expedition, fhould ieparate from the reft, and proceed to Camaret-bay, where the forces fhould be landed. On the fifth day of June, Lord Berkeley, who commanded this fqua- dron, parted with the grand fleet, and on the feventh anchored between the bays of Camaret and Ber- taume. Next day the Marquis of Caermarthen, af- terwards Duke of Leeds, who ferved under Berkeley, as rear-admiral of the blue, entered Camaret-bay with two large fhips and fix frigates, to cover the troops in landing. The French had received intel- ligence of the defign, and taken fuch precautions, under the condudt of the celebrated engineer, Vau- ban, that the Englifh were expofed to a terrible fire from new-eredfed batteries, as well as from a ftrong body of troops ; and though the fhips cannonaded them with great vigour, the foldiers could not main- tain any regularity in landing. A good number were killed in the open boats before they reached the fhore^ . V/t‘LLiA]\i 'And mary: 225 fliOre ; and thofe wjio landed were foon repulfed, in c H A P. Ij^lte of all the endeavours of General Ptolemache, who received a wound in the thigh, which proved mortal. Seven hundred foldiers are laid to have been loft on this occafion, befides thofe who were killed on board of the fhips. The Monk fhip of war was towed off with great difficulty : but a Dutch frigate of thirty guns fell into the hands of the enemy. § XL. After this unfortunate attempt, Lord Berkeley, with the advice of a council of war, failed back for England, and at St. Helen’s received orders from the Queen to call a council, and deliberate in what manner the ftiips and forces might be beft em- ployed. They agreed to make fome attempt upon the coaft of Normandy. VV^ith this view they fet fail on the fifth day of July. They bombarded Dieppe, and .rMuced the greateft part of the town to allies. Thence they fteered to Havre-de-Grace, which met with the fame fate. They harraffed the French troops, who marched after them along- fliore. They alarmed the whole coaft, and filled every town with fuch confternationi that they would have been abandoned by the inhabitants, had they not been detained by military force. On the twen-' ty~fixth day of July, Lord Berkeley returned to St. Helen’s, where he quitted the fleet, and the com- mand devolved upon Sir Cloudefley Shovel. This' officer having received inftrudtions to make an at-' tempt upon Dunkirk, failed round to the Downs, where he was joined by M. Meefters, with fix-and- twerity Dutch pilots. On the twelfth of September he appeared before Dunkirk i and next day fent in the Charles galley, with two bomb-ketches, and as many of the machines called Infernals. ' Thefewere' fet on fire without effed; and the delign mifcarried: then Shovel fteered to Calais, which having bom- barded with little fuccefs, he returned to the coaft of VoL. I, England,* 225 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK England ; and the bomb-ketches and machines wer3 , fent into the river Thames. '* § XLI. During thefe tranra6lions. Admiral Ruf- fel, with the grand fleet, failed for the Mediterra- nean ; and being joined by Rear-Admiral Neville from Cadiz, together with Callembergh and Evert-* zen, he fteered towards Barcelona, which was be- fleged by the French fleet and army. At his ap- proach Tourville retired with precipitation into the harbour of Toulon j and Noailles abandoned his enterprife. The Spanifh affairs were in fuch a de- plorable condition, that without this timely affiflance the kingdom mufl: have been undone. While he continued in the Mediterranean, the French admi- ral durfl not venture to appear at fea j and all his proje6ts were difconcerted. After having afferted the honour of the Britifh flag in thofe feas during the whole fummer, he failed in the beginning of No- vember to Cadiz, where, by an exprefs order of the King, he paffed the wanter, during which, he took fuch precautions for preventing Tourville from pair- ing the Straits, that he did not think proper to rifque the palfage. § Xi JI. It will now be neceflary to deferibe the operations on the continent. In the middle of May King William arrived in Holland, where he con- fulted with the States-General. On the third day of J line he repaired to Bethlem-abbey near Louvain, the place appointed for the rendezvous of the army ; nnd there he was met by the Eledors of Bavaria and Cologn. In a few days a numerous army was affem- bledj and every thing feemed to promife an adive (campaign. On the third day of June the Dauphin /.ifliimed the command of the French forces, with which Luxembourg had taken poll between Mons and Maubeuge ; and palfing the Sambre, encamped - at Fleurus : but, on the eighteenth, he removed from thence, and took up his quarters between St. Tron and \\hanheim i while the confederates lay at Roofbeck, WILLIAM AND MARY. Hoofbeck. On the eleventh of July, the Dauphin marched in four columns to Oerle upon the Jaar, where he pitched his camp. On the twenty- fecond, the confederates marched to Bomale : then the Dau- phin took the route to Vignamont, where he fecured his aimy by entrenchments^ as his forces were infe- rior in number to thofe of the allies ; and he had been dire6ted by his father to avoid an engagement. In this fituation both armies remained till the fif- teenth day of Augufl, when King William fent the heavy baggage to Louvain ; and on the eighteenth made a motion to Sombref. This was no fooner known to the enemyi than they decamped and having marched all night, pofted themfelves between Temploux and Mafy, within a league and a half of the confederates. The King of England refolved to pafs the Scheld; and with this view marched, by the way of Nivelle and Soignies, to Chievres : from thence he detached the Duke of Wirtemberg, with a flrong body of horfe and foot, to pafs the river at Oudenarde, while the eleflor of Bavaria advanced with another detachment, to pafs it at Pont de ET- pieres. Notwithftanding all the expedition they could make, their purpofe was anticipated by I.ux- embourg, who being apprifed of their route, had detached four thoufand horfe, with each a foot fol- dier behind the trooper, to reinforce M. de Valette, who commanded that part of the Erench line. Thefe’ v/ere fuftained by a choice body of men, who tra- velled with great expedition, without obferving the formalities of a march. Marefchal de Villeroy fol- lowed the fame route, with all the cavalry of the right wing, the houfchold troops, and twenty field- pieces ; and the reft of the army was brought up by the Dauphin in perfon. They marched v/ith fuch incredible diligence, that the Eleftor of Bavaria could fcarce believe his own eyes, when he arrived m fight of the Scheld, and faw them entrenching themfelves on the* other fide of the river. King 0^2 Wilium. ^28 HISTO-RY O F -F.NGLAND. Book William having reconnoitred their difpofitionjthougk: it impracticable to pafs at that place, .and therefore J'^^arched do\^n the river to Oudenarde, where a paf- fage had been already effefted by the. Duke of Wir- remberg. Here the confederates pafled the Scheld on the twenty-feventh day of the month; and the ■King fixed his head-quarters at Wanneghem. His intention was to have taken pofieffion of Courtray, and eftablifhed winter-quarters for a confiderable part of his army in that diftrift: but Luxembourg having polled himfelf between that place and Menin> extended his lines in fuch a manner, that the confe- derates could not attempt to force them, nor even hinder him from fubfilling his army at the expenfe of the Caflellany of Courtray, during the remainder of the campaign. This furprifing march was of fuch importance to the French King, that he wrote with his ow'n hand a letter of thanks to his army ; and ordered that it Ihould be read to every particular fquadron and battalion. § XLIII. The King of England, though difap- pointed in his fcheme upon Courtray, found means to make fome advantage of his fuperiority in num- ber. He drafted troops from the garrifons of Leige and Maellricht ; and on the third day of September reinforced his body with a large detachment from his own camp, conferring the command upon the Duke of Holllein-Ploen, with orders to undertake the fiege of Huy. Next day the whole confederate forces paired the Lys, and encamped at W outerghem. From thence the King, with part of the army, marched to Rofelaer : this divifion obliged the Dau- phin to make confiderable detachments, for the fe- curity of Ypres and Menin bn one fide, and to cover. Fumes and Dunkirk on the other. At this jun^lurCy a Frenchman being feifed in the very a6l of fetting fire to one of the ammunition-waggons in the alliecl army, confefled he had beeii employed for this pur- pofe by fome of the' Fre.nch generals, and fulFered • ^ I WILLIAM AND MARY: d2g d^ath as a traitor. On the fixteenth day of the c H A P*‘ month, the Duke of Holftein-Ploen invefted Huy, ■ ' and carried on the fiege with fuch vigour, that in ten days the garrifon capitulated. The King ordered Dixmuyde, Deynfe, Ninove, and Tirlemont, to be fecured for winter-quarters to part of the army : the Dauphin returned to Verfailles ; William quitted the camp on the laft day of September ; and both armies broke up about the middle of O6tober. § XLIV. The operations on the Rhine were pre- concerted between King William and the Prince of Eaden, who had vifited London in the winter. The dilpute between the Emperor and the Eletror of Saxony was compromifed; and this young Prince* dying during the negociation, the treaty v/as per- fected by his brother and fucceflbr, who engaged to furniili twelve thoufand men yearly, in confideration of a fubfidy from the court of Vienna. In the be- ginning of June, Marefchal de Lorges palTed the Rhine at Philipfburgh, in order to give battle to the Imperialifts, encamped at Hailbron. The Prince of' Baden, who was not yet joined by the Saxons, Hef- fians, nor by the troops of Munfter and Paderborn, difpatched couriers to quicken the march of thefe auxiliaries, and advanced to Eppingen, where he propofed to wait till they fliould come up : but, on the fifteenth, receiving undoubted intelligence, that . the enemy were in motion towards him, he advanced to meet them in order of battle. De Lorges con- cluded that this was a deiperate effort, and imme- diately halted, to make the neceffary preparations for an engagement. This paufe enabled Prince Louis to take poffeffion of a ftrong pafs near Sintz- heim, from which he could not eafily be diflodged. Then the Marefchal proceeded to Vifeloch, and ra- vaged the adjacent country, in hopes of drawing the Imperialifts from their entrenchments. The Prince being joined by the Heffians, refolved to beat up the quarters of the enemy ; and the French general 0.3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. being apprifed of his defign, retreated at midnight with the utmoft precipitation. Having polled him- felf at Ruth, he fent his heavy baggage to Philipf- bnrgh ; then he moved to Gonfbergh, in the neighs boiirhood of Manheim, repalTed the Rhine, and en- camped between Spires and Worms. The Prince of Baden being joined by the allies, pafled the river by a bridge of boats near Hagenbach, in the middle of September j and laid the country of Alface under contribution. Confidering the advanced feafon of the year,, this was a rafh undertaking; and the French general refolved to profit by his enemy’s temerity. He forthwith advanced againfl the Im- perialifts, forefeeing that fliould they be worfted in battle, their whole army v/ould be mined. Prince Touis, informed of his intention, immediately pafied the Rhine ; and this retreat was no fooner efFedled, than the river fwelled to fiich a degree, that the iiland in the middle, and great part of the camp he had occupied, w'as overflowed. Soon after this in- cident both armies retired into winter-quarters. The campaign in Flungary produced no event of impor- tance. It was opened by the new Vifir, who arrived at Belgrade in the middle of Auguft: ; and about the fame time Caprara aflTembled the Imperial army in the neighbourhood of Peterwaradin. The Turks paflfed the Saave, in order to attack their camp, and carried on their approaches with five hundred pieces of cannon ; but made very little progrefs. The Im- perialifis received reinforcements ; the feafon wafted away ; a feud arofe between the Vifir and the Cham of the Tartars; and the Danube being fwelled by heavy rains, fo as to interrupt the operations of the Turks, their general decamped in the night of the firft of Oftober. I'hey afterwards made an unfuc- cefsful attempt upon Titul, v/hile the Imperial ge- neral made himfelf mafter of Giula. In the courfe of this fummer, the Venetians, who were alfo at war with the Turks, reduced Cyclut, a place of im- 5 ' , portance WILLIAM AND MARY. portance on the river Naranta, and made a of the ifland of Scio in the Archipelago. § XLV. We have already obferved, French King had determined to a6t vigoroiifly in Catalonia. In the beginning of May, the Duke de Noailles advanced at the head of eight-and-twenty thoufand men to the river Ter, on the oppolite bank of which the Viceroy of Catalonia was encamped with fixteen thoufand Spaniards. The French gene- ral pafled the river in the face of this army, and attacked their entrenchments with fuch impetuofity, that in lefs than an hour they were totally defeated. Then he marched to Palamos, and undertook the fiege of that place, while at the fame time it was* blocked up by the combined fquadrons of Bred and Toulon. Though the befieged made an obftinate defenfe, the town was taken by ftorm, the houfes were pillaged, and the people put to the fword, without diftinftion of age, fex;, or condition. Then he invefted Gironne, which in a few days capitu- lated. Oftalric met with the fame fate, and Noailles was created Viceroy of Catalonia by the French King. In the beginning of Auguft he diftributed his forces into quarters of refrefliment, along the river Terdore, refolving to undertake the fiege of Barcelona, which was faved by the arrival of Ad- miral RulTel. The war languifhed in Piedmont, on account of a fecret negociation between the King of France and the Duke of Savoy; notwithfbanding the remonftrances of Rouvigny, Earl of Galway, who had fucceeded the Duke of Schomberg in the command of the Britifh forces in that country. Cafal was clofely blocked up by the redudion of Fort St. George, and theVaudois gained the advantage in fome fkirmillies in the valley of Ragelas ; but no defign of importance was executed 0^4 § XLVL * In the courfe ef this year, M. du Caffe, governor of St. Do- » iP.ingQ, made an unluccefsful attempt upon the iAand of Jamaica; and conquefl c H A p^* ^ IV. that the ( HISTORY OF ENGLAND. K § XLVl. England had continued very quiet un-v,. der the Queen’s adniiniftration, if we except fome, little commotions occafioned by the practices, or pretended practices, of the Jacobites. Profecutiona, were revived agaiufl certain gentlemen of Lan- , cafliire and Chediire, for having been concerned in the conlpiracy formed in favour of the late King’s , proieded invaf on from Normandy. Thefe Reps ^ were owing to the fuggeRions of infamous inform- ers, whom the miniRry countenanced. Colonel , Parker and one Crofby were imprifoned, and bills . of treafon found againR them : but Parker made his . efcape from the Tower, and was never retaken, though a reward of four hundred pounds was fet upon his head. The King having fettled the affairs o'f the confederacy at the Hague, embarked for England on the eighth of November, and next day landed at Margate. On the twelfth he opened the feRion of Parliament, with a fpeech, in which he . obferved that the poRure of affkirs was improved both by fea and land fince they laR parted ; in par- ticular, that a Rop was put to the progrefs of the, . French anus. He defired they would continue the aft of tonnage and poundage, vdiich v/ould expire at ChriRmas : he reminded them of the debt for the tranfport Riips employed in the redudlion of Ireland ; and exhorted them to prepare fome good bill for the encouragement of feamen. A majority in both Houfes was already fecured ; and in all probability, lie bargained for their condefcenfion, ' by agreeing to , the bill for triennial parliaments. This Mr. Elarley brought in, by order of the Lower Eioufe, imme- diately after their RrR adjournmient ; and it kept pace with the confideration of the fupplies. The Commons having examined the eRimates and ac- counts, voted four millions, feven hundred fixty- and M. St. Clair, with four men of war, formed a clefitrn ao-ainft St. John’s, Newfoundland j but he was rcpulled with iols, by the valour of the inhabitants. WILLIAM AND MARY. four thoufand, feyen. hundred and twelve pounds for C the fervice of the army and navy. In order to ralfe this fum, they . continued the land-tax ; they renewed the fubfidy of tonnage and poundage for five years, and impofed new duties on. diiierent commodities The triennial bill enacted. That a .parliament fliould .be held once within three years at lead; That within three years at fartheft after the diffolution of the parliament then fub- fifting, and fo from time to time, for ever after, legal writs under the great feal fliould be ifllied, by the diredion of the crov/n, for calling, aflembling, and holding another new parliament : That no par- liament fliould continue longer than three years at fartheft, to be accounted from the firft day of the firft feflion : and. That the Parliament then fubfift- ing fliould ceafe and determine on the firft day of November next following, iinleis their Majefties fliould think fit to diflblve it fooner. The Duke of Devonfliire, the Marquis of Hallifax, the Earls, of Weymouth and Aylefbury, protefted .againft this bill, becaufe it tended to the continuance of the pre- fent parliament longer than, as they apprehended, was agreeable to the conftitution of England. § XLVII. While this bill was depending. Dr, John Tillotfon;, Archbifliop of Canterbury, was feifed with a fit of the dead palfy, in the chapel of Whitehall, and died on the 22d day of November, deeply regretted by the King and Queen, who flied tears of borrow at his deceafe; and fincerely la- mented by the publick, as a pattern of elegance, in- genuity, meeknefs, charity, and moderation. Thefe qualities he muft be allowed to have polTefled, not- withftanding the invedlives of his enemies, who accufed' him of puritanifm, flattery, and ambition ; and charged him with having conduced to a dan- * They impofed certain rates and duties upon marriages, births, and burials, bachelors, and widows. They pafled an aft for laying additional duties upon coffee, tea, and chocolate, towards paying the debt due for the tranfport fhips ; and another, impofing duties cn glafs ware, Itone and earthen bottles, coal, and culm. gerou« HISTORY OF ENGLAND. gerousTchifm in the Church, by accepting the ArcHHI^ fhoprick during the life of the deprived Sancroft* He was fucceeded in the metropolitan fee by Dr, Tennifon, Biihop of Lincoln, recommended by the Whig-party, which now predominated in the cabinet. The Queen did not long furvive' her fa- vourite prelate. In about a month after hisdeceafc, fhe was taken ill of the Small-pox, and the fymp- toms proving dangerous, flie prepared herfelf for death with great compofure. She fpent fome time in exercifes of devotion, and private converfation with the new archbiHiop ; Ihe received the facra- inent with all the bilhops who were in attendance ; and expired on the twenty-eighth day of Decem- ber in the thirty-third year of her age, and in the fixth 'of her reign, to the inexpreflible grief of the King, who for fome weeks after her death could neither fee company, nor attend to the bufmefs of State. Mary was in her perfon tall and well-propor- tioned, with an oval vifage, lively eyes, agreeable features, a mild afpedt, and an air of dignity. Her apprehenfion was clear, her memory tenacious, and her judgement folid. She v/as a zealous pro- tellant, fcrupuloufly exa6i: in all the duties of devo- tion, of an even temper, and of a calm and mild converfation. She v/as ruffled by no pafflon, and feems to have been a ftranger to the emotions of natural affeftion ; for fhe afcended, without com- pun■^2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK of Francis de Montnnorency, Duke of Luxem- ^ , bourg, to whofe military talents he owned the 1655. greateft part of his glory and fuccefs. That great officer died in January at Verfailles, in the fixty- feventh year of his age and Louis lamented his death the more deeply, as he had not another gene- ral left, in whofe underftanding he could confide. The conduit of the army in Flanders was entrufted to Marefchal Villeroy ; and Boufflers commanded a feparate army, though fubjeit to the other’s orders. As the French King took it for granted, that the confederates would have a fuperiority of numbers in the field, and was well acquainted with the enter- prifing genius of their chief, he ordered a new line to be drawn between Lys and theScheld: he caufed a difpofition to be made for covering Dunkirk, Ypres, Tournay, and Namur ^ and laid injunitions on his general to ail folely on the defenfive. Mean while, the confederates formed two armies in the Netherlands. The firft confifled of feventy batta- lions of infantry, and eighty-two fquadrons of horfe and dragoons, chiefly Englifh and Scots, encamped at Aerfeele, Caneghem, and Wouterghem, between Thield and Deynfe, to be commanded by the King in perfon, affifted by the old Prince of Vaudemont. . The other army, compofed of fixteen battalions of foot, and one hundred and thirty fquadrons of horfe, encamped at Zellich and Hamme, on the road from Bruffels to Dendermonde, under the command of the Eleilor of Bavaria, feconded by the Duke of Hol- ftein-Ploen. Major-General Ellemberg was polled near Dixmuyde with twenty battalions and ten fqua- drons ; and another body of Brandenburg and Dutch troops, with a reinforcement from Leige, lay en- camped on the Mehaigne, under the conduit of the Baron de Heyden, lieutenant-general of Branden- burgh, and the Count de Berio, general of the LiCige cavalry. King William arrived in the camp on the fifth day of July; and remained eight days at Aer- feclc. W I L L I A 1 M. 253 feele. Then he marched to Bekelar, while Villeroy CHAP, retired behind his lines between Menin andYpres, . ^ after having detached ten thoufand men to reinforce ,65^, ' Boufflers, who had advanced to Pont d’Efpieres: but he too retreating within his lines, the Elector of Bavaria pafled the Scheld, and took poll at Kirk- hoven : at the fame time the body under Pleyden advanced to Namur. § Xll. The King of England, having by his mo- tions drawn the forces of the enemy on the fide of Planders, dire6led the Baron de Eleyden and the Earl of Athlone, who commanded forty fquadrons from the camp of the.Ele6tor of Bavaria, to inveft Namur ; and this fervice was performed on the third day of July: bur, as the place vv^as not entirely fur- rounded, Marefchal Boufflers threw himfelf into it, with fuch a reinforcement of drao-oons as augmented w O the garrifon to the number of fifteen thoufand chofen men. King William and the Eleflor brought up the reft of the forces, which encamped on both fides of the Sambre and the Maefe ; and the lines of cir- cumvallation were begun on the fixth day of July, under the direffion of the celebrated engineer, Ge- neral Coehorn. The place was formerly very ftrong, both by fituation and art ; but the French, fince its laft redu6fion, had made fuch additional works, that both the town and citadel feemed impregnable. Confidering the number of the garrifon, and the quality of the troops, commanded by a Marefchal of France, diftinguiftied by his valour and condudt, the enterprife was deem.ed an undeniable proof of William’s temerity. On the eleventh the trenches were opened, and next day the batteries began to play with incredible fury. The King receiving in- telligence of a motion made by a body of French troops, with a view to intercept the convoys, de- tached twenty fquadrons of horfe and dragoons to obferve the enemv. § xin. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK § XIII. Prince Vaudeniont, who was left at Rofe-^ ^ , iaer with fifty battalions, and the like nurnber of ' 1695. fquadrons, underftanding that Villeroy had pafied the Lys, in order to attack him, took pofb with his left near Grammen, his right by Aerfeele and Ca- neghem, and began to fortify his camp, with a view to expeft the enemy. Their vanguard appearing on the evening of the thirteenth at Dentreghem, he changed the difpofition of his camp, and entrenched himfelf on both fides. Next day, however, per- ceiving Villeroy’s defign was to furroiind him, by means of another body of troops commanded by M. Montal, who had already palled the Thieldt for that purpofe, he refolved to avoid an engagement, and effected a retreat to Ghent, which is celebrated as one of the moft capital efforts of military con- dud. He forthwith detached twelve battalions and twelve pieces of cannon, to fecure Newport, which Villeroy had intended to inveft : but that General now changed his refolution, and undertook the fiege of Dixmuyde, garrifoned by eight battalions of foot, and a regiment of dragoons, commanded by Major- General Ellemberg, who, in fix-and-thirty hours af- ter the trenches were opened, furrendered himfelf and his foldiers prifoners of war. This fcandalous example was followed by Colonel Ofarrel, who yielded up Deynfe on the fame ihameful conditions, even before a battery was opened by the befiegers. In the fequel they were both tried for their mifbeha- viour: ^Ellemberg fuffered death, and Ofarrel was broke with infamy. The Prince of Vaudemont fent a meffage to the French general, demanding the garrifons of thofe two places, according to a cartel which had been fettled between the Powers at war } but no regard was paid to this remonftrance. Vilie- roy, after feverai marches and countermarches, ap- peared before Bruffels on the thirteenth day of Au- guft, and fent a letter to the Prince of Berghem, governor of that city, importing, that the King his mailer W I L L I. A M. mafter had ordered him to bombard the town, by C H A P. way of making reprifals for the damage done by , the Englifh fleet to the maritime towns of France: ,5^^, he likewife defired to know in v/hat part the Eleftrefs of Bavaria refided, that he might not fire into that quarter. After this declaration, which was no more than an unmeaning compliment, he began to bom- bard and cannonade the place with red-hot bullets, which produced conflagrations in many different parts of the city, and frightened the Eleclrefs into a mifcarriage. On the fifteenth, the French difcon- tinued their firing, and retired to Enghein. § XIV. During thefe tranfadlions, the fiege of Namur was profecuted with great ardour, under the eye of the King of England 3 while the garrifon de- fended the place with equal fpirit and perfeverance. On the eighteenth day of July, Major-General Ram- fay and Lord Cutts, at the head of five battalions, Englifli, Scots, and Dutch, attacked the enemy’s advanced works, on the right of the counterfcarp. They were fuftained by fix Engliili battalions, com- manded by Brigadier-General Fitzpatrick; while eight foreign regiments, with nine thoufand pioneers, advanced on the left, under Major-General Salifch. The affault was defperate and bloody, the enemy maintaining their ground for two hours with un- daunted courage : but at lafl: they were obliged to give way, and were purfued to the very gates of the town, though not before they had killed or wounded twelve hundred men of the confederate army. The King was fo well pleafed with the behaviour of the Britifh troops, that during the aftion he laid his hand upon the Ihoulder of the Eleftor of Bavaria, and exclaimed with emotion, See my brave Eng- lifh !” On the twenty-feventh, the Englifh and Scots, under Ramfay and Hamilton, affaulted the counterfcarp, where they met with prodigious oppo- fition from the fire of the befieged, Neverthelefs, being fuffained by the Dutch, they made a lodge- ment t 256 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. jS o o K ment on the foremoft covered-way before the gate ^ . of St. Nicholas, as alfo upon part of the counter- »69S» gtiard. The valour of the affailants on this occafion was altogether unprecedented, and almoft incredible ; while, on the other hand, the courage of the belieged was worthy of praife and admiration. Several per- fons were killed in the trenches at the fide of the King, and among thefe Mr. Godfrey, deputy- governor of the Bank of England, who had come to the camp, to confer with his Majefly about re- mitting money for the payment of the army. On the thirtieth day of J uly the Eleftor of Bavaria at- tacked Vauban’s line that furrounded the works of the caftle. General Coehorn was prefent in this a6i:ion, which was performed v/ith equal valour and fuccefs. They not only broke the line, but even took pofTeffion of Coehorn’s fort, in which, however, they found it impoffible to effect a lodgement. On the fecond day of Auguft, Lord Cutts, with four hundred Englifh and Dutch grenadiers, attacked the faillant- angle of a demi-baftion, and lodged himfeif on the fecond counterfcarp. The breaches being now pradlicable, and preparations made for a ge- neral affault. Count Guifcard, the governor, capi- tulated for the town on the fourth of Auguft ; and the French retired into the citadel, againft which twelve batteries played, upon the thirteenth. The trenches, mean while, were carried on with great ex- pedition, notwithftanding all the efforts of the befieged, who fired without ceafing, and exerted amazing diligence and intrepidity in defending and repairing the damage they fuftained. At length, the annoyance became fo dreadful from the uninter- mitting fliowers of bombs and red-hot bullets, that Boufflers, after having made divers furious (allies, formed a fcheme for iDreaking through the confede- rate camp with his cavalry. This, however, was pre- vented by the extreme vigilance of King William. 3 ^ XV. % WILLIAM. 257 § XV. After the bombardment of Brufiels, "Ville- chap, roy being reinforced with ail the troops that could ^ be drafted from garrifons, advanced towards Namur, with an army of ninety thoufand men ; and Prince Vaudemont being joined by the Prince of Hefie, with a ftrong body of forces from the Rhine, took pofTeffion of the ftrong camp at Mafy, within five Englifh miles of the befieging armiy. The King, underftanding that the enemy had reached Fleurus, where they difcharged ninety pieces of cannon, as a fignal to inform the garrifon of their approach, left the conduct of the fiege to the Eleftor of Bavaria, and took upon himfelf the command of the covering army, in order to oppofe Villeroy, who being further reinforced by a detachment from Germany, declared, that he would hazard a battle for the relief of Na- mur. But, when he viewed the pofture of the allies near Mafy, he changed his refolution, and retired in the night without noife. On the thirtieth day of Auguft, the befieged were fummoned to furrender, by Count Horn, who, in a parley with the Count de Liamont, general of the French infantry, gave him to underftand, that Marefchal Villeroy had retired towards the Mehaigne ; fo that the garrifon could not exped to be relieved. No immediate anfwer being returned to this meftage, the parley was broke off, and the King refolved to proceed without delay to a general aflault, which he had already planned with the Eleelor and his other generals. Between one and two in the afternoon. Lord Cutts, who de- llred the command, though it was not his turn of duty, rulhed out of the trenches of the fecond line, at the head of three hundred grenadiers, to make a lodgment in the breach of Terra-nova, fupported by the regiments of Coulthorp, Buchan, Hamilton, and Mackay ; while Colonel Marfelly, with a body of Dutch, the Bavarians, and Brandenburghers, at- tacked at two other places. The aflaiiants met with inch a warm reception, that the Englifh grenadiers Yoi, I. S were HISTORY OF ENGLAND. were repulfed, even after they had mounted the breach, Lord Cutts being for fome time difabled by a fliot in the head. Marfelly was defeated, taken, and afterwards killed by a cannon-ball from the bat- teries of the befiegers. The Bavarians, by miftaking their way, were expofed to a terrible fire, by which their general. Count Rivera, and a great number of their officers were flain: neverthelefs, they fixed themfelves on the outward entrenchment, on the point of the Coehorn next to the Sambre, and main- tained their ground with amazing fortitude. Lord Cutts, when his w^ound was dreffed, returned to the fcene of aftion, and ordered two hundred chofen men of Mackay’s regiment, commanded by Lieute- nant Cockle, to attack the face of the faillant- angle next to the breach, fword in hand, while the enfigns of the fame regiment fliould advance, and plant their colours on the pallifadoes. Cockle and his de- tachment executed the command he had received with admirable intrepidity. They broke through the pallifadoes, drove the French from the covered-way, made a lodgement in one of the batteries, and turned the cannon againft the enemy. The Bava- rians being thus fullained, made their poft good. The Major-generals La Cave and Schwerin lodged themfelves at the fame time on the covered-way; and though the general affault did not fucceed in its full extent, the confederates remained mailers of a v'ery confiderable lodgement, nearly an Englifh mile in length. Yet this was dearly purchafed with the lives of two thoufand men, including many officers of great rank and reputation. During the adion the Eledlor of Bavaria fignalized his courage in a very remarkable manner, riding from place to place through the hottefl of the fire, giving his direftions with notable prefence of mind, according to the emergency of circumflances, animating the officers with praife and promife of preferment, and diftri- buting handfuls of gold among the private foldiers. § XVI. WILLIAM AND MARY. ^XVI. On the firft day of September, the befieged c having obtained a ceffation of arms, that their dead ^ might be buried, the Count de Guifcard appearing on the breach, defired to fpeak with the Eleftor of Bavaria. His Highnefs immediately mounting the breach, the French governor offered to furrender the fort of Coehorn ; but was given to underftand, that if he intended to capitulate, he muft treat for the whole. This reply being communicated to Boufflers, he agreed to the propofai: the ceffation was pro- longed, and that very evening the capitulation was finiflied. Villeroy, who lay encamped at Gembloir s, was no fooner apprifed of this event, by a triple dif- cliarge of all the artillery, and a running fire along the lines of the confederate army, than he paffed the Sambre near Charleroy, with great precipitation; and having reinforced the garrifon of Dinant, re- treated towards the lines in the neighbourhood of Mons. On the fifth day of September, the French garrifon, which was now reduced from fifteen to five thoufand five hundred men, evacuated the citadel of Namur. Boufflers, in marching out, was arrefted in the name of his Britannick Majefty, by way of reprifal for the garrifons of Dixmuyde and Deynfe, which the French King had detained, contrary to the cartel fubfifting between the two nations. The Marefchal was not a little difcompofed at this unex- pe6led incident, and expoflulated warmly with Mr. Dyckvelt, who affured him the King of Great- Britain entertained a profound refpedl for his perfon and characler. William even offered to fet him at liberty, provided he would pafs his word that the garrifons of Dixmuyde and Deynfe fhould be fent back, or that he himfelf would return in a fortnight. He faid, that he could not enter into any fuch en- gagement, as he did not know his Mafter’s reafons tor detaining the garrifons in queflion. He was, therefore, reconveyed to Namur; from thence re- moved to Maeftricht, and treated with great reve- S 2 ^ rence 259 H A P. V. 1695, 26o history of ENGLAND. BOOK rence and refpe£l, till the return of an officer whom ^ , he had dilpatched to Verfailles with an account of 1^95* captivity. Then he engaged his word, that the garrifons of Dixmuyde and Deynfe ffiould be fent back to the allied army. He was immediately re- leafed, and condudled in fafety to Dinant. When he repaired to Verfailles, Louis received him with very extraordinary marks of efteem and affe 6 lion. He embraced him in publick with the warmeft ex- preffions of regard; declared himfelf perfedlly-well iatisfied with his condu 6 t ; created him a duke and peer of France ; and prefented him with a very large fum, in acknowledgement of his fignal fer- vices. § XVII. After the reduftion of Namur, which greatly enhanced the military charafter of King William, he retired to his houfe at Loo, which :^as his favourite place of refidence, leaving the command to the Ele£l;or of Bavaria; and about the latter end of September both armies began to fe- parate. The French forces retired within their lines. A good number of the allied troops were diftri- buted in different garrifons ; and a ftrong detach- ment marched towards Newport, under the com- mand of the Prince of Wirtemberg, for the fecurity of that place. Thus ended the campaign in the Netherlands. On the Rhine nothing of moment was attempted by either army. The Marefchal de Lorges, in the beginning of June, paffed the Rhine at Philipfburgh ; and polling himfelf at Bruckfal, fent out parties to ravage the country. On the eleventh of the fame month, the Prince of Baden joined the German army at Steppach, and on the eighth of July was rdnforced by the troops of the other German confederates, in the neighbourhood of Wifelock. On the nineteenth, the French re- tired without noife, in the night, towards Manheim, where they repaffed the river, without any inter- ruption from the Imperial general: then he fent WILLIAM. off a large detachment to Flanders. The fame ftep ^ v/as taken by the Prince of Baden; and each army lay ina6tive in their quarters for the remaining part of the campaign. The command of the Germans in Hungary was conferred upon the Ele6lor of Saxony: but the court of Vienna was fo dilatory in their preparations, that he was not in a condi- tion to a(ff till the middle of Auguft. Lord Paget had been fent ambaffador from* England to the Ot- toman Porte, with infi:ru6tions relating to a paci- fication; but before he could obtain an audience, the Sultan died, and was fucceeded by his nephew, Muftapha, who refolved to profecute the war in perfon. The warlike genius of this new Emperor afforded but an uncomfortable profpeft to his people, conhdering that Peter, the Czar of Mufcovy, had taken the opportunity of the war in Hungary, to invade the Crimea, and befiege Azoph : fo that the T artars were too much employed at home to fpare the fuccours which the Sultan demanded. Never- thelefs, Muftapha and his Vifir took the field before the Imperialifts could commence the operations of the campaign, paffed the Danube, took Lippa and Titul by affault, ftormed the camp of General Ve- teran!, who was pofted at Lugos with feven thou- fand men, andwFo loft his life in the action. The infantry were cut to pieces, after having made a def- perate defence: but the horfe retreated to Caroii- febes, under the condiiT of General Trufches. The Turks, after this exploit, retired to Orfowa. Their navy, mean while, furprifed the Venetian fleet at Scio, where feveral Ihips of the Republick were deftroyed, and they recovered that ifland, which the Venetians thought proper to abandon : but, in order to balance this misfortune, thefe laft obtained a complete vidlory over the Bafhaw of Negropont in the Morea. § XVIII. The French King ftill maintained a fecret negociation with the Duke of Savoy, whofe S 3 conduct l6t HAP. V. V ^ 1695. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. book condudl had been for fome tinne myfterious and . I* ^equivocal. Contrary to the opinion of his allies, he undertook the fiege of Cafal, which was counted one of the ftrongeft fortifications in Europe, de- fended by a numerous garrifon, abundantly fupplied with ammunition and provifion. The fiege was be- gun about the middle of May ; and the place was furrendered by capitulation in about fourteen days, to the aftonifhment of the confederates, who did not know that this was a facrifice by which the French court obtained the Duke’s forbearance during the remaining part of the campaign. The capitu- lation imported, That the place fhould be reftored to the Duke of Mantua, who was the rightful pro- prietor : That the fortifications fhould be demolifhed at the expence of the allies : That the garrifon fhould remain in the fort till that work fhould be completed : and hoftages were exchanged for the performance of thefe conditions. The Duke under- flood the art of procraftination fo well, that Sep- tember was far advanced before the place was wholly difmanded j and then he was feifed with an ague, which obliged him to quit the army. § XIX. In Catalonia the French could hardly maintain the footing they had gained. Admiral Ruflel, who wintered at Cadiz, was created admi- ral, chief- commander, and captain-general of all his Majefty’s fhips employed, or to be employed in the Narrow-Seas, and in the Mediterranean. He was reinforced by four thoufand five hundred fol- diers, under the command of Brigadier-General Stewart ; and feven thoufand men, Imperialifts as well as Spaniards, were drafted from Italy, for the defence of Catalonia. Thefe forces were tranfported to Barcelona, under the conduftof Admiral Nevil, detached by Ruflel for that purpofe. The affairs of Catalonia had already changed their afpedt. Se- veral French parties had been defeated. The Spa- niards had blocked up Oft alric and Caftel-Follit : Noailles WILLIAM. Noailles had been recalled, and the command de- CHAP volved to the Duke de Vendome, who no fooner , . underftood that the forces from Italy were landed, ,5^^. than he difmantled Oftalric and Caftel-Follit, and retired to Palamos. The Viceroy of Catalonia, and the Englifh admiral having refolved to give battle to the enemy, and reduce Palamos, the Englifh troops were landed on the ninth day of Auguft, and the allied army advanced to Palamos. The French ap- peared in order of battle : but the Viceroy decli- ned an engagement. Far from attacking the ene- my, he withdrew his forces, and the town was bom- barded by the admiral. The mifcarriage of this ex- pedition was in a great meafure owing to a mifun- derftanding between Ruffel and the Court of Spain. The Admiral complained that his Catholick Majef- ty had made no preparations for the campaign ; that he had neglc6ted to fulfil his engagements with refpeft to the Spanifh fquadron, which ought to have joined the fleets of England and Holland : that he had taken no care to provide tents and pro- vifion for the Britifh forces. On the twenty-fe- venth day of Auguft he failed for the coaft of Pro- vence, where the fleet was endangered by a terrible tempeft : then he fleered down the Straits, and to- wards the latter end of September arrived in the bay of Cadiz. There he left a number of lliips under the command of Sir David Mitchel, until he fliould be joined by Sir George Rooke, who was expe6led from England, and returned home with the reft of the combined fquadrons. § XX. While Admiral Ruffel afferted the Bri- tifh dominion in the Mediterranean, the French coafts were again infulted in the Channel by a fe- parate fleet, under the command of Lord Berkley of Stratton, affifted by the Dutch Admiral Alle- monde. On the fourth day of July they anchored before St. Maioes, which they bombarded from nine 'z 64 history of ENGLAND. BOOK nine ketches covered by fome frigates, which fuf- tained more damage than was done to the enemy. ^ fixth, Granville underwent the fame fate j and then the fleet returned to Portfmouth. The bomb-velfels being refitted, the fleet failed round to the Downs, where four hundred foldiers were embarked for an attempt upon Dunkirk, under the diredlion of Meefters the famous Dutch engineer, who had prepared his Infernals, and other machines for the fervice. On the firfl day of Augufl: the experiment was tried without fuccefs. The bombs did fome execution : but two fmoak fhips mifear- ried. The French had fecured the Rifbank and wooden forts with piles, bombs, chains, and float- ing batteries, in fuch a manner, that the machine - veflfels could not approach near enough to produce any effedl. Befides, the councils of the affailants were diflrafled by violent animofities. The Eng- lifh officers hated Meeflers, becaufe he was a Dutch- man, and had acquired fome credit with the King; he, on the other hand, treated them with difie- fpedt. He retired with his machines in the night, and refufed to co-operare with Lord Berkley in his defign upon Calais, which was now put in execu- tion. On the fixteenth he brought his batteries to bear upon this place, and fet fire to it in different quarters : but the eneiTiy had taken fuch precautions as rendered his fcheme abortive. § XXI. A fquadron had been fent to the Weft- Indies under the joint-command of Captain Robert Wilmot and Colonel Lilingfton, with twelve hun- dred land forces. They had infl:ru6tions to co-ope- rate with the Spaniards in Hifpaniola, againft the French fettlements on that ifland, and to deftroy their fifheries on the banks of Newfoundland, in their return. They were accordingly joined by fe- venteen hundred Spaniards raifed by the prefident of St. Domingo ; but inftead of proceeding againft Petit- WILLIAM. 265 Petk-Giiavas, according to the direftions they had CHAP, received, Wilmot took poffeffion of Port Francois, , , and plundered the country for his own private ad- vantage, notwithftanding the remonftrances of Li-r lingfton, who protefted againft his condud. In a word, the fea and land officers lived in a ftate of perpetual diffention ; and both became extremely difagreeable to the Spaniards, who foon renounced all connexion with them and their defigns. In the beginning of Septemxber the Commodore fet fail for England, and loft one of his ffiips in the gulf of Florida. Fie himfelf died in his paffage ; and the greater part of the men being fwept off by an epi- demical diftemper, the fquadron returned to Britain in a moft miferable condition. Notwithftanding the great efforts the nation had made to maintain fuch a number of different fquadrons for the pro- tedion of commerce, as well as to annoy the ene- my,' the trade buffered feverely from the French pri- vateers, which fwarmed in both channels, and made prize of many rich veffels. The Marquis of Caer- marthen, being ftationed with a fquadron off the the Scilly iftands, miftook a fleet of merchant (hips for the Breft fleet, and retired with precipitation to Milford-FIaven. In confequence of this retreat, the privateers took a good number of ffiips from Barbadoes, and five from the Eaft-Indies, valued at a million fterling. The merchants renewed their clamour againft the commiffioners of the Admiral- ty, who produced their orders and inftrudions in their own defence. The Marquis of Caermarthen - had been guilty of flagrant mifcondud on this occa- cafion: but the chief fource of thofe national cala- mities was the circumftantial intelligence tranfmit- ted to France from time to time, by the malcon- tents of England j for they were aduated by a fcan- dalous principle, which they ftill retain, namely, that of rejoicing in the diftrefs of their country. § XXIL HISTORY OF ENGLAND. § XXII. King William, after having confer- red with the States of Holland, and the Eleflor of Brandenburgh, who met hiin at the Hague, em- barked for England on the nineteenth day of Odo- ber, and arrived in fafety at Margate, from whence he proceeded to London, where he was received as a conqueror, amidft the rejoicings and acclama- tions of the people. On the fame day hefummoned a ^ council at Kenfington, in which it was deter- mined to convoke a new Parliament. While the nation was in good humour, it was fuppofed that they would return Rich members only as were well affedted to the government; whereas the prefent Parliament might proceed in its enquiries into cor- ruption and other grievances, and be the lefs in- fluenced by the crown, as their dependence was of fuch fliort duration. The Parliament was, therefore, diflblved by proclamation, and a new one fum- moned to meet at Weftminfter on the twenty-fe- cond day of November. While the whole nation was occupied in the eledlions, William, by the ad- vice of his confidents, laid his own diipofition un- der reftraint, in another effort to acquire popu- larity. He honoured the diverfions of Newmarket with his prefence, and there recieved a compliment of congratulation from tire Univerfity of Cam- bridge. I'hen he vifited the Earls of Sunderland, Northampton, and Montague, at their different houfes in the country ; and proceeded with a fplen- did retinue to Lincoln, from whence he repaired to Welbeck, a feat belonging to the Duke of New- caftle inNottinghamfhire, where he was attended by Dr. Sharp, Archbifhop of York, and his clergy. He lodged one night v/ith Lord Brooke, at War- wick-caflle, dined with the Duke of Shrewfbury at Eyefort, and, by the way of Woodflock, made a folemn entry into Oxford, having been met at fome diftance from the city by the Duke of Ormond, as Chancellor of the Univerfity, the Vice-Chancellor, ■2 th(; W I L L I A M. 267 the do6lors in their habits, and the maglflrates in Chap. their formalities. He proceeded diredtly to tlie ^ theatre, where he was welcomed in an elegant La- tin fpeech : he received from the Chancellor on his knees, the ufiial prefents of a large Englifh Bible, and book of Common-Prayer, the cuts of the uni- verfity, and a pair of gold-fringe gloves. The con- duits ran with wine, and a magnificent banquet was prepared ; but an anonymous letter being found in the ftreet, importing, that there was a defign to poifon his Majefty, William refufed to eat or drink in Oxford, and retired immediately to Windfor. Notwithftanding this abrupt departure, which did not favour much of magnanimity, the Univerfity chofe Sir William Trumbal, Secretary of State, as one of their reprefentatives in parliament. § XXIII. The Whig-intereft generally prevailed in the elections, though many even of that party were malcontents j and when the Parliament met, Foley was again chofen Speaker of ^the Commons. The King, in his firft fpeech, extolled the valour of the Englifh forces ; exprelTed his concern at be- ing obliged to demand fuch large fupplies from his people ; obferved, that the funds had proved very deficient, and the civil lift was in a precarious con- dition ; recommended to their compaffion the mife- rable fituation of the French Proteftants : took no- tice of the bad ftate of the coin j defired they would form a good bill for the encouragement and increafe of feamen ; and contrive laws for the ad- vancement of commerce. He mentioned the great preparations which the French were making for taking the field early ; intreated them to ufe dif- patch 5 exprefled his fatisfadcion at the choice which his people had made of their reprefentatives in the Houfe of Commons ; and exhorted them to pro- ceed with temper and unanimity. Though the two Houfes prefented addreftes of congratulation to the King upon his late luccefs, and promifpd to affift ^68 , BOOK I. K. — ^r— J 1695. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. him in profecnting the war with vigour, the na- tion loudly exclaimed againft the intolerable bui-- thens and lofTes to which they were fubjedied, by a foreign Icheme of politicks, which, like an unfa- thomable abyfs, fwallowed up the wealth and blood of the kingdom. All the King’s endeavours to cover the difgufting fide of Lis character had proved ineltedual : he was ftill dry, referved, and forbid- ding : and the malcontents inveighed bitterly againft his behaviour to the Princefs Anne of Denmark. When the news of Namur’s being reduced arrived in England, this lady congratulated him ppon his fuccefs in a dutiful letter, to which he would not deign to fend a reply, either by writing or melTage ; nor had Ihe or her hufband been favoured with the flighteft mark of regard fince his return to Phigland. The members in the Lower-Houfe, who had adopted oppofing maxims, either from jn'inciple or refentment, refolved. That the Crown Ihould purchafe tlie fupplies with fome concelTion in favour ol the people. They therefore brought in the fo long contefted bill for regulating trials in cales of high-treafon, and mifprifion of treafon; and, confidering the critical iuncture of affairs, the courtiers v/ere afraid of obllrucling ilich a popular meafure. The Lords inferred a caufe, enacting, That a peer fhould be tried by the whole peerage; and the Commions at once affented to this amend- ment. The bill provided. That perfons indifted for high-treafon, or mifprifion of treafon, fnould be furnifhed with a copy of the indidlment five days before the trial 5 and indulged with council to plead in their defenfe; That no perfon Iffould be indidled but upon the oaths of two lawful witn6ffes fwearing to overt-adls; That in two or more diftindt treafons of divers kinds, alledged in one bill of indidlment, one witnefs to one, and another witnefs to another, fhould not be deemed two witneffes : That no perfon fhould be profecuted for any fuch crime, unlefs the indidlment W I L L I A M. 269 3ndi6lment be found within three years after the chap. offence committed, except in cafe of a defign or attempt to affaffinate or poifon the King, where this limitation fhould not take place : That perfons in- dicted for treafon, or mifprifion of treafon fhould be fupplied with copies of the pannel of the jurors, two days at leaft before the tryal, and have procefs to compel their witneffes to appear: That no evidence Ibould be admitted of any overt- a6l not exprefsiy laid in the indictment: That this aCt fliould not ex- tend to any impeachment, or other proceedings in Parliament ; nor to any indictment for counterfeit- ing his Majefty’s coin, his great-feal, privy-leal, fign-manual, or fignet. § XXIV. This important affair being difeuffed, the Commons proceeded to examine the accounts and eftimates, and voted above five millions for the fervice of the enfuing year. The ftate of the coin was by this time become fuch a national grie- vance as could not efcape the attention of Parlia- ment. The Lords prepared an addrefs to the throne, for a proclamation to put a flop to the cur- rency of diminifhed coin.; and to this they defired the concurrence of the Commons. The Lower- Houfe, however determined to take this affair under their own infpeClion. They appointed a committee of the whole Houfe, to deliberate on the ftate of the nation with refpeCt to the currency. Great oppofition was made to a recoinage, which was a meafure ftrenuoufly recommended and fup- ported by Mr. Montague, who aCted on this occa- lion by the advice of the great mathematician Sir Ifaac Newton. The enemies of this expedient ar- gued, that fhould the filver coin be called in, it would be impoffible to maintain the war abroad, or profecute foreign trade, in as much as the merchant could not pay his bills of exchange, nor the foldier receive his fubliftance : that a ftop would be put to all mutual payment ; and this would produce uni- verfal 1270 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK veifal confufion and delpair. Such a reformation could not be effected without fome danger and difficulty; but it was become abfolutely neceffiary, as the evil daily increafed, and in a little time mull have terminated in national anarchy. After long and vehement debates, the majority refolved to proceed with all poffible expedition to a new coinage. Another queftion arofe. Whether the new coin, in its different denominations, ffiould retaim the ori- ginal weight and purity of the old; or the efta- bliffied ftandard be raffed in value? The famous Locke engaged in this dilpute againft Mr. Lowndes, who propofed that the ftandard fhould be raifed: the arguments of Mr. Locke were fo convincing, that the committee refolved the eftablilhed ftandard fhould be prcferved with refpedl to weight and fine- nefs. They likewife refolved. That the lofs accru- ing to the revenue from clipped money, ftiould be bor'n by the publick. In order ' to prevent a total ftagnation, they further refolved. That after an appointed day, no clipped money fhould pafs in payment, except to the colledlors of the revenue and taxes, or upon loans or payment into the Exchequer : That, after another day to be appoint- ed, no clipped money of any fort fhould pafs in any payment whatfoever; and that a third day V fhould be fixed for all perfons to bring in their clipped money to be recoined, after which they lliould have no allowance upon what they mighty offer. They addreffed the King to iffue a procla- mation agreeably to thefe refolutions ; and, on the nineteenth day of December, it was publifhed ac- cordingly. Such were the fears of the people, augmented and inflamed by the enemies of the government, that all payment immediately ceafed, and a face of diftradtion appeared through the wohle community. The adverfaries of the bill feize this opportunity to aggravate the apprehenfions of the publick. They inveighed againft the miniftry, as W I L L I A M, as tlie authors of this national grievance ; they < levelled their fatire particularly at Montague ; and ^ It required uncommon fortitude and addrefs to avert the m.oil dangerous confcquences of popular difcontent. The Houfe of Commons agreed to the following refolutions. That twelve iiundred thoufand pounds fliould be raifed by a duty on glafs-windows, to make up the lofs on the clipped money: That the recompenfe for fupplylng the deficiency of clipped money fnould extend to all filver coin, though of a courfer alloy than the ftandard : That the colledors and receivers of his Majefty’s aids and revenues fliould be enjoined to receive all fuch monies: That a rew'ard of five per cent, fliould be given to all fuch perfons as fliould bring in either milled or broad undipped money, to be applied in exchange of the dipped money throughout the kingdom: That a reward of three pence per ounce fliould be given to all perfons who fliould bring in wrought plate to the mint to be coined: That perfons might pay in their whole next year’s land-tax in clipped money, at one conve- nient time to be appointed for that purpofe : That commiflioners fliould be appointed in every country, to pay and diftribute the milled and broad undipped money, and the new coined money in lieu of that which w^as diminiflied. A bill being prepared agreeably to thefe determinations, was fent up to the Houfe of Lords, who made fome amendments, which the Commons rejeded: but, in order to avoid cavils and conferences, they dropped the bill, and brought in another without the claufes which the Lords had inferred. They were again propofed in the Upper-Houfe, and over-ruled by the majority; and, on the twenty-firft day of Ja- nuary, the bill received the royal aflent, as did another bill, enlarging the time for purchafing annuities, and continuing the duties on low wines. At the fame time, tlie King pafled the bill of tryals N 'Z’Jl HAP. V. 272 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o K for high-treafon, and an a6l to prevent mercenary ^ elections. Divers merchants and traders petitioned ,6^^. the Houfe of Commons, that the lolTes in their • trade and payments, occafioned by the rife of guineas, might be taken into confideration. A bill was immediately brought in for taking olF the ob- ligation and encouragement for coining guineas, for a certain time : and then the Commons proceeded to lower the value of this coin ; a tafic in which they met with great oppofition from fome members, who alledged that it would foment the popular difturbances. At length, however, the majority agreed, that a guinea fhould be lowered from thirty to eight and twenty fhillings, and afterwards to fix and tw’enty : at length a claufe v/as inferted in the bill for encouraging people to bring plate to the mint, fettling the price of a guinea at two and twenty fliillings, and it naturally funk to its original value of twenty fhillings and fix-pence. Many perfons, however, fuppofed that the price of gold would be raifed the next feffion, hoarded up their guineas; and, upon the fame fuppofition, encou- raged by the malcontents, the new coined filver money was referved, to the great detriment of com- merce. I'he King ordered mints to be erected in York, Briftol, Exeter, and C heller, for the purpofe of the recoinage, which was executed with unex- pected fuccefs ; lb that in lefs than a year, the cur- rency of England which had been the worft, became the belt coin in Europe. § XXV. At this period the attention of the Com- mons was diverted to an objedl of a more private nature. The Earl of Portland, who enjoyed the greateft fhare of the King’s favour, had obtained a grant of fome lordfhips in Derbyfliire. While the warrant was depending, the gentlemen of that county refolved to oppofe it with all their power. In confequence of a petition, they were indulged with a hearing by the Lords of the Treafury. Sir William WILLIAM. William Williams, m the name of the reft, alledg- ed, that the lordiliips in queftion were die ancient demefnes of the Prince of Wales, abfolutely una- lienable : that the revenues of thofe lordfliips fup- ported the government of Wales, in paying the judges and other falaries : that the grant was of too large an extent for any foreign fubjedt; and that the people of the county were too great to be fubject to any foreigner. Sundry other fubftantial reafons were ufed againft the grant, which, notwithftanding all their rcmomftrances, would have palled through the offices, had not the W elch gentlemen addreiTed themfelyes by petition to the Houfe of Commons. Upon this occafion, Mr. Price, a member 6f the Houfe, harangued with great feverity againft the Dutch in general, and did not even abftain from farcafms upon the King’s perfoni title, and govern- ment. The objedions ftarted by the petitioners being duly conlidered, were found fo reafonable, that the Commons prefented an addrefs to the King, reprefenting. That thofe manotirs had been ufually annexed to the principality of Wales, and fettled on the Princes of Wales for their fupport : That many perfons in diofe parts held their eftates by royal tenure, under great and valuable compofitions, rents, royal payments, and fervices to the crown and Princes of Wales; and enjoyed great privileges and advantages under fuch tenure. They, therefore, befought his Majefty to recall the grant, which v/as in diminution of the honour and intereft of the crown; and prayed, that the faid manours and lands might not be alienated without the confent of Parliament. Tliis addrefs met with a cold recep- tion from the King, who promifed to recall the grant which had given fuch offence to the Com- mons; and faid he would find fome other way of jliowing his favour to the Piari of Portland. § XXVI. The people in general entertained a national averfion to this nobleman : the malcontents VoL. I. T inculcated 274 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK inculcated a notion that he made ufe of his interell: . and intelligence to injure the trade of England, that J655. the commerce of his own country might flouriOi without competition. To his fuggeflions they im- puted the a6l and patent in favour of the Scottifli company, which was fuppofed to have been thrown in as a bone of contention between the two king- doms. The fubjeCL was firfl: ftarted in the Houfe of Lords, who invited the Commons to a confe- rence ; a committee was appointed to examine into the particulars of the adt for eredting the Scottilh ' company ; and the two Houfes prefented a joint ad- clrefs againft it, as a fcheme that would prejudice all the fubjedls concerned in the wealth and trade of the Englilli nation. They reprefented, that, in confequence of the exemption from taxes, and other advantages granted to the Scottilh company, that kingdom would become a free port for all Eaft and Wed: India commodities : that the Scots would be enabled to fupply all Europe at a cheaper rate than the Englidi could afford to fell their merchandife for ; therefore, England would lofe the benefit of its foreign trade : befides, they obferved that the Scots would fmuggle their commodities into England, to the great detriment of his Majefty and his cuftoms. To this remonftrance the King replied. That he had been ill ferved in Scotland ; but that he hoped fome remedies would be found to prevent the in- conveniences of which they were apprehenfive. In all probability he had been impofed upon by the miniftry of that kingdom y for, in a little time, he difcarded the Marquis ofTweedale, and difmiffed both the Scottilh fecretaries of ftate, in lieu of whom he appointed Lord Murray, Ibn to the Marquis of Athol. Notwithftanding the King’s anfwer, the committee proceeded on the enquiry, and, in confequence of their report, confirming a petition from the Eaft-India Company, the Houfe relblved. That the diredtors of the Scottilh company wets WILLIAM. were guilty of a high crime and mifdemeanour, in adminiftering and taking an oath de fideli in this kingdom ; and that they fhould be impeached for the fame. Mean while, Roderick Mackenzie, from whom they had received their chief information, began to retracf his evidence, and was ordered into cuilody ; but he made his efcape, and could not be retaken, although the King, at their requeft, iffued a proclamation for that purpofe. The Scots were extremely incenfed againft the King, when they un- derflood he had difowned their company^ from which they had promifed themfelves fuch wealth and advantage. The fettlement of Darien was ak ready planned, and afterwards put in execution though it mifcarried in the fequel, and had like to have produced abundance of mifchief. § XXVII. The complaints of the Englifh mer- chants who had fuffered by the war were fo loud at this junflure, that the Commons refolved to take their cafe into confideration. The Houfe refolved itfelf into a committee to confider the ftate of the nation with regard to commerce, and having duly weighed all circumflances, agreed to the following refolu- tions : That a council of Trade fhould be eflabliflred by a6l of Parliament, with powers to take meafures for the more efFe6lual prefervation of commerce : That the commiffioners fhould be nominated by Parliament, but none of them have feats in tlie Houfe : That they fhould take an oath, acknow- ledging the title of King William as rightful and lawful; and abjuring the pretenfions of James, or any other perfon. The King confidered thefe refo- lutions as an open attack upon his prerogative, and fignified his difpleafure to the Earl of Sunderland, who patronifed this meafure : but it was fo popular in the Houfe, that in all probability it would have been put in execution, had not the attention of the Commons been diverted from it at this period by the detedion of a new confpiracy. The friends of T 2 King CHAP* \ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK King J ames had, upon the death of Queen Mar}^> renewed their pradlices for effe 6 ling a reftoration of 1 5^^, that monarch, on the fuppofition that the interefl of William was confiderably weakened by the deceafe of his confort. Certain individuals, whofe zeal for James overfhot their difcretion, formed a defigii to feize the perfon of King William, and convey him to France, or put him to death in cafe of refiftance. They had fent emiffaries to the court of St. Ger- main’s, to demand a commilTion for this purpofe, which was refufed. The Earl of Aylefbury, Lord Montgomery fon to the Marquis of Powis, Sir John Fenwick, Sir John Friend, Captain Charnock, Captain Porter, and one Mr. Goodman, were the hrft contrivers of this projedt. Charnock was de- tached with a propofal to James, that he dioiild procure a body of horfe and foot from France, to make a defcent in England, and they would engage not only to join him at his landing, but even to replace him on the throne of England. Thefe offers being declined by James, on pretence that the French King could not fpare fuch a number of troops at that jundtiire, the Earl of Aylefbury went over in perfon, and was admitted to a conference witli Louis, in which the fcheme of an invafion was aclually concerted. In the beginning of February, the Duke ’of Berwick repaired privately to England, where he conferred with the confpirators, alliired them that King James was ready to make a defcent with a confiderable number of French forces, diftri- huted commiffions, and gave directions for provi- ding men, arms, and horfes, to join him at his arrival. When he returned to France, he found every thing prepared for the expedition. The troops were drawn down to the fea-fide : a great number of tranfports were affembled at Dunkirk: Monfieur Gabaret had advanced as far as Calais with a fqua- dron of ffips, which, when joined by that of Du Bart at Dunkirk, was judged a fufficient convoy; and WILLIAM. 277 and James had come as far as Calais in his way to c H AP. embark. Mean while, the Jacobites in England were alTiduoufly employed in making preparations "“Tly for a revolt. Sir John Friend had very nearly com- pleted a regiment of horfe. Confiderable progrefs was made in levying another by Sir William Per- kins. Sir John Fenwick had inlifled four troops. Colonel Tempeft had undertaken for one regiment of dragoons : Colonel Parker was preferred to the command of another : Mr. Curzon was commiffion- ed for a third ; and the malcontents intented to raife a fourth in Suffolk, where their interefl chiefly pre- vailed. § XXVIII. While one part of the Jacobites pro- ceeded againfl William in the ufual way of exciting an infurredtion, another, confifting of the moft def- perate confpirators, had formed a fcheme of affaffma- tion. Sir George Barclay, a native of Scotland, who had ferved as an officer in the army of James, a man of undaunted courage, a furious bigot in the religion of Rome, yet clofe, circumfpedt, and de- termined, was landed, with other officers, in Rom- ney-marlh, by one Captain Gill, about the begin- ning of January, and is faid to have undertaken the talk of feizing or alfaffinating King William. Fie imparted his defign to Harrifon, alias Johnflon a prieft, Charnock, Porter, and Sir William Perkins, by whom it was approved ; and he pretended to have a particular commiffion for this fervice. After various confultations^- they refolved to attack the King on his return from Richmond, where he com- monly hunted on Saturdays ; and the feene of their intended ambufeade was a lane between Brentford and Turnham- green. As it would be neceffary to charge and difperfe the guards that attended the coach, they agreed that their number ffiould be increafed to forty horfemen, and each confpirator began to engage proper perfons for the enterprife. When their complement was full, they determined T 3 ' tQ In HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Book to execute their purpofe on the fifteenth day of ^ . February. They concerted the manner in which ,695. they fhculd meet in fmall parties without fufpicion, and waited with impatience for the hour of adion. In this interval, fome of the underling aclors, feized with hon our at the refledlion of what they had un- dertaken, or captivated with the profpecl of reward, refolved to prevent the execution of the defign by a timely difcovery. On the eleventh day of Febru- ary, one Fifher, informed the Earl of Portland of the fcbcme, and named fome of the confpirators ; but his account was imperfed. On the thirteenth, how- ever, he returned with a circumflantial detail of all the particulars. Next day, the Earl was accofted by one Pendergrafs, an Irifh officer, who told his lordffiip he had juft come from Flampfliire, at the requeft of a particular friend, and underftood that he had been called up to town with a view of enga- ging him in a defign to aftaffinate King William. He faid, he had promifed to embark in the under- taking, though he detefted it in his own mind, and took this firft opportunity of revealing the fecret, which was of fuch confequence to his Majefty’s life. He owned himfelf a Roman catholick, but declared, that he did not think any religion could juftify fuch a treacherous purpofe. At the Erne time he obferved, that as he lay under obligations to 'fome of the confpirators, his honour and grati- tude would not permit him to accufe them by name; and that he would upon no confideration appear as an evidence. The King had been fo much ufed to fictitious plots, and falfe difcoveries, that he paid little regard to thefe informations, until they were confirmed by the teftimony of another confpirator called La Rue, a Frenchman, who communicated the fame particulars to Brigadier Levifon, w'ithout knowing the leaft circumftance of the other difco- veries. Then the King believed there was fome- thing real in the conlpiracyj and Pendergrafs and WILLIAM. 279 La Rue were feverallv examined in his prefence. c H A P. He thanked Pendergrafs in particular for this in- ^ ftance of his probity; but obferved, that it mull prove ineffeflual, unlefs he would difcover the names of the confpirators ; for, without knowing who they were, he lliouid not be able to fecure his life againll: their attempts. At length Pendergrafs was prevai'cd upon to give a lid: of thofe he knew, yet not before the King had folemnly promifed that he Hioui .1 not be ufed as an evidence againft them, except with his own confent. As the King did not go CO Richmond on the day appointed, the confpi- rators podponed the execution of their defign till the Saturday following. They accordingly met at different houfes on the Frida}^, when every man received his inftrudioiis. There they agreed, that after the prepetration of the parricide, they fhould ride in a body as far as Hammerfmith, and then difperfmg, enter London by different avenues. But, on the morning, when they underffood that the guards were returned to their quarters, and the K ing’s coaches fent back to the Mews, they were feized v.hth a fudden damp, on the fuppofition that their plot was difcovered. Sir George Barclay with- drew himfelf, and every one began to think of pro- viding for his own fafety. Next night, however, a great number of them were apprehended, and then the whole difcovery was communicated to the Privy Council. A proclamation was iffued againft thofe that abfconded ; and great diligence was ufed to find Sir George Barclay, who was fuppofed to have a par- ticular commiffion from James for affiffinating the Prince of Orange ; but he made good his retreat, and it was never proved that any fuch commiffion had been granted. § XXIX. This defign and the projected invafion proved equally abortive. James had fcarce reached Calais, w’hen the Duke of Wirtemberg difpatched his aid-dc-camp from Flanders to King William, T 4 ' with 5^0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK with an account of the purpofed defcent. Expreffe^j ^ ^ v/ith the fame tidings arrived from the Elector of 169'r. Bavaria and the Prince deVaudemont. Two confi- derable fqiiadrons being ready for fea, Admiral Ruffel embarked at Splthead, and Rood over to the French coaft with above fifty fail of the line. The enemy were confounded at his ajppearance, and hanled in their vefTeis under the Ihore, in fuch fhallow. water that he could not follow and deftroy them : but he abfolutely ruined their defign, by cooping them up in their harbours. King James, after having tarried feme weeks at Calais, returned to St.- Germain’s. The forces were fent back to the garrifons from which they had been drafted : the people of France Exclaimed, that the malignant ftar which ruled the deftiny of James had blafted this, and every other projedt formed for his reftoration.' 'By means of the reward offered in the proclamation, the greater part of' the confpirators were betrayed or taken. George 4H arris, wl 10 had been fent from France, with orders' TO ob'E/ Sir George Barclay, furrendered himfelf to' Sir William’Trumball, and confeffed the fcheme of 'afTafTmatioh in which he had been engaged. Porter and Pendergrafs were* apprehended together. The laft inhfted upon the King’s promife, that he fhould not be compelled to give evidence j but, when Por-’ ter owned himfelf guilty^ the other obferved, he was ho longer bound to be filent, as his friend had' made a confeiTion; and they were ^ both admitted' as evi- dences for the crown. § XXX. ‘After their examination, t]ie King, in a fpeech to both IToufes, communicated the nature of. the confpiracy againft his life, as well as the advices he had received' touching the invafion : he explained the ffeps lie had taken to defeat the double defign,* and profeffed his confidence in their readinefs and yeal to 'concur with him in every thing that fhould appear necefTary for their common fafety. That .fame evening the twoHoufes waited upon him at ' ‘ .. ' ■ ■ ‘ Kenfing- 4 W I L L I A M. ^8f Kenfington, in a body, wkh an afFedlionate addrefs, C H AP. by which they exprelTed their abhorrence of the vii- , lainous and barbarous defign which had been formed ^ 1695. againfh his facred perfon, of which they befought him to take more than ordinary care. They aflurecl him they would to their utmoft defend his life, and fapport his government againft the late King James, and all other enemies j and declared, that, in cafe his Majelly fhould come to a violent death, they would revenge it upon his adverfaries and their adherents. He was extremely well pleafed with this warm ad- drefs, and alTured them, in his turn, he would take all opportunities of recommending himfelf to the continuance of their loyalty and affedlion. The Commons forthwith empowered him, by bill, to fe- cure all perfons fufpedled of confpiring againft his perfon and government. They brought in another, providing. That, in cafe of his Majefty’s death, the Parliament then in being fliould continue until dif- folved by the next heir in fucceffion to the crown, eftabliflied by act of Parliament : That if his Majefty iliouid chance to die between two Parliaments, that wliich had been laft diifolved fhould immediately re- aflemble, and fit for the difpatch of national affairs. They voted an addrefs, to defire. That his Majefty would banifli by proclamation, allPapifts to the dis- tance of ten miles from the cities of London and Weftminfter; and give inftruCtions to the Judges going on the circuits, to put the laws in execution againft Roman-Catholicks and Nonjurors. .They drew up an aflbciation, binding themfelves to affift each other in fupport of the King and his govern- ment, and to revenge any violence that fhould be committed on his perfon. This was figned by all the members then prefent ; but, as fome had abfented themfelves on frivolous pretences, the Houfe or- dered, That in fixteen days the abfentces fhould either fubferibe, or declare their refufal. Several members neglecting to comply with this injunction ' - - within 282 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Book within the limited time, the Speaker was ordered to write to thofe who were in the country, and demand 1695. ^ peremptory anfwerj and the Clerk of the Houfe attended fnch as pretended to be ill in town. The abfentees, finding themfelves preffed in this manner, thought proper to fail v/ith the ftream, and fign the afTociation, which was prefented to the King by the Commons in a body, with a requeft, that it might be lodged among the records in the Tower, as a per- ' petual memorial of their loyalty and alfedfion. The King received them with uncommon complacency ; declared, that he heartily entered into the fame affo- elation ; that he fliould be always ready to venture Ills life with his good fubjedfs, againft all who fliould endeavour to fubvert the religion, laws, and liber- ties of England ; and he promifed that this, and all other affociations, fhould be lodged among the re- cords in the Tower of London. Next day the Com- mons refolved, That whoever fliould affirm an affo- ciation was illegal fliould be deemed a promoter of the defigns of the late King James, and an enemy to the laws and liberties of the kingdom. The Lords O followed the example of the I.ower Houfe in draw- ing up an afTociation; but the Earl of Nottingham, Sir Edward Seymour, and Mr. Finch, objedted to the words Rightful and Lawful, as applied to his Majefly. They faid, as the crown and its preroga- tives were vefled in him, they w’ould yield obedience, though they could not acknowledge him as their rightful and lawful King. Nothing could be more abfurd than this difiindtion, ftarted by men who had aclually conflituted part of the adminiffration ; un- lefs they fuppofed that the right of King William expired widi Queen Mary. The Earl of Rochefler propofed an expedient in favour of fuch tender con- fciences, by altering the words that gave offence ; and this was adopted accordingly. Fifteen of the Peers, and ninety-two Commoners, figned the affo- ciation WILLIAM. 283 elation with reluctance. It was, how^ever, fubfenbed c H A P. by all forts of people in different parts of the king- . ^ dom; and the Bifliops drew up a form for the Cier- gy, which was figned by a great majority. The Eumet. Commons brought in a bill, declaring all men in- capable of public truft, or of fitting in Parliament, Tm reftore his fovereign, and make him one of the greatcft men in England. Rookwood alledged, he was en- gaged by his immediate commander, whom he thought it was his duty to obey, though the fervice was much againft his judgement and inclination. Tie profefled his abhorrence of treachery even to an enemy. He forgave all mankind, even the Prince of Orange, v/ho^ as a foldier, he faid, ought to have confidered his cafe before he figiied his death war- rant : he prayed God would open his eyes, and ren- der him fenfible of the blood that was from all parts crying againft him, fo as he might avert a heavier execution than that which he now ordered to be in- flidted. The next perfon brought to trial, was Mr. Cooke, fon of Sir Miles Cooke, one of the fix clerks in Chancery. Porter and Goodm.an depofed, that he had been prefent at two meetings .at the King’s-head tavern in Leadenhall-ftreet, with the Lords Aylefbury and Montgomery, Sir William Perkins, Sir John Fenwick, Sir John Friend, Charnock, and Porter. The evidence of Goodman was invalidated by the teftimony of the landlord and two drawers belonging to the tavern, who fwore that Goodman was not there while the noblemen were prefent. The prifoner himfdf folemnly protefted that he v/as ever averfe to the introduction of foreign forces : that he did not fo much as hear of the in- tended invafion, until it became the common topick of converfation ; and that he had never feen Good- man at the King’s-head. Fie declared his inten- tion of receiving the blelfed facrament, and wiflied he might perifli in the inftant, if he now fpoke iiii- micli. No refpect was paid to thefe alTeverations, I'he W T L L I A M, The SolUcitor-General Hawles, and Lord Chief- book J uftice Treby, treated him with great feverity in the j profecution and charge to the jury, by whom he was "*1696. capitally convi6led. After his condemnation the court-agents tampered with him to make further difcoveries; and after his fate had been protra6led by divers fhort reprieves, he was fent into banifh- ment. From the whole tenour of thefe difcoveries and proceedings, it appears that James had a6lu ally meditated an invafion : that his partifans in England had made preparations for joining him on his arri- val j that a few defperadoes of that fadlion had con- certed a fcheme againft the life of King William : that in profecuting the confpirators, the court had countenanced informers : that the judges had ftrained the law, wrefted circumftances, and even deviated from the fun6lion of their office, to convidt the pri- foners ; in a word, that the adminiftration had ufed the fame arbitrary and unfair practices againfl thofe unhappy people, which they themfelves had in tjie late reigns numbered among the grievances of the kingdom. § XXXIII. The warmth, however, manifeited on this occafion m.ay have been owing to national refentment of the purpofed invafion. Certain it is, the two Houfes of Parliament, and the people in general, were animated v/ith extraordinary indigna- tion againfl France at this jun6lure. The L/irds befought his Majefly, in a folemn addrefs, to ap- point a day of thankfgiving to Almighty God, for having defeated the barbarous purpofe of his ene- mies ; and this was obferved with uncommon zeal and devotion. Admiral Ruffiel, leaving a fquadron for obfervation on the French coaft, returned to the Downs : but Sir Cioudefly Shovel, being properly prepared for the expedition, fubjedted Calais to ano- ther bombardment, by which the town was let on fire in different parts, and the inhabitants were over- whelmed with conflernation. I'he generals of the VoL. I, TJ allied 290 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK allied army in Flanders refolved to make fome im- ^ . i mediate retaliation upon the French for their unman-' 169(5. ly defign upon the life of King William, as they took it for granted that Louis was acceilary to the fcheme of affafiination. That monarch, on the fup- pofition that a powerful diverfion would be made by the defcent on Englar.d, had eftabliflaed a vaft ma- gazine at Givet, defigning, when the allies diould be enfeebled by the abience of the Britifli troops, to ftrike fome ftroke of importance early in the cam- paign. On this the confederates now determined to wreak their vengeance. In the beginning of March the F.arl of Athlone and Moniieur de Coehorn, with the concurrence of the Duke of Holftein-Ploen, who commanded the allies, fent a flrong detachment of horfe, drafted from Briiffels and the neighbouring garrifons, to amufe the enemy on the fide of Char- ieroy ; while they afiembled forty fquadrons, thirty battalions, with fifteen pieces of cannon, and fix mortars, in the territory of Namur. Athlone with part of this body invefted Dinanr, while Coehorn, with the remainder, advanced to Givet. He forth- with began to batter and bombard the place, which in three hours was on fire, and by four in the after- noon wholly deftroyed, with the great magazine ife contained. Then the two generals joining their forces, returned to Namur without interruption. Hitherto the republick of Venice had deferred ac- knowledging King William : but now they fent an extraordinary embafly for that purpofe, confifting of Signiors Soranzo and Venier, who arrived in I-ondon, and on the firfi: day of May had a publick audience. The King, on this occafion, knighted Soranzo as the fenior ambafifador, and prefented him with the fword, according to cuflom. On that day, too, \\ illiam declared in council, that he had ap- pointed the fame regency which had governed the kingdom during his lail abfence j and embarking on the feventh at Margate, arrived at Orange-Fob W I L L I A Tvl. tier in the evening, under convoy of Vice-Admiral Aylmer. This officer had been ordered to attend with a fquadron, as the famous Du Bart ftill conti- nued at Dunkirk, and fome attempt of importance was apprehended from his enterprifing genius § XXXIV. The French had taken the field be- fore the allied army could be afTembled : but no tranfaftion of confequence diitinguiflied this cam- paign, either upon the Rhine or in Flanders. The fcheme of Louis was ftill defenfive on the fide of the Netherlands, while the a61;ive plans of King William were defeated by want of money. All the funds for this year proved defedtive : the Land-Bank failed, and the National-Bank fuftained a rude fliockin its credit. The lofs of the nation upon the recoinage amounted to two millions, two hundred thoufand pounds ; and though the different mints were em- ployed without interruption, they could not for fome months fupply the circulation, efpecially as great part of the new money was kept up by thofe wlio received it in payment, or difpofed of it at an unrea- fonable advantage. The French King, having ex- haufted the wealth and patience of his fubjedts, and greatly diminiflied their number in the courfe of this war, began to be diffident of his arms, and employ- ed all the arts of private negociation. While his minifter D’Avaux preffed the King of Sweden to offer his mediation, he fent Callieres to Holland, with propofals for fettling the preliminaries of a treaty. He took it for granted, that as the Dutch were a trading people, whofe commerce had greatly fuffered in the war, they could not be averfe to a pacification s and he inftrudled his emiffaries to tam- U 2 per * Some promotions were made before^ the King left En gland. George Hamilton, third fon of the duke of that name, was, for his military fervices in Ireland and Flanders, created Earl of Orkney. Sir John Lowther was ennobled by the title of Baron Lowther, and Vifeount Lonfdale ; Sir John Thompfon made Baron of Haverfham, and the celebrate^ John Locke appointed, one of the Commifl'ioners of Ttade and Fiaiiiaiion, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. with the remains of the Louveftein fir6tionj which 1696. had always oppofed the fchemes of the Stadtholder. Callieres met with a favourable reception from the States, which began to treat with him about the preliminaries, though not without the confent and concurrence of King William and the reft of the allies. Louis, with a view to quicken the effeft of this negociation, purfucd oftenfive meafures in Ca- talonia, where his general the Duke de Vendome attacked and worfted the Spaniards in their camp near Oftalrick, though the aftion was not decifive; for that General was obliged to retreat, after having made vigorous efforts againft their entrenchments. On the twentieth day of June, Marefchal de Lor- ges pafled the Rhine at Philipfburgh, and encamped within a league of Eppingen, where the Imperial troops were obliged to entrench themfelves, t?nder the command of the Prince of Baden, as they were not yet joined by the auxiliary forces. The French general, after having faced him about a month, thought proper to repafs the river. Then he detach- ed a body of horfe to Flanders, and cantoned the reft of his troops at Spires, Franckendahl, Worms, and Oftofen. On the laft day of Auguft tlie Prince of Baden retaliated the infult, by palling the Rhine at Mentz and Coclheim. On the tenth he was joined by General Thungen, who commanded a fe- parate body, together with the militia of Suabia and Fftanconia, and advanced to the camp of the enemy, wFo had re-affembled : but they wei*e pofted in fuch a manner, that he would not hazard an attack. Ha- ving therefore cannonaded them for fome days, fcoured the adjacent country by detached parties, and taken the little caftle of Wiezengen, he repafled the * river at Worms, on the fdventh day of October ; the French likewife crofted at Philipfburgh, in hopes of furprifing General Thungen, who had taken poll in the neighbourhood of Strafbourg ; but he retired to Eppingen W I L L I, A M. Eppingen before their arrival, and in a little time chap. both armies were diftributed in winter-quarters. v. Peter, the Czar ofMufcovy, carried on the fiege of Azophwith fuch vigour, that the garrifon was obliged ^ * to capitulate, after the Ruffians had defeated a great convoy fent to its relief. The court of Vienna forth^ with engaged in an alliance with the Mufcovite em- peror : but they did not exert themfelves'in taking advantage of the difafter which the Turks had un- dergone. The Imperial army, commanded by the Elector of Saxony, continued inaftive on the river Marofch till the nineteenth day of July, then they made a feint of attacking Temifv/aer : but they marched towards Betzkerch, in their route to Bel- grade, on receiving advice that the Grand Signor intended to befiege Titul. On the twenty-firfl day of Augufl: the two armies were in fight of each other. The Turkiih horfe attacked the Imperialifts in a plain near the river Begue ; but were repuifed. The Germans next day made a ffiow of retreating, in hopes of drawing the enemy from their entrench- ments. The ftratagem fucceeded. On the twenty- fixth, the Turkiih armv was in motion. A detach- ment of the Imperialifts attacked them in flank, as they marched through a wood. A very delperate a6lion enfued, in which the Generals Heufler and Poland, with many other gallant officers, loft their lives. At length, the Ottoiman horfe were routed : but the Germans were fo roughly handled, that on the fecond day after the engagement they retreated at midnight, and the Turks remained quiet in their cntrenchiPients. § XXXV. In Piedmont the face of affairs under- went a ftrange alteration. The Duke of Savoy, who had for fome time been engaged in a fecret ne- gociation with France, at length embraced the offers of that crown, and privately figned a feparate treaty of peace at Loretto, to which place he repaired on a pretended pilgrimage. The French King engaged ' U 3 to HISTORY OF ENGLAND. to prefent him with four millions of livres, by way of reparation for the damage he had fiiflained ; ‘ to aflifl him with a certain number of auxiliaries againft all his enemies ; and to efFe6t a marriage between the Duke of Burgundy and the Princefs of Piedmont, as foon as the parties fhould be marriageable. The treaty was guarantied by the Pope and the Venetians, who were extremely defirous of feeing the Germans dri- ven out of Italy. King William being apprized of this negociation, communicated the intelligence to the Earl of Galway, his ambaffador at Turin, who expoftulated with the Duke upon this defection : but he perfifted in denying any fuch correfpondence, un- til the advance of the French army enabled him to avow it, without fearing the refentment of the allies whom he had abandoned. Catinat marched into the plains of Turin, at the head of fifty thoufand men; an army greatly fuperior to that of the confederates, Then the Duke imparted to the minifters of the allies the propofals which France had made ; repre- fented the fuperior flrength of her army ; the danger to which he was expofed ; and finally his inclination to embrace her offers. On the twelfth of July a truce was concluded for a month, and afterwards prolonged till the fifteenth of September. He wrote to all the powers engaged in the confederacy, ex- cept King William, expatiating on the fame topicks, and foliciting their confent. Though each in par- ticular refufed to concur, he on the twenty-third day of Angufl figned the treaty in publick, which he had before concluded in private. The Emperor was no fooner informed of his defign, than he took every ftep which he thought could divert him from his purpofe. He fent the Count Mansfeldt to Turin, with propofals for a match betVv^een the King of the Romans and the Princefs of Savoy, as well as with offers to augment his forces and his fubfidy : but the Duke had already fettled his terms with France, from which he would not recede. Prince Eugene, though W I L L I A M. his kinfman, exprefled great indignation at his con- dud. The young Prince de Commercy was fo pro- voked at his defedion, that he challenged him to fingle combat, and the Duke accepted of his chal- lenge : but the quarrel was compromifed by the in- tervention of friends, and they parted in an amicable manner. He had concealed the treaty until he jhould receive the remaining part of the fubfidies due to him from the confederates. A confiderable fum had been remitted from England to Genoa for his ufe ; but Lord Galway no fooner received intima- tion of his new engagement, than he put a flop to the payment of this money, which he employed in the Milanefe, for the fubfiftence of thofe troops that were in the Britiili fervice. King William was en- camped at Gemblours when the Duke’s envoy noti- fied the feparate peace which his mailer had con- cluded with the King of France. Though he was extremely chagrined at the information, he diffem- bled his anger, and liflened to the miniller without the leafl emotion. One of the conditions of this treaty was. That within a limited time the allies fiiould evacuate the Duke’s dominions, otherwife they fhould be expelled by the joint forces of France and Savoy. A neutrality was offered to the confe- derates i and this being rejefled, the contracting powers refolyed to attack the Milanefe. Accord- ingly, when the truce expired, the Duke, as gene- ralilTimo of the French King, entered that duchy, and undertook the fiege of Valentia; fo that, in one campaign, he commanded two contending armies. The garrifon of Falentia, confifling of feven thou- fand men, Germans, Spaniards, and French Pro- tellants, made an obflinate defence ; and the Duke of Savoy profecuted the fiege with uncommon im- petuofity. But, after the trenches had been open for thirteen days, a courier arrived from Madrid, with an account of his Cathoiick Majefty’s having agreed to the neutrality for Italy. This agreement ^ U 4 imported. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. imported. That there Iliould be a furpenfion of arms until a general peace could be effeded ; and, That the Imperial and French troops fhouki return to their refpedive countries. Chriflendom had well nigh been embroiled anew by the death of John Sobiefld King of Poland, who died at the age of feventy, in the courfe of this fummer, after having furvived his faculties and reputation. As the crown was elcdive, a competition arofe for the fucceffion. The kingdom was divided by fadions ; and the dif- ferent powers of Europe interefted themfelves warm- ly in the contention. § XXXVI. Nothing of confequence had been lately atchieved by the naval force of England. When the confpiracy was firft difcovered. Sir George Rooke had received orders to return from Cadiz j and he arrived in the latter end of April. While 'he took liis place at the board of Admiralty, Lord Berkeley fucceeded to the command of the fleet ; and in the month of June fet fail towards Ulhant, in order to infult the coafh of France. Fie pillaged and burned the villages on the iflands Grouais, Houat, and Heydic •, made prize of about twenty veffels ; bom- barded St. Martin’s on the ifle of Rhe, and the town of Olonne, which was fet on fire in fifteen different places with the fliells and carcaffes. Though thefe appear to have been enterprifes of fmall import, they certainly kept the whole coaft; of France in perpetual alarm. The miniftry of that kingdom were fo much afraid of invafion, that between Brefl and Goukt they ordered above one hundred batteries to be erec- ted, and above fixty thoufand men were continually in arms, for the defence of the maritime places. In the month of May Rear-Admiral Benbow failed with a fmall fquadron, in order to block up Du Bart in the harbour of Dunkirk : but that famous adven- turer found means' to efcape in a fog, and fleering to the eaflward, attacked the Dutch fleet in the Baltick^ under a convoy of five frigates. Thefe lafi; ‘ WILLIAM. S97 iaft he took, together with half the number of the CHAP.’ trading fhips : but, falling in with the outward- ^ ^ bound fleet, convoyed by thirteen fliips of the line, ,656. ' lie was obliged to burn four of the frigates, turn the fifth adrift, and part with all his prizes except fifteen, which he carried into Dunkirk. § XXXVIT. The Parliament of Scotland met on the eighth day of September ; and Lord Murray, Secretary of State, now Earl ofTullibardine, prefided as King’s CommifTioner. Though that kingdom was exhauflied by the war, and two fuccelTive bad harvefbs, which had driven a great number of the inhabitants into Ireland, there was no oppofltion to the court meafures. The members of Parliament figned an affociation like that of England. They granted a fupply of one hundred and twentv thou- fand pounds for maintaining their forces by fea and land. They paffed an aft for fecuring their religion, lives, and properties, in cafe his Majefty fhould come to an untimely death. By another, they obliged all perfons in public trufl: to fign the affociation ; and then the Parliament was adjourned to the eighth day of December. The difturbances of Ireland feemed now to be entirely appeafed. Lord Capel dying in May, the council, by virtue of an aft paffed in the reign of Henry VIII. elefted the Chancellor, Sir Charles Porter, to be Lord Juftice and chief Governor of that kingdom, until his Majefty’s pleafure fliould be known. The Parliament met in June : the Commons expelled Mr. Sanderfon, the only mem- ber of that Houfe who had refufed to fign the affociation ; and adjourned to the fourth day of Auguft. By that time Sir Charles Porter, and the 'Earls of Montrath and Drogheda, were ap- pointed Lords Juftices, and fignified the King’s pleafure that they fliould adjourn. In the be- ginning of December the Chancellor died of an a])oplexy. ^ xxxvnL 298 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK § XXXVIII. King William being tired of an in- I* a 61 :ive campaign, left the army under the command ^ of the Elehlor of Bavaria, and about the latter end of Augufl: repaired to his palace at Loo, where he enjoyed his favourite exercife of ftag-hunting. Fie viiited the court of Brandenburgh at Cleves ; con- ferred with the States of Holland at the Flague; and, embarking for England, landed at Margate on the fixth day of Odlober. The domellick oeco- nomy of the nation was extremely perplexed at this juncture, from the hnking of publick credit, and the ftagnation that neceffarily attended a recoinage. Thefe grievances were wjth difficulty removed by the clear apprehenfion, the enterprifing genius, the unffiaken fortitude of Mr. Montagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer, operating upon a national fpirit of adventure, which the monied-intereft had produced. The King opened the feffion of Parliament on the twentieth day of Oftober, with a fpeech, impor- ting, That overtures had been made for a riegocia- tion j but that the beft way of treating with France would be fword in hand. He, therefore, defired they would be expeditious in raifing the fupplies for the fervice of the enfuing year, as well as for miaking good the funds already granted. He de* dared, that the civil lift could not be fupported without their affiftance. He recommended the miferable condition of the French proteftants to their compaffion. He defired they would contrive the beft expedients for the recovery of the national credit. Fie obferved, that unanimity and difpatch were now more than ever neceftary for the honour, fafety, and advantage of England. The Commons having taken this fpeech into confideration, refol- ved. That they would fupport Ids Majefty and his government, and affift him in the profecutibn of the war; That the ftandard of gold and filver fhould not be altered; and. That they would makegood all Parliamentary funds. Then they prefented an addrefs; I W I L L I A M. 299 addrefs, in a very fpirited flrain, declaring, that chap, notwithftanding the blood and treafure of which the nation had been drained, the Commons England would not be diverted from their firm re- folutions of obtaining by war a fafe and honourable peace. They, therefore, renewed their aflurances, that they would fupport his Majefty againft all his enemies at hom.e and abroad. The Houfe of Lords delivered another to the fame purpofe, declaring, that they would never be wanting or backward, on their parts, in what might be neceflary to his Maiefly's honour, the good of his kingdoms, and the quiet of Chriftendom. The Commons, in the firfr tranfports of their zeal, ordered two feditious pam.phlets to be burned by the hands of the common hangman. They deliberated upon the eftimates, and granted above fix millions for the fervice of the enfuing year. They refolved, that a fupply fhould be granted for inaking good the deficiency of Parlia- mentary funds ; and appropriated fcveral duties for this purpofe. § XXXIX. With reipefl to the coin, they brought in a bill, repealing an a6l for taking off the' obligation and encouragement of coining guineas for a certain time, and for importing and coining guineas and half-guineas, as the extravagant price of thofe coins, which occafioned this a6l, w^as now fallen. Tliey pafiTed a fccond bill for remedying the ill (late of the coin ; and a third, explaining ait a6t in the preceding felTion, for laying duties on low wines and fpirits of the firfl: extraction. In order to raife the fupplies of the year, they refolved to tax ail perfons according to the true value of their real and perfonal eftates, their flock upon land and in trade, their income by offices, penfions, and profeffions. A duty of one penny per week, for one year, was laid upon all perfons not receiving alms. A further impofition of one farthing in the pound per week was fixed upon ail fervanta receiving four pounds per r.00 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. j» o o K per annum, as wages, and upwards, to eight pounds a year inclufive. Thofe who received from eight 16 ^ 6 ^^ to fixteen pounds were taxed at one half-penny per pound. An aid of three fliillings in the pound for one year was laid upon all lands, tenements, and liereditaments, according to their true value. .With- out fpecifying the particulars of thofe impofitions, we lliall only obferve, that in the general charge, the Commons did not exempt one member of the commonwealth that could be fuppofed able to bear any part of the burthen. Provifion was made, that hammered money fliould be received in payment of thefe duties, at the rate of five fiiillings and eight pence per ounce. All the deficiencies on annuities and monies borrowed on the credit of the Exche- quer were transferred to this aid. The Treafury was enabled to borrow a million and a half at eight per cent, and to circulate Exchequer-bills to the amount of as much more. To cancel thefe debts, the furplus of all the fupplies, except the three-flril- ling-aid, was appropriated. The Commons voted one hundred and twenty-five thoufand pounds for making good the deficiency in recoining the ham- m.ered money, and the recompence for bringing in plate to the Mint. This fum was raifed by a tax or duty upon wrought-plate, paper, -pafteboard, vellum, and parchment, made or imported. Taking into confideration the fervices, and the prefent languifh- ing ftate of the Bank, whofe notes were at twenty per cent, difcount, they refolved. That it fiiould "• be enlarged by new fubfcriptions, made by four- fifths in tallies ftruck on Parliamentary funds, and one-fifth in Bank-bills or notes : That effeclual provifion fiiould be made by Parliament, for paying the principal of all fuch tallies as fhould be fub- fcribed into the Bank, out of the funds agreed to be continued: That an intercfi: of eight per cent, fiiould be allowed on all fuch tallies : and. That the continuance of the Bank fiiould be prolonged to the firfi: W I L L I A M. 301 firft day of Auguft, in the year one thoufand, feven C H a p. hundred, and ten : That all affignments of orders on tallies fubfcribed into the Bank fliould be re- giftered in the Exchequer: That, before the day ^ ^ fliould be fixed for the beginning of the new fub- Icriptions, the old fhould be made one hundred per cent, and what might exceed that value lEould be divided among the old m.embers: That all the interefl due on thofe tallies which might be fub- fcribed into the Bank-flock, at the time appointed * for fubfcriptions, to the end of the laft preceding quarter on each tally, fliould be allowed as prin- cipal: That liberty fhould be given by Parliament to enlarge the number of Bank-bills, to the value of the fum that fhould be fo fubfcribed, over and above the twelve hundred thoufand pounds j pro- vided they fliould be obliged to anfwer fuch bills and demands, and in default thereof, be anfwered by the Exchequer, out of the firft money due to them: That no other Bank fliould be ere6led or allowed by a6t of Parliament, during the con- tinuance of the Bank of England: That this fhould be exempted from all tax or impofition : That no a6l of the corporation fhould forfeit the particular interefh of any perfon concerned therein : That pro- vifion fliould be m.ade to prevent the officers of the Exchequer, and all other officers and receivers of the revenue, from diverting, delaying, or obflruft- ing the courfe of payments to the Bank: That care fhould be taken to prevent the altering, counter- feiting, or forging any Bank-bills or notes : That the eflate and intereft of each member in the flock of the corporation fliould be made a perfonal eflate : That no contract made for any Bank-flock to be bought or fold fliould be valid in law or equity, unlefs adually regiflered in the Bank-books within feven days, * and a6lually transferred within fourteen days after the contract fhould be m.ade. A bill upon thefe refolutions was brought in, under the diredion 302 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK direftion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer : it related to the continuation of tonnage and poundage ^ upon wine, vinegar, and tobacco; and compre-- hended a claufe for laying an additional duty upon ' fait, for two years and three quarters. All the feveral branches conftituted a general fund, fince known by the name of the General Mortgage, without pre- judice to their former appropriations. The bill alfo provided, That the tallies fhould bear eight per cent, intereft ; That from the tenth of June for five years they fiiould bear no more than fix per cent. Interefi:: and. That no premium or difcount upon them fhould be taken. In cafe of the general fund’s proving infufficient to pay the whole intereft, it was provided. That every proprietor fliould receive his proportion of the produA, and the deficiency be made good from the next aid: but fhould the fund produce nore than the intereft, the furplus was def- tined to operate as a finking fund for the-difcharge of the principal. In order to make up a deficiency of above eight hundred thoufand pounds, occafioned by the failure of the Land-Bank, additional duties were laid upon leather : the time was enlarged for perfons to come in and purchafe the annuities pay- able by feveral former a6ts, and to obtain more certain intereft in fuch annuities. § XL. Never were more vigorous meafures taken to fupport the credit of the government ; and never was the government ferved by fuch a fet of enterprifing undertakers. The Commons having received a mieffage from the King, touching the condition of the civil lift, lefolved, That a fum not exceeding five hundred and fifteen thoufand pounds fliould be granted for the fupport of the civil lift for the enluing year, to be raifed by a malt tax, and additional duties upon mum, fweets, cyder, and perry. They likewife refolved. That an additional aid of one flfilling in the pound fliould be laid upon land, as an equivalent for the duty of ten W I L L I A M. ten per cent, upon mixed goods. Provifion was CHAP, made for raifing one million four hundred thoiifand pounds by a lotreiy. The 'rreafury was empowered ,5^^, to ilfue an additional number of Exchequer-bills^ to the amount of twelve hundred thoufand pounds, every hundred pounds bearing interelL at the rate of five-pence a day, and ten per cent, for circulation: finally, in order to liquidate the tranfport-debt, which the funds eftablifhed for that purpofe had not been fufficient to defray, a money-bill was brought in, to oblige pedlars and hawkers to take out licenfes, and pay for them at certain ftated prices. One cannot without aftonifliment fefledl upon the prodigious efforts that were made upon this occafion, or confider without indignation the enormous for- tunes that were raifed up by ufurers and extortioners from the diftreffes of their country. The nation did not feem to know its own ftrength, until it was put to this extraordinary trial ; and the experiment of mortgaging funds fucceeded fo well, that later minifters have proceeded in the fame fyftem, impo- fing burthen upon burthen, as if they thought the fmews of the nation could never be overftrained. § XLI. The publick credit being thus bolftered up by the fmgular addrefs of Mr. Montagu, and the bills paffed for the fupplies of the enfuing year, the attention of the Commons was transferred to the cafe of Sir John Fenwick, who had been appre- hended in the month of June at New Romney, in his way to France. He had, w'hen taken, written a letter to his lady by one Webber, wko accom- panied him ; but this man being feized, the letter was found, containing fuch a confeffion as plainly evinced him guilty. He then entered into a treaty with the court for turning evidence, and delivered a long information in wTiting, which was fent abroad to his Majefty. He mxade no difeoveries that could injure any of the Jacobites, who, by this account, and other concurring teftimonies, appeared to be ? divided 304 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o K divided into two parties, known by the names of I* Compounders and Noncompounders. ^ The firft, headed by the Earl of Middleton, infifted upon re- ceiving fecurity from King James, that the religion and liberties of England fhould be preferved : where- as, the other party, at the head of which was the Earl of Melfort, refolved to bring him in without condi- tions, relying upon his own honour and generofity. King William having fent over an order for bringing Fenwick to trial, unlefs he fhould make more ma- terial difcoveries, the prifoner, with a view to amufe tne miniftry, until he could take other meafures for his own fafety, accufed the Earls of Shrewfbury^ Marlborough, and Bath, the Lord Godolphin, and Admiral RufTel, of having made their peace with King James, and engaged to a£t for his interefti Mean while his lady and relations tampered with the two witnefies. Porter and Goodman. The frit of thefe difcovered thole pradlices to the government j and one Clancey, who aded as agent for Lady Fen- .wick, was tried, convidled of fubornation, fined, and fet in the pillory : but they had fucceeded better in their attempts upon Goodman, who difappeared j fo that one witnefs only remained, and Fenwick began to think his life was out of danger. Admiral Riiflel acquainted the Houfe of Commons, that he and fe- veral perfons of quality had been reflected upon in fome informations of Sir John Fenwick : he there- fore defired, that he might have an opportunity to juftify his own charadler. Mr. Secretary Trumball produced the papers, which having been read, the Commons ordered. That Sir John Fenwick fhould be brought to the bar of the Floufe. There he was exhorted by the Speaker to make an ample difco- very ; which, however, he declined, except with the provifo that he Ihould firft receive fome fecurity that what he might fay fhould not prejudice himfelf. Fie was ordered to withdraw, until they fhould have de- liberated on his requeft. Then he was called in again, W I L L I A M. again, and the Speaker told him, he might deferve chap. the favour of the Honfc, by making a full difcovery. ^ He defired he might be indulged with a little time to recoiledi: himfelf, and promifed to obey the command of the Houfe. This favour being denied, he again in- filled upon having fecurity ; which they refufing to grant, he chofe to be filent, and was difmiffed from the bar. The Houfe voted. That his informations, re- fledling upon the fidelity of feveral noblemen, mem- bers of the Houfe, and others, upon hearfay, were falfe and fcandalous, contrived to undermine the government, and create jealoufies between the King and his fubjedts, in order to ftifle the confpiracy. § XLlli* A motion being made, for leave to bring in a bill to attaint him of high treafon, a warm debate enfued, and the queftion being put, was carried in the affirmative by a great majority. He was furnifhed with a copy of the bill, and allowed the ufe of pen, ink, paper, and counfel. When he prefented a petition, praying that his counfel might be heard againfl pafiing the bill, they made an order, that his counfel fliould be allowed to make his de- fence at the bar of the Houfe : fo that he was fur- prifed into an irregular trial, inftead of being in- dulged with an opportunity of offering objedlions to their paffing the bill of attainder. He was accord* ingly brought to the bar of the Houfe; and the bill being read in his hearing, the Speaker called upon the ‘King’s counfel to open the evidence. The Prifoner’s counfel objedled to their proceeding to trial, alledging, that their Client had not received the leaft notice of their purpofe, and therefore could not be prepared for his defence ; but that they came to offer their reafons againfl the bill. The Houfe, after a long debate, refolved. That he fhould be al- lowed further time to produce witneffes in his de- fence ; that the counfel for the King fhould likewife be allowed to produce evidence to prove the trea- fons of which he flood indided j and an order was VoL. I, X made; 3 o6 history of ENGLAND* BOOK made for his being brought to the bar again in three V . days. In purfuance of this order he appeared, when 1696. the indi6tment which had been found againfl: him by the Grand Jury was produced; and Porter was exa- mined as evidence. Then the record of Clancey’s conviftion was read; and one Roe teftined, that D’ghton, the prifoner’s folicitor, had offered him an annuity of one hundred pounds, to difcredit the tef- timony of Goodman. The King’s counfel moved, that Goodman’s examination, as taken by Mr. Ver- non, clerk of the Council, might be read. Sir J. Powis and Sir Bartholomew Shower, the prifoner’s counfel, warmly oppofed this propofal : they af- firmed, that a depofition taken when the party af- fefted by it was not prefent to crofs-exarnine the depofer, could not be admitted in a cafe of five ihillings value : that though the Floufe was not bound by the rules of inferior Courts, it was neverthelefs bound by the eternal and unalterable rules of juftice: that no evidence, according to the rules of law, could be admitted in fuch a cafe, but that of living witneffes ; and that the examination of a perfon who is abfent was never read to fupply his teflimony. The difpute between the lawyers on this fubjedl gave rife to a very violent debate among the Members of the Houfe. Sir Edward Seymour, Sir ^ Richard Temple, Mr. Harley, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Manly, • Sir Chriflopher Mufgrave, and all the leaders of the Tory-party, argued againfl the hardfhip and injuf- tice of admitting this information as an evidence. They demonflrated, that it would be a flep contrary to the pradlice of all courts of judicature, repugnant to the common notions of juftice and humanity, diametrically oppofite to the laft adl for regulating trials in cafes of high treafon, and of dangerous con- fequences to the lives and liberties of the people. On the other hand, Lord Cutts, Sir Thomas Lyttel- ton, Mr. Montagu, Mr. Smith of the Treafury, and Trevor, the Attorney-General, affirmed, that ’the Houfe ,1 W I L L I A M. 307 lioufe was not bound by any form of law whatfo-; CHAP, ever : that this was an extraordinary cafe, in which ^ tlie fafety of the government was deeply concerned : that though the common law might require two evi- dences in cafes of treafon, the Floufe had a power of deviating from thofe rules in extraordinary cafes j that there was no reafon to doubt of Sir John Fen- wick’s being concerned in the confpiracy : that he or his friends had tampered with Porter ; and that there were fbrong prefumptions to believe the fame prac- tices had induced Goodman to abfcond. In a word, the Tories, either from party or patriotifm, ftrenuouf- ly aflerted the caufe of liberty and humanity, by thofe very arguments which had been ufed againll them in the former reigns ; while the Whigs, with equal violence and more fuccefs, elpoufed the di6tates of arbitrary power and oppreffion, in the face of their former principles, with which they were now up- braided. At length, the quellion was put. Whether or not the information of Goodman fliould be read ? and was carried in the affirmative by a majority of feventy-three voices. Then two of the Grand Jury who liad found the indiftment, recited the evidence which had been given to them by Porter and Good- man : laftiy, the King’s counfel infilled upon pro- ducins: the record of Cooke’s convidion, as he had been tried for the fame confpiracy. The prifoner’s counfel obje6led, That, if fuch evidence was admit- ted, the trial of one perfon in the fame company w'ould be the trial of all ; and it could not be ex- pected that they wFo came to defend Sir John Fen- wick only, fliould be prepared to anfwer the charge againll Cooke. This article produced another ve- hement debate among the members ; and the Whigs obtained a fecond victory. The record was read, and the King’s counfel proceeded to call on fome of the Jury who ferved on Cooke’s trial, to affirm that lie had been convicted on Goodman’s evidence. Sir Bartholomew Shower faid, he would fubmit it to the X 2 confide- toS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK confideration of the Houfe, whether it was juft tha? the evidence againfl: one perfon flionld conclude againft another {landing at a different bar, in defence of his life ? The parties were again ordered to with- draw" ; and from this point aroi'e a third debate, which ended, as the two former, to the difadvantage of the prifoner. The Jury being examined, Mr. Ser- geant Gould moved, that Mr. Vernon might be de- lired to produce the intercepted letter from Sir John Fenwick to his lady. Tlie prifoner’s couniel warm- ly oppofed this motion, infilling upon their proving it to be his hand-writing before it could be ufed againfl him ; and no further ftrefs was laid on this O evidence. When they were called upon to enter on his defence, they pleaded incapacity to deliver mat- ters of fuch importance after they had been fatigued with twelve hours attendance. § XLIII. The Houfe refolved to hear fuch evi- dence as the prifoner had to produce that night. His counfel declared, that they had nothing then t;p pro- duce but the copy of a record j and the lecond re- folution was, that he ffiould be brought up again next day at noon. He accordingly appeared at the bar, and Sir J. Powis proceeded on his defence. Fie obferved, that the bill under confideration af- fedled the lives of the fubjedl ; and fuch precedents were dangerous: that Sir John Fenwick was forth- coming, in order to be tried by the ordinary methods of juftice : that he was actually under procefs, had pleaded, and was ready to ftand trial : that if there was fufficient clear evidence againfl him, as the King*s Serjeant had declared, there was no reafon for his being deprived of the benefit of fuch a trial as was the birth-right of every Britifh fubjedl j and if there was a deficiency of legal evidence, he thought this was a very odd reafon for the bill. He took notice that even the regicides had the benefit of fuch a trial : that the laft a6l for regulating trials in cafes of treafon proved the great tendernefs of the laws W I L L I A M. 309 laws which afFefted the life of the fubjefl: : and he C H A P. cxpreffed his furprize that the very Parliament which • had palled that law, flioiild ena6l another for putting a perfon to death without any trial at all. He ad- mitted that there had been many bills of attainder, but they were generally leveled at outlaws and fugi- tives ; and fome of them had been reverfed in the fequel, as arbitrary and unjuft. He urged, that this bill of attainder did not alledge or fay, that Sir John Fenwick was guilty of the treafon for which he had bee'n inclined ; a circumftance which prevented him from, producing witnefles to that and feveral mat- ters upon which the King’s counfel had expatiated. He faid, they had introduced evidence to prove cir- cumftances not alledged in the bill, and defehlive evidence of thofe thatv/ere: thatPorter was not exa- mined upon oath ; that nothing could be more fevere than to pafs fentence of death upon a man, cormpt his blood, and confifcate his eftate, upon parole evi- dence ; efpecially of fuch a wretch, who, by his own confeftion, had been engaged in a crime of the blackeft nature, not a convert to the dilates of con- fcience, but a coward, flirinking from the danger by which he had been environed, and even now drudging for a pardon. He invalidated the evi- dence of Goodman’s examination. He obferved, that the indihlment mentioned a confpiracy to call in a foreign power; but, as this confpiracy had not been put in pradice, fuch an agreement was not a fufficient overt-ad of treafon, according to the opi- nion of Hawles, the Sollicitor-General, concerned in this very profecution. So faying, he produced a book of remarks, which that lawyer had publifhed on the cafes of Lord Ruftel, Colonel Sidney, and others, who had fuffered death in the reign of Charles II. This author (faid he) takes notice, that a confpiracy or agreement to levy war, is riOt treafon without adually levying war ; a fentiment in W'hich he concurred with Lord Coke, and Lord X 3 Chief HISTORY OF ENGLAND, Chief Juftice Hales., He concluded with faying. We know at prefent on what ground we ftandj by the flatute of Edward III. we know what trea- fon is; by the two ftatutes of Edward VI. and the late adt, we know what is proof ; by the magna charta we know we are to be tried per ' legem terr^e per judicium parimiy by the law of the land and the judgement of our peers ; but, if bills of attainder come into fafliion, we fhall neither know what is treafon, what is evidence, nor how, nor where we are to be tried.” — He was feconded by Sir Bartholomew Shower, who Ipoke vdth equal energy and elocution; and their arguments were anfwered by the King's counfel. The arguments in favour of the bill imported, that the Parliament would not interpofe, except in ex- traordinary cafes ; that here the evidence neceflary in inferior courts being defective, the Parliament, which was not tied down by legal evidence, had a right to exert their extraordinary power in punifh- ing an offender, who would otherwife efcape with impunity : that, as the law flood, he was but a forry politician that could not ruin the government, and yet elude the flatute of treafon : that if a plot, after being difcovered, fliould not be thoroughly prole- cuted, it would flrengthen and grow upon the ad- miniflration’, and probably at length fubvert the government : that it was notorious that parties were forming for King James; perfons were plotting in every part of the kingdom, and an open invafion was threatened ; therefore, this was a proper time for the Parliament to exert their extraordinary power : that the Englifh differed from all other nations, in bringing the witneffes and the prifoner face tO'face, and requiring two witneffes in cafes of treafon : nor did the Englifh law itfeif require the fame proof in fome cafes, as in others ; for one wit- nefs was fufhcient in felony, as well as for the trea- fon of coining ; that Fenwick was notorioufly guilty, 4 ' and W I L L I A M. 31K and defcrved to feel the refentment of the nation : C H a p, that he would have been brought to exemplary punifhment in the ordinary courfe of juflice, had he ,696, not eluded it, by corrupting evidence, and with- drawing a witnefs. If this reafoning be juft, the Houfe of Commons has a right to a(ft in diametrical oppofition to the laws in being ; and is vefted with a defpotick power over the lives and fortunes of their conilituents, for^whofe proteftion they are con- ftituted. Let us, therefore, refleft upon the pofti- bility of a Parliament debauched by the arts of cor- ruption, into fervile compliance with the defigns of an arbitrary prince, and tremble for the confequence. The debate being finifhed, the prifoner was, at the defire of Admiral Ruftel, queftioned with regard to the imputations he had fixed upon that gentleman and others, from hearfay : but he defired to be ex- cufed on account of the rifque he ran while under a double profecution, if any thing which fhould efcape him might be turned to his prejudice. § XLIV. After he was removed from the bar, Mr. Vernon, at the defire of the Houfe, recapitu- lated the arts and praftices of Sir John Fenwick and his friends, to procraftinate the trial. The bill was read a fecond time; and the Speaker afking. If the queftion Ihould be put for its being committed ? the Houfe was immediately kindled into a new flame of contention. Hawles, the Solliciror-General, af- firmed, that the Floufe in the prefent cafe ftiould a6l both as judge and jury. Mr. Harcourt faid, he knew no trial for treafon but what was confirmed by magna chart a, by a jury, the birthright and darling privilege of an Englilhman, or per legem which includes impeachments in Parliameht ; that it was a Arrange trial where the perfon accufed had a chance to be hanged, but none to be faved : that he never heard of a ji.'ryman who was not on his oath, nor of a judge who had not power to examine witneflTes upon oath, and who was not empowered to fave the X 4 innocent 312 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK innocent as well as to condemn the guilty. Sir ^ , Thomas Lyttelton was of opinion, that the Parlia- 1696. ment ought not to fland upon little niceties and forms of other courts, when the government was at Rake. Mr. Howe afferted, that to do a thing of this nature, becaufe the Parliament had power to do it, was a Rrange way of reafoning : that what was juftice and equity at WeRminfler-hall, was jullice and equity every where : that one bad precedent in Parliament was of worfe confequence than an hun- dred in Weilminfter-hall, becaufe perfonal or pri- vate injuries did not foreclofe the claims of original right ; whereas the Parliament could ruin the nation beyond redemption, becaufe it could eftablifli ty- ranny by law. Sir Richard Temple, in arguing againft the bill, obferved, that the power of Parlia- ment is to make any law, but the jurifdidlion of Parliament is to govern itfelf by the law : to make a law, therefore, againft all the laws of England, was the ultimum remediim ^ pejjimumy never to be ufed but in cafe of abfolute neceffity. He aihrmed, that by this precedent the Eloufe overthrew all the laws of England ; firft, in condemning a man by one witnefs i fecondly, in pafling an a6t without any trial. The Commons never did nor can aflume a jurifdiclion of trying any perfon : they may, for their own information, hear what can be offered ; but it is not a trial where witneffes are not upon oath. All bills of attainder have paffed againft perfons that were dead or fled, or without the compafs of the law : fome have been brought in after trials in Weflmin- fler-hall ; but none of thofe have been called trials, and they were generally reverfed. He denied that the Parliament had power to declare any thing trea- fon which was not treafon before, \\lien inferior courts were dubious, the cafe might be brought be- fore the Parliament, to judge whether it was treafon or felony ; but then they mull judge by the laws in being ; and this judgement was not in the Parlia- ment WILLIAM. ment by bill, but only in the Hoiife of Lords. Lord ^ Digby, Mr. tiarley, and Colonel Granville, fpoke to the fame purpoie. But their arguments and re- inonftrances had no effedl upon the majority, by whom the prifoner was devoted to deflrudtion. The bill was committed, palled, and fent up to the Houfe of Lords, where it produced the longefl: and warmeft debates which had, been known fince the Reftoration. Bifhop Burnet fignalized his zeal for the government, by a long fpeech in favour of the bill, contradidling fome of the fundamental maxims which he had formerly avowed in behalf of the liber- ties of the people. At length it was carried by a majority of feven voices j and one-and-forty lords, including eight prelates, entered a proteft, couched in the ftrongeft terms, againft the decifion, §XLV. When the bill received the Royal alTent, another aft of the like nature paifed againft Barclay, Holmes, and nine other confpirators who had fled from juftice, in cafe they fhould not furrender them- felves on or before the twenty-fifth day of March next enfuing. Sir John Fenwick folicited the medi- ation of the Lords in his behalf, while his friends implored the Royal mercy. The Peers gave him to underftand, that the fuccefs of his fuit would depend upon the fullnefs of his difcoveries. He would have previoufly ftipulated for a pardon ^ and they infifted upon his depending on their favour. He hefitated fome time between the fears of infamy and the ter- rors of death, which laft he at length chofe to un- dergo, rather than incur the difgraceful charadler of an informer. He was complimicnted with the axe, in confideration of his rank and alliance with the houfe of Howard, and fuffered on Tower-hill with great compofure. In the paper which he delivered to the Sheriff, he took God to witnefs, that he knew not of the intended invafion, until it was the common fubjeft of difcourfej nor was he engaged in any for the fervice of King James. He thanked thofe 314 . HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK thofe noble and worthy perfons who had oppofed his attainder in Parliament ; protefbed before God, that information he gave to the miniftry he had re- ceived in letters and meflages from France j and obferved, that he might have expedted mercy from the Prince of Orange, as he had been inftrumentai in faving his life, by preventing the execution of a defign which had been formed againft it ; a circum- France which in all probability induced the late con- fpirators to conceal their purpofe of affafTination from his knowledge. He profelTed his loyalty to Kingjam.es, and prayed Heaven for his fpeedy re- ftoration. § XLVI. While Fenwick’s affair was in agitation, the Earl of Monmouth had fet on foot fome prac- ' tices againft the Duke of Shrewfbury. One Mat- thew Smith, nephew to Sir William Perkins, had been entertained as a fpy by this nobleman, who finding his intelligence of very little ufe or impor- tance, difmiffed him as a troublefome dependent. Then he had recourfe to the Earl of Monmouth, into whom he infufed unfavourable fentiments of the Duke ; infmuating, that he had made great difco- veries, v/hich, from finifter motives, were fuppref- fed. Monmouth communicated thofe impreffions to the Earl of Portland, who inlifted Smith as one of his intelligencers. Copies of the letters he had fent to the Duke of Shrewfbury were delivered to Secretary Trumball, fealed up for the perufal of his Majefty at his return from Flanders. When Fen- wick mentioned the Duke of Shrewfbury in his dif- coveries, the Earl of Monmouth refolved to feife the opportunity of ruining that nobleman. He, by the channel of the Duchefs of Norfolk, exhorted Lady Fenwick to prevail upon her hufband to per- fift in his accufation, and even didlated a paper of direftions. Fenwick rejedted the propofal with dif- dain, as a fcandalous contrivance ; and Monmouth was fo incenfed at his refufal, that when the bill of - attainder V/ I L L I A M. attainder appeared in the Houfe of Lords, he fpoke c in favour of it with peculiar vehemence. Lady Fenwick, provoked at this cruel outrage, prevailed upon her nephew, the Earl of Carlifle, to move the Floufe that Sir John might be examined touching any advices that had been lent to him with relation to his difcoveries. Fenwick being interrogated ac- cordingly, gave an account of ail the particulars of Monmouth’s fcheme, which was calculated to ruin the Duke of Shrewfbury, by bringing Smith’s let- ters on the carpet. The Duchefs of Norfolk and a confidant were examined, and confirmed the detec- tion. The Houfe called for Smith’s letters, which were produced by Sir William Trumball. The Earl of Monmouth was committed to the Tower, and difmiffed from all his employments. He was releafed, however, at the end of the feflion ; and the court made up all his lofies in private, left he ftiould be tempted to join the oppofition. § XLVII. The Whigs, before they were glutted with the facrifice of Eenwick, had determined to let loofe their vengeance upon Sir George Rooke, who was a leader in the oppofite intereft. Sir Cloudefley Shovel had been fent with a fquadron to look into Breft, where, according to the intelligence which the government had received, the French were employed in preparing for a defcent upon England ^ but this information was falfe. They were bufy in equipping an armament for the Weft-Indies, under the com- mand of M. Pointis, wlio aftually failed to the coaft of New-Spain, and took the city of Carthagena. Rooke had been ordered to intercept the Toulon fquadron in its way to Breft ; but his endeavours mifearried. The Commons, in a committee of the whole Houfe, refolved to enquire why this fleet was not intercepted ; Rooke underwent a long exami- nation, and was obliged to produce his journal, or- ders, and letters. Shovel and Mitchel were like- wile examined i but, nothing appearing to the pre- judice HISTORY'OF ENGLAND. V— — 1657. Burnet. Xennet. 316 BOOK judlce of the Admiral, die Hoiife thought proper to , defift from their profecution. After they had deter- mined on the fate of Fenwick, they proceeded to enaft feveral laws for regulating the domeflick oeco- nomy of the nation ; among others, they paffed an oidmixon. more effedlual relief of creditors, in cafes stateTiiaisof cfcape, and for preventing abufes in prifons and pretended privileg-ed places. Ever fince the refor- Ralph. r. r.&r. . Lives of the niation, certain places in and about the city or Fon- Admirals. ^on, whicli had been fandliuaries during the preva- lence of the PopiUi religion, afforded afylum to debtors, and were become receptacles of defperate perfons, who prefumed to fet the law at defiance. One of thefe places, called White-Friars, was filled w'ith a crew of ruffians, who every day committed a6ls of violence and outrage : but this law was fo vi- goroufiy put in execution, that they were obliged to abandon the diflri61:, which was foon filled with more creditable inhabitants. On the fixteenth day of April, the King clofed the feffion with a fliort fpeech, thanking the Parliament for the great fup- plies they had fo chearfully granted, and expreffing his fatisfadtion at the meafures they had taken for retrieving the publick credit. Before he quitted the kingdom, he ventured to produce upon the feene the Earl of Sunderland, who had hitherto prompted his councils behind the curtain. That politician was now fworn of the privy-council, and gratified with the office of Lord-Chamherlain, which had been refigned by the Earl of Dorfet, a noble- man of elegant talents, and invincible indolence j fevere and poignant in his writings and remarks up- on mankind in general, but humane, good-natured, and generous to excefs, in his commerce with indi- viduals. § XLVIII. William having made fome promo- tions and appointed a Regency, embarked on the tw'enty- * Somers was created a Baron, and appointed Lord Chancellor cf England ; Admiral Ruflfel was dignified with the title of Earl of Orford, W I L L I A M. twenty-fixth day of April for Holland, diat he might be at hand to manage the negotiation for a general peace. By this time the preliminaries were lettled, between Caliieres the French minifter, and Mr. Dykveldt, in behalf of the States-General, who re- folved, in confequence of the concelTions made by France, that, in concert with their allies, the me- diation of Sweden might be accepted. The Empe- ror and the court of Spain, liowever, were not fatis- lied with thofe concelTions : yet, his Imperial Ma- jefty declared he would embrace the proffered me- diation, provided the treaty of Wefliphalia fliouid be re-eftablifhed ; and provided the King of Sweden would engage to join his troops with thofe of the allies, in cafe France fhould break through this flipulation. This propofal being delivered, the mi- nifters of England and Holland at Vienna prefented a joint memorial, prefTing his Imperial Majefly to accept the mediation without referve, and name a place at which the congrefs might be opened. The 'Emperor complied with reluftance. On the four- teenth day of February, all the minifters of the allies, except the ambalfador of Spain, agreed to the pro- pofal j and next day fignified their affent in form to M. Lillienroot, the Swedifh plenipotentiary. Spain demanded, as a preliminary, that France fhould agree to reftore all the places mentioned in a long lift, which the miniflier of that crown prefented to the affembly. The Emperor propofed, that the con- grefs fhould be held at Aix-la-Chapelle, or Franck- fort, or fome other town in Germany. The other allies were more difpofed to negotiate in Holland. At length the French King fuggefled, that no place would be more proper than a palace belonging to King William, called Newbourg-houfe, fituated be- tween Orford. In February the Earl of Aylefbury, who had been com- mitted on account of the confpiracy, was releafed upon bail 5 but this privilege was denied to Lord Montgomery, who had been im- prifoned in Newgate on the fame account. I / 3i!5 history of ENGLAND. book tween the Hague and Delft, clofe by the village of I. Ryfwick ; and to this propofition the minifters — -'agreed. Thofe of England were the Earl of Pern- broke, a virtuous, learned, and popular nobleman, the Lord Villiers, and Sir Jofeph Williamfon ; France fent Harlay and Crecy to the affifhance of Callieres. I.ouis was not only tired of the war, on account of the mifery in which it had involved his kingdom ; but in defiring a peace he was a(d:uated by another motive. The King of Spain had been for fome time in a very ill Rate of health, and the French monarch had an eye to the fuccelTion. This aim could not be accomplifhed while the confede- racy fubfifted i therefore he eagerly fought a peace, that he might at once turn his whole power againft Spain, as foon as Charles fliould expire. The Em- peror harboured the fame defign upon the Span i Hi crown, and for that reafon interefted himfelf in the continuance of the grand alliance. Befides, he forefaw he Hiould in a little time be able to aft againft France with an augmented force. The Czar of Mufcovy had engaged to find employment for the Turks and Tartars. He intended to raife the Elec- tor of Saxony to the throne of Poland j and he had made fome progrefs in a negociation with the Cir- cles of the Rhine, for a confiderable body of aux- iliary troops. The Dutch had no other view but that of fecuring a barrier in the Netherlands. King William infilled upon the French King’s acknow- ledging his title; and the Englifh nation wiRied for nothing fo much as the end of a ruinous war. On the tenth day of February, Callieres, in the name of his maflei’, agreed to the following preliminaries ; That the treaties of Weftphalia and, Nimeguen fhould be the bafis of this negociation : that Straf- boiirg fliould be reflored to the Empire, and Lux- embourg to the Spaniards, together with Mons, Charleroy, and all places taken by the French in Catalonia fince the treaty of Nimeguen : that Di- nanc WILLIAM. 319 nant fliould be ceded to the Bifhop of Leige, and chap. all re-unions fince the treaty of Nimeguen be made void : that the French King fhould make reftitu- tion of Lorraine 5 and, upon conclufion of the peace, acknowledge the Prince of Orange as King ofGreat- Britain, without condition or referve. The con- * ferences were interrupted by the death of Charles XL King of Sweden, who was fucceeded by his fon Charles, then a minor : but the Queen and five fe- nators, whom the late King had by will appointed adminiflrators of the government, refolved to pur- fue the mediation, and fent a new commiffion to Lillienroot for that purpofe. The ceremonials be- ing regulated with the confent of all parties, the ple- nipotentiaries of the Emperor delivered their mafter’s demands to the mediator, on the twenty-fecond day of May, and feveral German minifters gave in the pretenfions of the rcfpe6live Princes whom they re- prefented. § XLIX. Mean while, the French King, in the hope of procuring more favourable tetms, refolved to make his laid effort againft the Spaniards in Cata- lonia and in the Netherlands, and to elevate the Prince of Conti to the throne of Poland ; an event which would have greatly improved the intereft of France in Europe. Louis had got the ftart of the confederates in Elanders, and fent thither a very numerous army, commanded by Catinat, Vilieroy, and Boufflers. The campaign was opened with the fiege of Aeth, which was no fooner invefted, than King William, having recovered of an indifpofition, took the field, and had an interview with the Duke of Bavaria, who commanded a feparate body. He did not think proper to interrupt the enemy in their operations before Aeth, which furrendered in a few" days after the trenches were opened ; but contented himfelf with taking poffeffion of an advantageous camp, where he covered Bruffels, which Vilieroy ^nd Boufflers had determined to befiege. In Cata- lonia ■520 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. tJ BOOK Ionia, the Duke of Vendome inveiled Barcelona, In ^ which there was a garnfon of ten thoufand regular ,69^. foldiers, befides five thoufand burghers, who had voluntarily taken arms on this occafion. The go- vernor of the place was the Prince of HefTe d’Arm- ftadt, who had ferved in Ireland, and been veiled with the command of the Imperial troops which were fent into Spain. The French general being reinforced from Provence and Languedoc, carried ' on his approaches with furprizing impetuofity ; and was repulfed in feveral attacks by the valour of the defendants. At length the enemy furprized and routed the viceroy of Catalonia; and, fiufhed with this victory, flormed the outworks, which had been long battered with their cannon. The difpute was very bloody and obflinate ; but the French, by dint of numbers, made themfelves mailers of the covered w^ay and two baflions. There they erecled batteries of cannon and mortars, and fired furioufly on the town, which, however, the Prince of HefTe refolved to defend to the lafl extremity. The court of Ma- drid, however, unwilling to fee the place entirely ruined, as in all probability it would be reftored at the peace, difpatched an order to the Prince to ca- • . pitulate ; and he obtained very honourable terms, after having made a glorious defence for nine weeks ; in confideradon of which he was appointed viceroy . of the province. France was no fooner in pofTeffion of this important place, than the Spaniards became as eager for peace as they had been before averfe to a negociation. § L. Their impatience was not a little inflamed by the fuccefs of Pointis in America, whe;e he took Carthagena, in which he found a booty amounting to eight millions of crowns. Having ruined the for- tifications of the place, and received advice, tliat an Englifh fquadron under Admiral Nevil had arri- ved in the Wefl-Indies, with a defign to attack him in his return, he bore aw'ay for the fir aits of Ba- hama, W I L L I A M. hama. On the twenty-fecond day of May he fell in with the EngliOi fle^t, and one of his fly-boats was taken ; but fuch was his dexterity, or good fortune, that he efcaped, after having been purfued five days, during which the Englifh and Dutch Rear-Admirals fprang their fore-topmafls,' and received other da- mage, lb that they co uld not proceed. Then Nevil fleered to Carthagena, which he found quite abandoned by the inhabitants, who, after the depar- ture of Pointis, had been rifled a fecond time by the buccaneers, on pi-etence that they had been defrauded of their fliare of the plunder. This was really the cafe ; they had in a great meafure contributed to the fuccefs of Pointis, and were very ill rewarded. In , a few days the Englifh Admiral difcovered eight fail of their fhips, two of which were forced on fliore and deflroyed, two taken, and the reft efcaped. Then he directed his courfe to Jamaica, and, by the ad- vice of the governor. Sir William Beefton, detached Rear-Admiral Meeze with fome ftiips and forces to attack Petit- Guavas, which he accordingly furprifed, burned, and reduced to afhes. After this fmall ex^ pedition Nevil proceeded to the Havannah, on pur- pofe to take the galleons under his cohvoy for Eu^ rope, according to the inftruftions he had received from the King : but the governor of the place, and the general of the plate-fleet, fufpeding fuch an offer, would neither fuffer him to enter the harbour, nor put the galleons under his protedlion. He now failed through the gulf of Florida to Virginia, where he died of chagrin, and the command of the fleet devolved on Captain Dilkes, who arrived in England on the twenty-fourth day of Oflober, with a fhattered fquadron, half-mann’ed, to the unfpeak- able mortification of the people, who flattered them- felves with the hopes of wealth and glory from this expedition. Pointis fleering to the banks of New- foundland, entered the bay of Conceptione, at a time when a flout Englifh fquadron, commanded by VoL. I, y Com- V I. i6<.j7. 3?, 2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, BOOK Commodore Norris, lay at anclior in the bay of Sta John. This oTicer being informed of the arrival of a French feet, at bril concluded, that it v/as the iqiiaciron of M. Nefmond come to attack him, and exerted his utmoft endeavours to put the place in a ^ pofture of defence: but, ^afterwards, underfcanding that it was Pointis returning with the fpoil of Car- triagena, he called a council of war, and propofed to go inmiediately in quefc of the enemy. Pie was, however, over-ruled by a majority, vtho gave it as their opinion, that they Pnould reiPiain where they were, without running unneceffary hazard. By vir- tue of this fcandalous determination, Pointis was permitted to proceed on his voyage to Plurope ; but he had not yet efcaped every danger. On the four- teenth day of Anguft he fell in with a fquadron under the command of Captain Harlov/, by whom he was boldly engaged till night parted the comba- tants. Pic was purfued next day ^ but his Pfips fail- ing better than thofe of Plarlow, he accompliPied 'his efcape, and on the morrow entered the harbour ofBreft. That his (hips, which were foul, Piould out-fail the Englifn fquadron, which had juft put to fea, was a myftery which the people of England could not explain. They complained of having been betrayed through the whole courfc of the Weft-Indian expedition. The King owned he did not underftand marine aftairs, the entire condudt of which he abandoned to Ruftel, who became proud, arbitrary, and unpopular, and w'as fuppofed to be betrayed by his dependents. Certain it is, the fervice was greatly obftrufted by fadlion among the officers, which with refbefl: to the nation had all the effedts of treachery and mifeondudt. § P-P. The fuccefs of the PVench in Catalonia, Flanders, and the Weft-Indies^ was balanced by their difappointment in Poland. Louis, encouraged by the reiponftrances of the Abbe de Polignac, who managed the affiirs of France in that kingdom, re- folved to fupport the ITince of Conti as a candidate for W I L L I A M. I for the crown, and remitted great fums of money, c which were diftributed among the Poliili nobility. The Emperor had at firft declared for the fon of the late King : but, finding the French party too ftrong for this competitor, he entered into a nego- ciatiori with the Elector of Saxony, who agreed to change his religion, to diilribute eight millions of florins among the Poles, to confirm their privileges, and advance with his troops to the frontiers of that kingdom. Having performed thefe articles, he de-* dared himfelf a candidate, and was publicidy ef- poiifed by the Im.perialifrs. The Duke of Lorraine, the- Prince of Baden, and Don Livio Odefchaichi, nephew to Pope Innocent, w^ere iikewife competi- tors ; but, finding their intereil infuflicient, they united their influence with that of the Eledor, wTo was proclaimed King of Poland. He forthv/ith took the oath required, procured an atteftation from the Imperial court of his having changed his religion, and marched with his army to Cracow, where he was crowned wnth the ufual folemnity. Louis per- fiflied in maintaining the pretenfions of the Prince of Conti, and equipped a fleet at Dunkirk for his con- voy to Dantzick in his way to Poland. But the magiftrates of that city, who had declared for the new king, w^ould not fuffer his men to land, though they offered to admit himfelf with a fmall retinue. He, therefore, went on flrore at Marienburgh, where he was met by fome chiefs of his own party ; but the new’ King Auguflus aded with fuch vip-i- lance, that he found it impradicabie to form an army : befides he fufpeded the fidelity of his own Polifli partifans : he, therefore, refufed to part with the treafure he had brought, and in the beginning of winter returned to Dunkirk. § LIE The. eftablifliment of Auguftus on the throne of Poland was in fome meafure owing to the condud of Peter the Czar ofMufeovy, who having formed great defigns againfl: the Ottoman-Porte, Y 2 was 1697, * 3 ^ BOOK I. 1697. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. was very unwilling to fee the crown of Poland poi- felTed by a partifan of France, which was in alliance with the Grand Signor. He, therefore, interefted himfelf warmly in the difpute, and ordered his Ge- neral to alTemble an army on the frontiers of JLithua- nia, which, by over- awing the Poles that were in the intereft of the Prince 'of Conti, confiderably in- fluenced the election. This extraordinary legiflator, who was a ftrange compound of heroifm and barba- rity, confeious of the defeats in his education, and of the grols ignorance that oyerl].)read his dominions, refolved to extend his ideas, and improve his judge- ment, by travelling ; and that he might be the lefs reftridted by forms, or interrupted by officious cu- riofity, he determined to travel in difguife. He was extremely ambitious of becoming a maritime power, and in particular of maintaining a fleet in the Black- fea ; and his immediate aim was to learn the princi- ples of fliip-building. He appointed an embaffiy for Holland, to regulate fome points of commerce with the States-General. Having entrufled the care of his dominions to perfons in whom he could confide, he now difguifed himfelf, and travelled as one of, their retinue. He firit difclofed himfelf to the Elec- tor of Brandenburgh in Pruffia, and afterwards to King William, with whom he conferred in private at Utrecht. He engaged himfelf as a common la- bourer with a fiiip-carpenter in Holland, whom he ferved for fome months with wonderful patience and affiduity. He afterwards vifited England, where he amufed himfelf chiefly with the fame kind of occu- pation. From thence he fet out for Vienna, where receiving advices from his dominions, that his fifler was concerned in managing intrigues againfl: his go- vernment, he returned fuddenly to Mofeow, and found the machinations of the confpirators were already baffled by the vigilance and fidelity of the foreigners to whom he had left the care of the admi- niflradon. Fiis favage nature, however, broke out ■ upon / W I L L I A AT, upon this occafion ; he ordered Ibme hundreds to be c n A P. • hanged all round his capital ; and a good nunaber , j were beheaded, he himfelf with his own hand per- ,697. forming the ofRce of executioner. § LI II. The negociations at Ryfwick proceeded very flowly for fome time. The imperial minifter demanded, that France ihoiild make reftitution of of all the places and dominions fne had v/relled from the Empire fince tlie peace of Munfter, whether by force of aims or pretence of right. The Spaniards claimed all they could demand by virtue of the peace of Nimeguen and the treaty of the Pyrennees. The French affirmed, that if the preliminaries offered by Callieres were accepted, thefe propofitions could not be taken into confideration. The Im- perialifts perfifled in demanding a circumftantial anfwer, article by article. The Spaniards infifted upon the fame manner of proceeding, and called upon the mediator and Dutch minilters to fupport their pretenfions. The plenipotentiaries of France declared, they would not admit any demand or pro- portion, contrary to the preliminary articles ; but were willing to deliver in a projeft of peace, in order to Ikorten the negociations; and the Spanifh amibaffadors confented to this expedient. During thefe tranfaftions, the Earl of Portland held a con- ference with Marefchal Bouffiers, near Halle, in fight of the two oppofite armies, wffiich was con- tinued in five fucceffive meetings. On the fecond day of Auguft they retired together to a houfe in the fuburbs of Halle, and mutually figned a paper, in which the principal articles of the peace between France and England were adjufted. Next day King William quitted the camp, and retired to his houle at Loo, confident of having taken fuch meafures for a pacification as could not be difappointed. The fubjedt of this field negociation is laid to have turned upon the intereft of King James, wffiich the J^rench monarch promifed to abandon : others, Y 3 however^ 326 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOKhowever, fuppofe, that the fird foundation of the partition treaty was laid in this conference. But, in ail probability, William’s foie aim was to put an end to an expenfive and unfuccefsful war, which had rendered him very unpopular in his own dominions, and to obtain from the court of France an acknow- ledgement of his title, which had fince the Queen’s death become the fubjedl of difpute. He perceived the Emperor’s backwardncfs towards a pacification, and forefaw numberlefs difficulties in difcuffing fuch a complication of interefts by the common method of treating: he, therefore, chofe fuch a ftep as he thought would alarm thejealoufy of the allies, and quicken the negociation at Ryfwick. Before the congrefs was opened, King James had publiffied two manifeftoes, addrefied to the Catholick and Protedant princes of the confederacy, reprefenting his wrongs, and craving redrefs ; but his remon- drances being altogether difregarded, he afterwards ifiued a third declaration, folemnly proteding againd all that might or diould be negociated, regulated, or dipulated with the ufurper of his realms, as being void of all rightful and lawful authority. On the twentieth day of July the French ambafiadors pro- duced their project of a general peace, declaring at the fame time, that diouid it not be accepted before the lad day of Augud, France would not hold herfelf bound for the conditions die now offered : but Caunitz , the Emperor’s plenipotentiary, proteded he would pay no regard to this limitation. On the thirtieth of Augud, however, he delivered to the mediators an ultimatum; importing, That he ad- hered to the treaties of Wedphalia and Nimeguen, and accepted ofStrafbourg with its appurtenances; 1 hat he infided upon the reditution of Eorraine to the prince of that name and demanded. That the Cnurch and Chapter of Leige fliould be re-eda- blidied in the poffeffion of their incontedable rights. Next day the French plenipotentiaries declared, 4 That \V I L L I A M. 3^7 That the month of Aiiguft being now expired/ all chap. tlieir offers were vacated; That, therefore, the _ ^ King of France would referve Strafbonrg and unite ,697. it, with its dependencies, to his crown for ever : that in other refpedts he would adhere to the projeht, and reftore Barcelona to the crown of Spain ; but tliat thefe terms muff be accepted in twenty days, otherwife he fhould think himfelf at liberty to re- cede. The minifters of the eledlors and princes of the empire joined in a v/ritten remonffrance to the Spanjffi plenipotentiaries, reprefenting the inconve- niencies and dangers that would accrue to the Ger- manick body from France’s being in pofleffion of Luxembourg, and exhorting them in the ftrongeft o o terims to reject all offers of an equivalent for that province. They likewiie prefented another to the States-General, requiring diem to continue the war, acco"ding to their engagements, until France fliould have complied with the preliminaries. No regard, Jiowever, was paid to either of thefe addreffes. Then the Imperial ambaffadors demanded the good offices of the mediator, on certain articles : but all that he could obtain of France was, that die term for ad- j lifting the peace between her and the Emperor ihoulcl be prolonged till the firft day of November, and in the miean time an arrniftice be punClually obferved. Yet even thefe conceffions v/ere made, on condition that the treaty with England, Spain, and Holland ffiould be figned on that day, even tliough the Emperor and Empire ffiould not concur. § LIV. xAccordingly, on the twentieth day of September, the articles were fubferibed by the Dutch, Engliffi, Spaniffi and French ambaifidors, while the Imperial minifters pfotefted againft the tranfadtion, obferving, this was the fecond time that a feparate peace had been concluded with France; and that the States of the empire, wlio had been iinpofed upon through their own credulity, would not for the future be fo cafly perfuaded to Y 4 engage 328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK engage in confederacies. In certain preparatoiy articles fettled between England and France, King William promifed to pay a yearly penfion to Queen Mary D’Efte, of fifty thoufand pounds, or fuchfum as fliould be eflablilEed for that purpofe by a6t of Parliament. The treaty itfelf confifced of feventeen articles. The French King engaged, that he would not diflurb or difquiet the King of Great Britain in the poffeffion of his realms or government: nor affift his enemies, nor favour confpiracies againft his perfon. This obligation was reciprocal. A free commerce was rcftored. Commiffaiies Vv^ere appointed to meet at London, and fettle the pre- tenfions of each crown, to Eludfon’s Bay, taken by the French during the late peace, and retaken by the Englifli in the courfe of the war ; and to regu- late the limits of the places to be reftored as v/ell as the exchanges to be made. It was likewife flipu- lated. That, in cafe of a rupture, fix months fhould be allowed to the fubjebls of each power for re- moving their effecls: That the feparate articles of the treaty of Nimeguen, relating to the principality of Orange, fhould be entirely executed; and. That the ratifications fhould be exchanged in three weeks from the day of figning. The treaty between France and Flolland imported a general armiflice, a per- petual amity, a mutual refdtution, a reciprocal re- nunciation of all pretenfions upon each other, a con- firmation of the peace with Savoy, a re-eftablifli- ment of the treaty concluded between France and Brandenburgh, in the year one thoufand fix hundred and feventy-nine, a comprehcnfiori of Sweden, and all thofe powers that fliould be named before the ratification, or in fix months after the conclufion of the treaty. Befides, the Dutch miniflers concluded a treaty of commerce vdth France, which was im- mediately put in execution. Spain had great reafon to be fatisfied with the pacification, by which fhe recovered Gironne, Rofes, Barcelona, L.uxem- bourg. W I L L I A M. 329 bourg, Charleroy, Mons, Courtraiy, and all the c towns, fortrefies, and territories taken by the French in the province of Luxembourg, Namur, Brabant, Flanders, and Hainault, except eighty- two towns and villages claimed by the French : this difpute was left to the decifion of commifTaries ; or, in cafe they fliould not agree, to the determination of the States-General. A remomdrance in favour of the French Proteftant refugees in England, Holland and Germany, vras delivered by the Earl of Pem- broke to the mediators, in the name of the Pro- teftant allies, on the day that preceded the conclu- fion of the treaty; but the French plenipotentiaries declared, in the name of their mafter, that as he did not pretend to preferibe rules to King William about the Englilh fubjedts, he expedled the fame liberty vdth refpedl to his ov/n. No other effort was made in behalf of thofe confeientious exiles: the treaties were ratified, and the peace proclaimed at Paris and London. § LV. The Emperor ftill held out, and perhaps was encouraged to perfevere in his obftinacy by the fuccefs of his arms in Hungary, where his General, Prince Eugene of Savoy, obtained a complete vic- tory at Zenta over the forces of the Grand Signor, who commanded his army in perfon. In this bat- tle, which was fought on the eleventh day of Sep- tember, the Grand Vifir, the Aga of the J aniftaries, feven-and-twenty bafhaws, and about thirty thou- fand men, were killed or drowned in the river Theyfle: fix thoufand were wounded or taken, to- gether with all their artillery, tents, baggage, pro- vifion, and ammunition, the Grand Signor himfelf efcaping with difticulty : a vi6lory the more glori- ous and acceptable, as the Turks had a. great fu- periority in point of number, and as the Imperi- alifts did not lofe a thoufand men during the whole adtion. The Emperor, perceiving that the event of this battle had no efted in retarding the treaty, thought H A P. V. 1697, f HISTORY OF ENGLAND. thought proper to make nfe of the armlftice, and continue the neoiociation after the forementioned treaties had been figned. This was hkewife the cafe with the Princes of the empire j though thofe of the proteftant perfuafion complained, that their in~ tereit w^as neglefted. In one of the articles of the treaty, it was ftipulated, That in the places to be reftored by France, the ivoman-Catliolick religion Usould continue as it had been re-efcabli.flied. The ambaffadors of the proteftant princes joined in a remonftrance, demanding. That the Lutheran reli- gion fnould be reftored in thofe places where it had formerly prevailed ; but this demand was re- jecled, as being equally difagreeable to Fj-ance and the Emperor. Then they rerufed to fign the treaty, v/hich was now concluded between France, the Emperor, and the catholick Princes of the empire. By tliis pacification, Triers, the Palatinate, and I .orraine, were reftored to their refpective owners. The countries of Spanheim and Veldcntz, to- gether with the duchy of Deux Ponts, were ceded to the King of Sweden. Francis Louis Palatine was confirmed in the Eiefilorate of Cologn 3 and Cardinal Furfternberg reftored to all his rights and benefices. The claims of the Duchefs of Orleans upon tlie Palatinate were referred to the arbitra- tion of France and the F/mperor ; and in the mean time the Elector Palatine agreed to fupply her Highnefs with an annuity of one hundred thoufand fiorins. The minifters of the proteftant Princes publiflied a formal 'declaration againft the ciauie /elating to religion, and afterwards foleminly pro- tefted againft the manner in which the negociation had been conduced. Such w^as the iffue of a lon<2c and bloody war, which had drained England of her wealth and people, almioft entirely ruined her commerce, debauched her morals, by encouraging venality and corruption, and entailed upon her the curfe of foreign connexions, as well as a national I ' debt, W I L L I A M. ^71 debt, which was gradually increafed to an intole- chap. rable burthen. After all the blood and treafure , y* ^ v/hich had been expended, William’s ambition and revenge remained unfatisfied. Nevertheleis, he reaned the folid advantas:e of feein.s; himfeif firmly 1 CD CD J eftablifhed on the Englifli throne ; and the confe- deracy, though not fuccefsful in every inffance, ac- compliflied their great aim of putting a ftop to the encroachments of the French monarch. Thev mortified his vanity, they humbled his pride and arrogance, and compelled him to difgorge the acquifitions which, like a robber, he had made in violation of publick faith, juftice, and humanity. Had the allies been true to one another; had they adfed from genuine zeal for the common interefls of mankind ; and profecuted with vigour the plan which was originally concerted, Louis would in a few campaigns have been reduced to the moft ab- jedt fcate of difgrace, defpondence, and fubmiflion ; for he was deilitute of true courage and magnani- mity. King William having finifiied this impor- tant tranfadtion, returned to England about the mid- dle of November, and was received in London, amidfl: the acclamations of the people, who now again hailed him as their deliverer from a war, by the continuance of which they miuh; have been in- ^ fallibly beggared. C H A P. 333 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. C H A P. VI. § 1. State of parties. § II. Charatlers of the mmiftcrs, % III. "h^he Commons reduce jhe number of ftand- ing forces to ten thoufand. § IV. 'They eftahlifh the civil lift j and affign funds for paying the national debts. § V. They take cognizance of fraudulent endorfements of Exchequer bills. § VL A new Eaft-India company conftituted by aSl of Parlia- ment. § VII. Proceedings againft a book written by Willi ain Molineux of Dublin. % VIII. And againft certain fmugglers of alamodes and luftrings fro?n ITance. § IX. Society for the reformation of man- ners. § X. The Earl of Portland reftgns his em- ployments. § XL The King difowns the Scott iftj trading company. § XII. Pie embarks for Holland. § XIII. Firft treaty of partitions. § XIV. Intri- gues of Fratice at the court of Madrid. § XV. King William is thwarted by his new Parliament. § XVI. He is obliged to fend away his Dutch guards. % XVII. The Comm 072 s aAdrefs the Klig againft the Papifts. § XVIII. The PayTiament prorogued. § XIX. The Scottifh cofnpany make a fettlement on the Ifthfnus of Darien. § XX. Which however^ they are compelled to abandon. § XXL Remonftrances of the Spanifh court againft the treaty of partition. §XXIL The Co77imQ7is perfift in in their refolutions to mortify the Kbtg. § XXIIL Enquiry into the expe- dition of C apt am Kidd. § XXIV. A motion 772 ade againft Burnet^ Biftoop of Saru'm. § KXV. En- quiry into the Irifh forfeitures. % XX VL The Co77i77ions -pays a bill of refumpimi. % XXATL Arid a fevere hill agahtft Papifts. § XXV III. The old Eaft-India Company re-eftabliftoed. § XXIX. Dangerous ferment in Scotland. § XXX. Lord Somers difmiffed from his employments. § XXXL Second treaty of partition. § XXXIL Death of- the- W I L L I A Ivl. 333 the Dnke of Gloucejler. § XXXIJI. TheKiji? fends a fleet into the Baltick^ to the afliftance of the Swedes. § XXXIV. d^he fecond treaty cf partition generally difafreeahle to the European powers. § XXXV. Ehe French intereft prevails at the court of Spain. § XXXVI. King William finds means to allay the heats in Scotland. § XXX VIL The King of Spain dies, after having bequeathed his do^ninions by will to the Duke of Anjou. § XXX VK I. The French Kings apology for accepting the will. § XXXIX. The States -General own Fhilip as King of Spain, § XL. A new miniftry and a new Parliament. § XLI. The Commons unpropitious to the court. § XLI I. The Lords are more con defending. § XLIII. An intercepted letter from the Earl of Milfort to his brother. § XLIV. Succefflon of the crown fettled upon the Princefs Sophia, Eletlrefs- Dowager of Hanover, and the Proteftant heirs of her body. § XLV. The Dutchefs of Savoy protefts againft this aSi. § XL/VI. Ineffebiual nogociation with France. § XLVII. Severe addreffes from both Houfes in relation to the partition treaty. § X LV III. William is obliged to acknozvledge the King of Spain. § XLIX. The two Houfes fern to enter into the Kings meafiires. § L. The Conmiotis refolve to wreak their vengeance on the old minijlry. § LI. The Earls of Portland and Oxford, the Lords Somers and Halifax, are impeached. § LJL Difputes be- tween the twoHoufs. § Lin. The Ho if of Peers acquits the impeached lords. § LI V. Petition of Kent. § LV. Favourable end of the fjfion. § LVI. Pro- grefs of Prince Eugene in Italy. § L\ 11. Sketch of the fituaticn of affairs in Europe. lAHAl. Ti^eaiy of alliance between the Emperor and the maritime powers. § LIX. Death of King James. § LX. The French King owns the pretended Prince of Wales as King of England. § LX I. Addreffes to King William on that fubjell. § LXII. Flew Parliament. IvXIIL The Kings laflfpcech to both Houfes re- ceived t 334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ceh'cd with great applauj'e. §LXIV. Great bar-* inony between the King and Parliament. § LXV^. Phe two Hotijes pafs the hill of abjuration. § LX VI. Phe Lower Houje juft ifies the proceedings of the Com- < mons in the preceding Parliament. ^IPKNW. Affairs of Ireland. § J.XVIIL Phe King recommends an union of the two kingdoms. LX IX. He falls from his horfe. § LXX. His death. § LXXI. And charadler. BOOK § I. \\J LI E N the King opened the feOlon of ^ ^ » Parliament on the third day of Decem- her, he told them the v/ar was brought to the end they all propofed, namely, an honourable peace. Lie gave them to underiland there was a confiderable debt on account of the fleet and army : that the revenues of the Crown had been anticipated : he expreflfed his hope, that they would provide for him during his life, in fuch a manner as would conduce to his own honour, and that of the government. Lie recommended the maintenance of a confiderable navy; and gave it as his opinion, that for the pre- fent England could not be fafe without a {landing army. He promifed to redlify fuch corruptions and abides as might have crept into any part of the ad- minifliration during the war ; and effedlually to dif- courage prophanenefs and immorality. Finally, he aflTured them, that as he had refeued their religion, laws, and liberties, when they were in the extremefl danger, fo he fliould place the glory of his reign in preferving and leaving them entire to latefl; poflerity. To this fpeech the Commons replied in an addrefs, by a compliment of congratulation upon the peace, and an afilirance, that they would be ever ready to afliR and fupport his Majefly, who had confirmed ■ them in the quiet poflefllon of their rights and liber- ties, and by putting an end to the war fully .com- pleted the work of their deliverance. Notwith- ilanding thefc appearances of good-humour, the ma- jority WILLIAM. 335 joritv of the Houfe, and indeed of the whole naiion, chap. were equally alarmed and cxafperated at a project ^ for maintaining a fcanding army, which, was conn- tenanced at Court, and even recommended by the King, in his fpeech to the Parliament. Williamfs genius vtas altogether military. He could not bear the thoughts of being a king without power. He could not without reluctance difmifs thofe officers vtho had given fo many proofs of tlieir courage and fidelity. He did not think himfelf fafe upon the naked throne, in a kingdom that fwarmed wnth mal- contents, wffio had fo often con-fpired againft his per- fon and government. He dreaded the ambition and knov/n perfidy of the French King, who ftill re- tained a powerful army. Fie forefaw that a reduc- tion of the forces would lefien his importance both at home and abroad ; dimdnifii the dependence upon his government; and difperfe thofe foreigners in Vvhofe attachmicnt he chiefly confided. He commu- nicated his fentimiCnts on this lubjeCt to his confi- dent, the Earl of Sunderland, who knew by expe- rience the averfion of the people to a {landing army; neverthelefs, he encouraged him with hope of fuccefs, on the fiippofition that the Comimons would lee the difference between an army raifed' by the King’s private authority, and a body of veteran troops maintained by confent of Parliaiment for the fecurity of the kingdom. This was a diftinction to which the people paid no - regard. Ail the jealoufy of former Parliaments feemed to be roufed by the bare propofal ; and this was inflamed by a national preju- dice againfl: the Refugees, in v/hofe favour the King had betrayed repeated marks of partial indulgence. They were fubmuffive, tracfirable, and wholly depen- dent upon his will and generofity. The Jacobites failed not to cherifli the feeds of diflatisfaclion, and reproach the Whigs wFo countenanced this mieafure. They branded that party with apoftacy fi*om their foriTier principles. They obferved, that the very perfons 336 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK peiTons who in the late reigns endeavoured to abridge ^ the prerogative, and deprive the King of that fhare 1697. of power which v/as abfolutely neceffary to aftuate the machine of government, were now become ad- vocates for m.aintaining a (landing army in time of peace 5 nay, and impudently avowed,* that their com- plaifance to the Court in this particular was owing to their defire of excluding from all fhare in the ad- miniftration a fadlion difafFecled to his Majelly, which might miilead him into more pernicious mea- fures. The majority of thofe who really entertained Revolution -principles ' oppofed the Court, from ap- prehenfions that a (landing army once eftablifhed would take root, and grow into an habitual maxim of government : that Ihould the people be difarmed, and the fword left in the hands of mercenaries, the liberties of the nation muft be entirely at the mercy of him by whom thofe mercenaries fliould be com- manded. They might over-awe eledlions, diclate to Parliaments, and eftabiidi a tyranny, before the people could take any meafures for their own pro- tedion. They could not help thinking it was pof- fible to form a militia, that with the concurrence of a fleet might effe6lually prote6t the kingdom from the dangers of an invafion. They (irmly believed,, that a militia might be regularly trained to arms, fo as to acquire the dexterity of profeflTed foldiers ; and they did not doubt they would furpafs thofe hirelings in courage, confidering that they would be animated by every concurring motive of intereft, fentiment, and affection. Nay, they argued, that Britain, furrounded as it was by a boifherous fea, fecured by floating bulwarks, abounding with (lout and hardy inhabitants, did not deferve to be free, if her fons could not proted their liberties without the afliftance of mercenaries, who were indeed the only flaves of the kingdom. Yet, among the genuine friends of their country, fome individuals efpoufed the oppofite maxims. They obferved that the mili- tary ' I / W I L L I A M. tary fyftem of every government in Europe was now altered : that war was become a trade, and difcipline a fcience not to be learned but by thofe who made it their foie profeflfion : that, therefore, while France kept up a large Handing arm.y of veterans, ready to embark on the oppofite coaft, it would be abfolutely neceffary, for the fafety of the nation, to maintain a fmall Handing force, which Hiould be voted in Par- liament from year to year. They might have fug- geHed another expedient, which in a few years would have produced a militia of difciplined men. Had the foldiers of this fmall Handing army been inliHed for a term of years, at the expiration of which they might have claimed their difcharge, volunteers would have offered themfelves from all parts of the king- dom, even from the defire of learning the ufe and exercife of arms, the ambition of being concerned in fcenes of actual fervice, and the chagrin of little difappointments or temporary difguHs, which yet would not have impelled them to inliH as foldiers on the common terms of perpetual flavery. In confe- quence of fiich a fucceffion, the whole kingdom would foon have been Hocked with members of a difciplined militia, equal, if not fuperior to any army of profeHed foldiers. But this fcheme would have defeated the purpofe of the Government, which was more afraid of domeHick foes than of foreign ene- mies j and induHrioufiy avoided every plan of this nature, which could contribute to render the mal- contents of the nation more formidable. § II. Before we proceed to the tranfadtions of Parliament in this feffion, it may not be amifs to iketch the out-lines of the miniHry, as it Hood at this juncture. The King’s affedlion for the Earl of Portland had begun to abate, in proportion as his eHeem for Sunderland increafed, together with his confideration for Mrs, Villiers, who had been diHin- guiflied by fome particular marks of his MajeHy’s favour. Thefe two favourites are faid to have fup- VoL, I. Z planted 33S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK planted Portland, whofe place in the King’s bofom ^ was now filled by VanKeppel, a gentleman ofGuel- 3607. derland, who had firfl ferved his Majefty as a page, and afterwards acled as private fecretary. The Earl of Portland growing troublefome, from his jealoufy of this rival, the King refolved to fend him into honourable exile, in quality of an ambalTador extra- ordinary to the Court of France ; and Trumball, his friend and creature, was difmifled from the office of fecretary, which the King conferred upon Vernon, a plodding man of bufinefs, who had adted as under- fecretary to the Duke of Shrewibury. This noble- man rivalled the E.arl of Sunderland in his credit at the Council-board, and was fupported by Somers, I^ord-Chancellor of England, by Ruflel, now Earl of Orford, Firft Lord of the Admiralty, and Mon- tagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Somers was an upright judge, a plaufible ftatefman, a confummatc courtier, affable, mild, and infinuating. Orford ap- pears to have been rough, turbulent, fa6lious, and lhallow. Montagu had diftinguiffied himfelf early by his poetical genius; but he foon converted his attention to the cultivation of more folid talents. He rendered himfelf remarkable for his eloquence, difcernment, and knowledge of the Engiifli confti- tution. I'o a delicate tafte, he united an eager ap- petite for political ftudies. The firft catered for th-e enjoyments of fancy ; the other was fubfervient to his ambition. Tie, at the fame time, was the dif- tinguiflied encourager of the liberal arts, and the profeffed patron of projeclors. In his private de- portment he was liberal, eafy, and entertaining : as a ftatefman, bold, dogmatical, and afpiring. § in. The terrors of a ftanding army had pro- duced fuch an univerfal fernaent in the nation, that the dependents of the Court in the Houfe of Com- mons durft not openly oppofe the redudion of the forces: but they ihifted the battery, and employed, all their addrefs in perfuading the Houfe. to agree, . . that W I L L I A M. 339 that a very fmall number Hioiild be retained. When CHAP, the Commons voted. That ail the forces raifed fince the year one thoufand fix hundred and eighty lliould be difbanded, the Courtiers defired the vote might be re-committed, on pretence that it reftrained the King to the old Tory regiments, on whofe fidelity he could not rely. This motion, however, was over-ruled by a confiderable majority. Then they propofed an arhendment, which was rejected, and afterwards moved, That the fum of five hundred thoufand pounds per annum fliould be granted for the maintenance of guards and garrifons. This pro- vifion would have maintained a veiy confiderable number; but they w’’ere again difappointed, and fain to embrace a compofition with the other party, by which three hundred and fifty thoufand pounds were allotted for the maintenance of ten thoufand men ; and they afterwards obtained an addition of three thoufand marines. The King was extremely morti- fied at thefe refolutions of the Commons ; and even declared to his particular friends, that he would ne- ■ ver have intermeddled with the affairs of the nation, had he forefeen they would make fuch returns of ingratitude and diftrufl. His difpleafure was aggra- vated by the refentment expreffed againft Sunder- land, who was ffippofed to have advifed the unpo- pular meafure of retaining a (landing army. This nobleman, dreading the vengeance of the Commons, refolved to avert the fury of the impending. florm, by refigning his office, and retiring from Court, con- trary to the intreaties of his friends, arid the earnefl defire of his Majefly. § IT. The Houfe of Commons, in order to fweeten the unpalatable cup they had prefented to the Kino;, voted the fum of feven hundred thoufand pounds per annum for the fuppoit of the civil lifl, diftinfl from all other fervices. Then they paffed an a£l prohibiting the currency of fiiver hann- mered coin, including a claufe for making out new Z 2 Exche- J43 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. \ BOOK Exchequer-bills, in lieu of thofe which were or might ^ ^ be filled up with endorfements : they framed another ' 1697. to open the correfpondence with France, under a va- riety of provifos : a third for continuing the impri- fonment of certain perfons who had been concerned in the late confpiracy : a fourth granting . further time for adminiftering oaths with refpefl to tallies and orders in the Exchequer and Bank of England. Thefe bills having received the royal affent, they re- folved to grant a fupply, which, together with the funds already fettled for that purpofe, fnould be fuf- ficient to anfwer and cancel all Exchequer-bills, to the amount of two millions feven hundred thoufand pounds. Another fupply was voted for the pay- ment and redudlion of the army, including half- pay to fuch commiflion-ofFiCers as were natural-born fubjedls of England. They granted one million four hundred thoufand pounds, to make good defi- ciencies. They refolved. That the fum of two mil- lions three hundred and forty-eight thoufand one hundred and two pounds was necefiary to pay off arrears, fubfiftence, contingencies, general-officers, guards, and garrifons ; of which fum eight hundred and fifty-five thoufand five hundred and two pounds remained in the hands of the paymafleti Then they took into confideration the fubfidies due to foreign powers, and the fums owing to contractors for bread and forage. Examining further the debts of the nation, they found the general debt of the navy amounted to one million three hundred and ninety- two thoufand feven hundred and forty-two pounds. That of the Ordnance was equal to two hundred and four thoufand one hundred and fifty-feven pounds. The tranfport debt contracted for the re- duction of Ireland, and other fervices, did not fall fhort of four hundred and fixty-fix thoufand four hundred and ninety-three pounds; and they owed nine-and-forty thoufand nine hundred and twenty- nine pounds, for quartering and cloathing the army, wEich W I L L I A Ivr. ^41 which had been raifed by one of Parliament in chap. the year 1677, and difbanded by another in the . year 1679. As this enormous load of debt could not be difcharged at once, the Commons paiTed a number of votes for raifing fums of money, by which it was confiderably lightened ; and fettled the funds for thofe purpofes by the continuation of the land- tax, and other impofitions. With refpeft to the civil lift, it was raifed by a new fubfidy of tonnage and poundage, the hereditary and temporary excife, a weekly portion from the revenue of the poft-office, the firft-fruits and tenths of the clergy, the fines in the alienation- office, and poft-fines, the revenue of the wine-licenfe, money arifing by fheriffs, proffers, and compofitions in the Exchequer, and leizures, the income of the Dutchy of Cornwall, the rents of all other crown-lands in England or Wales, and the duty of four and a half per cent, upon fpecie from Barbadoes and the Leeward-iftands. The bill imported. That the overplus arifing from thefe funds fhould be accounted for to Parliament. Six hundred thoufand pounds of this money was al- lotted for the purpofes of the civil lift : the reft was granted for the jointure of fifty thoufand pounds per annum, to be paid to Queen Mary d’Efte, according to the ftipulation at Ryfwick •, and to maintain a court for the Duke of Gloucefter, Ion of the Princefs Anne of Denmark, now in the ninth year of his age : but the jointure was never paid ; nor would the King allow above fifteen thoufand pounds per annum for the ufe of the Duke of Glou- cefter, to wfiom Burnet Bilhop of Salifbury was appointed preceptor. § V. The Commons having difcuffed the ways and means for raifing the fupplies of the enfuing year, which rofe almoft to five millions, took cog- nizance of fome fraudulent endorfements of Exche- quer-bills, a fpecies of forgery which had been praclifed by a confederacy, confifting of Charles Z 3 Duncomb, 342 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Duncomb, receiver-general of the Excife, Bartho- ^ lomew Burton, v/ho poffeffed a place in that branch 3657. of the revenue, John, Knight, treafurer of the Cuf- • toms, and Reginald Marriot, a deputy-teller of the Exchequer. This lafl became evidence, and the proof turning out very ftrong and full, the. Houle refolved to make examples of the delinquents, Dun- Burnet. comb and, Knight, both members of Parliament, Kennet. expelled, aiid committed to the Tower : Burton Tra^s was fcnt to Newgate ; and bills of pains and penalties Burchet. \Yere ordered to be brought in againft them. The firft, levelled at Duncomb, paifed the Lower-Houfe, ra!s. Tin- though iiot without great oppofition : but was re- ^^'jtK^^’P^'jeded in the Eloufe of Lords by the majority of one voice. Duncomb, who was extremely rich, is faid to have paid dear for his efcape. The other two bills met with the fame fate. The Peers difeharged Duncomb from his confinement; but he was re- committed by the Commons, and remained in cuf- tody till the end of the feflfion. While the Commons were employed on ways and means, fome of the members in the oppofition propofed, that one-fourth part of the money arifing from improper grants of the crown fhould be appr-opriated to the fervice of the publick, but this was a very unpalatable expe- dient, as it affedted not only the Whigs of King William’s reign, but alfo the Tories who had been gratifed by Charles II. and his brother. A great number of petitions were prefented againfh this mea- fure, and fo many difficulties raifed, that both par- ties agreed to lay it afide. In the courfe of this enquiry, they difeovered that one Rai.lton held a grant in truft for Mr. Montagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer. A motion was immediately made, that he ihould withdraw ; but palled in the negative by a great majority. Far from profecuting this mi- niiTer, the Houfe voted it was their opinion, That Mr. Montagu, for his good fervices to the govern- ment, did d?ferve bis Majefty’s favour, ' § YE WILLIAM. 343 § VI. This extraordinary vote was a fure pi'e-CHAP. fage of fiiccefs in the execution of a fcheme which Montagu had concerted againft the Eaft-India com- pany. They had been founded about advancing a fum of money for the publick fervice, by way of loan, in confideration of a Parliamentary fettlement; and they offered to raife feven hundred thoufand pounds on that condition : but, before they formed this refolution, another body of Merchants, under the aufpices of Montagu, offered to lend two mil- lions at eight per cent, provided they might be gratified with an exclufive privilege of trading to the Eaft-Indies. This propofal v/as very well received by the majority in the Houfe of Commons. A bill for this purpofe was brought in, with additional claufes of regulation. A petition was prefented by the old company, reprefenting their rights and claims under fo many royal charters ; the regard due to the - property of above a thoufand families interefted in the ftock : as alfo to the company’s property in India, amounting to forty- four thoufand pounds of yearly revenue. They alledged they had expended a mil- lion in fortifications, that during the war they had loft twelve great fhips, worth fifteen hundred thou- fand pounds: that fmce the laft fubfcription they had contributed two hundred and ninety-five thou- fand pounds to the Cuftoms, with above eighty-five thoufand pounds in taxes ; that they had furnifhed fix thoufand barrels of gunpowder on a very preffing . occafion; and eighty thoufand pounds for the cir- culation of Exchequer bills, at a very critical junc- ture, by defire of the Lords of the Treafury, who owned that their compliance v/as a very important fervice to the government. No regard being paid to their remonftrance, they undertook to raife the- loan of two millions, and immediately fubfcribed two hundred thoufand pounds as the firft payment. ' The two propofals being compared and confidered by the Houle, the majority declared for the bill, Z 4 which 344 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B O' o K which was pafl’ed, and fent up to the Houfe of I- Lords. There the old company delivered another ^ 'petition, and was heard by coiinfel; neverthelefs, the bill made its way, though not without oppoli- tion, and a formal proteftation by one-and-twenty^ lords, who thought it was a hardfliip upon the prefen t company 5 and doubted whether the feparate trade allowed in the bill, concurrent with a joint flock, might not prove fuch an inconfiftency as would dif- coiirage the fubfcription. This acl, by which the old company was diffolved, in a great meafurc blafled the reputation of the Whigs, which Iiad for fome time been on the decline with the people. They had flood up as advocates for a flanding army: they now unjuflly fuperfeded the Eafl-India company: they were accufed of having robbed the publick by embezzling the national treafure, and amafling wealth by ufurious contra6ls, at the expence of their fellow-fubjeds, groaning under the moil opprefTive burthens. Certain it is, they were at this period the mofl mercenary and corrupt undertakers that ever had been employed by any king or adminiflra- ' tion fince the firfl eflablifliment of the Englifh mo- narchy. § VII. The Commons now transferred their atten- tion to certain objebts in which the people of Ire- land were interefled. Colonel Mitchelborne, who had been joint governor of Londonderry with Dr. Walker, during the fiege of that place, petitioned the Houfe in behalf of himfelf, his officers, and fol- diers, to whom a confiderable fum of money was due for fubfiflence ; and the city itfelf implored the mediation of the Commons with his Majefty, that its fcrvices and fufferings might be taken into con- fideration. The Houfe having examined the alle- gations contained in both petitions, prefented an addrefs to the King, recommending the citizens of Londonderry to his Majefly’s favour, that they might no longer remain a ruinous fpedacle to all, a ' fcorn W I L L I A M. 345 [corn to their enemies, and a difcourao-einent to c h /\ p. well-affeded fubjedts ; they likewife declared, that, the governor and garrifon did deferve fome fpecial marks of Royal favour, for a lafting monument to pofterity. To this addrefs the King replied, that he would confider them, according to the defire of the Commons. William Molineux, a gentleman of Dublin, having publifhed a book to prove that the kingdom of Ireland v^s independent of the Par- liament of England, the Houfe appointed a com- mittee to enquire into the caufe and nature of this performance. An addrefs was voted to the King, defiring he would give diredcions for the difcovery and punilhment of the author. Upon the report of the committee, the Commons in a body prefented an addrefs to his Majefty, reprefenting the dangerous attempts which had been lately made by fome of his fubjedls in Ireland, to lhake off their fubjedtion and dependence upon England ; attempts which ap- peared not only from the bold and pernicious afifer- tions contained in a book lately publifhed, but more fully and authentically by fome votes and proceed- ings of the Commons in Ireland. Thefe had, during their laft feffion, tranfmitted an adl for the better fecurity of his Majefty’s perfon and government, whereby an Englifli adt of Parliament was pretended to be re-enadled, with alterations obligatory on the courts of juftice and the great feal of England. The Englilh Commons, therefore, befought his Majefty to give effedtual orders for preventing any fuch en- croachments for the future, and the pernicious con- iequences of what was paft, by punifliing thofe who had been guilty thereof: that he would take care to fee the laws which diredt and reftrain the Parliament of Ireland pundtually obferved, and difcourage every thing which might have a tendency to leften the de- pendence of Ireland upon England. This remon- ftrance was gracioufty received, and the King pro- mifed to comply with their requeft. § VIIL 34^ BOO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. : § Vni. The iealoufy which' the Commons enter- tained of the government in Ireland animiated them to take other meafures, that aicertained the fub- jedcion of that kingdom. Underilanding that the Irilli had eftabliflied divers woollen manufaftures, they, in • another addrefs, intreated his Majefty to take meafures for difeouraging the woollen manu- * iadures in Ireland, as they interfered with thofe of England, and promote the*linen manufadlure, vdiicli would be profitable to both nations. At the lame time, receiving information that the French had feduced fome Englifli manufacturers, and let up a great work for cloth-making in Picardy, they brought in a bill for explaining and better executing former aCl's for preventing the exportation of wool, fullers- earth, and fcouring- clay ; and this was immediately palled into a law. A petition being prefented to the Houfe, by the hiftring company, againft certain merchants who had fmuggled alaniodes and luftringa from France, even during the war, the committee of trade was direCled to enquire into the allegations ; and all the fecrets of this trafiick were deteCled. Upon the report, the Houfe refolved that the manu- failure of alamodes and luftrings fet up in England had been beneficial to the kingdom ; that there had been a deftruCIive and illegal trade carried on during the war, for importing thefe commodities, by which the King had been defrauded of his cuftoms, and the Englifh marAifaCtures greatly difeouraged : that, by the fmuggling veffels employed in this trade, in- telligence had been carried into France during the war, and the enemies of the government conveyed from juftice. Stephen Seignoret, Rhene Baudoin, John Goudet, Nicholas Santini, Peter de Hearfe, John Pierce, John Dumaitre, and David Barreau were impeached at the bar of the Houfe of Lords ; and pleading guilty, the Lords impofed fines upon them, according to their, refpeclive circumflances.. They were in the niean time committed to New- gate^ t W I L L I A M, 34-7 gate, until thofe fines fiiould be paid ; and the Com- C h a p. inons addrefied the King, that the money might be ^ appropriated to the maintenance of Greenv/ich-hof- i6y8. pital. The Houfe having taken cognizance of this affair, and made fome new regulations in the profe- cution of the African trade, prefented a folemn ad- drefs to the King, reprefenting the general dege- neracy and corruption of the age, and befeeching his Majefty to command all his judges, juftices, and magiftrates, to put the laws in execution againfl profanenefs and immorality. The King profeiTed himfelf extremely well pleafed with this re monfir an ce, promifed to give immediate diredlions for a refor- mation, and exprefied his defire that fome more effectual provifion might be made for fupprefiing impious books, containing dodlrines againfi the Trinity ; dodlrines which abounded at this period, and took their origin from the iicentioufnefs and pro- fligacy of the times. § IX. In the midfi of fuch immorality. Dr. Thomas Bray, an adtive divine, formed a plan for propagating the gofpel in foreign countries. Mif- ilonaries, catechifms, liturgies, and other books for the infiruction of ignorant people, were fent to the Englifh colonies in America. This laudable defign v/as fupported by voluntary contribution ; and the bill having been brought into the Houfe of Com- mons, for the better difeovery of efiates given to fuperftitious ufes. Dr. Bray prefented a petition, praying, that fome part of thefe efiates might be fet ap^rt for the propagation of the reformed religion in Maryland, Virginia, and the Leeward iflands. About this period, a fociety for the reformation of manners v/as formed under the King’s countenance and en- couragement. Confiderable colledlions were made for maintaining clergymen to read prayers at cer- tain hours in places of publick w^orfliip, and admi- nifier the facrament every Sunday. The members of this fociety refolved tQ inform the magifirates of 4 . 34 ?? HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK all vice and immorality that fliould fall under their cognizance ; and with that part of the fines allowed J698. t)y law to the informer conftitute a fund of charity. The bufinefs of the iefiion being terminated, the King, on the third day of July, prorogued the Par- liament, after having thanked them, in a Ihort fpeech, for the many teftimonies of their affe 61 ;ion he had received ; and in two days after the proroga- tion it was diflblved § X. In the month of Januarv', the Earl of Port- land had fet out on his embafly to France, where he was received with very particular marks of diftinc- tion. He made a publick entry into Paris with fuch magnificence as is faid to have aftonilhed the French nation. He interceded for the Proteftants in that kingdom, againfi: whom the perfecution had been renewed with recioubled violence : he propofed that King James fiiouid be removed to Aviguon, in which cafe his mailer wmild fupply him with an honour- able penfion : but his remonllrances on both fub- ]e(Ts proved ineffedual. Louis, however, in a pri- vate conference with him at Marli, is fuppofed to have communicated his projebl of the partition- treaty. The Earl of Portland, at his return to Eng- land, finding himfelf totally eclipfed in the King’s favour, by Keppel, now created Earl of Albemarle, refigned his employments in difgull j nor could the King’s folicitations prevail upon him to refume any office in the houfehold ^ though he promifed to ferve his Majelly in any other ffiape, and was foon em- ployed to negociate the treaty of partition. If this nobleman mifearried in the purpofes of his laft em- bally at the court of Verfailles, the agents of France were equally unfuccefsful in their endeavours to re- trieve their commerce with England, which the way had * On the fifth day of January, a fire breaking out at Whitehall, through the rarelefinels of a laundrefs, the whole body of the palace, together with the new gallery, council chamber, and leveral adjoin- ing apartments, was entirely coniuined j but the baimueting-hQuie was not ali'efteti, W I L L I A M. 349 had interrupted. Their commilTary, fent over to chap. London with powers to regulate the trade between , the two nations, met with infuperable difficulties. LsgTL The Parliament had burthened the French commo- dities with heavy duties, which were already appro- priated to different ufes ; and the channel of trade was in many refpedls entirely altiered. The Englifh merchants fupplyed the nation with wines from Italy, Spain, and Portugal j with linen from Holland and Silefia ; and manufadtures of paper, hats, duffs, and filks, had been fet up and fuccefsfully carried on in England, by the French refugees. § XI. By this time a ferment had been raifed in Scotland, by the oppofition and difcouragements their new company had fudained. They had em- ployed agents in England, Holland, and Hamburgh, to receive fubfcriptions. The adventurers in Eng- land were intimidated by the meafures which had been taken in Parliament againd the Scottiffi com- pany. The Dutch Ead-India company took the alarm, and exerted all their intered to prevent their countrymen from fubfcribing ; and the King per- mitted his refident at Hamburgh to prefent a memo- rial againd the Scottidi company to the fenate of that city. The Parliament of Scotland being affembled by the Earl of Marchmont as King’s commildoner, the company prefented it with a remondrance, con- taining a detail of their grievances, arifing from the condud of the Englifh Houfe of Commons, as well as from the memorial prefented by the King’s mini- der at Hamburgh, in which he adually difowned the ad of parliament and letters patent which had paded in their favour, and threatened the inhabitants of that city with his Majedy’s refentment, in cafe they , fhould join the Scots in their undertaking. They reprefented, that fuch indances of interpofition had put a dop to the fubfcriptions m England and Ham- burgh, hurt the credit of the company, difcouraged the adventurers, and threatened the entire ruin of a , defign / 350 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK defign in which all the moft confiderable families of the nation v/ere deeply engaged. The Parliament having taken their cafe into confideration, fent an ' addrefs to his Majeil'y, reprefenting the hardfhips to which the company had been expofed, explaining liow far the nation in general was concerned in the defign, and intreating that he would take fuch mea- fui-es as might effe6lually vindicate the undoubted rights and privileges of the company. This addrefs was feconded by a petition from the company itfelf, praying, that his Majefly would give fome intima- tion to the fenate of Hamburgh, permitting the in- habitants of that city to renew the fubfcriptions they had withdrawn ; that, as a gracious mark of his Royal favour to the company, he would bellow upon them two fmall frigates, then lying ufelefs in the harbour of Burnt-Ifland ; and that, in confider- ation of the obfl:ru6lions they had encountered, he would continue their privileges and immunities for fuch longer tiime as fnould feem reafonable to his Majelly. Though the commiffioner was v/holly de- voted to the King, who had adlually refolved to ruin this company, he could not appeafe the refentment of the nation j and the heats in Parliament became fo violent, that he was obliged to adjourn it to the fifth day of November. In this interval, the direc- tors of the company, underllanding from their agent at Hamburgh that the addrefs of the Parliament, and their own petition, had produced no eiTeft in their favour ; they wrote a letter of complaint to the L.ord Seafield, .Secretary of State, obferving, that they had received repeated aiTurances of the King’s having given orders to his refident at Hamburgh touching their memorial j and intreating the inter- pofition of his ]-.ordlliip, that juftice might be done to the company. The fecretary, in his anfwer, pro- mifed to take the firit convenient opportunity of re- prefenting the affair to his Majefly but he faid this could not be immediately expeded, as the King was VV I L L I A M. 2 Sl wa4 much engaged in the affairs of the Englilh Par- chap. liament. This declaration the directors confidered, , . as it really was, a* mere evafion, which helped to 165s. alienate the minds of that people from the King’s perfon and government. § XIL King William at this time revolved in hh ovm mind a project of far greater ccnfequence to the intereft of Europe ; namely, that of fettling the fucceffion to the throne of Spain, which in a little time would be vacated by the death of Charles IL whofe conffitution was already exhaufted. He had been lately reduced to extremity, and his fituation was no fooner known in France, than -Louis de- tached a fquadron towards Cadiz, with orders to intercept the plate-fleet, in cafe the King of Spain iKould die before its arrival. William fent another fleet to proteT the galleons ; but it arrived too late for that fervice, and the nation loudly exclaimed againff the tardinefs of the equipment. His Catho- lick Majefty recovered from his diforder, contrary to the expedfation of his people ; but continued in fuch an enfeebled and precarious ftate of health, that a relapfe was every moment apprehended. In the latter end of July King William embarked for Holland, on pretence of enjoying a recefs from bufmefs, which was neceffary to his conffitution. He was glad of an opportunity to withdraw himfelf for fome time from a kingdom in which he had been expofed to fuch oppofition and chagrin. But the real motive of his voyage, was a defign of treating with the French King, remote from the obfervation of thofe who might have penetrated into the nature of his negociation. He. had appointed a Regency to govern the kingdom in his abfence, and as one of the number nominated the Earl of Marlborough, who had regained his favour, and been conftituted governor of the Duke of Glocefter. At his Ma- jefty’s departure, fealed orders were left with the miniffry, directing, that fixteen thoufand men fhould HISTORY OF ENGLAND. o Kbe retained 'in the fervice, notwithfiianding the vote •_ of the Commons, by v/hich the {landing army was limited to ten thoufand. He alledged, that the ap- prehenfion of troubles which might arife at the death ' of King Charles, induced him to tranlgrefs this li- mitation i and he hoped that the new Parliament would be more favourable. PIis enemies, however, made a freih handle of this flep, to depreciate his chara6ler in the eyes of the people. § XIIL Having affiiled at the alTembly of the States-General, and given audience to divers am- baffadors at the Hague, he repaired to his houfe at Loo, attended by the Earl of EfTex, Portland, and Selkiric. There he was vifited by Count Tallard, the French minifter, who had inflruftions to nego- tiate the treaty concerning the Spanifh fucceffion. The Earl of Portland, by his Majefty’s order, had communicated to Secretary Vernon the principal conditions which the French King propofed : he himfelf wrote a letter to Lord Chancellor Somers, defiring his advice with regard to the propofitions, and full powers under the great feal, with blanks to be filled up occafionally, that he might immediately begin the treaty with Count T allard. At the fame time, he flri6lly enjoined fecrefy. The purport of Portland’s letter was imparted to the Duke of Shrewfbury and Mr. Montagu, who confulted with the Chancellor and Vernon upon the fubjeft j and the Chancellor wrote an anfwer to the King, as the iffue of their joint deliberation : but, before it reach- ed his Majeily, the firft treaty of partition was figned by the Earl of Portland and Sir Jofeph Williamfon. The contrafling powers agreed. That, in cafe the King of Spain fnould die without iffue, the kingdom of Naples and Sicily, wfth the places depending on the Spanifli monarchy, and fituated on the coafl of Tufeany, or the adjacent iflands, the marquifate of Final, the province of Guipufcoa, all places on the French fide of the Pyrenees, or the other mountains - of WILLIAM. 3J3 iof Navarre, Alva, or Bifcay, on the other fide of c H A P. the province of Guipufcoa, with all the fhips, vef- fels, and (lores, (liould devolve upon the Dauphin, in confideration of his right to the crown of Spain, which, with all its other dependencies, fhould de- fcend to the Eleftoral Prince of Bavaria, under the guardiandiip of his father : That the duchy of Milan fhould be fettled on the E-mperor’s fecond fon, the Archduke Charles : That this treaty fhould be com- municated to the Emperor and the Eledlor of Bava- ria by the King of England and the States-General : That if either fhould refufe to agree to this partition, his proportion fhould rem.ain in fequeflration, until the difpute could be accommodated : That in cafe the Ele6loral Prince of Bavaria fhould die before his’ father, then the Eleftor and his other heirs fhould fucceed him in thofe dominions ; and, fliould the Archduke reje6l the duchy of Milan, they agreed that it fhould be fequeflered, and governed by the Prince of Vaudemont. • It may be neceffary to ob- ferve, that Philip IV. father to the prefent King of Spain, had fettled his crown by will on the Empe- ror’s children : that the Daiiphin was fon to Maria- Therefa, daughter of the fame monarch, whofe right to the fucceffion Louis had renounced in the moft folemn manner : as for the Ele^oral Prince of Ba- varia, he was grandfon to a daughter of Spain. This treaty of partition was one of the mod impudent fchemes of encroachment that tyranny and injuftice ever planned. Louis, who had made a practice of facr dicing all ties of honour and good faith to the interefl of his pride, vanity) and ambition, forefaw that he fhould never be able to accomplifli his de- figns upon the crown of Spain, while William was left at liberty to form another confederacy againft them. He therefore refolved to amufe him with a treaty, in which he fhould feem to a6l as umpire in the concerns of Europe. He knew that William was too much of a politician to be reflri^led by Yol. L a a notions 354 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK notions of private juftice ; and that he would make no fcruple to infringe the laws of particular coun- j6g8. tries, or even the rights of a fingle nation, when the balance of power was at flake. He judged right in this particular. The King of England lent a willing ear to his propofals, and engaged in a plan for difmembering a kingdom, in defpite of the natives, and in violation of every law human or divine. § XIV. While the French King cajoled William with this negociation, the Marquis d’Harcourt, his ambaffador to Spain, was engaged in a game of a different nature at Madrid. The Queen of Spaing fufpefting the defigns of France, exerted all her intcreft in behalf of the King of the Romans, to w'hom fhe was nearly related. She new-modelled the council, beftowed the government of Milan on Prince Vaudemont, and eftablifhed the Prince of Fleffe d’Armftadt as viceroy of Catalonia. Not- withftanding all her effortSj fhe could not prevent the French minifter from acquiring fome influence in the Spanifli councils. He was inftrudled to pro- cure the fucceffion of the crown for one of the ].)auphin’s fons, or at leaft to hinder it from de- volving upon the Emperor’s children. With a view to give weight to his negociations, the French King ordered an army of fixty thoufand men to advance towards the frontiers of Catalonia and Navarre, v/hile a great number of fliips and gallies criiifed along the coaff, and entered the harbours of Spain. Flarcourt immediately began to form his party; he reprefented that Philip IV. had -no power to difpofe of his crown againff the laws of nature and the conftitution of the realm: that, by the order of fucceffion, the crown ought to de- feend to the children of his daughter, in preference to more diftant relations : that, if the Spaniards would declare in favour of the Dauphin’s fecond fon, the Duke of Anjou, they might train him up ‘ ‘ in WILLIAM. 35^ in tlie manners and cnftoms of their country. When chap, he found them averfe to this propofal, he aflfured them his mafter would approve of the Eleftoral ^*’76387^ Prince of Bavaria, rather than confent to the fuc- ceiTion’s devolving upon a fon of the Emperor. Nay, he hinted, that if they would choofe a fove- teign among themfelves, they might depend upon the proteftion of his moft Chriftian Majefty, who had no other view than that of preventing the houfe of Amdria from becoming too formidable to the liberties of Europe. The Queen of Spain ha- ving difcovered the intrigues of this minifter, con- veyed the King to Toledo, on pretence that the air of Madrid was prejudicial to his health. Har- court imm.ediately took the alarm. He fuppofed her intention was to prevail upon her hufband, in his folitude, to confirm the laft; will of his father ; and Iiis doubts were all removed, when he under- flood that the Count de Harrach, the Imperial am- baiTador, had privately repaired to Toledo. He forthwith took the fame road, pretending to have received a memorial from his mafter, with a pofi- tive order to deliver it into the King’s own hand. He was given to underftand, that the management of foreign affairs had been left to the care of Car- dinal Corduba at Madrid, and that the King’s health would not permit him to attend to bufinefs. The purport of the memorial w^as, an offer of French forces to affift in raifing the fiege of Ceuta, in Barbary, which the Moors had lately underta- ken : but this offer was civilly declined. Harcourt, not yet difeouraged, redoubled his efforts at Madrid, and found means to engao-e Cardinal Portocarrero in the interefts of his mafter. In the mean time Eouis concluded an alliance with Sweden, under the pretext of preferving and fecuring the common peace, by fuch means as ftiould be adjudged moft proper and convenient. During thefe tranfadions, A a 2 King 356 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK King William was not wanting in his endeavours tO terminate the war in Hungary, which had raged fif- ^ years without intermillion. About the middle of Auguft, Lord Paget and Mr. Collier, ambaffa- dors from England and Holland, arrived in the Turkifh camp near Belgrade; and a conference be- ing opened under their mediation, the peace of Carlowitz was figned on the twenty-Iixth day of January. By this treaty, the Emperor remained in polTeffion of all his conquefts: Caminieck was re- ^ itored to the Poles : all the Morea, with feveral fortrelTes in Dalmatia, were ceded to the Vene- tians ; and the Czar of Mufcovy retained Azoph during a truce of two years ; fo that the Turks, by this pacification, loft great part of their European dominions. The Cardinal Primate of Poland, who had ftrenuoufiy adhered to the Prince of Conti, was prevailed upon to acknowledge Auguftus : and the commotions in Lithuania being appeafed, peace was eftablifhed through all Chriftendom. § XV. In the beginning of December the King arrived in England, where a new Parliament had been chofen, and prorogued on account of his Ma- jefty's abfence, which was prolonged by contrary winds and tempeftuous weather. His miniftry had been at very little pains to influence the eledions, which generally fell upon men of Revolution- principles, though they do not feem to have been much devoted to the perfon of their fovereign : yet their choice of Sir Thomas Lyttelton for Speaker leemed to prefage a feflion favourable to the minif- try. The two Houfes being convened on the fixth day of December, the King, in his fpeech, obfer- ved. That the fafety, honour, and happinefs of the kingdom would in a great meafure depend upon the ftrength which they fhould think proper to main- tain by fea and land. He defired they would make fome further progreft in difeharging the national ^ debt 5 W I L L I A M. 357 debt; contrive effe6lual expedients for employing C H a P; the poor ; pafs good bills for the advancement of ^ ^ trade, and the difeouragement of profanenefs : and 1653, aft with unanimity and difpatch. The Commons of this new Parliament were fo irritated at the King’s prefuming to maintain a greater number of troops than their predeceifors had voted, that they refolved he flrould feel the weight of their dilplea- fure. They omitted the common compliment of an addrefs : they refolved that all the forces of England, in Englifh pay, exceeding feven thou- fand men, fhould be forthwith difbanded ; as alfo thofe in Ireland, exceeding twelve thoufand ; and that thofe retained fhould be his Majefty’s natural born fubjefts. A bill was brought in on thefe refolutions, and profecuted with peculiar eagernefs, to the un- fpeakable mortification of King William, v/ho was not only extremely fenfible of the affront, but alfo particularly chagrined to fee himfelf difabled from maintaining his Dutch guards, and the regiments of French refugees, to which he was uncommonly attached. Before the meeting of the Parliament, the miniflry gave him to underftand, that they Ihould be able to procure a vote for ten or twelve thoufand ; but they would not undertake for a greater number. He profeffed himfelf diffatished with the propofal, obferving, that they might as well difband the whole, as leave fo few. The mi- nifters would not run the rifque of lofing all their credit, by propofmg a greater number; and, ha- ving received no direftions on this fubjeft, fat filent when it was debated in the Houfe of Commons. § XVI. Such was the indignation of William, kindled by this conduft of his miniflry and his par- liament, that he threatened to abandon the govern- ment; and had aftually penned a fpeech to be pro- nounced to both Houfes on that occafion : but he was diverted from this purpofe by his miniflry and coufidentSj and refolved to pafs the bill by which A a 3 ^ 2S^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. S o o Khe had been fo much offended. Accordingly, when it was ready for the royal affent, he went to the “ 5698. Houle of Peers, wLere having lent for the Com- mons he told them, that although he might think himfelf unkindly ufed, in being deprived of his guards, which had conftantly attended him in all his a6tions : yet, as he believed nothing could be more fatal to the nation than any diftruft or iea- Joufy between him and his parliament, he was come to pafs the bill, according to their defire. At the fame time, tor his own julLification, and in dif- charge of the triift repofed in him, he declared, that in his own judgment the nation was left too much expofed : and that it was incumbent upon them to ' provide fuch a flrength as might be neceffary for the fafety of the kingdom. They thanked him, in an addrefs, for this undeniable proof of his readinefs to comply with the defires of his parliairient. They affured hum, he fliould never have reafon to think the Commons were undutiful or unkind for they would, on all occafions. Hand by, and affift, him in the prefervation of his facred perfon, and in the fupport of his governm.ent, againft all his enemies whatfoever. The Lords prefented an addrefs to the fame effe6t ; and the King affured both Houfes, he entertained no doubts of their loyalty and af- fe6lion. He forthwith iffued orders for reducing the army to the number of feven thoufand men, to ^ be maintained in England under the name of guards and garrifons ; and, hoping the hearts of the Com- mons were now mollified, he made another ef- fort in favour of his Dutch guards, whom he could not difmifs without the moft fenfible regret. Lord Ranelagh was fent with a written meffage to the Commons, giving them to underftand, that the neceffary preparations were made for tranfporting the guards who came with him into England, and that they fliould embark immediately, unlefs out of Confideration to him, the Houfe fhouid be dif- pofcd WILLIAM. pofed to find a way for continuing them longer in the fervice ; a favour which his Majefty would take very kindly. The Commons, inftead of comply- ing with his inclination, prefented an addrefs, in which they profefled unfpcakable grief, that he lliould propofe any thing to which they could not confent with due regard to the conftitution, which he had come over to reftoi-e, and fo often hazarded his royal perfon to preferve. They reminded him of the declaration, in which he had promifed that all the foreign forces fhould be fent out of the kingdom. They obferved, that nothing conduced more to the happinefs and welfare of the nation, than an entire confidence between the King and people, which could no way be fo firmly eftablifhed as by entrufting his facred perfon with his own fub- jebts, who had fo eminently fignalized themfelves during the late long and expenfive war. They re- ceived a foothing anfwer to this addrefs, but re- mained firm to their purpofe, in which the King was fain to acquiefce ; and the Dutch guards were tranfported to Holland. At a time when they de- clared themfelves fo well pleafed with their Deliverer, fuch an oppofition, in an affair of very little confe- quence, favoured more of clownifh obflinacy than of patriotifm. In the midft of ail their profefTions of regard, they entertained a national prejudice againft himfelf, and all the foreigners in his fervice. Even in the Houfe of Commons his perfon was treated with great difrefped in virulent infinuations. They fuggefted that he neither loved nor trufted Xhe Englifli nation: that he treated the natives with the moft difagreeable referve ; and chofe his confidents from the number of ftrangers that fur- rounded him: that, after every feffion of Parlia- ment, he retired from the kingdom, to enjoy an in- dolent and inglorious privacy with a few favourites. Thefe fuggeftions were certainly true. He was extremely difgufled with the Englifh, whom he A a 4 confidered 359 HAP. Vf. 1698. HISTORY OF^ENGLAND. BOOK confidered as malicious, ignorant, and ungrateful;^ and he took no pains to difguife his lentiments. § X VII. The Commons having effeded a dilTo- lution of the army, voted fifteen thoufand feamen, and a proportionable fleet, for the fecurity of the kingdom; they granted one million four hundred and eighty-four thoufand fifteen pounds, for the fer- vices of the year, to be raifed by a tax of three fhillings in the pound upon lands, perfonal eftates, penhons, and offices. A great number of priefts and Roman-catholicks, who had been frighted away by the Revolution, were now encouraged by the treaty of Ryfwick to return, and appeared in all pub- lick places of London and Weftminfter, v/ith re- markable effrontery. The enemies of the govern- ment whifpered about, that the treaty contained 2 , fecret article in favour of thofe who profeffed that religion ; and fome did not even fcruple to infinuate^ that William was a Papift in his heart. The Com- mons, alarmed at the number and infolence of thofe religionifls, defired the King, in an addrefs, to re- move by proclamation all Papifts and Nonjurors from the city of London and parts adjacent, and put the laws in execution againfl them, that the wicked defigns they were always hatching might be effec- tually difappointed. The King gratified them in their requeft of a proclamation, which v/as not much regarded : but a remarkable law was enaded againfl . Papifts in the courfe of the enfuing feftion. The old Eaft-India Chmpany, about this period, peti- tioned the Lower Houfe, to make fome provifion that their corporation might fubfift for the refidue of the term of twenty one years, granted by his Ma- jefty’s charter : that the payment of the five pounds per cent, by the late acl for fettling the trade to the Eaft-Indies, might be fettled and adjufted in fuch a manner, as not to remain a burthen on the peti- tioners f and that fuch further confiderations might be had for their relief, and for the prefervation of the; W I L L I A M. 361 ibe Eafl-India trade, as fhould be thought rea-CHAP. ionable. A bill was brought in upon the fubjeft of . ^ this petition ; but rejefted at the fecond reading, Difcontents had rifen to fuch a height, that fome members began to alTert, they were not bound to Burnet, maintain the votes and credit of the former Parlia- Rennet. , , . . ITT - Lambert. ment ; and, upon this maxim, would have contri- st.Traas, buted their intereft towards a repeal of the aft made'^'^^^^h in favour of the new Company : but fuch a fcheme was of too dangerous confequence to the publick credit, to be carried into execution. § XVIII. That fpirit of peevilhnefs which could not be gratified with this facrifice, produced an en- quiry into the management of naval affairs, which was aimed at the Earl of Orford, a nobleman whofe power gave umbrage, and whofe wealth excited en- vy. He officiated both as Treafurer of the Navy, and Lord'Commiffioner of the Admiralty, and feemed to have forgot the fphere from which he had rifen to title and office. The Commons drew An. up an addrefs, complaining of fome unimportant ar- ticles of mifmanagement in the condu6lof the Na- vy ; and the Earl was wife enough to avoid further profecution, by refigning his employments. On the fourth day of May the King clofed the feffion, with a ffiort fpeech, hinting diffatisfadtion at their hav^ing negledted to confider fome points which he had re- commended to their attention ; and the Parliament was prorogued to the firft of June In a little time after this prorogation, his Majefty appointed a Re- * About the latter end of March the Earl of Warwick and Lord Mohun were tried by their peers in Wedminfter-hall, for the murder of Captain Richard Coote, who had been killed in a midnight combat of three on each fide. Warwick was found guilty of manflaughter, and Mohun acquitted. Villers, Earl of Jerfey, who had been fent ambafiador to France, was apj>ointed fecretary of ftate, in the room of the Duke of Shrewf- bury. This nobleman was created Lord- Chamberlain : the Earl of Manchefter was fent Ambafiador extraordinary to France : the Earl of Pembroke was declared Lord-Prefident of the council 5 and Lord Vjf- count Lonfdale Keeper of the privy feal. I 362 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Regency * ; and on the fecond day of June embarked for Holland. § XIX. In Ireland nothing of moment was tranf- afled. The Parliament of that kingdom paffed an aft for raifing one hundred and twenty thoufand pounds on lands, tenements, and hereditaments, to defray the expence of maintaining twelve thoufand men who had been voted by the Commons of Eng- land: then the affembly was prorogued. A new commiffion afterwards arrived at Dublin, confti- tuting the Duke of Bolton, the Earls of Berkley and Galway, Lords- Juflices of Ireland. The cla- mour in Scotland increafed againft the Minillry; who had difowned their company, and in a great meafure defeated the defign from which they had promifed themfelves fuch heaps of treafure. Notwithftanding the difeouragements to which their company had been expofed, they fitted out two of four large fhips which had been built at Flamburgh for their fervice, Thefe were laden with a cargo for traffick, with fome artillery and military ftores 5 and the adven- turers embarking, to the number pf twelve hundred, they failed from the frith of Edinburgh, with fome tenders, on the feventeenth day of July in the pre- ceding year. At Madeira they took in a fupply of wine, and then fleered to Crab-ifland in the neigh- bourhood of St. Thomas, lying between Santa- Cruz and Porto Rico. Their defign was to take pofTeflion of this little Hand ; but, when tliey entered the road, they faw a large tent pitched upon the flrand, and the Danifh colours flying. Finding themfelves anticipated in this quarter, they direfted their courfe to the coaft of Darien, where they treated with the natives for the eflablifhment of their colony, and taking poflTefTion of the ground, to which they gave the * Confiding of the Lord-Chancellor, the Lord Prefident, the Lord Privy-Seal, the Lord-Steward of the Houfehold, the Earl of Bridge- water, firft Comraiffioner of the Admiralty, the Earl of Marlbo- iough, the Earl of Jerfey, and Mr. Montague. W I L L I A M. 363 file name of Caledonia, began to execute their plan CHAP, of ere6llng a town under the appellation of New Edinburgh, by the direftion of their Council, con- filling of Patterfon the projedlor, and fix other dE ' ■ / reclors. They had no fooner completed their fettle- ment, than they wrote a letter to the King, contain- ing a detail of their proceedings. They pretended they had received undoubted intelligence, that the French intended to make a fettlement on that coali; and that their colony would be the means of pre- venting the evil confequences which might arife to his Majefty’s kingdom and dominions from the exe- cution of fuch a fcheme. They acknoviedged his goodnefs in granting thofe privileges by which their company was eftabliflaed : they implored the conti- nuance of his royal favour and protedlion, as they had pun6lually adhered to the conditions of the a(ft of Parliament and the patent they had obtained. ^ XX. By this time, however, the King was re- folved to crufli them effectually. He underftood that the greater part of their provifions had been confumed before they fet fail from Scotland, and forefaw that they muff be reduced to a ftarving con- dition, if not fupplied from the Englifn colonies. That they might be debarred of all fuch affiftance, he fent orders to the governors of Jamaica, and the other Englilh fettlements in America, to iffue pro- clamations, prohibiting, under the feverell penalties, all his Majefty's fubjeCls from holding any cor- refpondence with the Scottilh colony, or affifting it, in any lhape, wnth arms, ammunition, or provifion, on pretence that they had not communicated their delign to his Majefty, but had peopled Darien, in violation of the peace fubfifting between him and his allies. Their colony was, doubtlefs, a very dan- gerous encroachment upon the Spaniards, as it would have commanded the paffage between Porto Bello and Panama, and divided the Spanifh empire in complained of the in- vafion. America. The r^rench King 364 niSTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK vafion, and offered to fupply the Court of Madrid with a fleet to diflodge the interlopers. Colonna^ Marquis de Canales, the Spanifli ambaflTador at the Court of London, prefented a memorial to King William, remonftrating againfl: the fettlement of this colony, as a mark of difregard, and a breach of the . alliance between the two Crowns; and declaring, that his mailer would take proper meafures againil fuch hoililities. The Scots aiflrmed, that the natives ^ of Darien were a free people, whom the Spaniards had in vain attempted to fubdue : that, therefore, they had an original and incontrovertible right to difpofe of their own lands, part of which the Com- pany had pur chafed for a valuable confideration. But there was another caufe more powerful than the remonftrances of the Spanifli Court, to which this colony fell a facrifice ; and that was, the jealoufy of the Engliih traders and planters. Darien was laid to be a country abounding with gold, which would in a little time enrich the adventurers. The Scots were known to be an enterpriflng and pertinacious people; and their harbour near Golden-ifland was already declared a free port. The Engliili appre- hended that their planters would be allured into this new colony, by the double profpeT of finding gold, and plundering the Spaniards : that the buccaneers in particular would choofe it as their chief refidence ; that the plantations of England would be defected ; that Darien would become another Algiers ; and that the fettlement would produce a rupture with Spain, in confequence of which the Englifh effedls in that kingdom would be conflfcated. The Dutch, too, are laid to have been jealous of a company, which, in time might have proved their competitors in the illicit commerce to the Spanifh Main ; and to have hardened the King’s heart againfl the new fettlers, whom he abandoned to their fate, notwithflanding the repeated petitions and remonftrances of their conftituents. Famine compelled the firft adventurer^. ta W 1 L L I A M, to quit the coaft : a fecond recruit of men and pro- chap. vifions was fent thither from Scotland : but, one of , their (hips, laden with provifion, being burnt by ac- cident, they likewife deferted the place 5 another re- inforcement arrived, and being better provided than the two former, might have maintained their foot- ing ; but they were foon divided into fa6tions that rendered all their fchemes abortive. The Spaniards advanced againft them ; when, finding themfelves incapable of withftanding the enemy, they follicited a capitulation, by virtue of which they were permit- ted to retire. Thus vanifhed all the golden dreams of the Scottifh nation, which had engaged in this defign with incredible eagernefs, and even embarked a greater fum of money than ever they had advanced upon any other occafion. They were now not only difappointed in their expecSiations of wealth and af- fluence, but a great number of families were abfo- lutely ruined by the mifcarriage of the defign, which they imputed folely to the conduft of King William. The whole kingdom of Scotland feemed to join in the clamour that was raifed againft their fovereign, taxed him with double-dealing, inhumanity, and bafe ingratitude, to a people who had lavifhed their trea- fure and beft blood in fupport of his government, and in the gratification of his ambition : and had their power been equal to their animofity, in ail pro- bability a rebellion would have enfued. § XXI. William, mean-while, enjoyed himfelf at Loo, where he was vifited by the Duke of Zell, wnth whom he had long cultivated an intimacy of friendfhip. During his refidence in this place, the Earl of Portland and the Grand Penfionary of Hol- land frequently conferred with the French ambafla- dor. Count Tallard, upon the fubjeft of theSpanifli fucceflion. The firftplanof the partition being de- feated by the death of the young Prince of Bavaria, they found it neceftary to concert another, and began a private negociation for that purpofe. The Court to CO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B ooKof Spain, apprifed of their intention, fent a written' ^ ^ remonftrance to Mr. Stanhope, the Englifli minifiier j6( 9. Madrid, expreffing their refentment at this un- precedented method of proceeding, and defiring that a flop might be put to thofe intrigues, feeing the King of Spain would of himfelf take the neceffary lleps for preferving the publick tranquillity,' in cafe lie Ihould die without heirs of his body. A re- prefentation of the fame kind was made to the minifters of France and Holland: tile Marquis de Canales, the Spanifli ambalfador at London, deli- vered a memorial to the Lords Juftices, couched in the moll virulent term.s, againfl this tranfadlion, and even appealing from the King to the Parliament. This Spaniard was pleafed with an opportunity to in- fult King William, who hated his perfon, and had forbid him the Court, on account of his appearing covered in his Majedy’s prefence. The Regency had no fooner communicated this paper to the King, than he ordered the ambaffador to quit the kingdom in eighteen days, and to remain within his own houfc till the time of his departure. He was likewife given to underiland, that no writing would be received from him or any of his domefticks. Mr. Stanhope was directed to complain at Madrid of the affront offered to his Mailer, which he Filed an infolent and fancy attempt to flir up fedition in the kingdom, by appealing to the People and Parliament of England againfl his Majefty. The Court of Spain juftified what their minifler had done, and in their turn or- dered Mr. Stanhope to leave their dominions. Don Bernardo de Quiros, the Spanifli ambaffador in Hol- land, prepared a memorial on the fame fubjedl, to the States-General ; which, however, they refufed to accept. Thefe remonftrances did not interrupt the negociation, in which Louis was fo eager, that he complained of William, as if he had not employed, his whole influence in prevailing upon the Dutch to fignify their acceflion to the articles agreed upon by 6 France WILLIAM. France and England: but his Britannick Majefty found means to remove this jealoufy. § XXIL About the middle of Odober William returned to England, and conferred upon the Duke of Shrewfbury the office of chamberlain, vacant fince the refignation of Sunderland. Mr. Montague at the fame period refigned his feat at the Treafury^ board, together with the chancellorffiip of the Ex- chequer, either forefeeing uncommon difficulty in managing a Houfe of Commons, after .they had been difmifled in ill-humour, or dreading the in- tereft of his enemies, who might procure a vote that his two places v/ere inconfident. The King opened the feffion of Parliament, on the fixteenth day of November, with a long fpeech, advifing a further provifion for the fafety of the kingdom by fea and land, as w^ell as the repairs of ffiips and fortifications ; exhorting the Commons to make good the deficien- cies of the funds, difcharge the debts of the nation, and provide the necefifary fupplies. He recommen- ded fome good bill for the more effe6lual preventing and puniffiing unlawful and clandeftine trading ; and expreffed a defire, that fome method ffiould be taken for employing the poor, which were become a burthen to the Kingdom. Ele affured them, his refolutions were to countenance virtue and difcou- rage vice : and that he would decline no difficulties and dangers, where the welfare and profperity of the nation might be concerned, tie concluded with thefe words : Since then, our aims are only “ for the general good, let us ad with confidence in one another j which will not fail, with God’s bleffing, to make me a happy king, and you a great and flouriffiing people.” — The Commons were now become wanton in their difguft. Though they had received no real provocation, they refolved to mortify him with their proceedings. They af- feded to put odious interpretations on the very Earrnlefs expreffion of, Let us ad with confidence in HAP. VI. .i — mJ 1699. -jf,? HISTORY OF ENGLAND. vjl • BOOK in one another/’ Inftead of an addrefs of thank^’i ^ ^ according to the ufual ciifhoiri;, they prefented a Iblleii remonftrance, complaining, that a jealoufy. and dif- guft: had been raifed of their duty and affection ; ' and defiring he would fliow marks of his high dif- pleafure towards all perfons who had prefumed to mifreprefent their proceedings to his Majefly, He declared, in his anfwer, that no perfon had ever dared to mifreprefent their proceedings, and, that if any fliould prefume to impofe upon him by fucli calumnies, he would treat them as his worff enemies. § XX III. The Houfe was not in a humour to be appeafed with foothing promifes and proteftations ; they determined to addrefs him, by profecuting his minifters. During the war, the colonies of North- America had grown rich by piracy. One Kidd, the mafter of a floop, undertook to fupprefs the pirates, provided the Government would furnifli him with a Ihip of thirty guns, well manned. The board of Admiralty declaring that fuch a number of .feamen could not be fpared from the publick fervice, Kidd was equipped by the private fubfeription of the Lord-Chancellor, the Duke of Shrewfbury, the Earls of Romney, Orford, and Beliamont, Sir Ed- ward Harrifon, and Colonel Livingftone, of New- ' York. The King promifed to contribute one half of the expence, and referved to himfelf one tenth of the profits ; but he never advanced the money. Kidd being thus equipped, and provided with a commiffion to abl againif the French, as well as to make war on certain pirates therein mentioned by name, fet fail from Plymouth: but, inftead of cruifing on the coaft of America, he dire6fed his courfe to the Eaft-Indies, where he himfelf turned pirate, and took a rich fhip belonging to the Moors* Having divided his booty with his crew, ninety of whom left him, in order to join other adventurers, he burned his own fhip and failed with his prize, to the Weft-Indies. There he purchafed a floop, in which W I L L I A M. 369 which he (leered from North-America, leaving parte HAP. of his men in the prize, to remain in one of the Leeward iflands, until they Ihould .receive further inilruClions. Arriving on the coaft of New- York, ^ he fent one Emmet to make his peace with the Earl of Bellamont, the governor of that province, who inveigled him into a negociation, in the courfe of which he was apprehended. Then his lorddiip fent an account of his proceedings to the fecretary of (late, defiring that he would fend for the prifoners to England, as there was no law in that colony for punhliing piracy with death, and the majority of the people favoured that praflice. The Admiralty, by order of the lords-] uftices, difpatched the (hip Rochefter to bring home the prifoners and their effeCls ; but, after having been tolled for fome time with tempeftuous weather, this velTel was obliged to return to Py mouth in a fhattered condition. This incident furnilEed the malcontents with a colour to paint the miniftry as the authors and abettors of a piratical expedition, which they wanted to fereen from the cognizance of the publick. The old Eaft- India company had complained to the Regency of the capture made by Kidd in the Ead-Indies, ap- prehending, as the velTel belonged to the Moors, they fhould be expofed to the refentments of the Mogul. In the beginning of December, thisfubjedf being brought abruptly into theEIoufe of Commons, a motion was made. That the letters patent granted to the Earl of Bellamont and others, of pirates’ goods, were difhonourable to the King, againft the laws of nations, contrary to the laws and ftatutes of the land, invafive of property, and deftruclive of trade and commerce. A Vvarm debate entued, in the courfe of which, fome members declaimed with great bitternefs againft the Chancellor and the Duke of Shrewfbury, as partners in a piratical fcheme : but thefe imputations were refuted, and the motion was rejeefted by a great majority. Not but they might VTl. L B b have I ro JIISTORY O F ENGLAND. o 0 Khave juftly fligmatized the expedition as a iittie mean adventure, in which thofe noblemen had em- barked with a view to their own private advantage. § XXIV. While this affair was in agitation among the Commons, the attention of the Upper Houle was employed upon the cafe of Dr. W^atfon, Bifhop of St. David’s. This prelate was fuppofed to have paid a valuable confideration for his bifliop- lick: andj after Ins elevation, had fold the prefer- nients in his gift, with a view of being reinsburled. He W’as accufed of fimony > and, after a folemn hearing, before the Archbifliop of Canterbury and fix fuffragans convidted and deprived. Then' he pleaded his privilege : fo that the affair was brought into the Houfe of Lords, who refufed to own him as a peer after he had ceafed to be a bifhop. ITus difappointed, he had recourfe to the court of dele- gates, by whom the Archbifhop’s fentence was con- firmed. The next effort that the Commons made, with a view of mortifying King William, w^as to raife a clamour againft Dr. Burnet, Bifhop of Sarum. He w^as reprefented in the Houfe as a very unfit preceptor for the Duke of Gloucefter, both as a Scottifli man, and author of that paftoral letter /Which had been burned by order of the Parliament,, for afferting that William had a right to the crown, from conqueft. A motion was made for addreffing his IMajefty, that this prelate might be difmiffeci from his employment, ' but rejedfed by a great ma- jority. Burnet had adled with uncommon integrity in accepting the truft. He had declined the office, which he was in a manner forced to accept. He had offered to refign his bifnoprick, thinking the employment of a tutor would interfere with the duty of a pallor. He infilled upon the Duke’s refidence all the fummer at Windfor, which is in the diocefe of Sarum; and added to his priv^ate charities the whole income of his new office. § XXV. The drcumllancc on which the anti- . courtiers W I L L I A M. 37^ courtiers built their chief hope of diftreffng or dif- c H^A P. gracing the government, was the enquiry into the Irifli forfeitures, which the King had diftributed among his own dependents. The commiffioners appointed by Parliament to examine thefe particu- lars, were Annefley, Trenchard, Plamilton, Lang- ford, the Earl of Drogheda, Sir Francis Brewiler, and Sir Richard Leving. The firft four were aftua- ted by all the virulence of faction ; the other three were fecretly guided by minifterial influence. They began their enquiry in Ireland, and proceeded with fuch feverity as feemed to flow ‘rather from refent- ment to the court, than from a love of jullice and abhorrence of corruption. They in particular fcrii- tinized a grant of an eflate which the King had made to Mrs. Viliiers, now Countefs of Orkney, fo as to expofe his Majefty’s partiality for that favourite, and fubjecd: him to an additional load of popular odium. In the courfe of their examination, the Earl of Drogheda, Leving, and Brewiler, oppofed the reft of the commiffioners in divers articles of the report, which they refuled to fign, and fent over a memorial to the Houfe of Commons, explaining their reafons for diffienting from their colleagues. By this time, however, they were confidered as hirelings of the court, and no regard was paid to their reprefentations. The others delivered their report, declaring that a million and a half of money might be l aifed from the fale of the confiicated eftates ; and a bill was brought in for applying them to the ufe of the publick. A motion being made to referve a third part for the King’s difpofal, it was over-ruled : then the Commons paiTed an extraordi- nary vote, importing, that they would not receive any petition from any perfon whatfoever conceniing the grants ; and that they would confider the great fervices performed by the commiftioners appointed to enquire into the forfeited eftates. They refolved. That the four commiffioners who had ligned the B b a report 372 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ii o o K report had acquitted themfelves with underftanding, .courage, and integrity; and That Sir Richard J699. Lcving, as author of groundlefs and fcandalous afperfions cafe upon his four colleagues^, fliould be committed prifoner to the Tov^'er. They afterwards came to the following refolution, v/hicli was pre- fented to the King in form of anaddrefs: That the procuring and palling thole grants had occafioned great debts upon the nation, and heavy taxes upon the people, and highly refleffed I'pon the King's honour; and. That the officers and inllruments concerned in the fame had highly failed in the per- formance of their trull and duty. The King an- fwered. That he was not only led by inclination, but thought himfelf obliged in jullice to reward thole who liad ferved well in the reduftion of Ireland out of the ellates forfeited to him by the rebellion in that kingdom. He obferved, that as the long war had left the nation much in debt, their taking jull and eflcclual ways for leHening that debt, and fupporting publick credit, was what, in his opinion, would bell contribute to the honour, interell, and lafety of the kingdom. This anfwer kindled a flame of indignation in the Houfe. They forthwith refol- ved, I'hat the advifer of it had ufed his utmoll en- deavours to create a mifunderllanding and jealoufy betw^een the King and his people. ’ § XXVI. They prepared, finilhed, and paflfed a bill of rekimption. They ordered the report of the commiffioners, together with the King's promife and fpeeches, and the former refolutions of the Hoiife touching the forfeited ellates in Ireland, to be prin- ted and publiffied for their jullification; and they refolved. That the procuring or palTing exorbitant grants by any member, now of the privy- council, or by any other that had been a privy-counfellor, in this, or any former reign, to his ufe or benefit, was a high crime and mifdemeanour. That iullice might be done to purchalers and creditors in the adt of I W I L L I A M. 373 of refumptlon, thirteen truflees were aiitliorifed and ^ empowered to hear and determine ali claims relating ■_ ; to thofe eflates, to fell them to the befc purchafers j i6;;9. and the money arifing from the fale was appropria- ted to pay the arrears of the army. ] t paffed under , the title of a bill for granting an aid to his Majefty, by the lale of forfeited and other eftates and interefts in Ireland j and that it might undergo no alterations in the Houfe of Lords, it v/as confoiidated with the money bill for the fervice of the year. In the Houfe of Lords it produced warm debates; and fome alterations were made, which the Commons unanimoully rejecled. They feerned to be now more than ever exafperated againft the miniftry, 'and ordered a lift of the privy- council to be laid before the Houfe. The Lords demanded conference’s which ferved only to exafperate the two Houfes againft each other ; for the Peers infifted upon their amendments, and the Commons were fo provoked at their interfering in a money-bill, that they de- termined to give a ioofe to their refentment. They ordered all the doors of their Houfe to be fnut, that no members fliould go forth. Then they took into confideration the report of the Irifh forfeitures, with the lift of the privy- counfellors ; and a queftion vras moved. That an addrefs fhould be made to his Majefty, to remove John Lord Somers, Chancellor of Endand, from his prefence and councils for ever. This, however, was carried in the negative by a great majority. The King was extremely chagrined at the' bill, which he confidered as an invafion of his prerogative, an infult on his perlbn, and an in- jury to his friends and fervants; and he at firft refol- ved to hazard all the confequences of refuhng to Burnet, pafs it into a law : but he was diverted from his Oldmixon,. purpofe by the remonftrances of thofe in whom he chiefly conhded. Lie could not, however, diffem- State ■ ble his refentments. He becam.e fallen, peevifli, (and morofcj and his enemies did not fail to m.ake xindai. B b 3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. of hi e mo- i, the Commons refolved to addrels his Majefty^ that no perfon who was not a native of his dominions, ex- cept his Royal Flighnefs Prince George of Den- mark, fhonld be admitted into his Majefty's coun- cils in England or Ireland. This refoliition was le- velled againft the Earls of Portland, Albemarle, and Galv/ay : but, before the addrefs could be pre- fented, the King w^ent to the Houfe of Peers, and •having palled the bill which had produced liich a ferment, with fome others, commanded the Earl of Bridgewater, Speaker of the Houfe, in the abfence of the Chancellor, who was indifpofed, to prorogue the Parliament to the twenty-third day of May. An. 37C0. § XXVII. In the courfe of this felTion, the Com- mons having profecuted their enquiry into the con- du 61 : of Kidd, brought in a bill for the more effec- ' tual fjpprelTing of piracy, which palfed into a law : underRanding afterwards, that Kidd was brought over to England, they prefented an addrefs to the King, defiring that he might not be tried, dif- charged, or pardoned, till the next feflion of Par- liament ; and his Majefty complied with their re- queR. Boiling Rill with indignation againR the Lord Chancellor, who had turned many difaffedled perfons out of the commiiTion of the peace, the Houfe ordered a bill to be prepared for qualifying iuRices of the peace ; and appointed a committee to inlpect the commilTion. This, reporting that many difien- ters and men of fmall fortunes, depending on the court, w'ere put into thofe places, the Commons declared, in an addrefs. That Jt w'ould much con- duce to the fervice of his MajeRy, and the good of this kingdom, that gentlemen of quality and good eRates Riould be reRored, and put into the coinmif- fions of the peace and lieutenancy : and that men of Rnall eRates be neither continued, nor nut into the faid B o o K ufe of this additional ill humour, as a proof averfion to the EnHiRi people. Though th -V— 1 peoph tion anainR the Chancellor had mifcarricc W I L L I A M. ■r\ Mr ^ / laid tom miirions. The King affured them he. was C h af. of the fame opinion ; and that he would give direc- ^ ^ tions accordingly. They were fo mollified by this ,.00, inftance of his condefcenfion, that they thanked him in a body for his gracious anfw^r. They paffed a bill to exculpate fuch as had neglebted to fign the ailb- ciation, either through miftake, or want of oppor- tunity. Having received a petition from the Lan- cafl:iire clergy, complaining of the infolence and attempts of Popifh priefts, they appointed a com- mittee to enquire how far the laws againfl Popifh refugees had been put in execution ; and upon the report a bill was brought in, complying with the prayer of the petition. It decreed a further reward to fuch perfons as fliould difcover and convidt Popilh priefts and jefuits ; and perpetual imprifonmenc for thofe convidted on the oath of one or more witnefTes. It enadted, That no perfon born after the twenty- iifth day of March next enfuing, being a Papift, Ihould be capable of inheriting any title of honour or eftate within the kingdom of England, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick upon Tweed ; and, 'Phat no Papift fhould be capable of purchafing any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, either in his own name, or in the name of any other perfon in truft for him. Several alterations were made in this firft draft, before it v>/as finifhed and fent up to the Lords, fome of whom propofed amendments : thefe, however, were not adopted ; and the bill ob- tained the Royal aftent, contrary to the expedtation of thofe who profecuted the meafure, on the fuppofi- tion that the King was a favourer of the Papifts. After all, the bill was deficient in neceffary claufes to en- force execution ; fo that the law was very little re- garded in the fequel. § XXV^ni. The court fuftained another infult from the old Eaft-India company, who petitioned the Houfe that they might be continued by parlia- mentary authority during the remaining part of the B b 4 time y:(> HISTORY OF EMOLAND. BOOK tim^ prefcribcd in their charter. They, at die fame time, publifned a ftate of their cafe, in which they expatiated upon the equity of their claims, and mag- nified the injuries they had undergone. The new company drew up an anfiver to this remonftrance, expofing the corrupt prafilices of their adverfaries. But ‘the influence of their great patron, Mr. Mon- tague, was nov/ vanifhed: the fupply w’as not yet difeufied, and the miniftry would not venture to pro- voke the Commons, who feemed propitious to the old company, and aftually palfed a bill in their favour.' This, meeting with no oppofition in the Upper Floule, was enacled into a law, renewing their eftablifliment ; fo that now there w^ere two rival companies of merchants trading to the Eaft-Indies. The Commons, not yet fatisfied wfith the vexations to which they had expofed their Sovereign, paflfed a bill to appoint commiffioners for taking and exa- mining the publick accounts. Another law was made, to prohibit the ufe of India filks and Huffs wTich interfered with the Englifli manufactures ; a third, to take off the duties on the exportation of woollen manufafilures, corn, grain, meal, bread, and bifeuit j and a fourth, in which provifion was made for puniflting governors, or commanders in chief of plantations and colonies, in cafe they fhould commit any crimes or adls of injuftice and oppreffion in the exercife of their adminiflration. § XXIX. The people of Scotland Hill continued in violent agitation. They publiffed a pamphlet, containing a detail of their grievances, which they in a "reat meafure aferibed to his MakHy. A com- plaint being preferred to the Eionfe of Commons againH this performance, it \vas voted a falfe, fcan- dalous, and traiterous libel, and ordered to be burned by the hands of the common hangman. The Commons addreffed his MajeHy, to iffue his Royal proclamation for apprehending the author, printer, and publillier of the laid libel 3 and he com- plied 1 W I L L I A M. 'X-I •u ! i piled v/kh their reaueft. The Scottifli companv had c n A P. fent up an addrefs to the King, in behalf of fonie adventurers vrho were wrongfuilv detained prifoners in Carthao;ena ; but Lord Bafii Hamilton, who un- dertook the charge of this petition, was refufed ad- mittance to his Maiefty, on pretence of his being » fufpedted of difaffediion to the government. The King, hov/ever, wrote to his council for Scotland, that he would dem.and the enlargement of the pri- foners, and countenance any laudable meafure that could advance the trade of that kingdom. The diredlors of the company, pot content with this de- claration, importuned their Lord Chancellor, who was in London, to procure accefs for I.ord Bafil . Hamilton j and the mimftry took fhelter kom their folicitations behind a parliamentary enquiiy. The fubiect of the Scottifli colony being introduced into the Houfe of Lords, where the minifterial influence preponderated, a vehement debate arofe, not from any regard to the interelb of Scotland, but from mere oppofition to the court, v/hich, however, triumphed in the iffue. A motion was made, that the fettle- ment of the Scotch colony at Darien was inconfiftent with the good of the plantation trade of England ; and paffed in the affirmative by a fmall majority. Then they prefented an addrefs, declaring their fym- pat;hy vdth the Ioffes of their fellov/ fubjedLS, and their opinion, that a profecution of the defign muff end, not only in far greater difappointments to them- felves, but alfo prove very inconvenient to the trade and quiet of the kingdom. They reminded him of the addrefs of both Houfes, touching that fettlement ; and. they expreffed their approbation of the orders he had fent to the governors of the planta,tions on this fubjedt. The King, in his anfwer to the ad- drefs, in which the Commons refufed to concur, took the opportunity of exhorting them to confider of an union between the two kingdoms, as a mea- fiire, than which nothing could more contribute to their HISTORY OF ENGLAND, their mutual fecurity and advantage. The Lord^j, in purfuance of this advice, prepared a bill, ap- pointing certain commiffioners of the realm of Eng- land to treat v.hth cominifTioners of Scotland for the weal of both kingdoms : but it was obflrufted in the Houfe of Commons, who were determined to thwart every ftep that might tend to leffen the dif- guft, or appeafe the animofityof the Scottidi nation. The malcontents infmuated, that the King’s oppofi- tion to the Scottifn company flowed neither from his regard to the intereft of England, nor from his pundlual obfervance of treaties with Spain but folely from his attachment to the Dutch, who maintained an advantageous trade from the ifland of Cuiacoa to the Spanifh plantations in America, and were appre- hcnfive that the Scottifla company would deprive tliCm of this commerce. This interpretation ferved as fuel to the flame already kindled in Scotland, and induftrioufly blown up by the calumnies of the Jaco- bites. Their Parliament adopted the company as a national concern, by voting. That the colony of Caledonia in Darien w-as a legal and rightful fettle- ment, which the Parliament would maintain and fupport. On account of this refolution the fefllon Vv^as for iome time difcontinued ; but, when the Scots underilood their new fettlemejit v/as totally aban- doned, their capital loll, and all tireir hope entirely vaniflied, the whole nation was feifed with a tranf- port of fury. They loudly exclaimed, that they had been lacrificed and bafely betrayed in that quarter where they were intitled to protection. They con- certed an addrefs to the King, couched in a very high llrain, reprelenting the necefTity of an immediate Parliament. It wais circulated about the kingdom for fubfcriptions, flgned by a great number of.thofe w^ho fat in Parliament, and prefented to the King by Lord Rofs, who with ibme others was deputed for that purpoic. The King told them, they fliould know his intention in Scotland 5 and in the mean W I L L I A M. 379 I 700. ,time adjourned their Parliament by proclamation. CHAP. The people, exalperated atj this new provocation, began to form' the draft of a fecond national addrefs, to be figned by the fhires and boroughs of the king- dom: but, before this could be hniihed, the King wrote a letter to the Duke of Queenfberry, and the privy-council of that nation, which was publiOied for the fatisfadlion of the people. He profelTed him- feif grieved at the nation’s lofs, and willing to grant what might be needful for the relief and eafe of tlie kingdom. He allured them, he had their intereft at heart j and that his good fubjecls fhould have convincing proofs of his fincere inclination to advance the wealth and profperity of that his ancient king- dom. He faid, he hoped this declaration would be fatisfaclory to all good men : that they would not fulfer themfelves to be milled j nor give advantage to enemies, and ill-defigning perfons, ready to feife every opportunity of embroiling the goverment. He gave them to underlland, that his necelTary abfence had occafioned the late adjournment ; but as foon as God fhould bring him back, their Parliament diould be alTembled. Even this explanation, fe- conded by all the credit and addrefs ot his minifters, failed in allaying the national ferment, v/hich rofe to the very verge of rebellion. § XXX. The King, who, from his firfc accelhon to the throne, had veered occafionally from one party to another, according to the circumftances of his affairs, and the oppofition he encountered, was at this period fo incenfed and embarraffed by the ca- police and infolence of the Commons, that he v/il- iingly lent an ear to the leaders of the T ories, who undertook to manage the Parliament according to his pieafure, provided he w^ould part with fome ot his minifters, who were peculiarly odious to the Commons. The perfon againft whom their anger was chiefly direfted, was the Lord Chancellor So- mers, the moft adive leader of the Whig party. 4 They 380 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. E o o K They demanded his difinifiion, and die King cx-. ^ horted him to refi'gn his office : but he refufing to 1 : 00 . take any ilep that miglit indicate a fear of his ene- miesj or a confcioufnefs of guilt, the King fent a peremptory order for the feals by the l.ord Jerfey, to whom Somers delivered them without hefitation. They were fiicceffively offered to Lord Chief Juftice Kolt, and Trevor, the attorney-general, who de- clined accepting fuch a precarious office. Mean while, the King granted a temporary commiffion to three judges to fit in the Court of Chancery ; and at length bellowed the feals, with the title of Lord Fleeper, on Nathan Wright, one of the ferjeants at law, a man but indifferently qualified for the office to wliich he was now preferred. Though William feemcd altogether attached to the Tories, and in- clined to a new Parliament, no perfon appeared to take the lead in the affairs of government j and, indeed, for fome time the admlniftration feemed to be under no particular diredlion. § XXXI. During the tranfadions of the laft fef- fion, the negociation for a fccond partition-treaty had been carried on in London by die French mini- ller, Tallard, in conjundion with the Earls of Port- land and Jerfey, and was foon brought to perfec- tion. On the twenty-lirft day of February the treaty was figned in I.ondon ; and on the twenty- fifth of tlie next month it was fubferibed at the Hague by Briord, the French envoy, and the plenipotentiaries of the States-General. By this convention the treaty of Ryfwick was confirmed. The contrading Darties ap-reed, that, in cafe of his Catholick Ma- ieffy’s dying without iffue, the Dauphin fliould pof- fefs, for him.felf and his heirs, the kingdoms of Naples and 'Sicily, the hlandsofSt. Stephano, Porto Flercole, Orbitello, Telamone, Porto F.ongone, Piombino, the city and marquifate of Final, the province of Guipufeoa, the duchies of Lorraine and Bar, in exchange for which laft, the Duke of I.or- rainc , ‘ VV I L L I A M. 38 t i'aine ilioukl enjoy the duchy of Milan ; but that the chap* county of Biche Ihould renaain in fovereignty to the ^ , Prince of Vaiidemont : that the Archduke Charles fliould inherit the kingdom of Spain and all its de- ])endencies in and out of Europe ; but, in cafe of his dying without iilue, it flaouki devolve to fome other child of the Emperor, excepting him who might fucceed as Emperor or King of the Romans : that this monarchy diould never defcend to a King of France or Dauphin ; and that three months haould be allowed to the Emperor, to confider whether or not he would accede to this treaty. Whether the French King was really fmcere in his profeffions at this jun6lure, or propofed this treaty with a view to make a clandeftine ufe of it at the court of Spain for more intereftcd purpofes, it is not eafy to determine * at firft, however, it was concealed from the notice of the publick, as if the parties had refolved to take no ftep in confequence of it, during the life of his Catholick Majefty. § XXXII. In the beginning of July the King embarked for Flolland, after having appointed a Regency to govern the kingdom in his ab fence. On the twenty-ninth day of the fame month, the young Duke of Gloucefter, the only remaining child of 'feventeen which the Princefs Anne had borne, died of a mali.o-nant fever, in the eleventh vear of his age. His death was much lamented by the greater part of the Engiifh nation, not only on account of his promifing talents and gentle behaviour, but alfo, as it left the fucceffion undetermined, and might create difputes of fatal confequence to the nation. The Jacobites openly exulted in an event which they imamned would remove the chief bar to the intereft O of the Prince of W ales : but th.e Proteflants generally turned their eyes upon the Princefs Sophia, Eledrefs Dowager of Flanover, and grand-daugliter of James I. It was with a view to concert the efta- blifhment of her fuccefiion, that the court of Brunf- wick ! 3^2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, BOOK wick novv returned the vifit of King William. The prefent Rate of affairs in England, howe\^er afforded a very uncrnn fort able profpe6l. The people were generally alienated from the perfon and government of the reigning king, upon whom theyfeem to have llirfeited. T he vigour of their minds was deflroyed by luxury and Roth : the feverity of their morals was relaxed by a long habit of venality and corrupt don. The King’s health began to decline, and even his faculties decayed apace. No perfon was appointed to afeend the throne when it Rioiild becoiTiC vacant. The Jacobite faelion alone was eager, vigilant, enterprifmg, and elate. They defpatched Mr. Graham, brother of Lord Pref- Ron, to the court of St. Germain’s, immedi- atelv after the death of the Duke of Gloucef- ter : they began to beRir themfelves all over the , kingdom. A report was fpread that the Princefs Anne had privately fent a meflage to her father ; and Britain was once more threatened with civil %var, confufion, anarchy, and ruin. § XXXIII. In the mean time. King William was not inactive. The Kings of Denmark and Poland, with the Elector of Brandenburgh, had formed a league to cruRi the young King of Sweden, by in- vading his dominions on different fides. The Poles aftually entered Livonia, and undertook the fiege of Riga : the King of Denmark, having de- moliflied fom'e forts in HolRein, the Duke of which was conne6ted with Sweden, inveRed Ton- ninghen. The Swedifli miniRer in Eingland de- manded that aRiRance of William which had been Ripulated in a late renewal of the ancient treaty be- tween England and Sweden. The States of EIol- land were follicited to the fame purpofe. Accord- ingly, a fleet of thirty fail, Englifn and Dutch, was fent to the Baltick, under the command of Sir George Rooke, who joined the Swedifli fquadron, and T Xv LIAM. W I L L I A M. 38; and bombarded Copenhagen, to which die Daniili C H A P. fleet had retired. At the fame time, the Duke of. Lunenbourg, with the Swedim forces, vdiich hap- 1700. pened to be at Bremen, pafied the Elbe, and marched to the affiftance of the Duke of Elolfcein. The Danes immediately abandoned the fiege of Tonninghen; and a body of Saxons, who had made an irruption into the territories of the Duke of Bnmfwick, w^ere obliged to retreat in diforder. By the mediation of William a negociation was begun for a treaty between Sweden and Denmark, which in order to quicken, Charles the young King of Sweden made' a defeent upon the ifle of Zealand. 'Lhis was executed with great fuccefs. Charles was the firfb man who landed ; and here he exhibited fuch marks of courage and condud-, far above his years, as equally afloniflied and intimiidated his ad- verfaries. Then he determined to feefiege Copen- hagen; a refolution that ftruck fuch terror into the Danes, that they proceeded with redoubled dili- gence in the treaty, which was brought to a conclu- fion, between Denmark, Sweden, and Elolftcin, about the middle of Auguft. Then the Swedes retired to Schonen, and the fquadrons of the ma- ritime powers returned from the Baltick. § XXXIV. When the new partition treaty was communicated by the minifters of the contrading parties to the other powers of Europe, it generally , met with a very unfavourable conftrudion. Saxony and the northern crowns were ftill embroiled with their ov/n quarrels, confequently could not give much attention to fuch a rem.ote tranfadion. The Princes of Germany appeared cautious and dilatory in their anfwers, unwilling to be concerned in any plan that might excite the reientment of the Houfe of Auilria. d'he Eledor of Brandenburgh, in par- ticular, had fet his heart upon the regal dignity, which he hoped to obtain from the favour and au- thority of the Emperor* The Italian States were ' averle o^> 84. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK averfe to the partition-treaty, from their apprehe^n- ^ _ fion of feeing France in polfeffion of Naples, and 1700. other diftrifts of their country. The Duke of Sa- voy affected a myRerious neutrality, in hopes of be- ing able to barter his confent for fome confiderable advantao-e. The Swifs cantons declined aecedin<^ as guarantees. I'he Emperor expreffed his afto- niihment that any difpofition fxiould be made of the Spanilh monarchy without tire confent of the pre- ient poffeRbr, and the States of the kingdom. He obferved, that neither juflice nor decorum could warrant the contraCting-powers to compel him, who was the rightful heir, to accept a part of his inhe- ritance within three montlrs, under penalty’ of for- feiting even that Rrare to a third perfon not yet named ; and he declared, that he could take no final refolution, until he fliould know the fentiments of his Catholick Majefly, on an affair in which their mutual intereft was fo nearly concerned. Leopold was actually, engaged in a negociation v/itlr the King of Spain, who figned a will in favour of his fe- cond fon Charles : yet he took no meafures to fup- port the difpofition, either by fending the Arch- duke with a fuflicient force to Spain, or by de- taching troops into Italy. § XXXV. The people of Spain were exafperated at the infolencc of the three foreign powers who pretended to parcel out their dominions. Their pride took the alarm, at theprofped; of their mo- narchy’s being difmembered : and their grandees repined at the thought of lofing fo many lucrative governments v/hich they now enjoyed. The King’s , life became every day more and more precarious, from frequent returns of his diforder. The mini- llry was weak and divided, the nobility factious, and the people difeontented. The hearts of the nation had been alienated from^ the Floufe of Auf- tria, by the infolent carriage and rapacious difpofi- tion of the Queen Mariana. The French had gained I WILLIAM. 38^ pained over to their interefts the Cardinal Portocar- CHAP. r?rrO) the Marquis de Monterey, with many other _ / . j noblemen and perfons of diftinflion. Thefe, per- 1700^ ceiving the fentiments of the people, employed their emiifaries to raife a general cry that France alone could maintain the fuccelTion entire : that the houfe of Auftria was feeble and exhaufted, and any prince of that line muft ov/e his chief fupport to deteflable hereticks. Portocarrero tampered with the weak- nefs of his fovereign. He repeated and exaggera- ted ail thefe fuggeftio'ns ; he advifed him to confuk Pope Innocent XII. on this miomentous point of regulating the fucceffioii. That Pontiff; who was a creature of France, having taken the advice of a college of Cardinals, determined that the renuncia- tion of Maria Therefa was invalid and null, as be- ing founded upon compulfion and contrary to the fundamental laws of the Spanifh monarchy. He, therefore, exhorted King Charles to contribute ter the propagation of the faith, and the repofe of Chriftendom, by making a new will, in favour of a grand fon of the French monarch. This admoni- tion was feconded by the remonftrances of Porto- carrero ; and the w^eak prince complied with the propofal. In the mean time, the King of France feemed to a6t heartily, as a principal in the treaty cf partition. FI is minifters at foreign courts co- operated with thofe of the maritime pov/ers, in folliciting the acceffion of the different potentates in Europe. When Count Zinxendorf, the Imperial ambaifador at Paris, prefented a memorial, defiring to know v/hat part France would aft, ffioiild the King of Spain voluntarily place a grandfon of Louis upon the throne, the Marquis de Torcy anfwered in writing, that his moft Chriffian Majeffy would by no means liften to fuch a propofal : nay, when the Emperor’s miniftcr gave them to underftand that his mafter was ready to begin a feparate nego> elation whth the court of Verfailles, touching the VoL, I. C c Spanilli 3S6 BOO I. — r*" j 700. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Spanifli fucceffion, Louis declared he could not , treat on that fubjecl without the concurrence of his allies. § XXXVI. The nature of the partition treaty was no fooner known in England, than condemned by the moft intelligent part of the nation. They firft of all complained, that fuch an important affair fhould be concluded without the advice of Parlia- ment. They obferved, that the fcheme was unjuft, and the execution of it hazardous : that, in con- certing the terms, the maritime powers feemed to have a£led as partifans of France; for the pofleftion of Naples and the Tufcan ports would fubje6l Italy to her dominion, and interfere with the Englifli trade to the Levant and Mediterranean ; while Guipufcoa, on any future rupture, would afford another inlet into the heart of the Spanifli domi- nions : they, for thefe reafons, pronounced the treaty deftructive of the balance of power, and prejudicial to the intereft of England. All thefe arguments were trumpeted by the malcontents, fo that the whole kingdom echoed with the clamour of dif- aifeftion. Sir Chriftopher Mufgrave, and others of the Tory fadlion, began to think in earneft of efta- blifhing the fucceffion of the Englifh crown upon the perfon of the Prince of Wales. They are laid to have fent over Mr. Graham to St. Germain's with overtures to this purpofe, and an affurance that a motion v/ould be made in the Houfe of Commons, to pafs a vote that the crown fhould not be fuppor- ted in the execution of the partition-treaty. King William was not ignorant of the cenfure he had un- dergone, and not a little alarmed to find himfelf fo unpopular among his own fubjedts. That he might be the more able to beftow his attention effedtuaily upon the affairs of England, he refolved to take fome meafures for the fatisfadlion of the Scottifh nation. He permitted the Parliament of that king- dom to meet on the twenty-eighth day of October, and W 1 L L ' I A M, 3S7 and wrote a letter to them from his hqufe at Loo, c ii A p. containing an affurance that he would concur in ^ ^ every thing that could be reafonably propofed for ,700, maintaining and advancing the peace and w'elfare of their kingdom. He promnfed to give his royal affent to fuch ads as they fliould frame for the better eftablifliment of the Prefbyterian difcipline; for preventing the grow^tli of popery, fuppreffing vice and immorality encouraging piety and virtue, pre- ferving and fecuring perfonal liberty, regulating and advancing trade, retrieving the loifes, and pro- moting the intereft of their African and Indian com.panies. He expreffed his concern that he could not aifert the company’s right of eftablilhing a. colony at Darien, whthout difturbing the peace of Chriftendom, and entailing a ruinous war on that his ancient kingdom. He recommended unani- mity and difpatch in raifing competent taxes for their own defence'; and told them he had thought fit to continue the Diike of Queenfberry in the office of high-commiffiioner. Notwithftandiilg this footh- ing addrefs, the national refentment continued to rage, and the parliament feemed altogether intraft- able. By this time the company had received cer- tain tidings of the entire furrender of their fettle- ment ; and on the firft day of the feffion, they re- prefented to parliament, that for want of due pro- teblion abroad, foriie perfons had been encouraged to break in upon their privileges even at home. This remonftrance was.fucceeded by another national, addrefs to the King, who told them he could not take any further notice of that affair, fince the Parlia- liament was now affembled ; and he had already made a declaration, with which he hoped all his faithful fubje 61 :s would be fatisfied. Neverthelefsj he found it abfolutely neceffiary to prabtife other ex- pedients for allaying the ferment of that nation. His minifbers and their agents beftirred them- felves fo fuccefsfully, that the heats in parliament C c 7 : v/ere -SS HISTORY Of ENGLAND. BOO Kwere entirely cooled, and the outcry of the people . fubfided into unavailing murmurs. The Parlia- J700. ment refolved, That in confideration of their great deliverance by his Majefty, and as, next under God, their fafety and happinefs wholly depended on his prefervation and that of his government, they would fupport both to the utmoft of their power, and maintain fuch forces as fhould be requifite for ' thofe ends: They pafled an a6l for keeping on foot three thoufand men for two years, to be main- tained by a land-tax. Then the commiffioner pro- duced the King’s letter, defiring to have eleven hundred men on his own account to the firft day of June following : they forthwith complied with his requeft, and were prorogued to the fixth of May. The fupernumerary troops were fent over to the States-General ; and the Earl of Argyle was ho- noured with the title of Duke, as a recompence for having concurred with the commiffioners in mana- ging this fefTion of parliament. § XXXVII. King William had returned to Eng- land on the eighteenth day of Odtober, not a little chagrined at the perplexities in which he found ' himfelf involved ; and, in the beginning of the next month, he received advice that the King of Spain was ailually dead. He could not be furprifed at this event, which had been fo long expefted ; but It was attended with a circumftance which he had not fore feen. Charles, by his laftwill, had declared the Duke of Anjou, fecond fon of the Dauphin, the ible heir of the Spanifn monarchy. In cafe this prince Ihould die without iffue, or inherit the crown of France, he willed that Spain fhould devolve to the Duke of Berry ; in default of him, and children, to the Archduke Charles and his heirs ; failing of whom, to the Duke of Savoy and his pofterity. Ele likewife recommended a match between the Duke of Anjou, and one of the ArchduchelTes. When this teftament was firft notified to the French court, Louis / WILLIAM. 389 Louis feemed to hefitate between his inclination and engagements to William and the States-General. ^ -^1 j Madamie de Maintenon is faid to have joined her 1700. influence to that of the Dauphin, in perfuading the King to accept of the will ; and Pontchartrain was engaged to fupport the famxe meafure. A cabinet- council was called in her apartment. The reft of the miniftry declared for the treaty of partition : the King affected a kind of neutrality. The Dauphin fpoke for his fon, j^vith an air of refolution he had never affumed before; Pontchartrain feconded his argument: Madame de Maintenenon afked what the Duke of Anjou had done to provoke the King, that he flnould be barred of his right to that fuc- ceflion ? Then the reft of the members efpoufed the Dauphin’s opinion ; and the King owned himfeif convinced by their reafons. In all probability, the decifion of this council was previoufly fettled in private. After the will was accepted, Louis clo- fetted the Duke of Anjou, to whom he faid, in pre- fence of the Marquis des Rois, Sir, the King of Spain has made you a king. The grandees de- mand you; the people v/ifli for you, and I give my confent. Remember only, you are a pi-ince of France. I recommend to you to love your people, to gain their affeftion by the lenity of your government, and to render yourfelf worthy of the throne you are going to afcend.” The new monarch was congratulated on his elevation by all the princes of the blood : neverthelefs, the Duke ' of Orleans and his fon protefted againft the will, becaufe the Archduke was placed next in fucceflion to the Duke of Berry, in bar of their right as defcen- dants of Anne of Auftria, whofe renunciation could be of no more force than that of Maria-Therefa, I j On the fourth day of December, the new king fet out for Spain, to the frontiers of v/hich he was ac- compained by his two brothers. C c 3 § XXXVIIL 390 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. . BOOK § XXXVIII. When the will was accepted, the French rr.inifter De Torcy endeavoured to juftify his mafter’s conduct to the Fail of Manchefter, who refided at Paris in the character of ambaiTador from the court of London. Fie obferved, That the treaty of partition was not likely to aniwer the end for which it had been concerted: That the Emperor had refnfed to accede ; That it was reliflied by none of the princes to whom it had been communicated: That the people of England and ITolland had ex- prefled their difcontent at the profpedf of France’s being in pofrefTion of N aples and Sicily ; that if Louis had rejefted the will, the A_rchduke would have had a double title derived from the former v/ill, and that of the late king: That the Spaniards were fc averfe to the the clivilion of their monarchy, there would be a neceirity for conquering the whole kingdom before the treaty could be executed : That the Ihips to be furnilhed by Great Britain and Hol- land would not be fufficient for the purpofes of fuch a war; and it was doubtful whether England and the States-General would engage themfelves in a greater expence. He concluded with faying. That ‘ the treaty would have been more advantageous to France than the will, which the King accepted purely from a defire of prelerving the peace of Europe. His mafter hoped, therefore, that a good underftanding would fubfift between him and the King of Great-Britain. The fame reafons were communicated by Briod, the French ambaffador at the Hague, to the States-General. Notvdthftand- ing this addrefs, they ordered their envoy at Paris to deliver a memorial to the French King, exprefling their furprife at his having accepted the will; and their hope, that as the time fpecified for the Em- peror’s acceding to the treaty was not expired, his Moft Chriftian Majefly would take the affair again into his confideration, and adhere to his engage- pients in every article. Louis, in his aniwer to this W I L L I A M. this memorial, Vv^hich he difpatched to all the courts of Europe, declared, That what he chiefly confi- dered was the principal deflgn of the ccntrafling parties, namely, the maintenance of peace in Eu- rope ; and that, true to his principle, he only de- parted from the words, that he might the better adhere to the fpirit of the treaty. § XXXIX. With this anfwer he fent a letter to the States, giving them to underftand, that the peace of Europe was fo firmly eflabliflied by the will of the King of Spain, in favour of his grandfon, that he did nor doubt their approbation of his fuc- ceffion to the Spanifh crown. The States obferved. That they could not declare themfelves upon an affair of fuch confequence, without confuking their refpeTdve provinces. Louis admitted the excufe, and aflfured them of his readineis to concur with w'hatever they fliould defire for the fecurity of the Spanifh Netherlands. The Spanifli ambaffador at the Hague prefented them with a letter from, his new mafter, who hkewife notified his accefflon to all the powers of Europe, except the King of England, The Emperor loudly exclaimed againfl the will, as being more iniquitous than the treaty of partition j and threatened to do himfelf juftice by force of arms. The Spaniards apprehending that a league would be formed between his Imperial Majefly and the ma- ritime powers, for fetting afide the fucceffion of the Duke of Anjou, and, confcious of their own inabi- lity to defend their dominions, refigned themfelves entirely to the protection of the French monarch. The towns in the Spanifli Netherlands and the duchy of Milan admitted French garrifons t a French fquadron anchored in the port of Cadiz i and ano- ther was detached to the Spanifli fettlements in the Weft Indies. Part of the Dutch army that was quartered in Luxembourg, Mons, and Namur were made prifoners of war, becaufe they would not own the King of Spain, whom their mafters had not C c 4 yet 39 2 B O O I *• J700. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. yet acknowledged. The States were overwhelmed with confiernation by this event, elj^ecially wher+ tliey confidered their own naked fituation, and re- medied that the Spanifh garrifons might fall upon them before they could aflemble a body of troops for their defence. The danger was fo imminent, that they refolved to acknow'ledge the King of Spain without further hefitation, and wrote a letter to the Trench King for that purpofe : this was no fooner received, than orders were ifliied for fending back their battalions. § XL. Hov/ v/armly foever King William refen- ted the condudt of the French King, in accepting the will fo diametrically oppofite to his engage- _ ments, he difiembled his chagrin, and behaved with fuch referye and apparent indifference, that fome people naturally believed he had been privy to the tranfadlion. Others imagined that he was difcou- raged from engaging in a new war by his bodily infirmities, which daily increafed, as well as by the bppofition in Parliament, to which he fhould be inevitably expofed. But his real aim was to conceal his fentiments, until he fhould have founded the opinions of other powers in Europe, and feen how tar he could depend upon his new miniflry. Fie now feemed to repofe his chief confidence in the Tarl of Rochefler, v/ho had undertaken for the Tories, and was declared Lord- lieutenant of Ire- lane. Lord Godolphin was appointed firfl: com- miffioner of the Treafury , Lord Tankerville fuc- ceeded Lord LonRiaie, lately dereafed, as keeper of the privy-feal, and Sir Chaides Hedges was declared fecretaryof State, in the I'oom of theEarlof Jerfey : but the management of the Commons was entrnfled to Mr. Robert FJarley who had hitherto oppofed the rneafures of the court with equal virulence and abi- lity. Thefe new undertakers, well knowing, they fhould find it very difficult, if not impoffiible, to feciire a majority in the prefent Parliament, pre- * ■ ' vailed WILLIAM. 393 vailed on the King to diflblve it by proclamation : C li A P, |;hen the flieriffs were changed according to their ^ nomination, and writs iffaed for a new Parliament ,^00. to meet on the fixth day of February. During this interval, Count WratifLaw arrived in England, as r-mbiffador from the Emperor, to explain Leo- pold’s title to the Spanifli monarchy! fupported by repeated entails and renunciations, confirmed in the mofl: folemn treaties. This minifter met with a very cold reception from thole who flood at the helm of affairs. They fought to avoid all con- nexions that might engage their country as a prin- cipal in another war upon the continent, fmarting as they were from tire lofles and incumbrances which the iaft had entailed upon them and their pofterity. They feeiPied to think that Louis, rather than involve himfeif in frefla troubles, would give all the fecurity that could be defired for maintain- ing the peace of Europe ; or even, fhouid this be refufed, they faw no reafon for Britain’s exhaufcing her wealth and ftrength to fupport a chimerical ba- lance, in which her intereft was but remotely con- cerned. It was their opinion, that, by keeping aloof, fhe might render herfelf more refpeclable. Fler referve would over- awe contending powers : they w’ould in their turn fue for her affiflance, and implore her good offices; and, inflead of declaring herfelf a party, ffie would have the honour to decide as arbitrefs of their difputes. Perhaps they extended this idea too far; and, in all probability, their notions were enflamed by a fpirit of fadion. They hated the Whigs as their political adverfaries, and (detefled the war, becaufe it had been countenanced and fupported by the intereft of that party. The King believed, that a conjunfilion of the two mo- narchies of France and Spain would prove fatal to the liberties of Europe; and that this could not be prevented by any other method than a general union of the other European powers. Fie certainly was an cnthufiaft V)>r HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 3700, BOO Kenthufiaft in his fentiments of this equilibrium; and fully convinced that he himfelf, of all the potentates in Chriftendom, was the only prince capable of adjufting the balance. The Imperial ambalTador could not, therefore, be long ignorant of his real purpofe, as he converfed with the Dutch favourites, who knew and approved of their mailer's defign, though he avoided a declaration, until he fliould have rendered his minifters more propitious to his aim. The true fecret, however, of that referve with which Count Vvratiilaw was treated at his firft arrival, was a private negociation wkich the King had fet on foot with the Regency of Spain, touch- ing a barrier in the Netheflands. He propofed, that certain towns fhould be garrifoned with Englifh and Dutch troops, by way of fecurity againil the ambitious defigns of France; but the Regency were fo devoted to the French intereft, that they refufed to liilen to any propofal of this nature. While this affair was dn agitation, William refolved to main- tain a wary diftince from the Emperor; but, when his effort mifcarried, the ambaffador found him much more open and acceffible § XLI. The Parliament meeting on the fixth, was prorogued to the tenth day of February, when Mr. Harley was chofen Speaker by a great maio- rity, in oppofition to Sir Richard Onflow. The * This year was tliftlngiiUTied by a glorious vl6lory which the young Kingot Sweden obtained in the nineteenth year of his age, Riga conlinu'’d inverted by the King of Poland, while Peter the Czar of Mufcovy made his approaches to Narva, at the head of a prodigious army, purpofing, in violation of all faith and juftice, to liiare the fpoils of the youthful monarch. Charles landed at Revel, compelled the Saxons to abandon the (lege of Riga, and having fup- plied the place, marched with a handful of troops againlt the Muf- covites, who had undertaken the liege of Narva. The Czar quitted his army with feme precipitation, as if he had been afraid of hazard- ing his perfon, while Charles advanced through ways that were thought impra6iicable, and furprifed the enemy. He broke into their camp before they had the leaft intimation of his approach, and to- tally routed them, after a fliort refiftance. He took, a great number of })rifoners, with all their baggage, tents, and artillery, and enter- ed Narva in triumph. King W I L L I A M. 395 King had previouHy told Sir Thomas Lyttelton, it c H \ P. would be for his fervice that he fliould yield his pre- tendons to Harley at this iuirdure ; and that gentle- man agieed to abfent himfelf from the Houfe on the day of eledion. The King obferved, in his fpeech. That the nation’s lofs in the death of the Duke of Glouceftei had rendered it abfolutely necefifary for them to make further provifion for the fucceTion of the Crown in the Proteftant Line: That the death* of the King of Spain had made fuch an alteration in the affairs of the Continent, as required their ma- ture deliberation. The reft of Iris harangue turned upon the ufual topicks of demanding fupplies for the enfuing year, reminding them of the deficiencies and publick debts, recommending to their enquiry the ftate of the navy and fortifications ; exhorting them to encourage commerce, employ the poor, and proceed with vigour and unanimity in all their deli- berations. Though the eledions had been general- ly carried in favour of the Tory intereft, the ini- niftry had fecured but one part of that fadion. Some of the irioft popular leaders, ftich as the Duke of Leeds, the Marquis of Normanby, the Earl of Nottingham, Seymour, Mufgrave, How, Finch, and Showers, had been either negleded or found refradtory, and refolved to oppofe the Court mea- fures with ail their intiuence. Befides, the French King, knowing that the peace of Europe would in a great meafure depend on the refolutions of the Englifh Parliament, is faid to have diftributed great fuiTiS of money in England, by means of his minifter Tallard, in order to ftrengthen the oppofition in the Houfe of Commons. Certain it is, the nation abounded, at this period, whth the French coins called Louis d’or and piftoles ; but whether this re- dundancy was owing to a balance of trade in favour of England, or to the largeffes of Louis, we fliall not pretend to determine. We may likewife ob- ferve, that the infamous pradlice of bribing eledtors had 4 39 ^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK had never been fo flagrant as in the choice of repre- . , fentatives for this Parliament. This fcandalous traf- 3700. fick had been chiefly carried on by the Whig party, and, therefore, their antagonifts refolved to fpare no pains in detefting their corruption. Sir Edward Seymour diibinguiflied himfeif by his zeal and adli- vity : he brought fome of thefe pradtices to light, and, in particular, fdgmatized the new Eaft-India Company, for having been deeply concerned in diis fpecies of venality. An enquiry being fet on foot in the Houfe of Commons, feveral elections were declared void ; and divers perfons, who had been il- legally returned, were flrfl: expelled the Houfe, and afterwards detained in prifon. Yet thefe prolecu- tions were carried on with fuch partiality, as plainly indicated that they flowed rather from party zeal than from patriotifm. § XLII, A great body of the Common^ had re- folved to prefent an addrefs to his Majefty, defiring he v/onld acknowledge the King of Spain ^ and the motion, in all probability, would have been carried by a confiderable majority, had not one bold and lucky expreflion given fuch a turn to the debate, as induced the anti-courtiers to defifl. One Mr. Monckton, in the heat of his declamation againfl this meafure, faid, he expefted the next vote would be for owning the pretended Prince of Wales. Though there was little or no connexion between thefe two fubjefts, a great many members were ftartled at the infinuation, and deferred the meafure, which was dropped accordingly. The King’s fpeech being taken into confideration, the Houfe refolved to fupport his Majefty and his government j to take fuch efte6lual meafures as might beft conduce to the intereft and fafety of England, and the prefervation of the Proteftant religion. This refolution was pre- fented in an addrefs to the King, who received it favourably. At the famie time, he laid before them u m.emorial he had received from the States-General, and WILLIAM. . 397 and defired their advice and affiftance in the points C H A P. that conftituted the fubftance of this reinonftrance. The States gave him to imderiland, that they had *”^7007^ acknowledged the Duke of Aniou as King of Spain : " ’that France had agreed to a negociation, in which they might ftipulate the necelTary conditions for fe- ciiring the peace of Europe ; and that they were firmly refolved to do nothing without the concur- rence of his Majefty and their other allies. They, therefore, begged he would fend a minifter to the H ague, with necefiaiy powers and inftriictions to co- operate with them in this negociation : they told him that, in cafe it fliould prove ineffectual, or Holland be fuddenly invaded by the troops v/hich Louis had ordered to advance towards their frontiers, they re- lied on the affiltance of England, and hoped his Majefty would prepare the fuccours ftipulated by treaty, to be ufed, fhould occafion require. The memorial was likewife communicated to the Houfe of Lords. Mean while, the Commons defired that the treaties between England and the States-General I fhould be laid before their Eloufe. Thefe being pcrufed, they refolved upon an addrefs, to defire his Majefty would enter into fuch negociations with the States-General, and other Potentates, as might moft effedlually conduce to the mutual fafety of Grcat-Bfitain and the United-Provinces, as well as 'to the prefen^ation of the peace of Europe, and to alfure him of their fupport and affiftance, in per- formance of the treaty fubfifting between England and the States-General. This refolution, however, was not carried without great oppofttion from thofe who were averfe to the nation’s involving itfelf in another war upon the continent. The King pro- fefted himfelf extremely well pleafed with this ad- drefs, and told them he would immediately order his minifters abroad to a6t in concert with the States- General and other Powers, for the attainment of thofe ends they propofed. § XLIIL 398 BOOK I. C--/ — -« 1700. HISTORY Ot^ feN GLAND. § XLIII. He communicated to the Commons a letter, written by the Earl of Melfort to his bi'othcr the Earl of Perth, governor to the pretended Prince of Wales. It had been miflaid by accident, and came to London in the Erench mail. It contained a fcheme for another invafion of England, together with fome reflections on the character of the Earl of Middleton, who had fupplanted him at the Court of St. Germain’s. Melfort was a mere projector, and feems to have had no other view than that of re- commending himfelf to King James, and bringing his rival into difgrace. The Eloufe of J.ords, to whom the letter was alfo imparted, ordered it to be printed. Next day they prefented an addrefs, thank- ing his Majefty for his care of the Protellant reli- gion j defiring all the treaties made fmee the iafe war might be laid before them ; reqnefting him to engage in fuch alliances as he flrould think proper for preferving the balance of power in Europe : af- furing him of their concurrence ; exprefling their acknowledgement for his having communicated Mel- fort’s letter defiring he would give orders for feizing the horfes and arms of difaffe6led perfons ; for re- moving Papifts from London ; and for fearching after thofe arms and provifions of war mentioned in the letter : finally, they requefted him to equip Ipeedily a fufficient fleet for the defence of himfelf and his kingdom. They received a gracious anfwer to this addrefs, which was a further encouragement to the King to put his own private defigns in exe- cution ; towards the fame end the letter contributed not a little, by inflaming the fears and refentment of the nation againft France, which in vain difclaimed the Earl of Melfort as a fantaftical fchemer, to whom no regard wbs paid at the Court of Verfxilles. The French miniftry complained of the publication of this letter, as an attempt to fow jealoufy between the two Crowns ; and, as a convincing proof of their fm- cerity, banilhed the Earl of Melfort to Angers. ■ § XLIV. W I L L I A M. ' § XLIV. The credit of Exchequer bills was fo C H A lowered by the change of the miniftry, and the lapfe of the time allotted for their circulation, that they '*^^00?^ fell near twenty per cent, to the prejudice of the revenue, and the difcredit of the government in fo- reign countries. The Commons having taken this affair into confideration, voted. That provifion fnould be made from time to time for making good the ' principal and intereft due on all parliamentary funds ; and afterwards paffed a bill for renewing the bills of credit, commonly called Exchequer bills. This was fent up to the Lords on the fixth day of March, and on the thirteenth received the royal affent. The next objedt that engroffcd the attention of the Com- mons was the fettlement of the fucceffion to the throne, which the King had recommended to their confideration in the beginning of the feffion. Having deliberated on this fubjedt, they refolved. That for the prefervation of the peace and happinefs of the kingdom, and the fecurity of the Proteftant religion, it was abfolutely neceffary that a further declaration fhould be made of the limitation and fucceffion of the Crown in the Proteftant Line, after his Majefty and the Princefs, and the heirs of their bodies re- fpedlively: and. That further provifion ftiould be firft made for the fecurity of the rights and liberties of the people. Mr. Harley moved. That fome con- ditions of government might be fettled as prelimi- naries, before they fhould proceed to the nomina- tion of the perfon, that their fecurity might be com- plete. Accordingly, they deliberated on this fub- jedt, and agreed to the following refolutions: That whoever fnall hereafter come to the poffeffion of ^his Crown, ftiall join in communion with the Church of - England as by law eftablifiied: That, in cafe the Crowm and Imperial Dignity of this realm ftiall here- after come to any perfon, not being a native of this kingdom of England, this nation be not obliged to engage in any war for the defence of any dominions r cr 400 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK or territories which^do not belong to the Crown of England, without the confent of Parliament : That 170^ ' no perfon who fhall hereafter come to the poffeiTioii of the Crown fhall go out of the dominions of Eng- land, Scotland, or Irelpd, without confent of Par- liament: That, from and after the time that the fur- ther limitation by this a 61 : diall take efFect, all mat- ters and things relating to the well-governing of this kingdom, which are properly cognizable in the Privy-counci], by the laws and cuftoms of the realm, fhall be tranfafted there, and all refolutions taken thereupon fhall be figned by fuch of the Privy- council as fhall advife and confent to the fame : That, after the limitation fnall take effect, no perfon born out of the kingdom of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or the dominions thereunto belonging, al- though he be naturalized, and made a denizen (ex- ' cept fuch as are born of Englifh parents) ffali be capable to be of the Privy-council, or a member of either Houfe of Parliament, or to enjoy any office or place of truft, either civil or military, or to have any grant of lands, tenements, or hereditaments from the Crown to himfelfj or to any others in truft for him : That no perfon who has an office or place of profit under the King, or receives a penfion from the Crown, fliall be capable of ferving as member of the Houfe of Commons : That, after the limita- tion ffiall take effedt. Judges’ commiffions be made quamdiu fe bene gejjhinty and their falaries afcertained and eftabliffied ; but, upon the addrefs of both Koufes of Parliament, it m.ay be lawful to remove them : That no pardon under the Great Seal of Eng- land be pleadable to an impeachment by the Com- mons in Parliament. Having fettled thefe prelimi- naries, they refolved. That the Princefs Sophia, Duchefs Dowager of Hanover, be declared the next in fucceffion to the Crown of England, in the Pro- teftant Line, after his Majefty, and the Princefs, and the heirs of their bodies refpedively; and, That the W I L L I A M. ' 401 the further limitation of the Crown be to the fald c H A P, Princefs Sophia and the heirs of her body, being Proteftants. A bill being formed on thefe refolu- tionsj was fent up to the Houfe of Lords, where it met with fome oppohtion from the Marquis of Nor- manby ; a proteft was iikewife entered againft it by the Earls of Huntingdon and Plymouth, and the Lords Guilford and Jeffries. Neverthelefs, it palfed without amendments, and on the twelfth day of June received the royal aiTent: the King was ex- tremielv mortified at the preliminary limitations, which he confidered as an open infult on his own condudt and admhnnlTation ; not but that they were necelfary precautions, naturaliy fuggefled by the ex- perience of thofe evils to which the nation had been already expofed, in confequence of raifing a foreign Prince to the throne of England. As the Tories lay under the imiputation of favouring the late King’s intereif, they exerted themfelves zealoufly on this occafion, to wipe off the afperfion, and infinuate themfelves into the confidence of the people ; hoping, that in. the fequd they fhould be able to reftrain the nation from engaging too deep in the affairs of the Continent, without incurring the charge of difaffedlion to the prefent King and Government. The a 6 l of fettlemient being paffed, the Earl of Mac- clesfield was fent to notify the tranfablion to the Eleftrefs Sophia, who Iikewife received from his hands the Order of the Garter. §.XLV. The ad of fucceffion gave umbrage to all the Popifh Princes who were more nearly related to the Crown than this Lady, whom the Parliament had preferred to all others. TheDuchefs of Savoy, grand-daughter to King Charles I. by her mother, ordered her ambaffador. Count Maffei, to make a proteftation to the Parliament of England, in her name, againft all refolutions and decifions contrary to her title, a? foie daughter to the Princefs Hen- rietta, next in fucceftion to the Crown of England, ■ VoL. I, ^ P d after / 4.t'2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. after King W iliiam and the Princefs Anne of Den- mark. Two copies of this protefl: Maffei fent in letters to the Lord-Keeper and the Speaker of the Lower Honfe, by two of his gentlemen, and a pub- lick notary to atteft the delivery ; but no notice was taken of the declaration. The Duke of Savoy, while his minif er was thus employed in England, engaged in an alliance with the Crowns of France and Spain, on condition. That his Catholick Majefty Eiould efpoufe his youngeil daughter without a ciow- ry: That he himfelf fhould command the allied army in Italy, and furnifh eight thoufand infantry, v/ith five and twenty hundred horfe, in confideration of a monthly fubfidy of five thoufand crowns. § XLVI. During thefe tranfactions, Mr. Stan- hope, envoy extraordinary to the States General, was empowered to treat with the minifters of France and Spain, according to the addrefles of both Houfes of Parliament. He reprefented, that though his Mod Chriflian Majefty had thought fit to deviate from the partition-treaty, it was not reafonable that the King of England fhould lofe the effedl of that conyention : he, therefore, expedled feme fecurity for the peace of Europe j and for that purpofe infifted upon cer- tain articles, importing. That the French King fhould immediately withdraw his troops from the Spanifh Netherlands: That, for the fecurity of England, the cities of Offend and Nieuport fhould be delivered into the hands of his Britannick Majefty : That no kingdom, provinces, cities, lands, or places, belong- ing to the crown of Spain, fhould ever be yielded or transferred to the crown of France, on any pretence vdiatever : That the fubjeccs of his Britannick Ma- jefly fhould retain ail the privileges, rights, and im- munities, with regard to their navigation and com- merce in the dominions of Spain, which they enjoyed at the death of his late Catholick Majefty; and alfo all fuch immunities, rights, and franchifes, as the fubjedts of France, or any other Power, either pofiefs ' for W I L L I A M. ' 403 for the prefent, or may enjoy for the future: That CHAP, all treaties of peace and conventions between Eng- ^ ^ ^ ^ land and Spain lliould be renewed: and, That a 1700. treaty formed o"n thefe demands iliould be guaran- tied by fuch Powers as one or odier of the Con- tradtors iliould follicit and prevail upon to accede. Such like wife were the propofals made by the States- General, with this difference, that they demanded, as cautionary towns, all the ftrongefl places in the Netherlands. Count D’Avaux, the French miniiler, was fo furprifed at thefe exorbitant demands, that he could not help faying, They could not have been higher, if his Mailer had loft four fucceifive battles. He aifured them, that his Moil Chriftian Majefty would withdraw his troops from the Spanifh Nether- lands as foon as the King of Spain iliould have forces of his own fufficient to guard the country : with re- fpe6l to the other articles, he could give no other anfwer, but that he would immediately tranfmit them to Verfailles. Louis was filled with indigna- tion at the infolent ftrain of thofe propofals, wLicli lie confidered as a fure mark of William’s hoftile in- tentions. He refufed to give any other fccurity for the peace of Europe, than a renewal of the treaty of Ryfwick ; and he is faid to have tairspered, by means of his agents and emiffaries, with the miembers of the Englifh Parliament, that they might oppofe all fteps tending to a new war on the Continent. § XL VII. King William certainly had no ex- pectation that France would clofe with fuch propo- fals ; but he was not without hope, that her refufal would warm the Englifii nation into a concurrence with his defigns. He communicated to the Floufe of Commons the demand vdiich had been made by him and the States-General ; and gave them to un- derftand, that he would from time to tiiTie make them acquainted with the progrefs of the negocia- tion. The Commons, fufpedling tliat his intention was to make them parties in a congrcfs vdiich he D d e niiglit HISTOx^Y OF ENGLAND. might conducl to a dilTerent end from that which they propofed» refolved to hgniry their fentiments in the anfwer to this melTage. Thev called for the treaty of partition, which being read, they voted an addrefs of thanks jto his Majefty, for his mofl gra- cious declaration, that he would make them ac- quainted with the progrefs of the negociation : but they fignified their difapprobation of the partition- treaty, figned with the great feal of England, with- out the advice of the Parliament which was then fitting, and produftive of ill confequences to the kingdom, as well as to the peace of Europe, as it affigned over to the French King fuch a large por- tion of the Spaniila dominions. Nothing could be more mortifying to the King than this open attack upon his own condudl : yet he fuppreffed his refent- ment, and without taking the leaft notice of their fentiments with refpedl: to the partition-treatv, afliired them, that he fliould be always ready to receive their advice on the negociation which lie had fet on foot, according to their defire. The debates in the Houfe of Commons upon the fubjedl of the partition-treaty rofe to fuch violence, that divers members in declaiming againfl: it, tranf- greffed the bounds of decency. Sir Edward Sey- mour compared the divilion which had been made of the Spanifn territories to a robbery on the high- way ; and Air. Howe did not fcruple to fay it was a felonious treaty : an expreffion, which the King re- fented to fuch a degree, that he declared he w^ould have demanded perfonal fatisfadtion with his fword, had not he been reftrained by the difparity of con- dition between himfdf and the perfon who had offer- ed fuch an outrageous infult to his honour ; whether the Tories intended to alienate the minds of the na- tion from all foreign connexions, or to wreak their vengeance on the late miniflers, whom they hated as the chiefs of the Whig party, certain it is, they now railed an univerial outcry againfl the partition- treaty. WILLIAM. treaty, which was not only condemned in publick pamphlets and private converfation, but even brought into the Houle of Lords as an obje6l of parliamentary cenfure. In the mmnth of March a warm debate on this fubjeft was begun by Sheffield Marquis of’Nor- manby, and carried on with great vehemence by other noblemen of the fame faftion. They exclaim- ed againii the article by which fo many territories were added to the crown of France: they complained, that the Emperor had been forfaken : that the treaty was not communicated to the privy-council or mini- flry, but clandeftinely tranfafted by the Earls of Port- land and Jerfey; that the fanftion of the great feal had been unjuftly and irregularly applied, firfi: to blank powers, and afterwards to the treaty itfelf. The courtiers replied, that the King had engaged -in a treaty of partition at the define of the Emperor, who had agreed to every article, except that relating to the duchy of Milan, and afterwards defired, that his Majefty w^ould procure for him the befb terms he could obtain ; above all things recommending fecrefy, that he might not forfeit his intereft in Spain, by feeming to confent to the treaty : that foreign negociations being entrufled to the care of the crown, the King lay under no legal obligation to commu- nicate fuch fecrets of ftate to his council ; far lefs was he obliged to follow their advice : and that the keeper of the great fcal had no authority for refufing to apply it to any powers or treaty which the King ffiould grant or conclude, unlefs they were contrary to law, which had made no provifion for fuch an emergency*. The Earl of Portland, apprehending D d 3 that * In the co'.jrfe of this debate, the Earl ofRochefter reprehended feme Lords for I’peaking dirrefpedU ully of the French ICing, obfer- ving, ihat it was peculiarly incumbent on peers to treat monarchs with decorum and refpeft, as they derived their dignity from the crown. Another affirming, that the French Kinsc was not only to he refpe^led, but likewife to be feared ; a ctirain Lord replied,^ He hoped no man in England need to be afraid or the French King, much lefs the Peer who fpoke lalf, who was too much a frund to that Monarch to fear any thing from his refentinent.” 405 C H \ P. 1700. i.c6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. JI7OO. BOOK that this tempeft would buiTt upon his head, declared, on the fecond day of the debate, that he had by the King’s order communicated the treaty, before it was concluded, to the Earls of Pembroke and Marlbo- rough, the Lords Lonfdale, Somers, Halifax, and Secretary Vernon. Thefe noblemen owned, that they had been made acquainted with the fiibihanee of it : that when they excepted to fome particulars, they were told, his Majefty had carried the loatter as far as it could be advanced, and that he could obtain no better terms ; thus afifured that every arti- cle v/as already fettled, they faid they no longer infilled upon particulars, but gave their advice that his Majefty fhould not engage himfelf in any mea- fure that would produce a new Vv*ar, feeing the nation had been fo uneafy under the laft. After long de- bates, and great variety as well as virulence of alter- cation, the Houfe agreed to an addrefs, in which they difapproved of tlie partition- treaty, as a fcheme inconfiftent with the peace and fafety of Europe, as V, ell as prejudicial to the interefl of Great-Britain. They complained, that neither the inftrudlions given to his plenipotentiaries, nor the draft of the treaty itfelf, had been laid before his Majefty ’s council. They humbly befought him, that for the future, he would in all matters of importance, require and admit the advice of his natural-born fubjedts of known probity and fortune ; and that he would conflitute a council of fuch perfons, to whom he might impart ail affairs which fliould any v/ay concern him and his dominions. They obfcrved, that interefl and natu- Coie. ral affection to their country would incline them to every meafure that might tend to its welfare and Tiaas. profperity ; whereas flrangers could not be fo much influenced by thefe confiderations : that their know- ledge of the country \yould render them miore capa- ble than foreigners could be of advifing his Majefty touching the true interefls of his kingdom : that they had exhibited fuch repeated demonflrations of their 4 duty Burnet. Oldmixon. tTintlal. Ralph. Voltaire. W I L L I A M. 407 duty and alTedtion, as miift convince his Majefty of C H A p. their zeal in his fervice ; nor could he want the knowledge of perfons fit to be employed in all his ,-,30. fecret and arduous affairs : finally, as the French King appeared to have violated the treaty of parti- tion, they advifed his Majeffy, in future negocia- tions with that Prince,, to proceed wdth fuch caution as might imply a real fecurity. § XLVIII. The King received this fevere remon- ftrance with his ufual phlegm, faying, it contained matter of very great moment ; and he would take care that all treaties he made fhould be for the ho- nour and fafety of England. Though he deeply felt this affront, he vvouid not alter his condueff towards the new miniRers : but, he plainly perceived their intention w^as to thwart him in his favourite meafure, and humble Iiim into a dependence upon their in- tereft in Parliament.^ On the laft day of March, he An. ij9i. iimparted to the Commons the French King’s decla- ration, that he would grant no other fecurity than a renewal of the treaty of Ryfwick : fo that the ne- gociation feemed to be at an end. He likewife communicated two refolutions of the States-Gene- ral, with a memorial ffom their envoy in England, relating to the Riips they had equipped with a view to join the Engliih fleet, and the fuccours flipulated in the treaty concluded- in the year 1677, which they defired might be fent over with all convenient expe- dition. The Floufe having confidered this meffage, iinanimoufly refolved to defire his Majefty would carry on the negotiations in concert with the States- General, and take fuch meafures therein as might moft conduce to their fafety : they affured him, they would effeftually enable him to fupport the treaty of 167 7, by which England was bound to affift them with ten thoufand men, and tv/enty fhips of war, in cafe they fhould be attacked, Though the King was nettled at that part of this addrefs, which, by confining him to one treaty, implied their difappro- D d 4 bation HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK batlon of a new confederacy, he difcovei ed no figns I* ^of emotion ; but thanked them for the affurance they had given, and told them he had fent orders to his envoy at the Hague, to continue the conferences with ; the courts of France and Spain. On the nineteenth . day of April, the Marquis de Torcy delivered to the Earl of Manchefler, at Paris, a letter from the new King of Spain to his Britannick Majefty, notifying his accefiion to that throne, and expreffing a defire of cultivating a mutual friendfhip with the King and crown of England. How averfe foever William might have been to any correfpondence of this fort, the Earl of Rocheiler and the new miniflers impor- tuned him in fuch a manner to acknov/ledge Philip, that he at length complied with their entreaties, and wrote a civil anfwer to his Mod Catholick Majefly. This was a very alarming incident to the Emperor, who was bent upon a war with the two crowns, and liad determined to fend Prince Eugene with an army into Italy, to take poffeflion of the duchy of Milan, as a fief of the empire. The new Pope Clement XI. who had fucceeded to the papacy in the preceding year, was attached to the French interefl ; the Ve- netians favoured the Emperor j but they refufed to declare themfelves at this jundture. XLIX. The French King confented to a re- newal of the negociations at the Hague ; but, in the mean time, tampered with the Dutch deputies, to engage them in a feparate treaty. Finding them determined to act in conceit with the King of Eng- land, he protracted the conferences, in order to gain time, wdiile he eredted fortifications, and drev^ lines ’ on the frontiers of Holland, divided the Princes of the emipire by his intrigues, and endeavoured to gain over the Rates of Italy. The Dutch, mean while, exerted themfelves in providing for their owm fecu- rity. They reinforced their garrifons, purchafed fupplies, and folicited fuccours from foreign poten- tates. The States wrote a letter to King William, explain- W I L L I A M. ex|i 3 aining the danger of their fituation, profefTing the moil inviolable attachment to the intereft of England, and defiring that the ftipulated number of troops fhould be fent immediately to their affiftance. The three Scottifh regiments which he had retained in his own pay were immediately tranfported from Scotland. The letter of the States-General he com- municated to the Houfe of Commons, who having taken it into confideration, refolved to alTift his Majefty to fupport his allies in maintaining the liberty of Europe ; and to provide immediate fuccours for the States-General, according to the treaty of 1677. The Houfe of Peers, to whom the letter was alfo communicated, carried their zeal hill farther. They prefented an addrefs, in which they defired his Ma- ' jelly would not only peform the articles of any for- mer treaty with the States-General, but alfo engage with them in a ftrid league offenfive and defenfive, for their common prefervation j and invite into it all the Princes and States that were concerned in the prefent vifible danger arifing from the union of France and Spain. They exhorted him to enter into fuch alliances with the Emperor, as his Majefty fhould think neceftary, purfuant to the ends of the treaty concluded in the year 1689. They aiTured him of their hearty and fmcere aiTiftance, not doubt- ing that Almighty God would protect his lacred perfon in fo righteous a caufe ; and that the unani- mity, wealth, and courage of his fubjedls would carry him with honour and fuccefs through all the difficulties of a juft war. Laftly, they took leave humbly to reprefent, that the dangers to which his kingdom and allies had been expofed, where chiefy owing to the fatal counfels that prevented his Ma- jefty’s fooner meeting his people in Parliament. § L. Thefe proceedings of both Houfes could not but be very agreeable to the King, who expreffied his fatisfacftion in his anfwer to each apart. They were the more remarkable, as at this very time con- fiderable 410 HISTORY OF ENGLAND BOOK 1701. fiderable progrefs was made in a defign to impeach the old miniftry. This deviation, therefore, from the tenour of their former conduhl conld be owins: to no other motive than a fenfe of their own danger, and refentment agai nil France, which, even during the negociation, had been fecretly employed in ma- king preparations to furprize and diftrefs the States- General. The Comimons having expreffed their fentiments on this fubjecl, refumed the confideration of the partition-treaty. They had appointed a com- mittee to examine the journals of the Houfe of Lords, and to report their proceedings in relation to the treaty of partition. When the report was' made by Sir Edv/ard Seyiyiour, the Houfe refolved itfelf into a committee, to confider the Rate of the nation : after warm debates, they refolved, 'Fhat William Earl of Portland, by negociating and con- cluding the treaty of partition, was guilty of a high crime and mifdemeanour. They ordered Sir John I^evefon Gower to impeach him at the bar of the Eloufe of Lords : and named a committee to pre- pare the articles of his impeachment. Then, in a conference with the Lords, they defired to know the particulars of what had palTed between the Earl of Portland and Secretary Vernon, in relation to the partition-treaty, as alfo vdiat other information they had obtained concerning negociations or treaties of partition of the Spanifli monarchy, The Lords de- murring to this demand, the Lower Houle refolved to addrefs the King, That copies of both treaties of partition, together with all the powers and inflruc- tions for negociating thofe treaties, fliould be laid before them. The copies were accordingly pro- duced, and the Lords fent down to the Commons tw^o papers, containing the powers granted to the Earls of Portland and Jerfey, for figning both trea- ties of partition. The Houfe afterwards ordered. That Mr. Secretary Vernon fhould lay before them ail the letters which had palTed between the Earl of Portland W I L L I a' M. 411 Portland and him, in relation to thofe treaties : and c H A p. he thought proper to obey their command. thing could be more fcandalouOy partial than the 1701. conduct of the Commons on this occafion. They refolved to fkreen the Earl of Jerfey, Sir Jofeph Williamfon, and Mr. Vernon, v/ho had been deeply concerned as any others in that tranfadcion ; and pointed all their vengeance againft the Earls of Portland and Orford, and the Lords Somers and Hallifax. Some of the members even tampered with Kidd, who was now a prifoner in Newgate, to accufe Lord Somers as having encouraged him in his piracy. He was brought to the bar of the Houfe, and examined : but he declared that he had never fpoke to Lord Som.ers ; and that he had no order from thofe concerned in the fhip, but that of purfu- ing his voyage againft the pirates in Madagafcar. Finding him unfit for their purpofe, they left him to the courfe of law ; and he was hanged, with fome of his accomplices. § LI. Lord Somers, underftanding that he was accufed in the Houfe of Commons of having con- fented to the partition-treaty, defired that he might be admitted and heard in his own defence. Llis re- queft being granted, he told the Houfe, that when he received the King’s letter concerning the parti- tion-treaty, with an order to Pend over the neceftary powers in the moft iecret manner, he thought it w'ould have been taking too much upon him to put a flop to a treaty of fuch confequence, when the life of the King of Spain was fo precarious ; for, had the King died before the treaty was finiflied, and he been blamed for delaying the neceflary powers, he could not have juftified his own conduct, fince the King’s letter was really a warrant : that, neverthe- lefs, he had written a letter to his Majefty, objedb- ing to feveral particulars in the treaty, and propofing other articles which he thought were for the intereft of his country : that he thought himfelf bound to put 412 15 O O I. 1701. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. vtlie great feal to the treaty when it was concluded; ^that, as a privy- connfcllor, he had offered his belt advice, and as chancellor, executed his office ac- cording to his duty. After he had withdrawn, his juflification gave rife to a long debate, which ended in a refolution carried by a majority of fcven voices, That John Lord Somers, by advifing his Majefty to conclude the treaty of partition, wLereby large territories of the Spanidi monarchy were to be deliv^ered up to France, was guilty of a high crime and mifdemeanour. Votes to the fame effedl were paffed againft Edward Earl of Orford, and Charles Lord Flallifax; and all three were impeached at the bar ot the Upper-FIoufe. But the Commons knowing that thofe impeachments would produce nothing in the Houfe of Lords, where the oppofite intereft predominated, they refolved to proceed againft the accufed noblemen in a more expeditious and efteTual way of branding their reputation. They voted and prefented an addrefs to the King, defiring he would remove them from his councils and prefence for Tver, as advifers of a treaty fo pernicious to the trade and welfare of England. They concluded, by repeating their affurance, that they v/ould always ftand by and fupport his Majefty to the utmoft of their power, againft all his enemies both at home and abroad. The King, in his anfwer, artfully overlooked the firft part of the remom- ftrance. He thanked them for their- repeated affurances ; and told them he would employ none in his fervice but fuch as Ihould be thought moft likely to iimprove that mutual truft and confidence be- tween him and his people, which was fo neceffary at that conjuncture, both for their own feeurity and the prefervation of their allies. § LIE The Lords, incenfed at this ftep of the Commons, which they confidered as an infult upon their tribunal, and a violation of common juftice, drew up and delivered a counter-addrefs, humbly befeeching / WILLIAM. 413 befeecliing his Majefly, that he would not pafs any chap. cenfure upon the accufed lords until they diould be tried on the impeachments, and judgements be given according to the ufage of Parliament. The Kin g was fo perplexed by thefe oppolite reprefenta- tions, that he knew not well what courfe to follow. He made no reply to the counter addrefs ; but al- lowed the names of the impeached lords to remain in the council- books. The Commonsdiaving car- ried their point, which was to ftigmatize thole no- blemen, and prevent their being employed for the future, Tuffered the impeachments to be neglected, until they themfelves moved for trial. On the fifth day of May the Houfe of Lords fent a meflage to the Commons, importing. That no articles had as ■ yet been exhibited againfl the noblemen whom they had impeached. The charge was immediately drawn up againfl the Earl of Orford; him they ac- accufed of having received exorbitant grants from the crowm : of having been concerned with Kidd the pirate : of having committed abufes in mana- ging and viftualling the fleet, when it lay on the coaft of Spain ; and laftly, of having advifed the partition- treaty. The Earl in his own defence declared, that he had received no grant from the King, except a very diftant reverfion, and a prefent of ten thoufand pounds, after he had defeated the French at La Hogue : that in Kidd’s affair he had a6led legally, and with a good intention towards the publick, though to his own lofs : that his accounts with regard to the fleet which he commanded had been exa- mined and palled ; yet he was ready to wave the advantage, and juftify hiiufelf in every particular : and he abfolutely denied that he had gi ven any ad- vice concerning the treaty of partition. Lord Somers was accufed of having fet the feals to the powers, and afterwards to the treaties : of having accepted fome grants : of having been an accomplice with Kidd; and of having fbme guilt of partial and dilatory proceedings in chancery. 4 jyol, 414. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK He anfwered every article in the charge; but no re- I- plication was made by the Commons, either to him or to the Earl of Orford. When the Commons were Ilimulated by another mcITage from the Peers, relating to the impeachments of the Earl of Portland and I.onl flallifax, they declined exhibiting articles againil the former, on pretence of refpecl for his Majefty; but on the fourteenth of June the charge againft Hallifix was fent up to the Lords. He was taxed with poflefTing a grant in Ireland, without paying the produce of it, according to the law lately ena6led concerning thofe grants : with enjoying another grant out of the foreft of Deane, to the wafte of the timber and the prejudice of the navy : with having held places that were incompatible, by being at the fame time commilTioner of the Treafury, and chancellor of the Exchequer; and with having ad- vifed the two treaties of partition. He anfwered, that his grant in Ireland was of debts and fums of money, and within the aft concerning confifeated eftates ; that all he had ever received from it did not exceed fourhnndred pounds, which, if he was bound to repay, a common acTion would lie againft him ; but every man w^as not to be im- peached who did not difeharge his debts at the very day of payment. He obferved, that as his grant in the foreft of Deane extended to weedings only, it could occafion no wafte of timber, nor prejudice to the navy ; that the auditor's place was held by ano- ther perfon, until he obtained the King’s leave to withdraw from the Treafury ; that he never faw the tirft treaty of partition, nor was his advice aflced upon the fubjeeft : that he had never heard of the fecond but once before it was concluded : and then he fpoke his fentiments freely on the fubje61:. This anfwer, like the others, would have been neglecfted by the Commons, whofe aim was now to evade the trials, had not the Lords preffed them by meftages to expedite the articles. They even appointed a day f VV I L L I A M. 415 day for Oiford’s trial, and (ignified their refolution C H A P. to the Commons. I'hefe defired that a committee ofbothHoufes fhouid be named for fettling preli- minaries, one of which v/as. That the lord to be' -tried fhouid not fit as a peer; and the other im- ported, That thofe lords impeached for the fame matter fliould not vote in the trial of each other. They iikewife defired, that Lord Somers fhouid be lirft tried. The Lords made no objedlion to this laft demand ; but they rejefted the propofal of a committee confiding of both Houfes, ailedging, that the ComiTiOns were parties, and had no title to fit in equality with the judge, or to fettle matters relating to the trial : that this was a demand con- trary to the principles of law and rules of juftice, and never pradifed in any court or nation. The Lords, indeed, had yielded to this expedient in the Popifh plot, becaufe it was a cafe of treafon, in which the King’s life and fafety of the kingdom were con- cerned, while the people were jealous of the court, and the whole nation was in a ferment: but at prefent the times were quiet, and the charge amoun- ted to notlikig more than mifdemeanours ; therefore, the Lords could not aflent to fuch a propofal as was derogatory fi*om their jurifdiftion. Neither would they agree to the preliminaries ; but, on the twelfth day of June, refolved. That no peer impeached for high crimes and mifdemeanours, fhouid, upon his - trial, be without the bar: and. That no peer im- peached could be precluded from voting on any occafion, except in his own trial. Divers meflages paired between the two Houfes ; the Commons ftili infilling upon a committee to fettle preliminaries : at length die dilpute was brought to a free confe- rence. § LIII. Mean while, the King going to the Houfe of Peers, gave the royal aflent to the bill of fucqeflion. In his fpeech he exprefled his warm acknowdedgements for their repeated aflii ranee of fupporting , 4x6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. o o K fuppoiting him in fuch alliances as fhoiild be mofl proper for the prefervation of the liberty of Europe^ fecurity of England and the States-Ge- neral. lie obfervcd, that the feafon of the year was advanced ; that the poftiire of affairs abfolutcly re- quired his prefence abroad ; and he recommended difpatch of the publick bufinefs, elpecially of thofe matters which were of the greateft importance. The Commons thanked him in an addrefs for having approved of their proceedings ; they declared they v/onld fupport him in fuch alliances as he fhoulcl ' , think fit to make in conjiindtion with the Emperor and the States-Generafi for the peace of Europe, and reducing the exorbitant power of France. Then they refumed their dilpute with the Upper-Houfe, In the free conference, Lord Haverfham happened to tax the Commons with partiality, in impeaching fome lords and fcreening others, who were equally guilty of the fame mifdemeanours. Sir Chrifiopher Mufgrave and the managers for the Commons im- mediately withdrew: this unguarded fally being reported to the Eloufe, they immediately refolved, That John Lord Haverfliam had uttered mofi; fcandalous reproaches and falfe exprelfions, highly refie6ling upon the honour and juftice of the Houfe • of Commons, tending to a breach in the good correfpondence between the two Houfes, and to the interruption of the publick juftice of the nation: That the faid Lord Haverfham fhould be charged before the Lords for the faid words : That the Lords ftiould be defired to proceed in juftice againft him, and to infii61; upon him fuch punifhment as fo high an offence againft the Commons did deferve. Tire Commons had now found a pretence to juftify their delay ; and declared diey would not renew the con- ference until they fhould have received fatisfa6lion. Lord Haverlliarn offered to lubmit to a triaL but infifted on their firft proving the words which he was faid to have fpoken. When this declaration was W I L L I A M. \vas imparted to the Commons, they laid, the Lords ought to have cenlured him in a fummary way, and 11111 refufed to renev/ the conference. The Lords, on the other hand, came to a refolution. That there fhould not be a committee of both Houles concerning the trial of the impeached lords. Then they refolved. That Lord Somers diould be tried at Weftminfter-hall on Tuefday the feventeenth day of June, and fignitied this refolutions to the Lov/er- Houfe i reminding them, at the fame time, of the articles againft the Earl of Portland. The Com- mons refufed to appear, alledging, they were the only judges, and that the evidence was not yet prepared. They fent up the reaibns of their non- appearance to the Houfe of Lords, where they were fup ported by the new minilfry and ail the mal-contents, and produced very warm debates. The maiority carried their point piecemeal, by dint of different votes, againft which very fevere protefts were entered. On the day appointed for the trial, they fent a meffage to the Commons, that they were going to Weftminfter-hall. The other impeached lords alked leave, and were permitted to withdraw, d'he articles of impeachment agaiiift Lord Somers, and his anfwers, being read in Weftminfter-hall, and the Commons not appearing to profecute, the Lords adjourned to their own houfci where they debated concerning the queftion that was to be put^ This being, fettled, they returned to W^eftminfter- hali ; and the queftion being put, That John Lord Somers be acquitted of the articles of im- peachment againft him, exhibited by the Houfe of Commons, and all things therein contained ; and, That the impeachment be difmiffed,’' it was carried by a majority of thirty-five^ The Commons, exafperated at thefe proceedings, re- iblved, That the Lords had refufed juftice to the Commons : That they had endeavoured to over- turn the right of impeachment lodged in the Com- mons by the ancient conftitution of the kingdom : VoL L E e ' Thas 4i8 ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOKThat all the ill confequences which might attend the delay of the fupplies given for the prefervation of the publick peace, and the maintenance of the balance of Europe, would be owing to thofe who, to procure an indemnity for their own crimes, had ufed their utmoft endeavours to make a breach be- tween the two Houfes. The Lords fent a meffage to the Commons, given them to underftand, that they had acquitted Lord Somers, and difmilfed the impeach- ment, as nobody had appeared to fupport the arti- cles ; and that they had appointed next Monday for the trial of the Earl of Orford. They refolved. That unlefs the charge againft Lord Haverfham fhould be profecuted by the Commons before the end of the feflion, the Lords would adjudge him innocent : That the refolutions of the Commons in their late votes contained moft unjuft reflexions on the honour and piftice of the Peers : That they were contrived to cover their affe 61 :ed and iinreafonable delays in profecuting the impeached Lords : That they manifeftly tended to the deftruftion of the judicature of the Lords j to the rendering trials on impeachments imprafticable for the future, and to the lubverting the conftitution of the Englifli go- vernment ; That, therefore, whatever ill confe- quence might arife from the fo long deferring the liipplies for this yearns fervice, were to be attributed to the fatal counfel of the putting off* the -meeting of a Parliament fo long, and to the unneceffary de- lays of the Houfe of Commons. On the twenty- third day of June, the articles of impeachment againft Edward Earl of Orford were read in Weft- minllcr-hall; but tliC Iloiiie of Commons having previoufly ordered that none of the members ffiould appear at this pretended trial, thofe articles were not iupported : fo that his lordfliip was acquitted, and rhe impeachment difmifled. Next day, • the im- peachments againft the Duke of Leeds, which 'had lain (even years negledled, together with thofe Againft the Earl of Poniand and Lord Haliifax, as well * W I L L I A M. 4ig ■vveil as the charge againft Lord Haverfliam, werecHAP. difmiffed for want of profecution. Each Houfe or- dered a narrative of thefe proceedings to be pub- * iilhed ; and their mutual animofity had proceeded to fuch ,a degree of rancourj as feemed to preclude all poflibility of reconciliation. The Commons, in the whole courfe of this tranfadlion, had certainly' a£led from motives of fa6lion and revenge 3 for nothing could be more unjufb, frivolous, and partial, than the charge exhibited in the articles of impeachment, their anticipating addrefs to the Kingj and their affefled delay in the pj'ofecutions. Their conduft on this occafion v/as fo flagrant as to attraft the notice of the common people, and infpire the generality of the nation with difguft. This the Whigs did not fail to augment by the arts of calumny, and, in particular, by infinuating that the court of Veriailles had found rrieans to engage the majority of the Commons in its interefl. § LIV. This faftion had, fince the beginning of this feflionj employed their emiffaries in exciting a popular averfion to the Tory miniflers and mem- bers, and fucceeded fo well in their endeavours, that they formed a fcheme of obtaining petitions from different counties and corporations, that fhould induce the Commons to alter their condilfl, on the fuppofition that it was contrary to the fenfe of the nation. In execution of this fcheme a petition, figned by the deputy-lieutenants^ above twenty juf- tices of the peaces the grand jury and freeholders of the county of Kent, had been prefented to the Houfe of Commons on the eighteenth day of May, by five gentlemen of fortune and diftin6lion. The purport of this remonftrance w'as to recommend union among themlelves, and confidence in his Ma- jefty, whofe great aftions for the nation could ne- ver be forgotten without the blacked ingratitude : to beg they" would have regard to the voice of the people f that their religion and fafety might be effec- tually provided for 3 that their loyal addreffes might E e 2 bs 420 HIStORY OF ENGLAND. }j o o K be turned into bills of fupply ; and that his mof^ facred Majefly might be enabled powerfully to affift tiis allies before it fhould be too late. The Houle was fo incenfed at the petulance of the petition, that they voted it fcandalous, infolent, and fedi- tious j and ordered the gentlemen who had pre- fented it to be taken into cuftody. They w^ere af- terwards comimitted to the Gatehoufe, where they remained till the prorogation of Parliament : but they had no reafon to repine at their imprifonment, which recommxnded them to the notice and efteem of the publick. They were vifited and carefled by the chiefs of the Whig intereft, and confidercd as martyrs to the liberties of the people. Their confinement gave rife to a very extraordinary paper, intitled, “ A Memorial from the gentlemen, freeholders, and inhabitants, of the counties of , in be- half of themfelves, and many thoufands of the “ good people of England.” It was figned Legion and fent to the Speaker, commanding him, in the name of two hundred thoufand Englifhmen to de- liver it to the Houfe of Commons. In this ftrange expoftulation, the Houfe v/as charged with illegal and unwarrantable practices, in fifteen particulars : a new claim of right was ranged under feven heads: and the Commons were admonifned to a6l accord- ing to their duty, as fpecified in this memorial, on pain of incurring the refentment of an injured na- tion. It v/as concluded in thefe words : “ For - ti- Engliihmen are no more to be fiaves to par- iiarnents than to kings— our name is Legion, and v/e are many.” The Com.mions were equal- ly provoked and intimidated by this libel, which was the produdlion of one Daniel de Foe, a fcur- rilous party- writer, in very little eftimation. They • would not, howevem; deign to take notice of it in the Floufe : but a complaint being made of endea- votirs to raife tumults and feditions, a committee w\as appointed to draw" up an addrefs to his Majefty, informing W I L L I A M. mforming him of thofe feditious endeavours, and befeeching him to provide for the publick peace and fecurity. § LV. The Houfe, however, perceiving plainly that they had incurred the odium of the nation, which began to clamour for a war with France, and dreading the popular refentment, thought fit to change their meafures with refpeft to this objedt, and prefent the addrefs we have already mentioned, in which they promifed to fupport him in the alli- ances he fliould contrad; with the Emperor and other States, in order to bridle the exorbitant power of France. They likewife proceeded in earneft up- on the fupply, and voted funds for raifing about two millions feven hundred thoufand pounds to de- fray the expence of the enfuing year. They voted thirty thoufand feamen, and refolved that ten thou- .fand troops hiould be tranfported from Ireland to Holland, as the auxiliaries ftipulated in the treaty of 1677 with the States-General. The funds were conftituted of a land-tax, certain duties on merchan- dize, and a weekly deduction from the Excife, fo as to bring down the civil lift to fix hundred thou- fand pounds ; as the Duke of Gloucefter was dead, and James’s Queen refufed her allowance. They pafifed a bill for taking away all privilege of Par- liament in legal profecutions, during the interme- diate prorogations ; their laft ftruggle with the Lords was concerning a bill for appointing com^mifTioners to examine and ftate the publick accounts. The perfons nominated for this purpofe were extremely obnoxious to the majority of the Peers, as violent partifans of the Tory faftion : when the bill, there- fore, was fent up to the Lords, they made fome amend- ments, wEich the Commons rejected. The former animofity between the two Houfes began to revive, when the King interrupted their difputes, by put- ting an end to the feflion, on the twenty- fourth day of June, after having thanked the Parliament for E e 3 their ( 422 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Book their zeal in the publick I'ervice, and exhorted them , * , to a difcharge of their duties in their feveral conn- W IlMl/ O J70I. ties. He was, no doubt, extremely pleafed with fuch an ifiue of a feflion that had begun with a very inaufpicious afped:. His health daily declined : but he concealed the decay of his conftitution, that his allies might not be difcouraged from engaging in a confederacy of which he was deemed the head and chief fupport. He conferred the command of the ten thoufand troops deftined for Holland upon the Earl of Marlborough, and appointed him at the iame time his plenipotentiary to the States-General: / a choice that evinced his difcernment and difcre- tion ; for that nobleman furpaffed all his contempo- raries, both as a general and a politician. He was cool, penetrating, intrepid, and perfevering, plaufi- ble, infmuating, artful, and diflembling. § LVI. A Regency being eftablifhed, the King embarked for Holland in the beginning of July. On his arrival at the Elague he aflifted at an af- fembly of the States-General, whom he harangued in very affedionate terms, and was anfwered with great cordiality : then he made a progrefs round the frontiers, to examine the Rate of the garrifon ; and gave fuch orders and directions as he judged necef- fary for the defenfe of the country. Mean while, the French minifter D’Avaux, being recalled from the Hague, delivered a letter to the States from the French King, who complained that they had often interrupted the conferences, from which no good fruits were to be expeCted : but he affured them it wholly depended upon themfelves, whether they Ihould continue to receive marks of his ancient friendflup for their republick. The letter was ac- companied by an infolent memorial, to which the States-General returned a very fpirited anfwer. As they expected nothing now but hoftilities from France, they redoubled their diligence in making preparations for their own defence. They repaired their WILLIAM. their fortificatlonsj augmented their army, and hired auxiliaries. King William and they had already engaged in an alliance with the King of Denmark, who undertook to furnifli a certain number of troops, in confideration of a fubfidyj and they endeavoured to mediate a peace between Sweden and Poland ; but this they could not effecl. France had like- wife offered her mediation between thofe powers, in hopes of bringing over Sweden to her intereft ; and the court of Vienna had tampered with the King of Poland ; but he perfifted in his refolution to profecute the war. The Spaniards began to be very uneafy under the dominion of their new mailer. They were fhocked at the infolence of his French minifters and attendants, and much more at the manners and fafhions which they introduced. The grandees found themfelves very little confidered by their fovereign, and refented his occonomy ; for he had endeavoured to retrench the expence of the court, which had ufed to fupport their magnificence. Prince Eugene, at the head of the Imperial army, had entered Italy by Vicenxa, and paffed the Adige near Carpi, where he defeated a body of five thou- fand French forces. The enemy were commanded by the Duke of Savoy, affilled by Marefchal Cati- nat and the Prince of Vaudemonte, who did not think proper to hazard an engagement : but Ma- refchal Villeroy arriving in the latter end of Augull, with orders to attack the Imperialills, Catinat reti- red in difgull. The new general marched imme- diately towards Chiari, where Prince Eugene was entrenched, and attacked his camp ; but met with fuch a reception, that he was obliged to retire with the lofs of five thoufand men. Towards the end of the campaign the Prince took poffeffion of all the Mantuan territories, except Mantua itfelf, andCoito, the blockade of which he formed. He reduced all the places on the Oglio, and continued in the held during the whole winter, exhibiting repeated marks E e 4 of m BOO I. V-v- IJQi. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^ of the moil invincible courage, indefatigable vigi- ^ lance, and extenfive capacity in the art of war. In January he had vvell nigh furprized Cremona, by in- troducing a body of /uen through an old aqueduct. They forced one of the gates, by which the Prince and his followers entered : Villeroy being wakened by the noife, ran out into the ftreet, where he w^as taken ; and the town muft have ^been infallibly re- duced, had Prince Eugene been joined by another body of troops, which he had ordered to march from the Parmefan, and fecure the bridge. Thefe not arriving at the time appointed, an Irifh regi- ment in the French fervice took poffeflion of the bridge, and the Prince was obliged to retire with his prifoner. § EVIL The French King, alarmed at the a6li- vity and military genius of the Imperial general, fent a reinforcement to his army in Italy, and the Duke of Vendome to comuxiand his forces in that country : he likewife importuned the Duke of Savoy to affift him effeftually : but that Prince having ob- tained all he could expeft from France, became cold and backward. His fecond daughter w^as by this time married to the 'new King of Spain, who met her at Barcelona, where he found himfelf involved in difputes with the States of Catalonia, who refufed to pay a tax he had impofed, until their privileges fliould be confirmed ; and he was obliged to gratify them in this particular. — The war continued to rage in the North. The young King of Sweden routed the Saxons upon the river Danu : thence he marched into Courland, and took pofleflion of Mittau with- out oppofition j while the King of Poland retired into Lithuania. In Hungarv the French emilfaries endeavoured to fow the feeds of a new revolt. They exerted themfelves with indefatigable induftry in al- moft every court of Chriitendom. They had already gained over the Eleftor of Bavaria, and his brother, the Elcdor of Cologn, together with the Dulces of Wolfen- W I L L I A M. 4-2S Wolfenbiittle and Saxa-Gotha, who profelTed neu- chap. trality, while they levied troops, and made fuch pre- parations for war, as plainly indicated that they had received fobfidies from France. Louis had alfo ex- torted a treaty of alliance from the King of Portugal, who was perfonally attached to the Andrian intered : but this weak Prince Vv'as a fiave to his miniders, wkom the French King had corrupted. During this fummier, the French coads were over-awed by the combined fleets of England -and Holland, under the command of Sir George Rooke, wlio failed dow^n the Channel in the latter end of Augud, and de- tached Vice-Admiral Benbow w'ith a drong fquadron to the Wed-Indies. In order to deceive the French King, with regard to the dedination of this fleet. King William demanded the free ufe of the Spanifli harbours, as if his defign had been to fend a fqua- dron to the Mediterranean ; but he met with a re- , pulfe, while the French flrips were freely admitted. About this period the King revoked his letters- patent to the commiflioners of the Admiralty, and c condituted the Earl of Pembroke Lord-High-Ad- miral of England, in order to avoid the factions, the difputes, and divided counfels of a board. The Earl was no fooner promoted to this office, than he fent Captain L^oades wnth three frigates to Cadiz, to bring home the fea-dores and ede6ts belonging to the Englifli in that place, before the war ffiould commence ; and this piece of fervice was fuccefs- fully performed. The French King, in order to en- joy all the advantages that could be derived from his union with Spain, edabliflied a company, to open a trade with Mexico and Peru ; and concluded a new Affiiento treatv for fupplying the Spanifli plantations with Negroes. At the ikme time, he fent a drong fquadron to the port of Cadiz. The French drels was introduced into the Court of Spain ; and, by a formal edidl, the grandees of that kingdom and the peers of France v/cre put on a level in each nation. There 426 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. li o o K There was no vigour left in the councils of Spain : , her finances were exhaufted ; and her former fpirit lyoi, feemed to be quite extinguifhed ; the nobility were beggars, and the common people overwhelmed with indigence and diftrefs. The condition of France was not much more proiperous. She had been har- ralTed by a long war, and nov/ faw herfelf on the eve of another, which in all probability would ren^ der her completely miferable. § LVIIL Thefe circumftances were well known to the Emperor and the Maritime Powers, and ferved to animate their negociations for another grand al- liance. Conferences were opened at the Hague ; and, on the feventh day of September, a treaty was concluded between his Imperial Majefty, England, and the States-General. The objedbs propofed, were to procure fatisfadlion to the Emperor in the Spanifli fucceffion, and fuflicient fecurity for the dominions and commerce of the allies. They engaged to ufe their endeavours for recovering the Spanifh Nether- lands, as a barrier between Holland and France ; and for putting the Emperor in polTeffion of the duchy of Milan, Naples, and Sicily, with the lands and iflands upon the coaft of Tufcany belonging to the Spanifh dominions. They agreed, that the King of England, and the States-General, fhould keep and poiTefs whatever lands and cities they could con- quer from the Spaniards in the Indies: That the confederates fhould faithfully communicate their de- iigns to one another: That no party fhould treat of peace, or truce, but jointly with the reft : That they fhould concur in preventing the union of France and Spain under the fame government ; and hinder the French from poffeffing the Spanifh Indies : That, in concluding a peace, the confederates fhould pro- vide for the maintenance of the commerce carried on by the maritime powers to the dominions taken from the Spaniards, and fecure the States by a bar- rier : That they fhoidd, at the fame time, fettle the c ' exercife WILLIAM. cxerclfe of religion in the new conquefts : That they CHAP, fhould affift one another with all their forces, in cafe ^ of being invaded by the French King, or any other lyoi. potentate, on account of this alliance: That a de- fenfive alliance fhould remain between them, even after the peace: That all kings, princes, and dates fhould be at liberty to engage in this alliance. They determined to employ two months, to obtain, by amicable means, the fatisfaction and fecurity which they demanded ; and flipulated, that within fix weeks the treaty fhould be ratified, § LIX. On the fixteenth day of September, King James expired at St. Germain’s, after having la- boured under a tedious indifpofition. This unfor- tunate monarch, fince the mifcarriage of his laft at- tempt for recovering his throne, had laid afide all thoughts of worldly grandeur, and devoted his whole attention to the concerns of his foul. Tliough he could not prevent the bufy genius of his Queen from planning new fchemes of reftoration, he was always ' bed pleafed when wholly detached from fuch chime- rical projefts. Hunting was his chief diverfion ; but religion was his condant care. Nothing could be more harmlefs than the life he led ; and, in the courfe of it, he fubjehled himfelf to uncommon penance and mortification. He frequently vifited the poor monks of La Trappe, who were much edi- fied by his humble and pious deportment. His pride and arbitrary temper feem to have vanifhed ^ with his greatnefs. He became affable, kind, and eafy to all his dependents ; and his religion certainly opened and improved the virtues of his heart, though jt feemed to impair the faculties of his foul. In his lad illnefs he conjured his fon to prefer his religion to every worldly advantage, and even to renounce all thoughts of a crown, if he could not enjoy it with- ' out offering violence to his faith. Fie recommended to him the pra6lice of judice and Ghridian forgive- nefs i he himfelf declaring, that he heartily forgave HISTORY OF ENGLAND. the Prince of Orange, the Emperor, and all his ene- mies. He died with great marks of devotion, and was interred, at his own requeft, in the church of the Englifh Benedidlines in Paris, without any fune- ral folemnity. § LX. Before his death he was vifited by the French King, who feemed touched with his condi- tion, and declared, that, in cafe of his death, he would own his fon as King of England. This pro- mife James’s Queen had already extorted from him, by the intereft of Madame de Maintenon and the Dauphin. Accordingly, when James died, the pre- tended Prince of Wales was proclaimed King of England at St. Germain’s, and treated as fuch at the court of Verfailles. His title w^as likewife recog- nized by the King of Spain, the Duke of Savoy, and the Pope. William was no fooner informed of this tranfaclion, than he difpatched a courier to the King of Sweden, as guarantee of the treaty of Ryfwick, to complain of this manifeft violation. At the fame time, he recalled the Earl of Manchefler from Paris, and ordered him to return without taking an au- dience of leave. That nobleman imimediately with- drew, after having intimated to the Marquis de Torcy the order he had received. Louis, in vindi- cation of his own condu6l, difperfed through all the courts of Europe a manifefto, in which he affirmed, that in owning the Prince of Wales as King of Eng- land he had not infringed any article of the treaty of Ryfwick. He confeTfed, that in the fourth ar- ticle he had promifed that he would not difturb the King of Great Britain .in the peaceable pofleffion of his dominions ^ and he declared his intention was to obferve that promife pundlualiy. He obferved, that his generofity would not allow him to abandon the Prince of Wales or his family: that he could not refufe him a title which was due to him by birth ; that he had more reafon to complain of the King of Great-Britain, and the States-General, v/hofe decla- rations W I L L I A iM. rations and preparations in favour of the Emperor mig-ht be regarded as real contraventions to treaties : finally, he quoted feme inftances from hiflory, in which the children enjoyed the titles of kingdoms which their fathers had loft. Thefe reafons, how- ever, would hardly have induced the French King to take fuch a ftep, had not he perceivtd that a v/ar v/ith England was inevitable ; and that he ftiould be able to reap fome advantages m the courfe of it, from efpoufing the caufe of the Pretender. § LX I. The fubftance of the French manifefto was publifhed in London, by Pouftin, the fecretary of Tallard, who had been left in England, as agent for the court of Verfailles. He was now ordered to leave the kingdom, which was filled with indigna- tion at Louis, for having pretended to declare who ought to be their fovereign. The city of London prefented an addrefs to the Lords- J uftices, exprefling the deepeft refentment of the French King’s pre- fumption ; alluring his Majefty, that they would, at all times, exert the utmoft of their abilities for the prefervation of his perfon, and^ the defence of his juft rights, in oppofition to all invaders of his crown and dignity. AddrelTes of the fame nature were lent up from all parts of the kingdom, and could not but be agreeable to William. He had now concerted mealures for adting with vigour againft France ; and he refolved to revifit his kingdom, after having made a confiderable progrefs in a treaty of perpetual alliance between England and the States-General, which was afterw’ards brought to perfection by his plenipotentiaiy, the Earl of Marlborough. The King’s return, how^ever, was delayed a whole month by a fevere indifpofltion, during which, the Spanilli rninifter De Quiros hired certain phylicians, to con- fult together upon the ftate and nature of his dll- temper. Tliey declared, that he could not live many weeks; and this opinion was tranfmitted to Madrid. William, however, baffled the prognoftick, though 430 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o.K kis conftitiition had luftained fuch a rude fhock, that he himfelf perceived his end was near. He told the , 70 i. Earl of Portland he found himfelf fo weak, that he could not expert to live another fummer : but charged him to conceal this circumftance until he Riould be dead. Notwithftanding this near ap- proach to dilTolution, he exerted himfelf with fur- prifing diligence and Ipirit in eftablilhing the con- federacy, and fettling the plan of operations. A fubfidiary treaty was concluded with the King of Pruflia, who engaged to furnifh a certain number of troops. The Emperor agreed to maintain ninety thoufand men in the field againft France, the pro- portion of the States was limited to one hundred and two thoufand : and that of England did not ex- ceed forty thoufand, to a6l in conjun6tion with the allies. § LX II. On the fourth day of November the King arrived in England, which he found in a ftrange ferment, produced from the mutual animofity of the two fa61;ions. They reviled each other in words and writing with all the falfehood of calumny, and all the bitternefs of rancour: fo that truth, candour, and temperance, feemed to be banifhed by confent of both parties. The King had found himfelf deceived in his new miniflers, who had oppofed his meafures with all their influence. Pie was particularly dif- gufted with the deportment of the Earl of Rochef- ter, who proved altogether imperious and untrac- table ; and, inflead of moderating, inflamed the violence of his party. The King declared, the year in which that nobleman dire6ted his councils, was the uneafieft of his whole life. He could not help expreflTing his difpleafure in fuch a coldnefs of re- ferve, that Rochefler told him he would ferve his Majefty no longer, fince he did not enjoy his con- fidence. William made no anfwer to this expoftu- iation, but refolved he fhould fee him no more. I'he Earl, however^ at the defire of Mr. Harley, . became WILLIAM. became more pliant and fubmilTivc ; and, after the King’s departure for Holland, repaired to his go- vernment of Ireland, in which he now remained, exerting all his endeavours to acquire popularity. William forefeeing nothing but oppofition from the prefent fpirit of the Houfe of Commons, clofetted Ibme of their leaders, with a view to befpeak their compliance : but finding them determined to purfue their former principles, and to infift upon their im- peachments, he refolved, with the advice of his friends, to difTolve the Parliament. This ftep he was the more eafily induced to take, as the Com- mons were become extremely odious to the nation in general, which breathed nothing but war and defi- ance againft the French monarch. The Parliament was accordingly diflblved by proclamation, and another fummoned to meet on the thirtieth day of December. § LXIII. Never did the two parties proceed with fuch heat and violence againft each other, as in their endeavours to influence the new eleftions. The Whigs, however, obtained the vi6lory, as they in- cluded the monied-intereft, which will always pre- vail among the borough-electors. Corruption was now reduced into an open and avowed commerce ; and, had not the people been fo univerfally venal and profligate, that no fenfe of fliame remained, the vi(ftors muft have blufhed for their fuccefs. Though the majority thus obtained was ftaunch to the mea- fures of the court, the choice of Speaker fell upon Mr. Harley, contrary to the inclination of the King, who favoured Sir Thomas Lyttelton : but his Ma- iefty’s fpeech was received with Univerfal applaufe. It was fo much admired by the well-wifhers to the Revolution, that they printed it with decorations, in the Englifh, Dutch, and French languages, h appeared as a piece of furniture in all their houfes, and as the King’s laft legacy to his own and all Proteftant people. In this celebrated harangue, he expatiated book expatiated upon the indignity ofiered to the nation ^ , by the Fren'ch King’s acknowledging the pretended Prince of Wales : he explained the dangers to which it was expofed, by his placing his grandfon on the throne of Spain : he gave theni to iinderfiiand he had concluded feveral alliances, according to the encou- ragement given him by both IToufes of Parliament, which alliances fhould be laid before them, together with other treaties Hill depending. He obferved, that the eyes of all Europe were upon this Parlia- ment : and all matters at a'»ftand, until their refolu- tion fliould be known: tlierefore, no time outdit to be loll. He told them they had yet an opportunity to fecure for themfelves and their pollerity, tlie quiet enjoyment of their religion and liberties, if thev were not wainting to themfelves, but would exert the ancient vigour of the Englifli nation j but he declared his opinion was, that flioiild they negledl this occa- fion, they had no reafon to hope for another. Ele faid it would be neceffiiry to maintain a great llrcngth at fea, anti a force on land proportionable to that of their allies. He prelled the Commons to fupport the publick credit, which could not be pre- ferved without keeping facred that maxim. That they lltall never be lofers who trull to the parliamen- tary fecurity. He declared, that he never alked aids from his people without regret : that what he defired was for their own fafety and honour, at fuch a critical time j and that the wdiole fliould be appro- N priated to the purpofes for which it was intended.' He expreiled liis willingnefs that the accounts fliould be yearly fubmitted to the inipedlion of Parliament. He again recommended difpatch, together wdth good bills for employing tlie poor, encouraging trade, and fupprefTing vice. He exprefled his hope that they were come together, determined to avoid diT putes and dillerences, and to act with a hearty con- currence for promoting the common caufe. Ele faid he Hiould think it as great a bielTing as could befal W I L L I A M. befal England, if they were as much inclined to lay afide thofe unhappy fatal animofities which divided and weakened them, as he v/as difpofed to make all his fubjefts fafe and eafy, as to any, even the higheft offences committed againk his perfon. He con- jured them to difappoint the hopes of their enemdes by their unanimity. As he had always fhown, and alv/ays would fliow, how defirous he was to be the common father of all his people, he defired ’they would lay afide parties and ciivifions, fo as that no diflinflion hiould be heard of amongft them, but of thole who were friends to the Proteilant religion and prefcnt eftabliflimenr, and of thofe who wifned for a Popifh prince and a French governm.ent. Pie concluded by affirming, that if they, in good ear-- nefl, defired to fee England hold the balance of Piurope, and be indeed at the head of the Proteilant intereft, it would appear by their improving the pre- fent opportunity. The Lords immediately drew up a w^arm and affebtionate addrefs, in which they ex- preffed their refentment of the proceedings of the French King, in owning the pretended Prince of Wales for King ot England. They affured his Majefly they would affift him to the utmoft of their power againft all his enemies : and when it ffiould pleafe God to deprive them of his Majefty’s protec- tion, they would vigorourly affift and defend againft the pretended Prince of W ales, and all other pre- tenders whatfoever, every perfon and perfons who had right to fucceed to the crown of England, by virtue ot the atts of Parliament for eftablifning and limiting the fucceffion. On the fifth day of Janu- ary, an addrefs to the fame effeel was prefented by the Commons, and both met with a very gracious reception from his Majefty. The Lords, as a fur- ther proof of their zeal, having taken into confider- ation the dangers that threatened Europe, from the accefiion of the Duke of Anjou to the crown of Spain, drew up another addrefs, explaining their , VoL. L ' F f fenfe ^34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B 0^0 Kfenfe of that danger ; ftigmatizing the French King" as a violator of treaties ; declaring their opinion, J701. that his Majefty, his fubjefts, and allies, could ne- ver be fafe and fecnre, until the houfe of Auftria > fliould be reftored to their rights, and the invader of the Spanifli monarchy brought to reafon ; and afluring his Majefty that no time fhould be loft, nor any thing wanting on their parts, which might an- fv/er the reafonable expedlations of their friends abroad ^ not doubting but to fupport the reputation of the Englifti name, when engaged under fo great a Prince, in the glorious caufe of maintaining the liberty of Europe. § LXIV. The King, in order to acquire the confidence of the Commons, ordered Mr. Secretary Vernon to lay before them copies of the treaties and conventions he had lately concluded, which were fo well approved, that the Houfe unanimoufly voted the fupply. By another vote, they authorized the Exchequer to borrow fix hundred thoufand pounds at fix per cent, for the fervice of the fleet, and fifty thoufand pounds for the fubfiftence of guards and garrifons. They deliberated upon the ftate of the navy, with the debt due upon it, and examined an eftimate of what would be neceftary for extraordinary repairs. They called for an account of that part of the national debt for which no provifion had been made. They ordered the Speaker to write to the truftees for the forfeited eftates in Ireland, to attend the Eloufe with a full detail of their proceedings in the execution of that adl of Parliament. On the ninth day of January, they unanimoufly refolved. That leave be given to bring in a bill for fecuring his Majefty’s perfon, and the fuccefTion of the crown in the Proteftant line, for extinguifliing the hopes of the pretended Prince of W ales, and all other pre- tenders, and their open and fecret abettors. They refolved to addrefs his Majefty, that he would infert an article in all his treaties of alliance, importing. That WILLIAM. That no peace fliould be made with France, until ' his Majefty and the nation have reparation for the great indignity offered by the French King, in own- ing, and declaring the pretended Prince of Wales King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. They agreed to maintain forty thoufand men for the fea fervice, and a like number by land, to aft in con- iunftion with the forces of the allies, according to the proportions fettled by the contrafling powers. The fupplies were raifed by an impofition of four ffiillings in the pound upon lands, annuities, pen- fions, and ftipends, and on the profits arifing from the different profeffions : by a tax of two and one- half per cent, on all flock in trade, and money at intereft j of five fliillings in the pound on all falaries, fees, and perquifites ; a capitation tax of four fhil- lings : an impofition of one per cent, on all fhares in the capital flock of any corporation or company which fliould be bought, fold, or bargained for ; a duty of fixpence per bufliel on malt, and a further duty on mum, cider, and perry. § LXV. The Commons feemed to vie with the l.ords in their zeal for the government. They brought in a bill for attainting the pretended Prince of Wales, which being fent up to the other Houfe, paffed with an additional claufe of attainder againft the Queen, who afted as Regent for the Pretender. This, however, was not carried without great oppo- fition in the Houfe of Lords. When the bill was fent back to the Commons, they excepted to the amendment as irregular. They obferved, that at- tainders by bill conilituted the mofl rigorous part of the law ; and that the ftretching of it ought to be avoided. They propofed, that the Queen fliould be attainted by a feparate bill. The Lords afiented to the propofal : and the bill againft the pretended Prince of Wales paffed. The Lords paffed another for attainting the Queen ; however, it was neglecled in the Houfe of Commons. But the longeft and F f 2 warmeft 436 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK warmeft debates of this fefiion were produced by a bill, which the Lords brought in, for abjuring the pretended Prince of Wales, and fwearing to the King, by the title of rightful and lawful King, and his heirs, according to the A61: of Settlement. It was propofed, that this oath diould be voluntary, ten- dered to all perfons, and their fubfcription or refufal recorded without any other penalty. This article was violently oppofed by the Earl of Nottingham, and other Lords of the Tory interefb. They ob- ferved, that the government was firft fettled with another oath, which was like an original contra6l : fo that there was no occafion for a new impofition : that oaths relating to men’s opinions had been al- ways confidered as fevere impofitions ; and that a voluntary oath was in its own nature unlawful. During thefe difputes, another bill of abjuration w’as brought into the Houfe of Commons by Sir Charles Hedges, that diould be obligatory on all perfons v/ho enjoyed employments in church or date ; it like- wife included an obligation to maintain the govern- ment in King, Lords, and Commons, and to main- tain the church of England, together with the tole- ration for Didenters. Warm debates arofe upon the cjueftion. Whether the oath diould be impofed or voluntary; and at length it was carried for impod- tion, by the majority of one voice. They agreed to iiifert an additional claufe, declaring it equally penal to compais or imagine the death of her Royal Elighnefs the Princefs Anne of Denmark, as it was to compafs or imagine the death of the King’s elded fon and heir. In the Houfe of Peers this bill was drenuoudy oppofed by the Tories ; and, when after long debates it paded on the twenty-fourth day of February, ten Lords entered a proted againd it, as an unnecedary and fevere impofition. § LXVI. The whole nation now deemed to join in the cry for a war with France. Party heats be- gan to abate : ^he factions in die city of London were WILLIAM. 437 were in a great meafure moderated by the union of c H A P. the two companies trading to the Eaft-Indies, which found their mutual intereft required a coalition. The Tories in the Houfe of Commons, having concurred fo heartily with the inclinations of the people, re- folved, as far as it lay in their power, to juftify the condu61: of their party in the preceding Parliament. They complained of fome petitions and addreffes which had refledted upoti the proceedings of the lafl: Houfe of Commons, and particularly of the Kentifh petition. The majority, however, determined, that it was the undoubted right of the people of England to petition or addrefs the King, for the calling, fit- ting, or diffolving of Parliaments, and for the re- dreffing of grievances ; and that every fubje6l under any accufation, either by impeachment or otherwife, had a right to be brought to a fpeedy trial. A com- plaint being likewife made, that the Lords had de- nied the Commons juftice in the iTiatter of the late impeachments, a furious debate enfued ; and it was carried by a very fmall majority that juftice had not been denied. In fome points, however, they fucceeded : In the cafe of a controverted election at Maidftone, between Thomas Blifte and Thomas Culpepper, the Eloufe refolved. That the latter had been not only guilty of corrupt, fcandalous, and in- dire6l practices, in endeavouring to procure him- felf to be elected a burgefs, but likewife, being one of the inftruments in promoting and prefenting the fcandalous, infolent, and feditious petition, com-, monly called the Kentifh petition, to the laft Houfe of Commons, was guilty of promoting a fcandalous, villainous, and groundlefs refle6tion upon that Houfe, by afperfmg the members with receiving Erench money, or being in the intereft of France ; for which offence he was ordered to be committed to Newgate, and to be profecuted by his Majefty’s attorney-ge- neral. 'They alfo refolved. That to afiert that the Houfe of Commons is not the only reprefentative of F f 3 the 438 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK the Commons of England, tends to the fubver- ^ fioii of the rights and privileges of the Houfe of J701. Commons, and the fundamental conllitution of the government of this kingdom : That to aflert, that the Houfe of Commons have no power of commit- ment, but of their own members, tends to the fub- verfion of the conftitution of the Eloufe of Com- mons : That to print or pubiilli any books, or libels, refleding upon the proceedings of the Houfe of Commons, or any member thereof, for or rela- ting to his fervice therein, is a high violation of the rights and privileges of the Houfe of Commons. Notwithftanding thefe tranfaftions, they did not negledt the vigorous profecution of the war. They addreffed his Majefcy to interpofe with his allies, that they might increafe their quotas of land forces, to be put on board the fleet in proportion to the numbers his Majefty fhould embark. When they had fettled the films appropriated to the feveral ufes of the war, they prefented a fecond addrefs, deflring he would provide for the half-pay officers in the firfh place, in the recruits and levies to be made. The King af- fured them it was always his intention to provide / for thofe officers. He went to the Houfe of Peers, and gave the Royal alfent to an aft, appointing com- miffioners to take, examine, and determine the debts due to the army, navy, and the tranfport fer- vice ; and alfo to take an account of prizes taken during the war. § LXV'II. The affairs of Ireland were not a little embarraffed by the condudl of the triiftees appointed to take cognizance of the forfeited eflates. Their , office was extremely odious to the people, as well as to the court, and their deportment was arbitrary and imperious. Several individuals of that kingdom, provoked by the infolence of the truftees on one hand, and encouraged by the countenance of the courtiers on the other, endeavoured, 'by a circular etter, to fpirit up the grand jury of Ireland againfl: I WILLIAM. 439 the a6t of refiimption : petitions were prefented to c H it P« the King, couched in very ftrong terms, affirming, ^ that it was injurious to the Proteftant interefr, and had been obtained by grofs mifinformations. The King having communicated thefe addreffes to the Houle, they were immediately voted fcandalous, falfe, and groundlefs : and the Commons refolved. That, notwithftanding the complaints and clamours againfh the truftees, it did not appear to the Honfe but thofe complaints were groundlefs : neverthelefs, they afterwards received feveral petitions, imploring relief againft the faid a6l ; and they ordered that the petitioners ffiould be relieved accordingly. Pro- pofals were delivered in for incorporating fuch as fiiould purchafe the faid forfeitures, on certain terms therein fpecified, according to the rent-roll, when * verified and made good to the purchafers ; but, whereas in this rent-roll the value of the eftates had been eftimated at fomething more thanfeven hundred and fixteen thoufand pounds, thofe who undertook to make the purchafe affirmed they were not worth five hundred thoufand pounds s and thus the affair remained in fufpenfe. § LXVIII. With refped to Scotland, the cla- mours of that kingdom had not yet fubfided. When the bill of abjuration paffed in the Houfe of Peers, the Earl of Nottingham had declared, that although he differed in opinion from the majority in many particulars relating to that bill, yet he was a friend to the defign of it j and, in order to fecure a Pro- teffant fucceflion, he thought an union of the whole ifland was abfokitely neceffary. He, therefore, moved for an addrefs to the King, that he would diffolve the Parliament of Scotland now fitting, as the legality of it might be called in queftion, on ac- count of its having been originally a convention ; ^ and that a new Parliament fiiould be lummoned, that they miight treat about an union of the two king- doms. The King had this affair fo much at heart, F f 4 that 440 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK that even when he was difabled from going to the Parliament in perfon, he fent a letter to the Com- mons, expreffing an eager defire that a treaty for this purpofe might be fet on foot, and earneftly re- . commending this affair to the confideration of the Houfe : but, as a new Parliament in Scotland could not be called without a great rifque, while the na- tion was in fuch a ferment, the proje6l was poftponed to a more favourable opportunity. § LXIX. Before the King’s return from Holland, he had concerted with his allies the operations of the enfuing campaign. He had engaged in a negoci- ation with the Prince of Heffe-D’Armftadt, who affured him, that if he would befiege and take Ca- diz, the Admiral of C affile, and divers other gran- dees of Spain, would declare for the houfe of Auffria, The allies had alfo determined upon the fiege of Keyferfwaert, which the Elector of Cologn had de- livered into the hands of the French ; the Ele6lor of Hanover had refolved to difarm the Princes of Wolfenbuttle : the King of the Romans, and Prince Louis of Baden, undertook to inveff Landau : and the Emperor promifed to fend a powerful reinforce- ment to Prince Eugene in Italy: but William did not live to fee thefe fchemes put in execution. Elis conffitution was by this time almoff exhauffed, though he endeavoured to conceal the effeds of his malady, and to repair his health by exercife. On the twenty-firff day of February, in riding to Hamp- ton-court from Kenfington, his horfe fell under himi, and he himfelf was thrown upon the ground' with fuch violence, as produced a fradlure in his collar-bone. Elis attendants conveyed him to the palace of Hampton-court, where the fr^dture was reduced by Ronjat, his ferjeant-furgeon. In the evening he returned to Kenfington in his coach, and the two ends of the fra-dlured bone having been dif- united by the jolting of the carriage, were replaced ynder the infpedtion of Bidloo, his phyfician. He ffemed I T W I L L I A M. 441 day of March, when his knee appeared to be in- flamed, with great pain and weaknefs. Next day he granted a commiiiion under the great leal to feveral Peers, for palling the bills to which both Houfes of Parliament had agreed, namely, tihe aft of a.ttainder againil the pretended Prince of Wales ; and another in favour of the Quakers, enabling. That their folemn affirmation and declaration fhonld be accepted inftead of an oath in the ufual form. § LXX. On the fourth day of March the King was fo well recovered of his lamenefs, that he took feveral turns in the gallery at Kenfington ; but, fit- ting down on a couch Vvhere he fell afleep, he was feized with a ffiivering, which terminated in a fever and diarrhoea. Pie was attended by Sir Thomas Millington, Sir Richard Blackrnore, Sir Theodore Colledon, Dr. Bidloo, and other eminent phyficians ; but their prefcriptions proved ineffeftual. On the fixth he granted another coirimnffion for paffiing the bill for the malt-tax, and the aft of abjuration 5 and, being fo weak that he could not write his name, he, in prefence of the Lord-keeper and the Clerks of Parliament, applied a ftamp prepared for the pur- pofe. The Earl of Albemarle arriving from Hol- land, conferred with him in private on the poffiure of affairs abroad : but he received his informations with great coldnefs, and faid, “ Je tire vers ma fin . — I approach the end of my life.” In the even- ing he thanked Dr. Bidloo for his care and tender- nefs, faying, I know that you and the other learn- ed phyficians have done all that your art can do for my relief ; but, finding all means ineffeftual, I fub- mit.” He received fpiritual confolation from Arch- bifiiop Tenifon, and Burnet Bifiiop of Salifbury : on Sunday morning the facrament was adminiftered to him. The lords of the privy- council, and divers noblemen attended in the adjoining apartments, and to fome of them who w^ere admitted he fpoke a lit- 44S history of ENGLAND. BOOK tie. He thanked Lord Auverquerque for his long and faithful fervices : he delivered to Lord Albe- marie the keys of his clofet and fcrutoire, telling him he knew what to do with them. He enquired for the Earl of Portland ; but, being fpeechlefs be- fore that nobleman arrived, he grafped his hand, and laid it to his heart, with marks of the moft ten- der affedion. On the eighth day of March he ex- pired, in the fifty-fecund year of his age, after ha- ving reigned thirteen years. The Lords I^exington and Scarborough, who were in waiting, no fooner perceived the King was dead, than they ordered' Ronjat to untie from his left arm a black ribbon, to which was affixed a ring, containing fome hair of the late Queen Mary. The body being opened and embalmed, lay in date for fome time at Kenfing- ton 3 and on the twelfth day of April was depofited in a vault of Henry’s chapel in Weftminfter- Abbey. In the beginning of May, a will which he had en- trufted with Monfieur Schuylemberg was opened at the Hague. In this he had declared his coufm Prince Frifon of Naffau, Stadtholder of Friefland, his foie and univerfal heir, and appointed the States- General his executors. By a codicil annexed, he had bequeathed the lordffiip of Breevert, and a le- gacy of two hundred thoufand guilders, to the Earl of Albemarle. § LXXL William III. w^as in his perfon of the middle ftature, a thin body, a delicate conftitution, fubjeft to an afthma and continual cough from his infancy. He had an aquiline nofe, fparkling eyes, a large forehead, and a grave folemn afpedt. He was very fparing of fpeech : his converfation was dry, and his manner difgufting, except in battle, when his deportment was free, fpirited, and ani- mating. In courage, fortitude, and equanimity, he rivalled the moft eminent warriors of antiquity ; and his natural fagacity made amends for the defecls in his education, which had not been properly fuper- intended. 443 \V I L L I A M. intended. He was religious, temperate, generally C H A p. juft and fmcere, a ftranger to violent tranfports of j paffion, and might have pafted for one of the beft 1701 , princes of the age in which he lived, had he never afcended the throne of Great-Britain. But the dif- tinguifliing criterion of his charafter was ambition. To this he facrificed the puncftilios of honour and decorum, in depofing his own father-in-law and un- cle y and this he gratified at the expence of the na- tion that raifed him to fovereign authority. He afpircd to the honour of afting as umpire in all the contefts of Europe j and the fecond objeft of his attention was, the profperity of that country to which he owed, his birth and extradion. Whether he really thought the interefts of the continent and Great- Britain were infeparable, or fought only to drag England into the confederacy as a convenient ally, certain it is, he involved thefe kingdoms in foreign ' connections, which, in all probability, will be pro- du61:ive of their ruin. In order to eftablifh this fa- vourite point, he fcrupled not to employ all the engines of corruption, by which the morals of the nation were totally debauched. He procured a par- liamentary fandtion for a ftanding army, which now feems to be interwoven in the conftitution. He in- troduced the pernicious pradtice of borrowing upon remote funds ; an expedient that neceftarily hatched a brood of ufurers, brokers, contradlors, and ftock- iobbers, to prey upon the vitals of their country. He entailed upon the nation a growing debt, and a fyftem of politicks big with mifery, defpair, and deftrudlion. To fum up his charadler in a few words Burnet. — William was a fatalift in religion, indefatigable war, enterprifing in politicks, dead to all the warm Lamberty. and generous emotions of the human heart, a cold^^^^^ relation, an indifferent hufband, a difagreeable man, xindaV. an ungracious prince, and an imperious fovereign. Ralph. CHAP. 444 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAP. VII. § I. Anne Jucceeds to the throne. § II. She refolves to fulfl the engagetnents of her predecejfor with his aU lies. § HI. A French memorial frejented to the States-General. % IV. Fhe Queen's inclination to the Forks. § V. hFar declared againfi France. § VI. Fhe Parliament prorogued. § VII. Warm cppofttion to the minijlry in the Scottijh Parliament. % VIII. Fhey recognize her Majejiy's authority. § IX. Fhe hfiieen appoints commijjioners to treat of an union bet ween England and Scotland. § X. State cf affairs on the continent. § XI. Keiferjwaert ' and Landau taken by the allies. § XIL Progrejs of the pMrl of Marlborough in Flanders. % XIII. He nar- rowly ef capes being taken by a French partifan. § X IV. Fhe Imperialifis are worfted at Fridlinguen. § XV, Battle of Luzzara^ in Italy. § XVI. Fhe King of Sweden defeats Auguftus at Lijjou in Poland. § XVII. Fruitlejs expedition to Cadiz by the Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke. § XVIII. Fhey take and defir oy the Spanifh galleons at Vigo. § XIX. Admiral Benbow's engagement with Ducafje in the Weft-Indies. § XX. Fhe ^ueen ajfembles a ne-w Parliament. \ XXL Difputes between the two Iloujes. § XXII. Fhe Lords enquire into the con- duit of Sir George Rooke. § XXIII. Fhe Parlia- 7nent make a Jettlement o?i Prince George of Denmark. § XXIV. Fhe Earl cf Marlborough created a Duke. § XXV. All commerce and correfpondence prohibited between Holland and the two crowns of France and Spain. % XXVI. A bill for preventing occafional conformity. § XXVH. It mifearries. § XXVIII. Violent animofity between the two Iloujes y produced by the enquiry into the publick accounts. § XXIX. Difputes between the two Hoijes of Convocation. % XXX. Account of the parlies in Scotland. § XXXI. 2 Dangerous 'f n.t ///■ f/fji-iyj /y i7. 7 a^/r// ^ .CTiaAi/nH ri . ^ -r.* - 4 .' i ■r H ■ ♦ I % UUHJiJ^ /r.i /y ^71 Za//r// ^ .ZTiaM^nn . ANNE, 445 DfiVigerous heats in the Parliament of that kingdom, § XXXII. Phe commijfioner is abandoned by the Cavaliers. § XXXIII. He is in danger of his life^ and fuddenly p'-orogues the Parliament. § XXXIV. Proceedings of the Irifo Parliament. § XXXV. Phey fajs a fever e a^ againft Papifts. § XXXVI. Phe Elebfor of Bavaria defeats the Pmperialifs aJ Scardingen, and takes poffeffion of Ratijhon. § XXXVII. Phe allies reduce Bomie. § XXXVIIL Battle of Eckcren. § XXXIX. Phe Prince of Hejfe is defeated by the French at Spirebach. § XI>. Preaty between the Emperor and the Duke of Savoy. Phe King of PortugaLaccedes to the grand alliance. § XLI. Sir Clcudefley Shovel fails with a feet to the Mediterranean. § XLI I. Admiral Gray dMi s boot ^ lejs expedition to the JVeft- Indies. § XLIII. Charles King of Spain arrives in England. \ § I. IT 7 ILL I AM was fucceeded as Sovereign c H A F. ’ ^ of England by Anne Princefs of Den- mark, v/ho afcended the throne in the thirty-eighth year of her age, to the general fatisfaftion of all par- ties. Even the Jacobites feemed pleafed with her elevation, on the fuppofition, that as in all probabi- lity fhe would leave no heirs of her own body, the didtates of natural affeftion would induce her to alter the fuccelTion in favour of her own brother. She had been taught to cherifli warm fentiments of the Tories, whom die confidered as the friends of mo- narchy, and the true fons of the church ; and they had always profefied an inviolable attachment to her perfon and intereft ; but her condu6l was wholly in- fluenced by the Countefs of Marlborough, a woman of an imperious temper and intriguing genius, who had been intimate with the Princefs from her tender years, and gained a furprifing afcendancy over her. Anne had undergone fome llrange viciflitudes of fortune in confequence of her father’s expullion, and fuftaiaed a variety of mortifications in the late reign, during 4.46 HISTORY OF ENG LANE). BOOK during which fhe conduced herfelf with fuch difcre- I- tion, as left little or no pretence for cenfure or re-^ fentnnent. Such conduft, indeed, was in a great meafure owing to a natural temperance of difpofition, not eafily ruffled or inflamed. She was zealouQy devoted to the church of England, from which her father had ufed fome endeavours to detach her be- fore the Revolution , and ffle lived in great harmo- ny with her hufband, to whom die bore fix children, all of whom fhe had already furvived. William had no fooner yielded up his breath, than the privy- council in a body waited on the new Queen, who, in a fhort but fenfible fpeech, afflired them, that no pains nor diligence fhould be wanting on her part, to pre- ferve and fupport the religion, laws, and liberties of her country, to maintain the fucceffion in the Pro- teffant line, and the government in Church and State, as by law eflabliffled. She declared her re- folution to carry on the preparations for oppofmg the exorbitant power of France, and to affure the allies, that flie would purfue the true intereft of England, together with their’s, for the fupport of the common caufe. The members of the privy- council having taken the oaths, fhe ordered a pro- clamation to be publifhed, fignifying her pleafure, that all perfons in office of authority or government, at the deceafe of the late King, fflould fo continue till further direction. By virtue of an a6t paffed in the late reign, the Parliament continued fitting even after the King’s death. Both Houfes met immedi- ately, and unanimoufly voted an addrefs of condo- lance and congratulation ; and, in the afternoon, the Queen was proclaimed. Next day the Lords and Commons feverally attended her with an addrefs, congratulating her Majefty’s acceffion to the throne ; and alluring her of their firm refolution to fupport her , againft all her enemies whatfoever. The Lords ac- knowledged, that their great lofs was no otherwife to be repaired but by a vigorous adherence to her Majefty ANNE. 447 Majefty and her allies^ in the profecution of thofeCHAP. meafures already concerted to re<]uce the exorbitant ^ power of France. The Commons declared, they 1701. ^ ‘ would maintain the fucceffion of the crown in tfie proteftant line, and efFeftually provide for the pub- lick credit of the nation. Thefe addrefies were gracioufly received by the Queen, who, on the ele- venth day of March, went to the Houfe of Peers with the ufual folemnity, where, in a fpeech to both Houfes, flie expreffed her fatisfa6tion at their unanimous concurrenc'e with her opinion, that too much could not be done for the encouragement of their allies in humbling the power of France; and defired they would confider of proper methods to- wards obtaining an union between England and Scotland. She obferved to the Commons, that the revenue for defraying the expences of civil govern- ment was expired; and that fne relied entirely on their affeblion for its being fupplied in fuch a man- ner as fhould be moll fuitable to the honour and dignity of the crown. She declared it fhould be her confhant endeavour to make them the beft return for their duty and affeftion, by a careml and diligent adminiflration for the good of ail her fubjefts. “ And as I know my own heart to be .entirely Englifli (continued fhe) I can very fin- cerely affure you, there is not any thing you can expecd: or defire from me, which I fhall not be “ ready to do for the happinefs and profperity of England ; and you ihail always find me a ftri6t and religious obferver of my word.” Thefe affu- rances were extrem.ely agreeable to the Parliament; and fhe received the thanks of both Houfes. Ad- dreffes of congratulation were prefented by the bifhop and clergy of London ; by the dilTenters in and about that city; and, by all the counties, cities, towns, and corporations of England. She declared her attachment to the Church : fhe pro- mifed her protedion to the Diflenters; and received i 44-S BOO I. 3701 I-IlSTORY OF ENGLAND. Kthe compliments of all her fubjecls with fuch bility as infured theh' affedion. ^ II. William’s death was no fooner known at the Hague, than all Holland v/as filled with con- fternation. The /States immediately alTembled, and, for fome timie, gazed at each other in filent fear and afionifhment. They fighed, wept, and interchanged embraces and vows, that they woiikl ad with unanimity, and expend their deareft blood in defence of their country. Then they difpatched letters to the cities and provinces, informing them of this unfortunate event, and exhorting them to union and perfeverance. The exprefs from Eng- land having brought the Queen’s fpeech to her privy-council, it was tranflated and publilhed,, to revive the drooping fpirits of the people. Next day Penfionary Fagel imparted to the States of Eloliand a letter which he had received from the tlarl of Marlborough, containing affurances, in the Queen’s name, of union and affiftance. In a few days, the Queen wrote a letter in the French language to the States, confirming thefe affurances : it was deli- vered by Mr. Stanhope, w'hom llie had furnilhed with frefii credentials as envoy from England. Thus animated, the States refolved to profecute vigorous meafures : their refolutions v;ere ftill more infpirited by the arrival of the Earl of Marlborough, whom the Queen honoured with the order of the garter, and invefted with the charafler of ambaffa- dor extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States- General : he was likewife declared captain-general of her forces both at home and abroad. He affured the States, that her Britannick Majefty would maintain the alliances which had been concluded by the late King, and do every thing that the common concerns of Europe required. The fpeech was anfwered by Dickvelt, prefident of the week, who, in the name of the States, expreffed their hearty thanks to her Majefty, and their refolutions of con- < ANNE. 449 curring with her in a vigorous profecutioii of the CHAP, common intereft. § III. The importance of William’s life was evinced by the joy that diffufed itfelf through the kingdom of France at the news of his deceafe. The perfon who firft brought the tidings to Calais was imprifoned by the governor^ until his informa- tion was confirmed. The court of Verfailles could hardly reftrain their tranlports fo as to preferv^e common decorum : the people of Paris openly rejoiced at the event: all decency was laid afide at Rome, where this incident produced fuch inde- cent raptures, that Cardinal Grimani, the Imperial minifter, complained of them to the Pope, as an infult on his mafter the Emperor, who was WiP liam’s friend, confederate, and ally. The French King difpatched credentials to Barre, whom the Count D’ i\.vaux had left at the Hague to manage the affairs of France, together with inftruclions to renew the negociation with the States, in hope of detachinjt them from the alliance. This miniffer prefented a memorial, implying fevere reflexions on King William, and the paft condu6t of the Dutch ; and infinuating, that now they had recovered their liberty, the court of France hoped they would con- fult their true intereft. The Count de Goes, envoy from the Emperor, animadverted on thefe exprel- fions in another memorial, which ' was likewife publiftied : the States produced in publick an anff wer to the fame remonftrance, expreffmg their re- fentmeht at the infolence of fuch infinuation, and their veneration for the memory of their late Stadt- holder. The Earl df Marlborough fticceeded in every part of his negociation. He animated the Dutch to a full exertion of their vigour : he con- certed the operations of the campaign : he agreed •with the States-General and the imperial minifter, that war fhould be declared againft France on the fame day, at Vienna^ London, and the Plague ; VoL. I, G g and 450 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. — V— . 1701, BOOK and on the third of April embarked for England, . after having acquired the entire confidence of thofe who governed the United Provinces. § IV. By this time the Houfe of Commons in Ann. 1701 England had fettled the civil lift upon the Queen for her life. When the bill received the royal aflent, Ibe afiured them, that one hundred thoufand pounds of this revenue fhould be applied to the publick fervice of the current year : at the fame time, fhe pafled another bill, for receiving and examining the publick accounts. A commiftion for this pur- pofe was granted in the preceding reign, but had been for fome years difcontinued ; and, indeed, always proved ineffeftual to dete6t and punifti thofe individuals who fhamefully pillaged their country. The villainy was fo complicated, the vice fo ge- neral, and the delinquents fo powerfully fcreened by artifice and intereft, as to elude all enquiry. On the twenty-fourth day of March the oath of abjura- tion was taken by the Speaker and members, ac- cording to an aA for the further fecurity of her Majefty’s perfon, and the fucceflion of the crown in the Proteftant line, and for extinguifning the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales. The Queen's inclination to the Tories plainly appeared in her choice of minifters. Do6i;or John Sharp, Archbifliop of York, became her ghoftly direfilor and counfellor in all ecclefiaftical affairs. The Earl of Rochefter was continued Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and enjoyed a great fhare of her Majefty's confidence : the privy-feal was entrufted to the Marquis of Normanby; the Earl of Nottingham and Sir Charles Hedges were appointed Secretaries of State: the Earl of Abingdon, Vifcount Wey- mouth, Lord Dartmouth, Sir Chriftopher Muf- grave, Grenville, Howe, Gower, and Harcourt, were admitted as members of the privy- council, together with Sir Edward Seymour, now declared <;pmptroller of tiie houfehold. The Lord Godol- phia ANNE. 45^ phia declined accepting the office of Lord high- C H A P. treafurer, until he was over-ruled by the perfuafions ^ of Marlborough, to Miofe eldeft daughter his fon nyox. was married. This nobleman refufed to command the forces abroad, unlefs the Treafury fhould be put into the hands of Godolphin^ on whofe punc- tuality in point of remittances he knew he could depend. George Prince of Denmark, was invefted with the title of generaliffimo of all the Queen’s forces by fea and land ; and afterwards created Lord high admiral, the Earl of Pembroke having been difmifled from this office with the offer of a large penfion, which he genefoufly refufed. Prince George, as admiral, was affifted by a council confifting of Sir George Rooke, Sir David Michel, George Churchill, and Richard Hilh Though the legality of this board was doubted^ the Parlia- ment had fuch refpe6l and veneration for the Queen, that it was fuffered to a6t without queftion. § V. A rivalfliip for the Queen’s favour already appeared between the Earls of Rochefter and Marl- borough. The former, as firft coufin to the Queen, and chief of the tory fadtion, maintained confide- rable influence in the council: but even there the intereft of his rival predominated. Marlborough was not only the better courtierj but, by the canal of his countefs, adiually directed the Queen in all her refolutions. Rochefter propofed in council, that the Engliffi fliould avoid a declaration of war v/ith France, and ad as auxiliaries only. Pie was feconded by fome other members : but the opinion of Marlborough preponderated. Pie obferved, that the honour of the nation was concerned to fulfil the late King’s engagements; and affirmed that France could never be reduced within due bounds, unlefs the Engliffi would enter as principals in the quarrel. This allegation was fupported by the Dukes of Somerfet and Devonfliire, the Earl of - Pembroke, and the majority of the council. The G g 2 Queen 452 history of ENGLAND^ BOOK Queen being refolved to declare war, communicated ^ her intention to the Houfe of Commons, by whom 3 70 Z. it was approved i and on the fourth day of May the declaration was folemnly proclaimed. The King of France was, in this proclamation, taxed with having taken pofleffion of great part of the Spanilh dominions; with defigning to invade the liberties of Europe, and obftrud the freedom of navigation and commerce ; with having offered an unpardonable infult to the Queen and her throne, by taking upon him to declare the pretended Prince ofWales'King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The three declarations of the Emperor, England, and the States- General, which were publiflied in one day, did not fail to difconcert, as well as to provoke, the French monarch. When his minifter De T orcy recited them in his hearing, he fpoke of the Queen with fome acrimony; but with refpedt to the States-General, he declared with great emotion, that “ Meffieurs the Dutch merchants fhould one “ day repent of their infolence and prefumption, in declaring war againft fo powerful a monarch he did not, however, produce his declaration till the third day of July. § VI. The Floufe of Commons, in compliance with the Queen’s defire, brought in a bill, em- powering her Majefty to name commiffioncrs to treat with the Scots for an union of the two king- doms. It met with warm oppofition from Sir Edward Seymour, and other Tory members, who dilcharged abundance of fatire and ridicule upon the Scottifil nation: but the meafure feemed fo neceffary at that jundlure, to fecure^ the Proteftant fucceffion againil the pradlices of France, and the claims of the Pretender, that the majority efpoufed the bill, which paffed through both Houfes, and on the fixth day of May received the royal alfent, together with fome bills of iels importance. The enemies of the late King continued to revile his memory ANN E.' 453 memory^. They even charged ' him with havingC H ap, • formed a defign of excluding the Princefs Anne j * from the throne, and of introducing the Elector of 1702* • Hanover at his own . immediate fuccefTor. This report had been fd induftriouily circulated, that it, began to gain credit all over the kingdom. Several Peers interefted themfelves in William’s chara6ler; and a motion was made in the Upper-Houfe, that the truth of this report fliould be enquired into. The Houfe irnmediately defired that thofe Lords who had vilite*d the late King’s papers would in- timate whether or, not they had found any among them relating to the Queen’s fucceffion, or to the fucceffion of the houfe of Hanover. They forth- v/ith declared, that nothing of that fort appeared. Then the Houfe refolved. That the report was groundlefs, falfe, villainous, and fcandalous, to the dilEonour of the late King’s memory, and highly tending to the dilfervice of her prefent Majefty,^ whom they belbught to give order that the authors or publiiliers of fuch fcandalous reports fhould be profecuted by the Attorney-General. The fame ceniure was paiTed upon fome libels and pamphlets, tending to inflame the fadions of the kingdom; and to propagate a fpiritof irreligion f. On the twenty- flrft day of May, the Commons, in an addrefs, advifed her Majefty to engage the Emperor, the States- General, and her other allies, to join with her in prohibiting all intercourfe with France and Spain; and to concert fuch methods with the States-General * In their hours of debauch they drank to the health of Sorrel, meaning the horfe that fell v/ith the King; and, under Uie appel- lation of the little gentleman in velvet, toaited the mole that railed the hill over which the horfe had Humbled. As the beaft had for- merly belonged to Sir John Fenwick, they infinuated that William’s fate was a judgement unon him, for his cruelty to that gentleman; and a Latin epigram was written on theoccalion. -f Doftor Binkes, in a fermon preached before the Convocation, on the thirtieth day of January, drew a parallej between the lufter-, ings of Chrift and thoie of King Charles, to which lall he gave the preference, in point of right, charafler, and ftation. G g 3 as t ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. . as might moft efFedlually' fecure the trade of her fubjedls and allies. The Lords prefented another addrefs, defiring the Queen would encourage her fubjecls to equip privateers, as the preparations of the enemy feemed to be made for a piratical war, to the interruption of commerce : they likewife ex- horted her MajeRy to grant commifTions or charters to all perfons who fhould make fuch acquifitions in the Indies, as fhe in her great wifdom fnould judge mofl expedient for the good of her kingdoms. On the twenty-fifth day of May, the Queen having pafied feveral publick and private * bills, difmififed the Parliamient by prorogation, after having, in a fhort fpeech, thanked them for their zeal, recom- mended unanimity, and declared fhe would care- fully preferve and maintain the a6t of toleration. § VII. In Scotland a warm contefi: arofe between the Revolutioners and thofe in the oppofition, con- cerning the exiflence of the prefent Parliament. The Queen had fignified her acceflion to the throne, in a letter to her Privy-council for Scotland, de- firihg they would continue to aft in that office, until fhe ffiould fend a new commiffipn. Mean while, ffie authorifed them to publiffi a proclamation, or- dering all officers of ftate, counfellors, and magif- trates, to aft in all things conformably to the com- miffions and inftruftions of his late Majefly, until new commiffions ffiould be prepared. She likewife affured them of her firm refolution to proteft them in their religion, laws, and liberties, and in the efta- bliffied government of the church. She had already, in prefence of twelve Scottiffi counfellors, taken the * During this fhort fefHon, the Q^een gave her afTent to an a6l for laying a duty upon land} to another for encouraging the Greenland trade: to a third for making good the dcficiences, and the publick/ credit: to a fourth for continuing the imprifonment of Counter, and other confpirators againft King William : to a fifth for the relief of Proteflant pui chafers of the forfeited eftates of Ireland : to a fixth ' enlarging the time for taking the oath of abjuration: to a feventli obliging the Jews to maintain and provide for their Protelfant children. coronation- ANNE. 455 coronation- oath for that kingdom : but thofe who chap. wanted to embroil the affairs of their country af- firmed, that this was an irregular way of proceeding, ,70a. and that the oath ought to have been tendered by perfons deputed for that purpofe, either by the Par- liament, or the Privy-council of the kingdom. The prefent miniflry, confiding of the Duke of Queenf- berry, the Earls of Marchmont, Melvil, Seafield, Hyndford, and Selkirk, were devoted to Revolution principles, and defirous that the Parliament lliould continue, in purfuance of a late a6t for continuing , the Parliament that fhould be then in being, fix months after the death of the King; and that it fliould affemble in twenty days after that event. The Queen had, by feveral adjournments, deferred the meeting almoft three months after the King’s de- ceafe ; and, therefore, the Anti-revolutioners affirmed that it was diffolved. The Duke of Hamilton was at the head of this party, which clamoured loudly for a new Parliament. This nobleman, together with the Marquis of Tweedale, the Earls Marfhal and Rothes, and many other noblemen, repaired to Lon- don, in order to make the Queen acquainted with their objedlions to the continuance of the prefent Parliament. She admitted them to her prefence, and calmly heard their allegations : but flie was de- termined, by the advice of her Privy-council for that kingdom, who were of opinion that the nation was in too great a ferment to hazard the convocation of a new Parliament. . According to the Queen’s laft adjournment, the Parliament met at Edinburgh on the ninth day of June, the Duke of Queenfberry having been appointed high-commilTioner. Before the C^een’s commiffion was read, the Duke of Ela- milton, for himfelf and his adherents, declared their fatisfaftion at her Majefly’s acceffion to the throne, not only on account of her undoubted right by def- cent, but likewife becaufe of her many perfonal vir- tues and royal qualities. He faid they were refolved G g 4 9 456 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o K to facrifice their lives and fortunes in defence of her . Majefty’s right againft all her enemies whatever; 370a. but, at the fame time, they tliought themfelves bound in duty to give their opinion, that they were not warranted by law to fit and a6l as a Parliament. He then read a paper to the following effedt: That forafmuch as, by the fundamental laws and conflitu- tion of this kingdom) all Parliaments do dilTolve on the death of their fovereign, except in fo far as inno- vated by an a6l in the preceding reign, that the Par- liament in being at his Majefty’s deceafe Hioiild meet, and a6t what might be needful for the defence of the true Proteftant religion, as by law eftablifhed, and for the maintenance of the fuccelTion to the crown, as fettled by the claim of ught, and for the prefervation and fecurity of the pubiick peace : and feeing thefe ends are fully anfwered by her Majefty’s fucceftion to the throne, we conceive ourfelves not now warranted by law to meet, fit, or aft; and, therefore, do diiTent from any thing that ftiall be done or afted. The Duke having recited this pa- per, and formally protefted againft the proceedings of the Parliament, withdrew with feventy-nine mem- bers, amidft the acclamations of the people. §VIII. Notwithftanding their feceftion, theCom- miflioner, who retained a much greater number, produced the Queen’s letter, fignifying her refolu- tion to maintain and proteft her fubjefts in the full pofleftion of their religion, laws, liberties, and the Prefbyterian difeipline. She informed them of her liaving declared war againft France: ftie exhorted them to provide competent fupplies for maintaining fuch a number of forces as might be necefiary for difappointing the enemy’s defigns, and preferving the prefent happy fettlement ; and die earneftly re- com.mended to their confideration an union of the two kingdoms. The Duke of Queenfberry and the Earl of Marchmont having enforced the different articles of this letter, committees were appointed ANNE. 457 §ov the fecurity of the kingdom, for controverted Chap. eledions, for drawing up an anfwer to her Majefty’s . j letter, and for revifmg the minutes. Mean while, '""TtoI/ the Duke of Hamilton and his adherents fent the Lord Blantyre to London, with an addrefs to the Queen, who refufed to receive it, but wrote another letter to the Parliament, expreffing her refolution to maintain their dignity and authority againft: all op- pofers. They, in anfwer to the former, had afilired her, that the groundlefs feceflion of fome members fliould increafe and ftrengthen their care and zeal for her Majefly’s fervice. They expelled Sir Alexan- der Bruce, for having given vent to fome reflections againft Prefbytery. 'Phe Lojd Advocate profecuted the Faculty of Advocates before the Parliament, for having paflTed a vote among themfelves in favour of the proteftation and addrefs of the diflenting mem- bers. The Faculty was feverely reprimanded j but the whole nation feemed to refent the profecution. The Parliament pafted an ad for recognizing her Majefty’s royal authority ; another for adjourning the court of judicature called the feflion : a third de- claring this meeting of Parliament legal ; and for- bidding any perfon to difown, quarrel, or impugn the dignity and authority thei*eof, under the penalty of high treafon : a fourth for fecuring the true Pro- teftant religion and Prefbyterian church government; a fifth for a land-tax ; and a fixth enabling her Ma- iefty to appoint commifTioners for an union between the two kingdoms. § IX. The Earl of Marchmont, of his own ac- cord, and even contrary to the advice of the High- commifTioner, brought in a bill for abjuring the pre- tended Prince of Wales: but this was not fupported by the court party, as the CommifTioner had no in- ftrudions how to ad on the occafion. Perhaps the Queen and her Englifh m.iniftry refolved to keep the fucceiTion open in Scotland, as a check upon the V\^higs and Houfe of Hanover. On the thirtieth HISTORY OF ENGLAND. K day of June, the Commiffioner adjourned the Par^ liament, after having thanked them for their chear- fulnefs and unanimity in their proceedings ; and the chiefs of the oppofite parties haftened to London, to make their different reprefentations to the Queen and her miniftry. In the mean time, fhe appointed commiffioners for treating about the union; and they met at the Cockpit on the twenty-fecond day of Oftober. On the twentieth day of the next month, they adjufted preliminaries, importing, That nothing agreed on among themfelves fhould be binding, except ratified by her Majefty and the re- fpe6live Parliaments of both nations ; and that, un- iefs all the heads propofed for the treaty were agreed to, no particular thing agreed on fhould be binding. The Queen vifited them in December, in order to quicken their mutual endeavours. They agreed, that the two kingdoms fhould be infeparably united into one monarchy, under her Majefty, her heirs, and fucceffors, and under the fame limitations, ac- cording to the ads of fettlement: but, when the Scottifti commiffioners propofed that the rights and privileges of their company trading to Africa and the Indies fhould be preferved and maintained, fuch a difficulty arofe as could not be furmounted, and no further progrefs was made in this commiffion. The tranquillity of Ireland was not interrupted by any new commotion. That kingdom was ruled by Juftices whom the Earl of Rochefter had appointed ; and theTruftees for the forfeited eftates maintained their authority. § X. While Britain was engaged in thefe civil tranfadions, her allies were not idle on the conti- nent. The old Duke of Zell, and his nephew, the Eledor of Brunfwick, furprized the Dukes of Wol- fenbuttle and Saxe-Gotha, whom they compelled to renounce their attachments to France, and concur in the common councils of the Empire. Thus the fiorth of Germany was re-united to the intereft of the I ANNE. 459 t^ie confederates ; and the Princes would have been chap. in a condition to aflift them effeftiially, had not the neighbourhood of the war in Poland deterred them from parting with their forces. England and the States-General endeavoured in vain to mediate a peace between the Kings of Sweden and Poland, Charles was become enamoured of war, and ambi^ tious of conqueft. He threatened to invade Saxony- through the dominions of Pruffia. Auguftus retired to Cracow, while Charles penetrated to Warfaw, and even ordered the Cardinal-primate to fiimmon a diet for choofing a new king. The fituation of affairs, at this juncture, was far from being favourable to the allies. The Court of Vienna had tampered in vain with the Eledtor of Bavaria, who made ufe of this negociation to raile his terms with Louis. His brother, the Eledlor of Cologn, admitted French garrifons into Leige, and all his places on the Rhine. The Eledlor of Saxony was too hard prelfed by the King of Sweden, to fpare his full proportion of troops to the allies : the King of Pruffia was over-awed by the vicinity of the Swedilh conqueror : the Duke of Savoy had joined his forces to thofe of France, and over-run the whole ftate of Milan ; and the Pope, though he profeffed a neutrality, evinced himfelf ftrongly biaffied to the French interefts. § XI. The war was begun in the name of the Eledlor Palatine with the fiege of Keiferfwaert, which was inverted in the month of April by the Prince of Naffiau-Saarbui-gh, marefchal-du-camp to the Em- peror : under this officer the Dutch troops ferved as auxiliaries, becaufe war had not yet been declared by the States-General. The French garrifon made a defperate defence. They worfted the befiegers in divers failles, and maintained the place until it was reduced to a heap of alhes. At length the allies made a general attack upon the counterfcarp and ravelin, which they carried after a very obftinate en- gagement, with the lofs of tVv'o thoulaiid men. 1 hen the I 460 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK the garrifon capitulated on honourable terms, and the fortifications were razed. During this fiege,. which lafted from the eighteenth day of April to the middle of June, Count Tallard pofted himfelf on the oppofite fide of the Rhine, from whence he fup- plied the town with frefh troops and ammunition, and annoyed the befiegers with his artillery: but finding it impoffible to fave the place, he joined the grand army, commanded by the Duke of Burgundy in the Netherlands. The fiege of Keiferfwaert was covered by a body of Dutch troops under the Earl of Athlone, who lay encamped in the duchy of Cleve. Mean while General Coehorn, at the head of another detachment, entered Flanders, demo- lifhed the French lines between the forts of Donat andTfabella, and laid the chatellanie of Bruges un- der contribution : but a confiderable body of French troops advancing under the Marquis de Bedmar, and the Count de la Motte, he overflowed the coun- try, and retired under the walls of Sluys. The Duke of Burgundy, who had taken the command of the French army under Boufflers, encamped at Zanten, near Cleve, and laid a fcheme for furprifing Nime- guen j in which, however, he was baffled by the vi- gilance and aftivity of Athlone, who, guefllng his defign, marched thither, and encamped under the cannon of the town. In the beginning of June, Landau was invefled by Prince Louis of Baden : in j uly, the King of the Romans arrived in the camp of the befiegers, with fuch pomp and magnificence as exhauflied his father’s treafury. On the ninth day of September, the citadel was taken by aflault j and then the town furrendered. § XII. When the Earl ’of Marlborough arrived in Flolland, the Earl of Athlone, in quality of veldt-marefchal, infilled upon an equal command , with the Englifli general : but the Hates obliged hirrt to yield this point in favour of Marlborough, whom they declared generaliflimo of all their forces. In . the f ANNE. 461 the beginning of July he repaired to the camp atCH ap. Nimeguen, where he foon alTembled an army of fixty thoufand men, well provided with all ne-^'T^'^TT^ ceffaries ; then he convoked a council of the general officers, to concert the operations of the campaign. On the fixteenth day of the month he pafled the Maefe, and encamped at Over-affelt, within two leagues and a half of the enemy, who had entrenched themfelves between Goch and Gedap. He afterwards repaired the river below the Grave, and removed to Gravenbroeck, where he was joined by the Bri- tifh train of artillery from Holland. On ‘the fecond day of Augull, he advanced to Petit Brugel, and the French retired before him, leaving Spanifh Guelderland to his difcretion. He had refolved to hazard an engagement, and ilTued orders according- ly ; but he v/as reftrained by the Dutch deputies, who were afraid of their own interell, in cafe the battle ffiould have proved unfortunate. The Duke of Burgundy finding himfelf obliged to retreat be- . fore the allied army, rather than expofe himfelf longer to fuch a mortifying indignity, returned to Verlailles, leaving the command to Boufflers, who loft the confidence of Louis by the ill fuccefs of this campaign. The deputies of the States- General having reprefented to the Earl of Marlborough the advantages that would accrue to Holland, from his difpofleffing the enemy of the places they maintained in the Spaniffi Guelderland, by which the naviga- tion of the Maefe 'Was obftrudted, and the important town of Maeftricht in a manner blocked up, he refolved to deliver them from fuch a troublefome neighbourhood. He detached General Schultz with a body of troops to reduce the town and caftle of Werk, which were furrendered after a flight re- fiftance. In the beginning of September, he un- dertook the fiege of Venlo, which capitulated on the twenty-fifth day of the month, after fort St, Michael had been ftormed and taken by Lord Cutts 462 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK and the Englifh ‘ volunteers, arriong whom thd\ ^ ^ young Earl of Huntingdon diftinguifhed himfelf ,702. by very extraordinary ads of valour. Then the General invefted Ruremonde, which he reduced after a' very obftinate defence^ together, with the fort of Stevenfuaert, fituated on the fame river. Boufflers, confounded at the rapidity of Marlbo- rough’s fuccefs, retired towards Leige, in order to cover that city: but, at the approach of the confederates, he retired with precipitation to, Ton- geren, from whence he direded his route towards Brabant, with a view to defend fuch places as the allies had no defign to attack. When the Earl of Marlborough arrived at Leige, he found the fub- urbs of St. Walburgh had been fet on fire by the French garrifon, who had retired into the citadel and the Chartreux. I'he allies took immediate polTeflion of the city ; and in a few days opened tJie trenches againft the citadel, which was taken by aifault. On this occafion, the Hereditary Prince of HefiTe-Cafiel charged at the head of the grenadiers, and was the firft perfon who mounted the breach. Violani the governor, and the Duke of Charoft,; were made prifoners. Three hundred thoufand florins in gold and filver were found in the citadel, befides notes for above one million, drawn upon fubflantial merchants in Leige, who paid the money. Immediately after this exploit, the garri- fon of the Chartreux capitulated on honourable terms, and were conduced to Antwerp. By the fuccefs of this campaign, the Earl of Marlborough, raifed his military chara6ter above all cenfure, and confirmed himfelf in the entire confidence of the States General, who, in the beginning of the feafon, had trembled for Nimeguen, and now faw the enemy driven back into their own domains. § XIII. When the army broke up in November, the General repaired to Maeftricht, from whence he propofed to return to the Hague by water. Ac- cordingly ANNE. 463 cordlngly, he embarked in a large boat, with five- c hap. and-twenty foldiers, under the command of a lieu- ‘ ^ tenant. Next morning he was joined at Rure- monde by Coehorn, in a larger veflfel, with fixty men; and they were moreover efcorted by fifty troopers who rode along the bank of the river. The large boat outfailed the other, and the horfemen miftook their way in the dark. A French partizan, with five and thirty men from Gueldres, who lurked among the ruflies in wait for prey, feized the rope by which the boat was drawn, hauled it afhore, difcharged their fmall arms and hand-grenades, then riifliing into it, fecured the foldiers before they could put themfelves in a pofture of defence. The Earl of Marlborough was accompanied by General Opdam, and Mynheer Gueldermalfen, one of the deputies, who were provided with paffports. The Earl had neglecfed this precaution : but recolleft- ing he had an old pafTport for his brother General Churchill, he produced it without any emotion ; and the partizan was in ilich confufion that he never ex- amdned the date. Neverthelefs, he rifled their baggage, carried off the guard as prifoners, and allowed the boat to proceed. The Governor of Venlo receiving information that the Earl was fur- prifed by a party, and conveyed to Gueldres, im- mediately marched out with his whole garrifon to invefl that place. The fame imperfeft account being tranfmitted to Holland, filled the whole province with conflernation. The States forthwith affembling, refolved that all their forces fliould march immediately to Gueldres, and threaten the garrifon of the place with the utmofl; extremities, unlefs they would immediately deliver the General, But, before thefe orders could be difpatched, the Earl arrived at the Hague, to the inexpreffible joy of the people, who already looked upon him as their faviour and protestor. ^ XIV. 4 ^ 4 - HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK § XIV. The French arms were not quite fo .unfortunate on the Rhine as in Flanders. The J702, Fdedtor of Bavaria furprifed the city of Ulm in Suabia, by a ftratagem, and then declared for FVance, which had by this time complied with all his demands. The diet of the empire alfembled at Ratifbon were fo incenfed at his condu6l in feizing the city of Ulm by perfidy, that they prefented a memorial to his Imperial Majefty, requefling he would proceed againft the Eledlor, according to the conftitutions of the empire. They rcfolved, by a plurality of voices, to declare war in the name of the empire, againfl the French King and the Duke of Anjou, for having invaded feveral fiefs of the empire in Italy, the Archbifhoprick of Cologn, and the diocefe of Leige: and they forbad the miniflers of Bavaria and Cologn to appear in the general diet. In vain did thefe powers proteft againfl their proceedings. The Empire’s declaration of war was publifhed and notified, in the name of the diet, to the Cardinal of Limberg, the Emperor’s com^ miflioner. Mean while the French made themfelves mailers ofNeuburgh, in the circle of Suabia, while Louis Prince of Baden, being weakened by fending off detachments, was obliged to lie inactive in his camp near Fridlinguen. The French army was divided into two bodies, commanded by the Mar- quis de Villars and the Count de Guifcard ; and the Prince, thinking himfclf in danger of being enclofed by the enemy, refolved to decamp. Villars ' immediately paffed the Rhine, to fall upon him in his retreat; and an obflinate' engagement enfuing; the Imperialifts were overpowered by numbers. The Prince, having loft two thoufand men, aban- doned the field of battle to the enemy, together with his baggage, artillery, and ammunition, and retired towards Stauffen, without being piirfuedi The French army, even after they had gained the battle, were unaccountably feized with fuch a i ANNE. panick, that if the Imperial General had faced them with two regiments, he would have fnatched the vidory from Villars, who was upon this occafion faiuted Marefchal of France by the foldiers ; and next day the town of Fridlinguen furrendered. The Prince being joined by fome troops under General Thungen, andl other reinforcements, refolved to give battle to the enemy: but Villars declined an engagement, and repaffed the Rhine. Towards the latter end of 06tober, Count Tallard, and the Marquis de Lomarie, with a body of eighteeen thoufand men, reduced Triers and Traerbach: on the other hand, the Prince of Heire-CalTel, with a detachment from the allied army at Leige, retook from the French the towns of Zinch, Lintz, Brifac, and Andernach. § XV. In Italy, Prince Eugene laboured un- der a total neglect of the Imperial court, where his enemies, on pretence of fupporting the King of the Romans in his firft campaign, weaned the Em- peror’s attention entirely from his affairs on the other fide of the Alps ; fo that he left his belt army to moulder away for want of recruits and re- inforcements. The Prince, thus abandoned, could not prevent the Duke de Vendome from relieving Mantua, and was obliged to relinquifn fome other places he had taken. Philip King of Spain, being infpired with the ambition of putting an end to the war in this country, failed in perfon for Naples, where he was vifited by the Cardinal-legate, with a compliment from the Pope; yet he could not obtain the inveftiture of the kingdom from his Holi- nefs. The Emperor, however, was fo difgufted at the embaffy which the Pope had fent to Philip, that he ordered his ambaffador at Rom*e to withdraw. Philip proceeded from Naples to Final, under convoy of the French fleet which had brought him to Italy; Here he had an interview with the Duke of Savoy, who began to be alarmed at the profpect of the French King’s being mafter of the Milanefe j and, VoL I. FI h in 466 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ,B o o Kin a letter to the Duke de Vendome, he forbade ^ . him to engage Prince Eugene until he himfelf ,-02. Ihould arrive in the camp. Prince Eugene, under- ftanding that the French army intended to attackr Euzzara and Guaftalla, palled the Po, with an army of about half the number of the enemy, and polled himfelf behind the dyke of Zero, in fuch a manner that tlie French were ignorant of his fitua- tion. He concluded, that on their arrival at the ground they had chofen, the liorfe would march out to forage, while the reft of the army would be employed in pitching tents, and providing for their refrefhment. His defign was to feize that oppor- tunity of attacking them, not doubting that he ftiould obtain a complete vidory : but he was dif- appointed by mere accident. An adjutant, with an advanced guard, had the curiofity to afcend the dyke, in order to view the country, when he dif- covered the Imperial infantry lying on their faces, and their horfe in the rear, ranged in order of battle. The French camp was immediately alar- med ; and as the intermediate ground was covered with hedges, v/hich obliged the alTailants to defile, the enemy were in a pofture of defence before the Imperialifts could advance to adlion : neverthelefs, the Prince attacked them with great vivacity, in hopes of difordering their line, which gave way in feveral places : but night interpofmg, he was ob- liged to defift ; and in a few days the French re- duced Luzzara and Guaftalla. The Prince however, maintained his poll, and Philip returned to Spain, without having obtained any confiderable advan- tage. § XVI. The French King employed all his arti- fice and intrigues in raifing up new enemies againft the confederates. He is faid to have bribed Count Mansfield, prefident of the council of war at Vienna, to with-hold the fupplies from Prince Eugene in Italy. At the Ottoman Porte he had actually gained over the V ihr, who engaged to renew the war A N N E. vvnr with the Emperor, But the Mufti and all thq chap. other great officers were averfe to this deiign, and , the Vifir fell a facrifice to their refentrnent. Louis continued to embroil the kingaom of Poland by means of the Cardinal Primate. The young King of Sweden advanced to Liffiauj where he defeated Auguftus. Then he took poffeffion of Cracow, and railed contributions ; nor could he be perfuaded to retreat, although the Mufcovites and Lithuanians had ravaged Livonia, and even made an irruption into Sweden. § XVII. The operations of the combined fqua- drons at fea did not fully anfwer the, expedtations of the publick. On the twelfth day of May, Sir John Munden failed with twelve ffiips, to intercept a Trench fquadron appointed as a convoy to a new viceroy of Mexico, from Corunna to the Well-In- dies. On the twenty eighth day of the months he chafed fourteen fail of French ffiips into Corunna. Then he called a council of war, in which it was agreed, that as the place was ftrongly/ortified, and by the intelligence they had received, it appeared that feventeen of the enemy’s ffiips of war rode at anchor in the harbour, it would be expedient for them to follow the latter part of their inftrudlions, by which they were diredled to cruife in foundings for the protedlion of the trade. They returned ac- cordingly, and being dillrelTed by want of provi- fions, came into port, to the general difcontent of the nation. For the fatisfadlion of the people. Sir • ' John Munden was tried by a court-martial, and ac- quitted : but as this mifcarriage had rendered him very unpopular. Prince George difmiffied him from the fervice. We have already hinted, that King William had projeded a fcheme to reduce Cadiz, with intention to acl afterwards againll the Spanifh fettlements in the Weft-Indies. This defign Queen. Anne refolved to put in execution. Sir George Rooke commanded the fleet, and the Duke of Ormond H h 2 468 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK was appointed General of the land-forces deftined for this expedition. The combined fquadrons amoun-. ^^TtoTT** exclufive of frigates, fire-fhips, and fmaller velTels; and the number of foldiers embarked v/as not far fhort of fourteen thoufand. In the latter end of June the fleet failed from St. Helen’s : on the twelfth of Augufl: they anchored at the diflance of two leagues from Cadiz. Next day the Duke of Ormond fummoned ths Duke de Brancaccio, who was governor, to fubmit to the houfe of Auftria; but that officer anfwered, he would acquit himfelf honourably of the truff: repofed in him by the King. On the fifteenth the Duke of Ormond landed with his forces in the bay of Bulls, under cover of a fmart fire from fomc frigates, and repulfed a body of Spanifh cavalry : then he fummoned the governor of Fort St. Ca- tharine’s to furrender ; and received an anfwer, importing, that the garrifon was prepared for his reception. A declaration was publifhed in the Spanifh language, intimating, that the allies did not come as enemies to Spain ; but only to free them from the yoke of France, and afTift them in cfliablifhing themfelves under the government of the houfe of Aufhria. Thefe profeflTions produced very little effe6l among the Spaniards, who were cither cooled in their attachment to that family, or provoked by the exceflTes of the Englifh troops. , Thefe having taken polTeirion of Fort St. Catharine, and Port St. Mary’s, inftead of protefting, plun- dered the natives, notwithftanding the ftridt orders iflued by the Duke of Ormond, to prevent this fcandalous pradice : even fome general officers were concerned in the pillage. A battery was raifed againft Montagorda-fort oppofite to the Puntal : but the attempt mifearried, and the troops were re-embarked. § XVIII. Captain Hardy having been fent to water in Lagos- bay, received intelligence that the j galleona ANNE. 4^9 galleons from the Weft-Indies had put into Vigo, c H a P. under convoy of a French fqiiadron. He failed ^ immediately in queft of Sir George Rooke, who 1702. was now on his voyage back to England, and falling in with him on the fixth day of Oftober, commu- nicated the fubftance of what he had learned. Rooke immediately called a council of war, in which it was determined to alter their courfe, and attack the enemy at Vigo. He forthwith detached fome fmall veftels for intelligence, and received a con- firmation, that the galleons, and the fquadrork commanded by Chateau Renault, were actually in the harbour. They failed thither, and appeared before the place on the eleventh day of Odober. The paftage into the harbour was narrow, fecured by batteries, forts, and breaft-works on each fide ; by a ftrong boom, confifting of iron chains, top- mafts, and cables, moored at each end to a feventy- • gun ftiip; and fortified v/ithin by five fhips of the fame ftrength, lying athwart the channel, with their broad-fides to the offing. As the firft and fecond rates of the combined fleets were too large to enter, the admirals fliifted their flags into fmaller ffiips ; and a divifion of five- and- twenty Engliffi and Dutch fhips of the line, with their frigates, fireffiips, and ketches, was deftine-d for the fervice. In order to facilitate the attack, the Duke of Ormond landed with five-and-twenty hundred men, at the diftance of fix miles from Vigo, and took by affault a fort and platform of forty pieces of cannon, at the .entrance of the harbour. The Britifli enfign was no fooner feen flying at the top of this fort, than the ffiips advanced to the attack. Vice-Admiral Hopfon, in the Torbay, crowding all his fail, ran directly againft the boom, which was broken by the firft ffiock: then the whole fquadron entered the harbour, through a prodigious fire from the enemy’s ffiips and batteries. Thefe laft, however, were foon ftortned and taken by the grenadiers H h 3 who HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK who had been landed. The great lliips lay againft the forts at each fide of* the hi^rboiir, wliich in a little time they filenced ; though Vice-Admiral Hopfon narrowly efcaped from a firelliip by which he was boarded. After a very vigorous engagement, the EVench, finding theinfelves unable to cope with fuch an adverlary, refolved to deftroy their fliips and galleons, that they might not fall into the hands of the victors. They accorciingly burned and ran afhore eight fhips and as many advice-boats ; but ten Ihips of war were taken, together with eleven galleons. Though they had fecured the bed: part of their plate and merchandife before the Eng- iifh fleet arrived, the value of fourteen millions of pieces of eight, in plate and rich commodities, v/as defl:royed in fix galleons that periflied ; and about half that value was brought off by the conquerors : fo that this was a dreadful blow to the enemy, and a noble acquifition to the allies. Immediately after this exploit Sir George Rooke was joined by Sir • Cloudelly ShovH, who had been lent out with a fquadron to intercept the galleons. This officer was left to bring home the prizes, and difmantle the fortifications, while Rooke returned in triumph to England. § XIX. The glory which the Englifli acquired in this expedition was in fome meafure tarniffied by the conduft of fome officers in the Weft-Indies. Thither Admiral Benbow had been detached with a iquadron of ten fail, in the courfe of the preceding year. At Jamaica he received intelligence, that Monfieur Du Caffe was in the neighbourhood of Elifpaniola, and refolved to beat up to that ifland. At Leogane he fell in with a French ftrip of fifty guns, which her captain ran afhore and blew up. He took feveral other veffels, and having alarmed Petit-Guavas, bore away for Donna Maria bay, where he underftood that Du Caffe had failed for |:he cpaft of Garthagena. Benbow refolved to follow • the 4 ANNE. 471 riie fame courfe ; and on the nineteenth of Atio-uft CHAP, dilcovered the enemy’s fquadvon near St. Martha, . * i confifting of ten fail, fteering along fliore. He ,702. formed the line, and an engagement enfued, in which he was very ill feconded by fome of his cap- tains. Neverthelefs, the battle continued till night, and he determined to renew it next morning, when he perceived all his fliips at the diftance of three or four miles allern, except the Ruby, commanded by .Captain George Walton, who joined him in plying the enemy with chafe-guns. On the twenty-firft thefe two fhips engaged the French fquadron; and the Ruby was fo difabled, that the Admiral was obliged to fend her back to Jamaica. Next day the Greenwich, commanded by Wade, was five leagues aftern : and the wind changing, the enemy had the advantage of the weather-gage. On the twenty-third the Admiral renewed the battle with his fingle fliip, unfuftained by the reft of the fquadron. On the twenty-fourth his leg was fliattered by a chain-fhot; notwithftanding which accident, he remained on the quarter-deck in a cradle, and .continued the engagement. One of the largeft fliips of the enemy lying like a wreck upon the water, four fail of the Fnglifli fquadron poured their broadfides into her, and then ran to leeward, without paying any regard to the fignal for battle. T hen the French bearing down upon the Admiral with their whole force, Ihot away his main, -top-fail-yard, and damaged his rigging in Inch a manner, that he was obliged to lie by and refit, while they took their difabled fhip in tow. During this interval, he called a council of his captains, and expoftulated with them on their behaviour. They obferved, that the French were very ftrong, and advifed him to defift. He plainly perceived that he was betrayed, ^nd with the utmoft reluctance returned to J amaica, having not only loft a leg, but alfo received a large wound in his face, and another in his arm, while H h 4 47 a BOOK I. J70Z, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. in perfon attempted to board the French AdrniraL Exafperated at the treachery of his Captains, he granted a commiffion to Rear-Admiral Whetftone, and other officers, to hold a court-martial, and try them for cowardice. Hudfon, of the Pendennis, died before his trial : Kirby and Wade were con- vidted, and fentenced to be fhot : Conftable, of the Windfor, was caffiiered and imprifoned : Vincent, of the Falmouth, and Fogg, the Admiral’s own Captain of the Breda, were convidled of having figned a paper, that they would not fight under Benbow’s command ; but, as they behaved gallant- ly in the aftion, the court inflicted upon them no other puniffiment than that of a provifional fufpen- fion. Captain \Valton had likewife joined in the confpiracy, while he was heated v/ith the fumes of intoxication ; but he afterv/ards renounced the en- gagement, and fought with admirable courage until his ffiip was difabled. The boifterous manners of Benbow had produced this bafe confederacy. He was a rough feaman but remarkably brave, honeft, and experienced He took this mifcarriage fo much to heart, that he became melancholy, and his grief co-operating with the fever occafioned by his wounds, put a period to his life. Wade and Kirby were fent home in the Briftol ; and, on their arrival at Plymouth, fhot on board of the ffiip, by virtue ' of a dead warrant for their immediate execution, v/hich had lain there for fome time, The fame pre- caution * When one of his Lieutenants exprelTed his forrowfor tfie lofs of the Admiral’s leg, “ I am forry for it too, (replied the gallant Benbow) but I had rather have loft them both than have feen this ** dilhonour brought upon the Engliih nation. But, do you hear ? “ If another /hot /hould take me oft, behave like brave men, and fight it out.” When Du Caffe arrived at Carthagenaj he wrote a letter to Benbow to this effe6l : “ S I R, I Had little hope on Monday laft but to have flipped in youv cabin j but it pleafed God to order it otherwife. I am thankful for it. As for thofe cowardly Captains who deferted you, hang them up j for, by God, they deferve it, Your’s, DU CASSE.’; ANNE. caution had been taken in all the weftern ports, in order to prevent applications in their favour. § XX. During thefe tranfaftions, the Queen feemed to be happy in the affedion of her fubjefts. Though the continuance of the Parliament was li- mited to fix months after the King’s deceafe, fhc diifolved it by proclamation before the term was expired : and iffued writs for eleding another, in which the Tory intereft predominated. In thefum- mer the Queen gave audience to the Count de Pla- tens, Envoy-Extraordinary from the Ele6tor of Ha- nover : then fhe made a progrefs with her hufband to Oxford, Bath, and Briftol, where .flie was re- ceived with all the marks of the moll genuine affec- tion. The new Parliament meeting on the twen- tieth day of Oclober, Mr. Harley was chofen Spea- ker. The Queen in her fpeech declared, ffie had fummoned them to affift her in carrying on the juff and neceffary war in which the nation was engaged. She defired the Commons would infpe6l the accounts of the publick receipts and payments, that if any abufes had crept into the management of the finances, they might be deteded, and the offenders punifhed. She told them, that the funds affigned in the laft Parliamxent had not produced the fums granted ; and that the deficiency was not fupplied even by the hun- dred thoufand pounds which flie had paid from her own revenue for the publick fervice. She expreffed her concern for the difappointment at Cadiz, as w^ell as for the abufes committed at Port St. Mary’s, which had obliged her to give diredtions for the ftridleft examination of the particulars. She hoped they would find time to confider of fome better and more effeftual method to prevent the exportation of v/ool, and improve that manufadlure, which flie was determined to encourage. She profeffed a firm perfuafion, that the affedtion of her fubjecls was the fureft pledge of their duty and obedience. She pro- mifed to defend and maintain the church as by law eftablilhed : / 47^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK eftablifhed : and to prote 6 l her fubjedts in the full , enjoyment of all their rights and liberties. She 1-/02. protefled, that Are relied on their care of -her: Ihe ' faid her intereft and their’s were infeparable ; and that her endeavours Aiould never be wanting to make them all fafe and happy. She was prefented with a very affedtionate addrefs from either Houfe, congratulating her upon the glorious fuccefs of her arms, and thofe of her allies, under the command of the Earl of Marlborough : but that of the Com- mons was diftinguiAied by an implicated reproach on the late reign, im.porting, that the wonderful progrefs of her Majefty’s arms under the Earl of Marlborough had fignally “ retrieved” the ancient honour and glory of the Englifh nation. This ex- preffion had excited a warm debate in the Eloufe, in the courfe of which many levere refledtions were made on the memory of King William. At length, the queftion was put, whether the word “ Retrieved” .ihould remain ? and carried in the affirmative, by a majority of one hundred. § XXL I'he ftrength of the Tories appeared in nothing more confpicuous than in their enquiry con- cerning controverted eledlions. The borough of Hindon, near Salilbury, was convidted of bribery, and a bill brought in for disfranchifing the town : yet no vote paffed againft the perfon who exercifed this corruption, becaufe he happened to be a Tory. Mr. Howe was declared duely eledled for Gloucef- terfliire, though the majority of the eledlors had voted for the other candidate. Sir John Packing- ton exhibited a complaint againft the Biffiop of Worcefter and his ion, for having endeavoured to prevent his eiedlion : the Commons having taken it into confideration, refolved, that the proceedings of William Lord Biffiop of Worcefter, and his fon, had been malicious, unchriftian, and arbitrary, in high violation of the liberties and privileges of the Commons of England, They voted an addrefs to the / ANNE. 4-75 die Queen, defiring her to remove the father from chap. the office of Lord-Almoner ; and they ordered the j Attorney -General to profecute the fon, after his pri- vilege as member of the convocation ffiould be ex- pired. A counter-addrefs was immediately voted, and prefented by the Lords, befeeching her Ma- jefty would not remove the Bifliop of Worcefter from the place of Lord- Almoner, until he ffiould be found guilty of Ibme crime by due courfe of law ; as it was the undoubted right of every Lord of Parliament, and of every fubjetl of England, to have an opportunity to make his defence before he buffers any fort of pu- niffiment. The Queen faid ffie had not as yet re- ceived any complaint againft die Biffiop of Wor- cefter: but ffie looked upon it as her undoubted right to continue or difplace any fervant attending upon her own perfon, when ffie ftiould think pro- per. The Peers having received this anfwer, una- nimoufly refolved. That no Lord of their Houfe ought to fuffer any fort of puniffiment by any pro- ceedings of the Houfe of ^Commons, otherwife than according to the known and ancient rules and me- thods of Parliament. When the Commons attended the Queen with their addrefs againft the Biffiop, ftie faid flie was forry there was occafion for fuch a re- monftrance, and that the Biffiop of Worcefter ffiould no longer continue to fupply the place of her Almo- ner. This regard to their addrefs was a flagrant proof of her partiality to the Tories, who feemed to juftify her attachment by their compliance and liberality. § XXII. In deliberating on the fupplies, they agreed to all the demands of the miniftry. They voted forty thoufand feamen, and the like number of land forces, to aft in conjunftion with thofe of the allies. For the maintenance of thefe laft, they granted eight hundred and thirty-three thoufand eight hundred and twenty-fix pounds ; hefides three hundred and fifty thoufand pounds for guards and garrifons ; HISTORY OF ENGLAND. garrifons ; feventy thoufand nine hundred and feven- ty-three pounds for ordnance ; and fifty-one thou- fand eight hundred and forty-three pounds for fub- fidies to the allies. Lord Shannon arriving with the news of the fuccefs at Vigo, the Qiieen appointed a day of thankfgiving for the fignal fuccefs of her arms under the Earl of Marlborough, the Duke of Ormond, and Sir George Rooke j and, on that day, which was the twelfth of November, fhe went in Hate to St. Paul’s church, attended by both Houfes of Parliament. Next day the Peers voted the thanks of their Houfe to the Duke of Ormond for his fer- vices at Vigo ; and, at the fame time, drew up an addrefs to the Queen, defiring fhe would order the Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke to lay be- fore them an account of their proceedings : a re- queft with which her Majefty complied. Thqfe two officers were likewife thanked by the Houfe of Com- mons : Vice-Admiral Hopfon was knighted, and gratified with a confiderable penfion, The Duke of Ormond, at his return from the expedition, com- plained openly of Rooke’s conduft, and feemed de- termined to fubjeft him to a publick accufation ; but that officer was fuch a favourite among the Com- mons, that the Court was afraid to difoblige them by an impeachment, and took great pains to mitigate the Duke’s refentment. This nobleman was ap- pointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and Rooke was admitted into the privy-council. A motion, how- ever, being made in the Houfe of Lords, that the Admiral’s inftruftions and journals relating to the iaft expedition might be examined, a committee was appointed for that purpofe, and prepared an un - favourable report : but it was rejeded by a majority of the Houfe j and they voted, That Sir George Rooke had done his duty, purfuant to the councils of war, like a brave officer, to the honour of the Britiffi nation. § XXIIL ANNE. 477 § XXIII. On the twenty-firft day of November, chap. the Queen fent a mefTage to the Houfe of Commons by Mr. Secretary Hedges, recommending further provihon for the Prince her hufband, in cafe he fhould furvive her. This meffage being confidered, Mr. Howe moved. That the yearly fum of one hun- dred thoufand pounds Ihould be fettled on the Prince, in cafe he fhould furvive her Majefty. No oppofi- tion was made to the propofal : but warm debates were excited by a claufe in the bill, exempting the Prince from that part of the A6t of SuccefTion by which ftrangers, though naturalized, were rendered incapable of holding employments. This claufe related only to thofe who fhould be naturalized in a future reign ; and indeed was calculated as a reftric- tion upon the Houfe of Hanover. Many members argued againft the claufe of exemption, becaufe it feemed to imply, that perfons already naturalized w^ould be excluded from employments in the next reign, though already polfeffed of the right of natu- ral-born fubjeds, a confequence plainly contradidory to the meaning of the ad. Others oppofed it, be- caufe the Lords had already refolved by a vote, Thar they would never pafs any bill fent up from the Commons, to which a claufe foreign to the bill Ihould be tacked ^ and this claufe they affirmed to be a tack, as an incapacity to hold employments was a circumftance altogether diftind from a fettle- ment in money. The Queen exprelTed uncommon Cagernefs in behalf of this bill ; and the court influ-. cnce was managed fo fuccefsfully, that it palfed through both Houfes, though not without an obfli- nate oppofition, and a formal proteft by ieven-and twenty Peers. § XXIV. The Earl of Marlborough arriving in England about the latter end of November, received the thanks of the Commons for his great and fignal lervices, which were fo acceptable to the C^een, that created him a Duke, gratified him with a pen- 47? BOOK I. 1702. N HistORY OF ENGLAND. fion of five thoufand pounds upon the revenue of thd Poft-Ofiice during his natural life ; and^ in a meflage to the Commons, exprefled a defire, that they would find fome method to fettle it on the heirs-male of his body. This intimation was produ6live of warm de- bates, during which Sir Chriftopher Mufgrave ob- ferved, that he would not derogate from the Duke’s eminent fervices ; but he affirmed his Grace had been very well paid for them, by the profitable em- ployments which he and his Duchefs enjoyed. The Duke, underflanding that the Commons were heated by the fubjecfi, begged her Majefty would rather forego her gracious meffage in his behalf, than create any uneafinefs on his account, which might embarrafs her affairsj and be of ill confequence to the publick* Then fhe fent another meflage to the Houfe, fignifying, that the Duke of Marlborough had declined her interpofition. Nbtwithftanding this declaration, the Commons in a body prefented an addrefs, acknowledging the eminent fervices of the Duke of Marlborough, yet expre fling their ap- prehenfion of making a precedent to alienate the re- venue of the crown, v/hich had been fo much reduced by the exorbitant grants of the late reign, and fo lately fettled and fecured by her Majefty’s unparal- leled grace and goodnefs. The Queen was fatisfied with their apology j but their refufal in all probabi- lity helped to alienate the Duke from the Tories^, with whom he had been hitherto connebled. § XXV. In the beginning of January, the Queen gave the Houfe of Commons to underftand, that the States-General had preffed her to augment her forces, as the only means to render ineffedtual the great and early preparations of the enemy. The Commons immediately refolved. That ten thoufand- men fliould be hired, as an augmentation of the fijrces to a6t in conjundtion with the allies j but on condition that an immediate flop fliould be put to all commerce and correfpondence with France and Spain Ann e. 479 1702 . Spain on the part of the States-General. The Lords c H ap. prefented an addrefs to the Queen on the fame fub- je6t, and to the fame effeft ; and flie owned that the condition was abfolutely neceflary for the good of the whole alliance. The Dutch, even after the declaration of war, had carried on a traHick with the French; and, at this very junfture, Louis found it impoffible to make remittances of money to the Ele6lor of Bavaria in Germany, and to his forces in Italy, except through the channel of Englilh, Dutch, and Geneva merchants. The States-Ge- neral, though fliocked at the imperious manner in which ^he Parliament of England prefcribed their conduft, complied with the demand without hefita- tion, and publillied a prohibition of all commerce with the fubjefts of France and Spain. § XXVI. The Commons of this Parliament had nothing more at heart than a bill againft occafional conformity. The Tories affe£led to diftinguifli themfelves as the only true friends to the Church and Monarchy ; and they hated the DiiTenters with a mixture of fpiritual and political difguft. They looked upon thefe laft as an intruding fe61:, which conftituted great part of the Whig fadlion that ex- torted fuch immenfe fums of money from the nation in the late reign, and involved it in pernicious en- gagements, from whence it had no prolpeft of deli- verance. They confidered them as encroaching fchifmaticks that clifgraced and endangered the hier- archy ; and thofe of their own communion who re- commended moderation, they branded v/ith the epi- thets of lukewarm chriftians, betrayers, and apoftates. They now refolved to approve themfelves zealous fons of the Church, by feizing the firft opportunity that was in their power to diftrefs the Diffenters. In order to pave the way to this perfecution, fermons were preached, and pamphlets were printed, to blacken the charader of the fed, and inflame the popular rcfentment againft them. On the fourth day 48o history of ENGLAND. BOOK day of November^ Mr. Bromley^ Mr. St. John, and ^ ^ Mr. Annefley, were ordered by the Houfe of Com- 1702. mons to bring in a bill for preventing occafional conformity. In the preamble all perfecution for confcience-fake was condemned: neverthelefs, it enaded, That all thofe who had taken the facrament and tell for offices of truft, or the magiflracy of cor- porations, and afterwards frequented any meeting of Diffenters, ffiould be difabled from holding their employments, pay a fine of one hundred pounds, and five pounds for every day in which they con- tinued to ad in their employments after having been at any fuch meeting : they were alfo rendered in- capable of holding any other employment, till after one whole year’s conformity ; and, upon a relapfe, the penalties and time of incapacity were doubled. The promoters of the bill alledged, that an efla- blifhed religion and national church were abfolutely neceflary, when fo many impious men pretended to infpiration, and deluded fuch numbers of the people : that the moll effedual way to preferve this national church, would be the maintenance of the civil power in the hands of thofe who exprelTed their regard to the church in their principles and pradice : that the Parliament, by the Corporation and Teft-ads, thought they had raifed a fufficient barrier to the hierarchy, never imagining that-afetof men would rife up, whofe confciences wmiid be too tender to obey the laws, but hardened enough to break them : that, as the lafl reign began with an ad in favour of Diflen- ters, fo the Commons were defirous that in the be- ginning of her Majefly’s aufpicious government, an ad fliould pafs in favour of the Church of England : that this bill did not entrench on the Ad of Tolera- tion, or deprive the Diffenters of any privileges they enjoyed by law, or add any thing to the legal rights of the Church of England : that occafional confor- mity was an evafion of the law, by which the Dif- fenters might infinuate themfdves into the manage- ment ANNE. tnent of all corporations : that a reparation from the church, to which a man’s confcience will allow him occafionally to conform, is a mere fchifm, which in itfelf was finful, without the fuperaddition of a tem- poral law to make it an offence : that the toleration was intended only for the eafe of tender confciences, and not to give a licence for occafional conformity : that ‘conforming and non-conforming were contra- didions ; for nothing but a firm perhiafion that the terms of communion required are finful and unlaw- ful could juftify the one ; and this plainly condemns the other. The members who oppofed the bill argued. That the Diffenters were generally well affefted to the prefent conflitution : that to bring any real hardfhip upon them, or give rife to jealou- fies and fears at fuch a jundture, might be attended with dangerous confequences : that the toleration had greatly contributed to the fecurity and reputa- tion of the Church, and plainly proved, that liberty of confcience and gentle meafures were the moil effedtual means for increafing' the votaries of the church, and diminifhing the number of Diffenters : that^the Diffenters could not be termed fchifmaticks without bringing an heavy charge upon the Church of Emgiand, which had not only tolerated fuch fchifm, but even allowed communion with the reformed churches abroad : that the penalties of this bill were more fevere than thofe which the laws impofed on Papifls, for affifting at the mofl; folemn a6t of their religion : in a w’ord, that toleration and tendernefs had been always produ6live of peace and union, whereas perfecution had never failed to excite difor- der, and extend fuperftition. Many alterations and mitigations were propofed, without effe6t. In the courfe of the debates the Diffenters were mentioned and reviled with great acrimony ; and the bill paffed the Lower Houfe by virtue of a confiderable majo- rity. VoL. L I i § XXVIL 481 CHAP. VII. I7OJ* 482 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK § XXVII. The Lords, apprehenfive that the ^ Commons would tack it to fome money-bill, voted, 3701. That the annexing any claufe to a money-bill was contrary to the conftitution of the Englifh govern- ment, and the ufage of Parliament. Tlie bill met with a very warm oppofition in the Upper Houfe, where a confiderable portion of the Whig intereft ftill remained. Thefe members believed that the inten- tion of the bill was to model corporations, fo as to eje 61 ; all thofe who would not vote in eleftions for the Tories. Some imagined this was a preparatory ftep towards a repeal of the toleration ; and others concluded that the promoters of the bill defigned to raife Inch difturbances at home, as would difeourage the allies abroad, and render the profecution of the war imprafticable. The majority of the Bijfhops, and among thefe Burnet of Sarum, objected againft it on the principles of moderation, and from motives of confcience. Neverthelefs, as the court fupported this meafure with its whole power and influence, the bill made its way through the Houfe, though not without alterations and amendments, which were rejedled by the Commons. The Lower Houfe pre- tended that the L.ords had no right to alter any fines and penalties that the Commons fhould fix in bills fent up for their concurrence, on the fuppofition, that thofe were matters concerning money, the pe- culiar province of the Lower Houfe : the Lords ordered a minute enquiry to be made into all the rolls of Parliament flnee the reign of Henry the Seventh ; and 'a great number of inftances were found, in which the Lords had begun the claufes impofing fines and penalties, altered the penalties' which had been fixed by the Comm.ons, and even changed the ufes to which they were applieci Thefe precedents were entered in the books ; but the Com- mons refolved to maintain their point without enga- ging in any difpute upon the fubjedt. After warm debates, and a free conference between the two tioufes. t ANNE. Houfes, the Lords adhered to their amendments, CHAP, though this refolution was carried by a majority of one vote only : the Commons perfifted in rejefting ,702. them ; the bill mifcarried ; and both Houfes pub- lifhed their proceedings, by way of appeal to the nation A bill was now brought into the Lower Houfe, granting another year’s confideration to thofe who had not taken the oath abjuring the pretended Prince of Wales. The Lords added three claufes, importing, I'hat thofe perfons who fhould take the oath within the limited time might return to their benefices and employments, unlefs they fhould be already legally filled ; that any perfon endeavouring to defeat the fucceffion to the Crown, as now limited by law, fhould be deemed guilty of high treafon : . and that the oath of abjuration fhould be iinpofed upon the fubjedls in Ireland. The Commons made fome oppofition to the firft claufe ; but, at length, the queftion being put. Whether they fliould agree to the amendments, it was carried in the affirmative by one voice, § XXVIll. No object engroffied more time, or produced more violent debates, than did the enquiry into the publick accounts. The commiffioners ap- pointed for this purpofe pretended to have made great difcoveries. They charged the Lari of Rane- lagh, paymafter-general of the army, with flagrant mifmanagement. He acquitted himfelf in fuch a manner as fcreened him from all feverity of puniffi- ment: neverthelefs, they expelled him from the Houfe for a high crime and mifdemeanour, in mif- applying feveral fums of the publick money ; and he ( ■* While this bill was depending, Daniel de Foe publilhed a pam- phlet, Intituled, “ The Ihorteft Way with the Diffenters } orPropo- lals for the Eftablifhment of the Church.” The piece was a fevere fatire on the violertce of the Church-party. The Commons ordered it to be burned by the hands of the common hangman, and the author to be profecuted. He was accordingly committed to Newgate, tried, condemned to pay a fine of two hundred pounds, and ftand m the pillory. I i 2 thought 4?4 , HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK thought proper to refign his employment. A long addrefs was prepared and prefented to the Queen, attributing the national debt to mifmanagement of the funds ; complaining that the old methods of the Exchequer had been neglefted; and that iniquitous frauds had been committed bv the commiffioners of the prizes. Previous to this remonftrance, the Eloufe, in confequence of the report of the com- mittee, had paired feveral fevere refolutions, parti- cularly againft Charles Lord Halifax, auditor of the receipt of the Exchequer, as having neglected his doty, and been guilty of a breach of trull. For thefe reafons, they aftually befought the Queen, in an addrefs, that Ihe would give dire6lions to the Attorney-general to profecute him for the faid of- fences j and Ihe promifed to comply with their re- quell. On the other hand, the Lords appointed a committee to examine all the obfervations which the commiffioners of accounts had offered to both Houfes. They afcribed the national debt to defi- ciencies in the funds : they acquitted Lord Hallifax, the Lords of the Treafury, and their officers, whom the Commons had accufedj and reprefented thefe circumllances in an addrefs to the Queen, which was afterwards printed with the vouchers to every parti- cular. This difference blew up a fierce flame of difcord between the two Houfes, which manifelled their mutual animofity in fpeeches, votes, refolutions, and conferences. The Commons affirmed. That no cognizance the Lords could take of the publick ac- counts would enable them to fupply any deficiency, . or appropriate any furplufage of the publick money ; that they could neither acquit nor condemn any per- fon whatfoever, upon any enquiry arifing originally in their own Houfe ; and that their attempt to acquit Charles Lord Hallifax was unparliamentary. The Lords infilled upon their right to take cognizance originally of all publick accounts: they affirmed, that % ANNE. 485 that In tlieir refolutions, with refpe6l to Lord Halli- chap. fax, they had proceeded according to the rules of ^ juftice. They owned, however, that their refolu- j^oz. tions did not amount to any judgement or acquittal; but that finding a vote of the Commons refle6led tipon a member of their Houfe, they thought fit to give their opinion in their legiflative capacity. The Queen interpofed by a meffage to the Lords, defiring they would difpatch the bufinefs in which they were engaged. The difpute continued even after this in- timation : one conference was held after another, till at length both fides defpaired of an accommodation. The Lords ordered their proceedings to be printed, and the Commons followed their example. On the twenty- feventh day of February the Queen, having pafTed all the bills that were ready for the royal af- fent, ordered the Lord-Keeper to prorogue the Par- liament, after having pronounced a fpeech, in the ufual ftile. She thanked them for their zeal, affec- tion, and difpatch; declared, fhe would encourage and maintain the Church as by law eflablifhed ; de- fired they would confider fome further laws for re- ffraining the great licenfe affumed for publifhing fcandalous pamphlets and libels ; and affured them, that all her fhare of the prizes which might be taken in the war fliould be applied to the publick fervice. By this time the Earl of Rochefler was entirely re- moved from the Queen’s councils. Finding himfelf out- weighed by the interefl of the Duke of Marlbo- rough and Lord Godolphin, he had become fullen and intraftable ; and, rather than repair to his go- vernment of Ireland, chofe to refign the office, which, as we have already obferved, was conferred upon the Duke of Ormond, an accomplifhed noble- man, who had acquired great popularity by the fuc- cefs of the expedition to Vigo. The parties in the fdoufe of Lords were fo nearly matched, that the Queen, in order to afeertain an undoubted majority I i 3 ia 4.86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 370Z. B o o K in the next feffion, created four new peers who had fignalized themfelves by the violence of their Ipeeches in the Houfe of Commons. § XXI X. The two Houfes of Convocation, which were fummoned with the Parliament, bore a ftrong affinity with this affembly, by the different interefts that prevailed in the upper and lower. The laft, in imitation of the Commons, was defirous of brand- ing the preceding reign ; and it was with great dif- ficulty that they concurred with the Prelates in an addrefs of congratulation to her Majefty. Then their former conteft was revived. The Lower Houfe defired, in an application to the Archbiffiop of Can- terbury and his Suffragans, that the matters in dif- pute concerning the manner of fynodical proceed- ings, and the right of the Lower Houfe to hold in- termediate affemblies, might be taken into confide- ration, and fpeedily determined. The Bifhops pro- pofed, that in the intervals of feffions, the Lower Houfe might appoint committees to prepare mat- ters ; and when bufmefs ffiould be brought regularly before them, the Archbiffiop would regulate the pro- rogations in fuch a manner, that they ffiould have fuffkient time to fit and deliberate on the fubje 61 :. This offer did not fatisfy the Lower Houfe, which was emboldened to. perfift in its demand by a vote of the Commons. ^ Thefe, in confequence of an addrefs of thanks from the Clergy, touching Mr. Lloyd, fon to the Biffiop of Worcefter, whom they ordered to be profecuted after his privilege as member of the Convocation ffiould be expired, had refolved. That they would on all occafions affert the juft rights and * Thefe were John Granville, created Baron Granville of Pothe- ridge in the county of Devon ; Heneage Finch, Baron of Guernfey in the county of Southampton; Sir John Levefon Gower, Baron Gower of Sittenham in Yorkfliire 5 and Francis Seymour Conway, youngelt fon of Sir Edward Seymour, made Baron Conway of Ragley in the county of Warwick. At the fame time, however, John Harvey, of the oppofite faftion, was created Baron of Ickworth in the county of Suffolk i and the Marquis of Ngrmanby was honoured with the title of Duke of Buckinghamfliire, ^ • • privi- ANNE. 487 pnvileges of the Lower Houfe of Convocation. The C H A p. Prelates refiifed to depart from the Archbifhop’s ^ right of proroguing the whole Convocation with con- fent of his Suffragans. The Lower Houfe propofed to refer the controverfy to the Queen’s decifion. The Bifhops declined this expedient^ as inconfiflent with the epifcopal authority, and the prefidence of the Archbifiiop. The Lower Houfe having incurred the imputation of favouring Prefbytery, by this op- pofition to the Bifliops, entered in their books a de- claration, acknowledging the order of Bifliops as liiperior to Prefbyters, and to be a divine apoftolical inftitution. Then they defired the Bifhops, in an addrefs, to concur in fettling the do 61 :rine of the divine apoftolical right of Epifcopacy, that it might be a {landing rule of the Church. They likewife prefented a petition to the Queen, complaining. That in the Convocation called in the year 1700, after an interruption of ten years, fevcral queftions having arifen concerning the rights and liberties of the Lower Houfe, the Bifhops had refufed a verbal conference; and afterwards declined a propofal to fubmit the difpute to her Majefty’s determination ; they, therefore, fled for protedion to her Majefty, begging fhe would call the queftion into her own royal audience. The Queen promifed to confider their petition, which was fupported by the Earl of Nottingham; and ordered their council to examine the affair, how it confifted with law and cuftom. Whether their report was unfavourable to the Lower Houfe, or the Queen was unwilling to encourage the divifion, no other anfwer was made to their addrefs. The Archbifhop replied to their requeft prefented to the Upper Houfe, concerning the divine right of Prefbytery, that the preface to the form of ordina- tion contained a declaration of three orders of mi- nifters from the times of the Apoftles ; namely, Bifhops, Priefts, and Deacons, to which^ they had fubfcribed : but he and his brethren conceived, that, I i 4 without ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. without a royal licence, they had not authority to attempt, enadt, promulge, or execute any canon,, which fliould concern either dodrine or difcipline. The Lower Houfe anfwered this declaration in very petulant terms j and the difpute fubfifled when the Parliament was prorogued. But thefe contefls pro- duced divifions through the whole body of the Cler- gy, who ranged themfelves in different fa6lions, diflinguifhed by the names of High-church and Low- church. The firfl confifled of ecclefiaftical Tories ; the other included thofe who profeffed Revolution principles, and recommended moderation towards the Diffenters. The High-church party reproached ther other as time-fervers, and Prefbyterians in dif- guife; and were, in their turn, ftigmatifed as the friends and abettors of tyranny and perfecution. At prefent, however, the Tories both in Church and State triumphed in the favour of their Sovereign. The right of Parliaments, the memory of the late King, and even the a6l limiting the fucceffion of the Houfe of Hanover, became the fubjefts of ridi- cule. The Queen was flattered as pofTeffor of the, prerogatives of the ancient monarchy : the hiflpry written by her grandfather, the Earl of Clarendon, was now for the firfl time publifhed, to inculcate the principles of obedience, and infpire the people with an abhorrence of oppofition to an anointed Sove- reign. Her Majefly’s hereditary right' was deduced from Edward the Confeflfor, and, as heir of his pretended fandlity and virtue, flie was perfuaded to touch perfons affli6led with the King’s Evil, ac- cording to the oflice inferted in the Liturgy for this occafion. § XXX. The change of the miniflry in Scotland feemed favourable to the Epifcopalians and Anti- revolutioners of that kingdom. The Earls of March- mont, Melvil, Selkirk, Leven, and Hyndford were laid afide : the Earl of Seafield was appointed chan- cellor ; the Duke of Queenfberry, and the Lord Vif- - ■ ' count ANNE. count T arbat, were declared fecretarles of ftate : the C H A p. Marquis of Annandale was made prefident of the , council, and the Earl of TuUibardin lord privy-feal. A new Parliament having been fummoned, the Earl of Seafield employed his influence fo fuccefsfullyj that a great number of Anti-revolutioners were re- turned as members. The Duke of Hamilton had obtained from the Queen a letter to the Privy-coun- cil in Scotland, in which flie exprefled her defire, that the Prefbyterian clergy fhould live in brotherly love and communion with fuch diflTenting minifters of the reform.ed religion as were in pofleflion of be- nefices, and lived with decency, and fubmiffion to the law. The epifcopal clergy, encouraged by thefe expreflions in their favour, drew up an addrefs to the Queen, imploring her proteftion ; and humbly be- feeching her to allow thofe parifhes in which there was a majority of epifcopal freeholders to beftow the benefice on minifters of their principles. This peti- tion was prefented by Dr. Skeen and Dr. Scot, who- were introduced by the Duke of Queenfl3erry to her Majefty. She 'aflfured them of her prote6lion and endeavours to fupply their necelTities j and exhorted them to live in peace and chriftian love with the clergy, who were by law invefted with the church- government in her ancient kingdom of Scotland. A proclamation of indemnity having been publiflied in March, a great number of Jacobites returned from Erance and other countries, pretended to have changed their fentiments, and took the oaths, that they might be qualified to fit in Parliament. They formed an acceifion to the ftrength of the Anti- revolutioners and Epifcopalians, who now hoped to out-number the Prefbyterians, and outweigh their intereft. But this confederacy was compofed of dif- fonant parts, from which no harmony could be ex- Xorcy’s pe6ted. The Prefbyterians and Revolutioners were headed by the Duke of Argyle. The Country-party fy"" Mem. of malcontents^ which took it^ rife from the difap- Feuquires. ' ' ■ pointments 4go HISTORY OF ENGLAND. rough’s Apol. BOOK polntments of the Darien fettlement, afted under the aufpices of the Duke of Hamilton and Marquis ofTweedale; and the Earl of Hume appeared as Tindai. chief of the Anti-revolutioners. The different par- Lockhart’s United, purfued the moftoppofite ends. Lives’of The majority of the Country-party were friends to ihe Adnii- the Rcvolution, and fought only redrefs of the gric- Li!ft of the which the nation had fuflained in the late Duke of reign. The Anti-revolutioners confidered the ac- ceffion and government of King William as an ex- DufheVs oftraordinary event, which they were willing to forget, Maribo- believing that all parties were fafe under the flielter of her Majefty’s general indemnity. The Jacobites fubmitted to the Queen, as tutrix or regent for the Prince of Wales, whom they firmly believed flie in- tended to eftablifli on the throne. The Whigs un- der Argyle, alarmed at the coalition of all their enemies, refolved to procure a parliamentary fanftion for the Revolution. An. 1703. § XXXI. The Parliament being opened on the fixth day of May at Edinburgh, by the Duke of Queenfberry as commiflioner, the Queen’s letter was read, in which fhe demanded a fupply for the main- tenance of the forces, advifed them to encourage trade, and exhorted them to proceed with wifdom, prudence, and unanimity. The Duke of Hamilton immediately offered the draft of a bill for recog- nizing her Majefty’s undoubted right and title to the Imperial Crown of Scotland, according to the de- claration of the Eftates of the kingdom, containing the claim of right. It was immediately received ; and at the fecond reading, the Queen’s Advocate of- fored an additional claufe, denouncing the penalties of treafon againft any perfon who fliould queftion her Majefty’s right and title to the Crown, or her exer- cife of the government, from her adlual entry to the fame. This, after a long and warm debate, was car- ried' by the concurrence of the Anti-revolutioners. Then the Earl of Hume produced the draft of a bill for ANNE. 491 for the fupply: immediately after it was read, tlie chap. Marquis ofTweedale made an overture, that, before all other bufinefs, the Parliament would proceed to — '' — * make fuch conditions of government, and regula- tions in the conftitution of the kingdom, to take place after the deceafe of her Majefty and the heirs of her body, as fliould be necelfary for the prefer- vation of their religion and liberty. I'his overture and the bill were ordered to lie upon the table ; and, in the mean time, the Commiffioner found himfelf involved in great perplexity. The Duke of Argyle, the Marquis of Annandale, and the Earl of March- mont, gave him to underftand in private, that they were refolved to move for an a6l, ratifying the Re- * volution; and for another, confirming the Prefbyte- rian government : that they would infift upon their being difeuffed before the bill of fupply, and that they were certain of carrying the points at which they aimed. The Commiffioner now found himfelf reduced to a very difagreeable alternative. There was a neceffity for relinquiffiing all hope of a fupply, or abandoning the Anti-revolutioners, to whom he was conne£l:ed by promifes of concurrence. The Whigs were determined to oppofe all fchemes of fupply that ffiould come from the Cavaliers ; and thele laft refolved to exert their whole power in pre- venting the confirmation of the Revolution and the Prefbyterian difeipline. He forefaw that on this oc- cafion the Whigs would be joined by the Duke of Hamilton and his party, fo as to preponderate againft the Cavaliers. He endeavoured to cajole both parties ; but found the talk imprafticable. He defired in Parliament, that the ad for the fupply might be read, promifing that they ffiould have full ■ time afterwards to deliberate on other ffibjeds. The Marquis of Tweedale infilled upon his overture 5 and, after warm debates, the Houfe refolved to pro- ceed with fuch ads as might be neceffary for fecuring the religion, liberty, and trade of the nation, before an^ / 4fj2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK any bill for fupply or other bufinefs fhould be dif. cuffed. The Marquis of Athol offered an a61: for the fecurity of the kingdom, in cafe of her Majefly’s deceafe : but, before it was read, the Duke of Argyle prefented his draft of a bill for ratifying the Revo- lution, and all the afts following thereupon. An aft for limiting the fucceffion after the death of her Majefty, and the heirs of her body, was produced by Mr. Fletcher, of Saltoun. The Earl of Rothes recommended another, importing, that, after her Majefty’s death, and failing heirs of her body, no perfon coming to the crown of Scotland, being at the fame time King or Queen of England, fhould, as King or Queen of Scotland, have power to make peace or war without the confent of Parliament. The Earl of Marchmont recited the draft of an a6t for fecuring the true Proteftant religion and Prefby- terian government : one was alfo fuggefled by Sir Patrick Johnfton, allowing the importation of wines, and other foreign liquors. All thefe bills were or- dered to lie upon the table. Then the Earl of Strathmore produced an aft for toleration to all Pro- teftants in the exercife of religious worhiip. But againft this the general affembly prefented a moll violeht remonilrance ; and the promoters of the bill forefeeing that it would meet with great oppolition, ' allowed it to drop for the prefent. On the third day of June, the Parliament paffed the aft for preferving the true reformed Proteftant religion, and confirm- ing Prefbyterian church government, as agreeable to the word of God, and the only government of ChrifPs church within the kingdom. The fame party en- joyed a further triumph in the fuccefs of Argyle’s aft, for ratifying and perpetuating the firft aft of King William’s Parliament; for declaring it high treafon to difown the authority of that Parliament, or to alter or renovate the claim of right, or any ar- ticle thereof. This laft claufe was ftrenuoufly op- pofed 3 but at laft the bill paffed, with the concur- ' 3 fence ANNE. 49-5 fence of all the miniflry, except the Marquis of Athol chap. and the Vifcount Tarbat, who began at this period j to correfpond with the oppofite party. § XXXII. The Cavaliers thinking themfelves be- trayed by the Duke of Queenfberry, who had af- fented to thefe a6ls, firft expoftulated with him on his breach of promife, and then renounced his interefl:, refolving to feparate themfelves from the Court, and jointly purfue fuch meafures as might be for the in- tereft of their party. But of all the bills that were produced in the courfe of this remarkable feiTion, that which produced the moft violent altercation was the a6l of fecurity, calculated to abridge the prero- gative of the Crown, limit the Succeffor, and throw a vail additional power into the hands of the Parlia- ment. It was confidered paragraph by paragraph ; many additions and alterations were propofed, and fome adopted : inflammatory fpeeches were uttered ; bitter farcafms retorted from party to party ; and dif- ferent votes paflfed on different claufes. At length, in fpite of the moft obftinate oppofition from the Miniftry and the Cavaliers, it was paffed by a majo- rity of fifty-nine voices. The Commiffioner was im- portuned to give it the royal affent ; but declined anfwering their entreaties till the tenth day of Sep- tember. Then he made a fpeech in Parliament, siving them to underftand that he had received the Queen’s pleaftire, and was empowered to give the royal affent to all the afts voted in this feflion, ex- cept to the a6l for the fecurity of the kingdom. A motion was made, to follicit the royal affent in an addrefs to her Majefty ; but the queftion being put, it was carried in the negative by a fmall majority. ,On the fixth day of the fame month, the Earl of Marchmont had produced a bill to fettle the fuc- ceflion on the Houfe of Hanover. At firft the im- port of it was not known ; but, when the clerk in, reading it mentioned the Princefs Sophia, the whole Houfe was kindled into a flame. Some propofed that ' 494- HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK that the overture fliould be burned t others moved ^ , that the Earl might be fent prifoner to thecaftle; ,703. ^nd a general diffatisfadion appeared in the whole aflembly. Not that the majority in parliament were aveiTe to the fuccelTion in the houfe of Hanover : but they refolved to avoid a nomination without, llipulating conditions ; and they had already pro- vided, in the a 61 : of fecurity, that it fhould be high- treafon to own any perfon as King or Queen after her Majefty’s deceafe, until he or fhe Ihould take the coronation oath, and accept the terms of the claim of right, and fuch conditions as Ihould be fettled in this or any enfuing parliament. § XXXIII. Andrew Fletcher, of Saltoun, a man of undaunted courage and inflexible integrity, who profeflfed republican principles, and feemed defigned by nature as a member of fome Grecian commonwealth, after having obferved that the nation would be enflaved, fhould it fubmit, either willingly or by commilTion, to the fucceflfor of Eng- land, without fuch conditions of government as fhould fecure them againft the influence of an Eng- iilh miniftry, offered the draft of an adt, importing, That after the deceafe of her Majefty, without heirs of her body, no perfon being fucceflfor to the Eng- lilh throne fhould fucceed to the crown of Scotland, but under the following limitation, which, together with the coronation-oath and claim of right, they fhould fwear to obferve : namely. That all offices and places, civil and military, as well as pcnfions, fhould for the future be conferred by a Parliament to be chofen at every Michaelmas head-court, to fit on the firfl day of November, and adjourn them- felves from time to time, till the enfuing Michael- mas: That they fhould choofe their own prefident : That a committee of fix-and-thirty members, cho- fen out of the whole parliament, without diftindtion of eflates, fhould, during the intervals of parlia- ment, be veiled, under the King, with the admi- niilration Anne. m niftratlon of the government, a6t as his council, be C H A P. accountable to parliament, and call it together on , extraordinary occafions. He propofed that the fuc- cefTor Ihould be nominated by the majority : decla- ring for himfelf, that he would rather concur in nominating the moft rigid Papift with thofe condi- tions than the trueft Proteftant without them. The motion was feconded by many members; and though poftponed for the prefent, in favour of an aft of trade under the confideration of the Houfe, it was afterwards refumed with great warmth. In vain the Lord-Treafurer represented that no funds were as yet provided for the army, and moved for a reading ' of the aft prefented for that purpofe : a certain member obferved, that this was a very un- feafonable junfture to propofe a fupply, when the Houfe had fo much to do for the fecurity of the nation : he faid they had very little encouragement to grant fupplies, when they found themfelves fruf- trated of all their labour and expence for thefe feveral months; and when the whole kingdom faw that fupplies ferved for no other ufes but to gratify the avarice of fome infatiable miniflers. Mr. Fletcher expatiated upon the good confequences that would arife from the aft which he had propofed. The Chancellor anfwered. That fuch an aft was laying a fcheme for a commonwealth, and tending to in- novate the conftitution of the monarchy. The mi- niftry propofed the ftate of a vote, whether they fhould firft give a reading to Fletcher’s aft or to the aft of fubfidy. The country-party moved that the queftion might be, Overtures for fubfidies, or overtures for liberty.” Fletcher withdrew his aft, rather than people fhould pervert the meaning of laudable defigns. The Houfe refounded with the cry of Liberty or Subfidy,” Eitter inveftives were uttered againft the miniftry. One member faid it was now plain the nation was to expeft no other return for their expence and toil, than that of 4 being 495 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK being loaded with a fubfidy, and being obliged to bend their necks under the yoke of flavery, which was prepared for them from that throne : ano- ther obferved, that as their liberties were fup- prefled, fo the privileges of Parliament were like to be torn from them ; but that he would venture his life in defence of his birthright, and rather die a free man than live a Have, When the vote was demanded, and declined by the Commiffioner, the Earl of Roxburgh declared, that if there was no other way of obtaining fo natural and undeniable a privilege of Parliament, they would demand it with their fvvords in their hands. The Commiffioner, fore- feeing this Ipirit of freedom and contradiftion, had ordered the foot -guard to be in readinefs, and placed a ftrong guard upon the eaftern gate of the city. Notwithftanding thefe precautions, he ran the rifque of being torn in pieces ; and, in this ap- prehenfion, ordered the Chancellor to inform the Houfe, that the Parliament ffiould proceed upon overtures for liberty at their next fitting. This promife allayed the ferment which had begun to rife. Next day the members prepared an overture, implying, That the eleftive members ffiould be chofen for every feat at the Michaelmas head- courts: That a Parliament ffiould be held once in two years atleaft: That the ffiort adjournments de die in diem ffiould be made by the Parliaments themfelves, as in England ; and that no officer in the army, cuf- toms, or excife, nor any gratuitous penfioner, ffiould fit as an eledive member. The Commiffiioner being apprifed of their proceedings, called for fuch ads as he was empowered to pafs, and having given the royal affient to them, prorogued the Parliament to the twelfth day of Odober Such was the iffiue of this remarkable feffion of the Scottiffi Parliament, in * Though the Queen refufed to pnfs the a£l of fecurity, the Royal aflent was granted to an a<5l of limitation on the fuccefibr, in which it Was declared that no Kin^ or Queen of Scotland Ihiould have power to f ANNE. 497 in which the Duke of Queenfberry was abandoned CHAP, by the greateft part of the miniftry; and fuch a^ fpirit of ferocity and oppofition prevailed, as threat- ened the whole kingdom with civil war and con- fufion. The Queen conferred titles upon thofef who appeared to have influence in the nation, and attachment to her government, and revived the Or- der of the Thiflile, which the late king had dropped. § XXXIV. Ireland was filled with difcontent, by the behaviour and condufl of the truftees for the forfeited eftates. The Earl of Rochefter had con- tributed to foment the troubles of the kingdom, by encouraging the fadlions which had been imported from England. The Duke of Ormond was received with open arms, as heir to the virtues of his ancef- tors, who had been the bulwarks of the Proteftant interefi: in Ireland. He opened the Parliament on the twenty-firfl; day of September, with a fpeech to both Houfes, in Vv^hich he told them, that his inclination, his interefi:, and the examples of his progenitors, were indifpenfable obligations upon him, to improve every opportunity to the advan- tage and proiperity of his native country, i he Commons having chofen Allen Broderick to be their fpeaker, proceeded to draw up very alfedionate to make war or peace without confent of parliament. Another law was ena5fe(l, allowing French wines and other liquors to be imported in neutral bottoms ; Without this expedient, it wasalledged that the ^ revenue would hav^e been infufficient to maintain the gov’ernment. An a6f; palFed in favour of the company trading to Africa and the Indies; another for a commilfion concerning the publick accounts; a third for punifhing flanderous fpeeches and writings. The com- inifllon for treating of an union with England was vacated, vwth a prohibition to grant any other commiflion for that purpofe w'ithout confent of parliament ; and no fupply having been provided befoie the adjournment, the array and expence of government were main- tained upon credit. •f- The Marquis of Athol, and the Marquis of Douglas, though this lalf was a minor, were created dukes : Lord Tarbat wa^ inverted with the title of Earl of Cromarty ; the Vifeounts Stair and Rolei berry were promoted to the fame dignity. Lord Boyle w'as created Earl of Glafgovv ; James Stuart, of Bute, Earl of Bute; Charles Hope, of Hopetoun,Earl of Hopetoun ; John Crawfurd, of Kilbirnie, Vifcount Garnock; and Sir James Piimrofe, of Carrington, Vifcount Primr^e. VoL, L K k addrelies 49^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK addrefTes to the Queen and the Lord-lieutenant, ^ In that to the Queen they complained, that their 3703. enemies had mifreprefented them, as defirous of being independent of the crown of England : they, therefore, to vindicate themfelves from fuch falfe afperfions, declared and acknowledged, that the kingdom of Ireland was annexed and united to the imperial crown of England. In order to exprefs their hatred of the truftees, they refolved. That all the Protcilant freeholders of that kingdom had been falfiy and rnalicioufly milreprefented, traduced, and abufed, in a book intituled, “ The Report of the commiffioners appointed to enquire into the Irifh forfeitures d’ and it appearing that Francis An- nefley, member of the Eloufe, John Trenchafd, Henry Langford, and James Hamilton, were au- thors of that book, they further refolved. That thefe perfons had fcandaloufly and rnalicioufly mif- reprefented and traduced the Proteftant freeholders of that kingdom, and endeavoured to create a mif- underftanding and jealoufy between the people of England and the Proteftants of Ireland. Annefley v/as expelled the Houfe, Hamilton was dead, and Trenchard had returned to England. They had finiihed the enquiry before the meeting of this Par- liament ; and ibid, at an under value, the beft of the forfeited eftates to the Sword-blade company of England. This, in a petition to the Irifli parlia- ment, prayed that heads of a bill be brought in for enabling them to take conveyances of lands in Ireland : but the Parliament was very little difpofed to confirm the bargains of the truftees, and the petition lay negledted on the table. The Houfe expelled John Afgill, who, as agent to the Sword- blade company, had offered to lend money to the publick in Ireland, on condition that the Parliament would pafs an act to confirm the company's purchafe of the forfeited eftates. His conftituents difowned his propofal j and when he was fummoned to appear before ANNE* 49^ before the Houfe, and anfwer for his prevarication, chap he pleaded his privilege, as member of the Englilli , parliament. The Commons, in a reprefentation of ,703. the ftate and grievances of the nation, gave her Majefty to underftand, that the conftitution of Ire- land had been of late greatly fhaken; and their lives, liberties, and eftates, called in queftion, and tried in a manner unknown to their anceftors; that the expence to which they had been unneceflarily expofed by the late triiftees for the forfeited eftates, in defending their juft rights and .titles, had ex- ceeded in value the current cafh of the kingdom: that their trade was decayed, their money ex- haufted ; and that they were hindered from maintain- ing their own manufa6lures ; that many Proteftant families had been conftrained to quit the kingdom, in order to earn a livelihood in foreis-n countries : • ^ that the want of frequent parliaments in Ireland had encouraged evil-minded men to opprefs the fubjebt : that many civil officers had acquired great fortunes in that impoveriffied country, by the exercife of corruption and oppreffion: that others, in confide- rable employments, refided in another kingdom, neglebting perfonal attendance on their duty, while their offices were ill executed, to the detriment of the publick, and the failure of juftice. They de- clared, that it was from her Majefty’s gracious interpofition alone they propofed to themfelves relief from thofe their manifold grievances and mlf- fortunes. The Commons afterwards voted the ne- ceftary fupplies, and granted one hundred and fifty thoufand pounds to make good the deficiencies of the neceftary branches of the eftabliffiment. . § XXXV. They appointed a committee to in- fpeft the public accounts, by which they difcovered, that above one hundred thoufand pounds had been falfly charged as a debt upon the nation. The committee was thanked by the Houfe for having faved this fuin, ^od ordered to examine what perfons K k 2 I 500 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1703. B 0 0 K were concerned in fuch a mifreprefentation, whidi was generally imputed to thofe who a 61 :ed under the Duke of Ormond. He himfelf was a nobleman of honour and generofity, addidted to pleafure, and fond of popular applaufe : but he was furrounded by people of more fordid principles, who had in- gratiated themfelves into his confidence by the arts of adulation. The Commons voted a provifion for the half-pay officers ; and abolifhed penfions to the amount of feventeen thoufand pounds a year, as iin- neceffary branches of the eftabliffiment. They paffied an adt fettling the fucceffion of the crown, after the pattern fet them by England : but the molt impor- tant tranfadlion of this feffion was a fevere bill to prevent the growth of popery. It bore a flirong affinity to that which had pafled three years before in England ; but 'contained more effedlual claufes. Among others, it enadled. That all eftates of Pa- pills ffiould be equally divided among the children, notwithftanding any fettlement to the contrary, unlefs the perfons to whom they might be fettled fhould qualify themfelves by taking the oaths, and com- municating with the Church of England. The bill was not at all agreeable to the miniftry in England, who expedfed large prefents from the Papifts, by whom, a confiderable fum had been adtually raifed for this purpofe. But, as they did not think proper to rejedt fuch a bill while the Engliffi Parliament was fitting, they added a claufe which they hoped the Parliament of Ireland would refufe : namely, that no perfons in that kingdom fhould be capable of any employment, or of being in the magiftracy of any city, who did not qualify themfelves by re- ceiving the facrament, according to the Teft-adh paffied in England. Though this was certainly a great hardffiip on the Diffienters, the Parliament of Ireland facrificed this confideration to their common fecurity againft the Roman Catholicks, and accepted the amendment without hefitation. This affair be- ing / , A N N E. 501 ing difcuffed, the Commons of Ireland palTed a vote CHAP. againD: a book intituled, Memoirs of the late , -King James II.” as a feditious libel. They ordered 1703,. it to be burned by the hands of the comimon hang- man 3 and the bookfeller and printer to be profecu- ted. When this motion was made, a member in- formed the Houfe, that in the county of Limerick, the Irifh P aphis had begun to form themfelves into bodies, to plunder the Proteftants of their arms and money ; and to maintain a correfpondence with the difaffedled in England. The Houfe immicdiately refolved, That the Papills of the kingdom kill re- tained hopes of the acceffion of the perfon known by the name of the Prince of Wales in the life-time of the late King James, and now by the name of James HI. In the midftofthis zealagai nft Popery and the Pretender, they were fuddenly adjourned by the command of the Lord-Lieutenant, and broke up in great animofity againft that nobleman § XXXVI. The attention of the Englifli miniflry had been for fome time chiefly engroflTed by the affairs of the continent. The Emperor agreed with the allies, that his fon the Archduke Charles lliould aflumiC the title of King of Spain, demand the In- fanta of Portugal in marriage, and undertake fome- thing of importance, with the affiflance of the mari- time powers. Mr. Methuen, the Englifli minifler at Lifbon, had already made fome progrefs in a treaty with his Portuguefe Majefhy j and the Court of Vienna promifed to fend fuch an army into the field as would in a little time drive the Ele£lor of Bavaria from his dominions. But they were fo dila- tory in their preparations, that the French King broke all their meafures, by fending powerful rein- K k 3 forcemeats * They had, befides the bills already mentioned, paffed an a6l for an additional Excife on beer, ale, and other liquors: another en-. couraging the importation of iron and Haves : a third for preventing Popifli priefts from coming into the kingdom : a fourth fecuring the liberty of the fubjedl:, and for prevention of imprifonment beyond feas j and a fifth for naturalizing all Froteftant flrangers. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. forcements to the Eleftor, in whofe ability and at- tachment Louis repofed great confidence. Marefchal Villars, who commanded an army of thirty thoufand men at Strafbutgh, pafled the Rhine, and reduced fort Kehl, the garrifon of which was conduced to Philipfburgh. The Emperor, alarmed at this event, ordered Count Schlick to enter Bavaria on the fide of Saitfburg, with a confiderable body of forces ; and fent another under Count Stirum, fo invade the fame eleftorate by the way of Newmark, which was furrendered to him., after he had routed a party of Bavarians : the city of Amberg met with the fame fate. Mean while Count Schlick defeated a body of militia that defended the lines of Saitfburg, and made himfelf mafter of Riedt, and feveral other places. The Elector afiembiing his forces near Erenau, diffufed a report that he intended to befiege Paflau, to cover which place Schlick advanced with the greateft part of his infantry, leaving behind his cavalry and cannon. The Eledlor having by this feint divided the Imperialifts, pafTed the bridge of Scardingen with twelve thoufand men, and, after an obftinate engagement, compelled the Imperialifts to abandon the field of battle : then he marched againft the Saxon troops which guarded the artillery, and attacked them with fuch impetuofity, that they were entirely defeated. In a few days after thefe aftions, he took Newburgh on the Inn by ca- pitulation. He obtained another advantage over an advanced poll: of the Imperialifts near Burgen- feldt, commanded by the young Prince of Branden- burgh Anfpach, who was mortally wounded in the engagement. He advanced to Ratifbon, where the diet of the empire was aflembled, and demanded that he ftiould be immediately put in p'ofteflion of the bridge and gate of the city. The burghers imme- diately took to their arms, and planted cannon on the ramparts : but when they faw a battery eredted againft them, and the Eledlor determined to bom- bard ANNE. bard the place, they thought proper to capitulate, and comply with his demands. He took polTeffion of the town on the eighth day of April, and figned an inftrument obliging himfelf to withdraw his troops, as foon as the Emperor fliould ratify the diet’s refo~ lution for the neutrality of Ratifbon. Marefchal Villars having received orders to join the Elector at all events, and being reinforced by a body of troops under Count Tallard, refolved to break through the lines which the Prince of Baden had made at Stol- hofFen. This General had been luckily joined by eight- Dutch battalions, and received the Erench army, though double his number, with hich obfti- nate refolution, that Villars was obliged to retreat with great lofs, and directed his route towards Offin- gen. Neverthelefs, he penetrated through the Black P'oreft, and effected a junction with the Eleflor. Count Stinum endeavoured to join Prince Louis of Baden : but being attacked near Schwemmingen, retired under the cannon of Nortlingen. § XXXVII. PTe confederates were more fuccef - ful on the Lower Rhine and in the Netherlands. 'Phe Duke of Marlborough crolTed the fea in the beginning of April, and alfembling the allied army, refolved that the campaign Ihould be begun with the fiege of Bonne, which was accordingly invefted on the twenty-fourth day of April. Three different attacks were carried on againft this place ; one by the Hereditary Prince of Heffe-CaffeL another by the celebrated Coehorn ; and a third by Lieutenant- General PAgel. P he garrifon defended themfelves vigoroufly till the fourteenth day of May, when the fort having been taken by affault, and the breaches rendered prafticable, the Marquis d’Alegre, the governor, ordered a parley to be beat : hoftages were immediately exchanged : on the fixteenth the capitulation was figned ; and in three days the gar- rifon evacuated the place, in order to be condiidted to Luxemburgh. During the fiege of K k 4 Marefchals 504 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK Marefchals Boufflers atid V illeroy advanced with an ^ , j army of forty thoufand men towards Tongeren, and ' J703. the confederate army commanded by M. D’Auver- querque was obliged at their approach to retreat under the cannon of Maeftrich. The enemy having taken pofTeffion of Tongeren, made a motion againft the confederate army, which they found already drawn up in order of battle, and fo advantageoufly polled, that notwithllanding their great fuperiority in point of number, they would not hazard an at- tack j but retired to the ground from whence they had advanced. Immediately after the reduction of Bonne, the Duke of Marlborough, who had been prefent at the fiege, returned to the confederate army in the Netherlands, now amounting to one hundred and thirty fquadrons, and fifty-nine battalions. On the twenty-fifth day of May, the Duke having palTed the river Jecker, in order to give battle to the enemiy, they marched with precipitation to Boekwern, and abandoned Tongeren, after having blown up the walls of the place with gunpowder. The Duke con- tinued to follow them to Thys, wLere he encamped, while they retreated to Hannye, retiring as he ad- vanced. Then he refolved to force their lines : this fervice was effeftualiy performed by Coehorn, at the point .of Callo, and by Baron Spaar, in the county of Waes, near Stoken. The Duke had formed the defign of reducing Antwerp, which was garrifoned by Spanilh troops, under the command of the Mar- quis de Bed mar. He intended v/ith the grand army to attack the enemy's lines on the fide of Louvaine and Mechlin : he detached Coehorn v/ith his flying camp on the right of the Scheldt, towards Dutch Flanders, to amufe the Marquis de Bedmar on that fide ; and he ordered the Baron Opdam, with twelve thoufand men, to take poR between Eckeren and Capelle, near Antwerp, that he might act againft that part of the lines which was guarded by the Spa- nifli forces. § XXXVIIL / A N K E. 5^5 1703, § XXXVIII. The French Generals^ in order to c H a p. frufirate the fcheme of Marlborough, refolved to cut off the retreat of Opdam. Boufflers, with a de- tachment of twenty thoufand men from Villeroy’s army, furprized him at Eckeren, where the Dutch were put in diforder ; and Opdam, believing all was loft, fled to Breda. Neverthelefs, the troops ' rallying under General Schlangenburg, maintained their ground with the moft obftinate valour, till night, when the enemy was obliged to retire, and left the communication free with fort Lillo, to which place the confederates marched without further mo- leftation, having loft about fifteen hundred men in the engagement. The damage fuftained by the French was more confiderable. They were fruftrated in their defign, and had adtually abandoned the field, of battle : yet Louis ordered 2F Deum to be fung for the vidfory ; neverthelefs, Eoufflers was cenfured for his condudt on this occafion, and in a little time totally difgraced. Opdam prefented a juftification of his condudl; to the States-General : but by this overfight he forfeited the fruits of a long fervice, during which he had exhibited repeated proofs of courage, zeal, and capacity. The States honoured Schlangenburg with a letter of thanks for the valour and fkill he had manifefted in this engagement : but in a little time they difmifled him from his employ- ment, on account of his having' given umbrage to the Duke of Marlborough, by cenfuring his grace for expofing fuch a fmall number of men to this difafter. After this adtion, Villeroy, who lay en- camped near St. Job, declared he would wait for the Duke of Marlborough, who forthwith advanced to Hoogft-raat, with a view to give him battle : but, at his approach, the French General, fetting fire to his camp, retired within his lines with great preci- pitation. Then the Duke invefted Huy, the garri- fon of which, after a vigorous defence, furrendered themfelves prifoners of war, on the twenty-feventh day 5®6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK day of Aiigiift. At a council of war held in the ^ camp of the confederates, the Duke propofed to attack the enemy’s lines between the Mehajigne and Leuwe, and was feconded by the Danifh, Hanove- rian, and Heffian Generals : but the fcheme was oppofed by the Dutch officers, and the deputies of the States, who alledged that the fuccefs was dubi- ous, and the confequences of forcing the lines would be inconfiderable ; they, therefore, recommended the fiege of Limburg, by the redudliion of which they would acquire a whole province, and cover their own country, as well as Juliers and Gueldres, from the defigns of the enemy. The fiege of Lim.- burg was accordingly undertaken. I'he trenches were opened on the five-and-twentieth day of Sep- tember, and in two days the place was furrendered ; the garrifon remaining prifoners of war. By this conqueft the allies fecured the country of Leige, and the eledlorate of Cologn, from the incurfions of the enemy : before the end of the year, they re- mained mailers of the whole Spanifh Guelderland, by the redudlion of Gueldres, which furrendered on the feventeenth day of September, after having been long blockaded, bombarded, and reduced to a heap . of affies, by the Pruffian General, Lottum. Such was the campaign in the Netherlands, which in all probability would have produced events of greater importance, had not the Duke of Marlborough been reftridled by the deputies of the States-.General, who began to be influenced by the intrigues of the Lou- veftein fadlion, ever averfe to a Angle di6lator. § XXXIX. The French King redoubled his efforts in Germany. The Duke de Vendome was ordered to march from the Milanefe to Tyrol, and there join the Ele6lor of Bavaria, who had already made himfelf mafter of Infpruck. But the boors rifing in arms, drove him out of the country before he could be joined by the French General, who was, therefore, obliged to return to the Milanefe. The 3 Imperialids ANNE. 507 Imperialifts in Italy were fo ill fupplied by the court c H ap. of Vienna, that they could not pretend to a6t offen- . fively. The French invefted Oftiglia, which, how- ever, they, could not reduce : but the fortrefs of Barfillo, in the duchy of Reggio, capitulating after a long blockade, they took poffeffion of the Duke of Modena’s country. The Elebtor of Bavaria rejoin- ing Villars, refolved to attack Count Stirum, whom Prince Louis of Baden had detached from his army. With this vieW, they palled the Danube at Dona- wert, and difcharged fix guns, as a fignal for the Marquis D’Ulfon, whom they had left in the camp at Lavingen, to fall upon the rear of the Imperialifts, while they fhould charge them in front. Stirum no fooner perceived the fignal, than he guelTed the in- tention of the enemy, and infbantly refolved to at- tack ’D’DlTon before the Eleblor and the Marefchal Ihould advance. He, accordingly, charged him at the head of fome felebl fquadrons, with fuch impe- tuofity, that the French cavalry were totally defeat- ed ; and all the infantry would have been killed and taken, had not the Eleblor and Villars come up in time to turn the fate of the day. The ablion conti- nued from fix in the morning till four in the after- noon, when Stirum being overpowed by numbers, was obliged to retreat to Norlingen, with the lofs of twelve thoufand men, and all his baggage and artil- lery. In the mean time, the Duke of Burgundy, alfifted by Tallard, undertook the fiege of Old Bri- fac, with a prodigious train of artillery. The place was very ftrongly fortified, though the garrifon was fmall, and ill provided with necefifaries. In four- teen days, the Governor furrendered the place, and was condemned to lofe his head, for having made fuch a flender defence. The Duke of Burgundy returned in triumph to Verfailles, and Tallard was ordered to inveft Landau. The Prince of HefiTe- CafiTel being detached from the Netherlands, for the relief of the place, joined the Count of Nafiau-Weil- HISTORY OF ENGLAND. K bourg, General of the Palatine forces, near Spires, where they refolved to attack the French in their lines. But by this time Monf. Pracontal, with ten thoufand men, had joined Tallai'd, and enabled him to ftrike a ftroke which proved decifive. He fud- deniy quitted his lines, and furprized the Prince at Spirebach, where the French obtained a complete viftory, after a very obftinate and bloody engage- ment, in which the Prince of HelTe diftinguifhed himfelf by uncommon marks of courage and prefence of mind. Three horfes were FiccelTively killed un- der him, and he (lev/ a French officer with his own hand. After incredible efforts, he was fain to re- treat with the lofs of fome thoufands. The French paid dear for their vidory, Pracontal having been flain in the adion. Neverthelefs, they refumed the fiege, and the place was furrendered by capitulation. The campaign in Germany was finiffied with the redudion of Augfburg by the Eledor of Bavaria, who took it in the month of December, and agreed to its being fecured by a French garrifon. § XL. 1 he Emperor’s affairs at this jundure wore a very unpromifing afped. The Hungarians were fleeced, and barbaroufly oppreffcd, by thofe to whom he entruflied the government of their country. 'I hey derived courage from defpair. They feized this opportunity, when the Emperor’s forces were divided, and his councils diflraded, to exert them- felves in defence of their liberties. They ran to arms, under the auipices of Prince Ragotzki. They demanded that their grievances flaould be redreffed, and their privileges reflored. Their refentment was ' kept up by the emiffaries of France and Bavaria, who iikewife encouraged them to perfevere in their revolt, by repeated promifes of protedion and affif- tance. The Emperor’s profped, hov/ever, was foon mended, by two incidents of very great confequence to his intereff. The Duke of Savoy, forefeeing how much he fliould lie expofed to the mercy of the French ANNE. 509 French King, fnould that Monarch become mailer chap. of the Milanefe, engaged in a fecret negociation with the Emperor, which, notv/ithftanding all his *“*7703?^ caution, was difcovered by the Court of Verfailles. Louis immediately ordered the Duke ofV^endome to difarm the troops of Savoy that were in his army, to the number of two- and- twenty thoufand men : to infill upon the Duke's putting him in polTenion of four confiderable fortrelTes ; and demand that the number of his troops fliould be reduced to the ella- blifhment ftipulated in the treaty of 1696. The Duke, exafperated at thefe infults, ordered the French AmbalTador, and feveral officers of the fame nation, to be arrefted. Louis endeavoured to inti- midate him by a menacing letter, in which he gave him to underltand, that fince neither religion, ho- nour, interell, nor alliances, had been able to influ- ence his conduct, the Duke de Vendome Ihould make known the intentions of the French Monarch, and allow him four-and-twenty hours to deliberate on the meafures he fliould purfue. This letter was anfwered by a manifefto ; in the mean time, the Duke concluded a treaty with die Court of Vienna ; acknov/ledged the Archduke Charles as King or Spain ; and fent. Envoys to England and Holland . (^een Anne, knowing his importance, as well as his felfifli clifpofltion, alTured him of her friendfliip and affiflance ; and both flie and the States fent Ambafladors to Turin. He was immediately joined by a body of Imperial horfe under Vifeonti, and afterwards by Count Staremberg, at the head of fif- teen thoufand men, with whom that General marched from the Modenefe, in the worfl: feafon of the year, through an enemy’s country, and roads that were deemed impaffable. In vain the French forces har- raflfed him in his march, and even furrounded him^ in many different' places on the route : he furmounted all thefe difficulties with incredible courage and per- feverance, and joined the Duke of Savoy at Canelli, Sto HISTORY OF ENGLAND. B o o K fo as to fecure the country of Piedmont. The other , incident which proved fo favourable to the Imperial 1703. intereft, was a treaty by which the King of Portugal acceded to the grand alliance. His miniftry per- ceived, that fliould Spain be once united to the crown of France, their mailer would fit very infecure upon his throne. They were intimidated by the united fleets of the maritime powers, which main- tained the empire of the fea ; and they were allured by the fplendonr of a match between their Infanta and the Archduke Charles, to whom the Emperor and King of the Romans promifed to transfer all their pretenfions to the Spanifli crown. By this treaty, concluded at Liibon, between the Emperor, the Queen of Great-Britain, the King of Portugal, and the States- General, it was ilipulated. That King Charles fliould be conveyed to Portugal by a power- ful fleet, having on board twelve thoufand foldiers, with a great fupply of money, arms, and ammuni- tion ; and that he fhould be joined immediately upon his landing by an army of eight-and-twenty thoufand Portuguefe. § XLI. The confederates reaped very little ad- vantage from the naval operations of this fummer. Sir George Rooke cruifed in the channel, in order to alarm the coaft of France, and protedl the trade of England. On the firft day of July, Sir Clou- defly Shovel failed from St. Helen’s, with the com- bined fquadrons of England and Holland: he di- re6led his courfe to the Mediterranean, and being reduced to great difficulty by want of water, fleered to Altea, on the coafl of Valentia, where Brigadier Seymour landed, and encamped with five and- twenty hundred marines. The Admiral publiffied a fliort manifeflo, fignifying that he was not come to diflurb, but to protedl, the good fubjedls of Spain, who fhould fwear allegiance to their lawful monarch, the Archduke Charles, and endeavour to fl:iake off the yoke of France. This declaration produced ANNE*, produced Iltde or no effeft; and the fleet being watered. Sir Cloudefley failed to Leghorn. One defign of this armament was to affift the Cevennois, who had in the courfe of the preceding year been perfecuted into a revolt on account of religion, and implored the afliftance of England and the States- General. The Admiral detached two fhips into the gulf ofNarbonne, with fome refugees and French pilots, who had concerted fignals with the Ceven- nois; but the Marefchal de Montrevil having re- ceived intimation of their defign, took fiich mea- fures as prevented all communication; and the Englifli captains having repeated their fignals to no purpofe, rejoined Sir Cloudefley at Leghorn. This admiral, having renewed the peace with the piratical eftates of Barbary, returned to England, without having taken one effedual ftep for annoying the enemy, or attempted any thing that looked like the refult of a concerted fcheme for that purpofe. The nation naturally murmured at the fruitlefs expedi- tion, by which it had incurred fuch a confiderable expenfe. The merchants complained that they were ill fupplied with convoys. The fliips of war were vidlualled with damaged provifion ; and every article of the marine being mifmanaged, the blame fell upon thole who a6led as council to the lord high- admiral. § XL! I. Nor were the arms of England by lea much more fuccefsful in the Weft-Indies. Sir George Rooke, in the preceding year, had detached from the Mediterranean Captain Hovenden Walker, with fix fhips of the line and tranfports, having on board four regiments of foldiers, for the Leeward iflands. Being joined at Antigua by fome troops under Colonel Codrington, they made a defcent upon the ifland of Guadaloupe, w^here they rafed the fort, burned the town, ravaged the country, and re-embarked with precipitation, in confequence of a report that the French had landed nine hundred men 512 BOOK T. J703. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. men on the back of the ifland. They retired to Nevis, where they mufl have perifhed by famine^ had not they been providentially relieved by Vice- Admiral Gray don, in his way to Jamaica. This ofHcer had been fent out with three Ihips to fucceed Benbow, and was convoyed about one hundred and fifty leagues by two other Ihips of the line. He had not failed many days, when he fell in with part of the French fquadron, commanded by Du Caffe, on their return from fhe Weff-Indies, very foul, and richly laden. Captain Cleland, of the Mon- tagu, engaged the fternmofl: ; but he was called off by a fignai from the Admiral, who proceeded on his voyage, without taking further notice of the enemy. When he arrived at Jamaica, he quarrelled with the principal planters of the ifland ; and his lliips beginning to be crazy, he refolved to return to England. He, accordingly, failed through the gulf of Florida, v/ith a view to attack the French at Placentia, in Newfoundland: but his fhips were difperfed in a fog that lafled thirty days : and after- wards the council of war which he convoked were of opinion that he could not attack the fettlement with any proip' of fuccefs. Avt his return to England, the Hoafe of Lords, then fitting, fet on foot an enquiry into his condu6t. They prefented an addrefs to the Queen, defiring flie vmuld remove him from his employments ; and he was accordingly difmiffed. The only exploit that tended to diftrefs the enemy was performied by Rear-Admiral Dilkes, who, in the mionth of July, failed to the coaft of France with a fmall fquadron ; and, in the neigh- bourhood of Granville, took or deftroyed about forty fliips and their convoy. Yet this damage was inconfiderable, v/hen compared to that which the Englilh navy fuftained from the dreadful tempeft that began to blow on the twenty-feyenth day of Novemiber, accompanied with fuch fiaflies of light- ening, and peals of thunder, as overwhelmed the whole 'r ANNE.- ' whole kingdom with coniiernation. The houles in C hap. London lliook from their foundations, and fome of them falling, buried the inhabitants in their ruins. The water oversowed feveral ftreets, and rofe to a conliderable height in Wedminher-halL London- bndge was almofl^ clioaked up with the wrecks of veiTels that periflied in the river, The iofs fiiilained by the capital was computed at a million ilerling ; and the city of Briftol fufiered to a prodigious amount ; but the chief national damag-e fell upon the navy. Thirteen fhips ot war were iofi, together with fifteen hundred feamen, including; Rear-i-\dmi- ral Beaumont, who had been employed in oblerving the Dunkirk fquadron, and was then at anchor in the Downs, where his fhip foundered. This great lofs, however, was repaired with incredible diligence, to the aftonifhment of all Europe. The Queen im- mediately iffued orders for building a greater num- ber of flips than that which Iiad been deflroyed j and fne exercifed her bounty for the relief of the fliip-^ wrecked feamen, and the widows of thole who were drowned, in fuch a manner as endeared her to all her fubjebfs. § XLIII. The Emperor having declared his fe- cond fon Charles, King of Spain, that young Prince fet out from Vienna to Holland, and at Duireldorp was vihted by the Duke of Marlborough, who, in the name of his miflrefs, congratulated him upon his acceffion to the crown of Spain. Charles received him with the moft obliging courtefy. In the courfe of their converfation, taking off his Iword, he pre- fented it to the Englifli General, with a very gracious afpebf, faying, in the French language, “ I am not afhamed to own myfelf a poor Prince. I 'poffeis nothing but my cloak and fword the latter may be of ule to your Grace ; and I hope you will not think it the worfe for my wearing it one day.'* > On the contrary (replied the Duke) it will always VoL. L ' L I H I S 7' O R Y OK E N G L A N D. CC put me in mind of your Majefty's jufl right and ‘‘ title, and of the oblifrations 1 lie under to hazard my life in making yon the greateft Jdrince in Chriftendom.” This nobleman returned to Eng- land in October j and King Charles embarking for the fame kingdom, under convoy of an Englifii and Dutch fquadron, arrived at Spiihead on the twenty-fixth day of September. There he was re- ceived by the Dukes of Somerfet and Marlborough, w'ho condubled him to Windfor ; and on the road he was met by Prince George of Denmark. The Queen’s deportment tow^ards him was equally noble and obliging ; and he expreffed the moil profound refpect and veneration for this illufbrious Princefs. He fpoke but little ; yet wdiat he faid w^as judicious ; and he behaved with fuch politenefs and ahability as conciliated ' the affection of the Einglifli nobility; After having been magnificently entertained for three days, he returned to Portfmoiith, from wEence, on the fourth of January, he failed for Portugal, with a great fleet, comimanded by Sir George Rooke, ha- ving on boardi a body or land forces, under the Duke of S chon. berg. When the Admiral had al- mofi: reached Cape Finifterrc, he was driven back by a ftonm to Spithead, where he was obliged to re- main till the middle of February. Then being favoured with a fair wind, he happily performed the voyage toLifoon, where King Charles was received with great fplendour, though the Court of Portugal was overfpread with forrow, excited by the death of the Infanta, whom the King of Spain intended to cfpoufe. In Poland, all hope of peace feemed to vanifli. The Cardinal-Primate, by the inftigation of the Sw^ediili King, whofe army lay encamped in the neighbourhood of Dantzick, affembled a diet at Warfaw, wdiich folcmnly depofed Augukus, and declared the throne vacant. Their intention was to eledl young Sobiefld, fon of their late Mo- 3 narclg , A N N E. 515 narch, who refided at Bredaw, in Silefia: but their CH APi fchcme was anticipated by Auguftus, who retired ^ into his Saxon dominions, and feizing So- 1703. bieiki, with his brother, fecured them as prifoners at Drefden, END OF VOL. h 1 r via II ■'■V t •s *• • y- f %- ' • V r i 4 V ✓ i* ’ : in /■ -■ i ^ r / - / iT v.v ■,M-. • ■ T - >4 S' t •I4 K. \ ♦ ‘i ft V * V •N . *r. T ./ . ^ ^ i % I c. k^^ H V , , » * ■j / >- 4* •> .-V • iJKKy ' <^ 000 / 0^1