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Vol.II., by Tobias Smollett

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Title: The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II.
       From William and Mary to George II.

Author: Tobias Smollett

Release Date: September 8, 2006 [EBook #19217]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF ENGLAND ***




Produced by David Widger








THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND

Volume II.


BY DAVID HUME, ESQ.

1688



London: James S. Virtue, City Road and Ivy Lane
New York: 26 John Street
1860



In Three Volumes:

VOLUME ONE: The History Of England From The Invasion Of Julius Caesar To
The End Of The Reign Of James The Second............ By David Hume, Esq.

VOLUME TWO: Continued from the Reign of William and Mary to the Death of
George II........................................... by Tobias Smollett.

VOLUME THREE: From the Accession of George III. to the Twenty-Third Year
of the Reign of Queen Victoria............... by E. Farr and E.H. Nolan.




VOLUME TWO



CONTINUATION

OF

THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

BY TOBIAS SMOLLETT, M.D.


[Illustration: 2-frontis-marlborough.jpg FRONTISPIECE: MARLEBOROUGH]

[Illustration: titlepage11.jpg  TITLEPAGE: EXECUTION OF DUDLEY]




MAPS:

[Illustration: map5.jpg MAP OF INDIA]

[Illustration: map6.jpg MAP OF UNITED STATES]

[Illustration: map7.jpg MAP OF SCOTLAND]

[Illustration: map8.jpg MAP OF THE BALTIC]





CHAPTER I.

WILLIAM AND MARY.

     _State of the Nation immediately after the Revolution.....
     Account of the new Ministry..... The Convention converted
     into a Parliament..... Mutiny in the Army..... The
     Coronation, and abolition of Hearth-money..... The Commons
     vote a Sum of Money to indemnify the Dutch..... William's
     Efforts in Favour of the Dissenters..... Act for a
     Toleration..... Violent disputes about the Bill for a
     Comprehension..... The Commons address the King to summon a
     Convocation of the Clergy..... Settlement of the
     Revenue..... The King takes Umbrage at the Proceedings of
     the Whig-party..... Heats and Animosities about the Bill of
     Indemnity recommended by the King..... Birth of the Duke of
     Gloucester..... Affairs of the Continent..... War declared
     against France..... Proceedings in the Convention of
     Scotland, of which the Duke of Hamilton is chosen
     President..... Letters to the Convention from King William
     and King James..... They recognise the authority of King
     William..... They vote the Crown vacant, and pass an Act of
     settlement in favour of William and Mary..... They appoint
     Commissioners to make a Tender of the Crown to William, who
     receives it on the conditions they propose..... Enumeration
     of their Grievances..... The Convention is declared a
     Parliament, and the Duke of Hamilton King's
     Commissioner..... Prelacy abolished in that Kingdom..... The
     Scots dissatisfied with the King's Conduct..... Violent
     disputes in the Scotch Parliament..... which is
     adjourned..... A Remonstrance presented to the King--The
     Castle of Edinburgh besieged and taken-The Troops of King
     William defeated at Killycrankie..... King James cordially
     received by the French King..... Tyrconnel temporizes with
     King William..... James arrives in Ireland..... Issues five
     Proclamations at Dublin..... Siege of Londonderry..... The
     Inhabitants defend themselves with surprising Courage and
     Perseverance..... Cruelty of Rosene, the French General.....
     The Place is relieved by Kirke..... The Inniskilliners
     defeat and take General Maccarty..... Meeting of the Irish
     Parliament..... They repeal the Act of Settlement..... Pass
     an Act of Attainder against Absentees..... James coins base
     Money..... The Protestants of Ireland cruelly oppressed.....
     Their Churches are seized by the Catholics, and they are
     forbid to assemble on pain of Death..... Admiral Herbert
     worsted by the French Fleet in an Engagement near Ban-try-
     bay..... Divers Sentences and Attainders reversed in
     Parliament..... Inquiry into the Cause of Miscarriages in
     Ireland..... Bills passed in this Session of Parliament._




STATE OF THE NATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REVOLUTION.

{1689}

The constitution of England had now assumed a new aspect. The maxim
of hereditary indefeisible right was at length renounced by a free
parliament. The power of the crown was acknowledged to flow from no
other fountain than that of a contract with the people. Allegiance and
protection were declared reciprocal ties depending upon each other. The
representatives of the nation made a regular claim of rights in
behalf of their constituents; and William III. ascended the throne in
consequence of an express capitulation with the people. Yet, on this
occasion, the zeal of the parliament towards their deliverer seems to
have overshot their attachment to their own liberty and privileges: or
at least they neglected the fairest opportunity that ever occurred, to
retrench those prerogatives of the crown to which they imputed all the
late and former calamities of the kingdom. Their new monarch retained
the old regal power over parliaments in its full extent. He was left
at liberty to convoke, adjourn, prorogue, and dissolve them at
his pleasure. He was enabled to influence elections, and oppress
corporations. He possessed the right of choosing his own council; of
nominating all the great officers of the state, and of the household, of
the army, the navy, and the church. He reserved the absolute command
of the militia: so that lie remained master of all the instruments and
engines of corruption and violence, without any other restraint than his
own moderation, and prudent regard to the claim of rights, and principle
of resistance on which the revolution was founded. In a word, the
settlement was finished with some precipitation, before the plan had
been properly digested and matured; and this will be the case in every
establishment formed upon a sudden emergency in the face of opposition.
It was observed, that the king, who was made by the people, had it in
his power to rule without them; to govern _jure divino_ though he was
created _jure humano_: and that, though the change proceeded from a
republican spirit, the settlement was built upon tory maxims; for
the execution of his government continued still independent of his
commission, while his own person remained sacred and inviolable. The
prince of Orange had been invited to England by a coalition of parties,
united by a common sense of danger; but this tie was no sooner broken
than they flew asunder and each resumed its original bias. Their mutual
jealousy and rancour revived, and was heated by dispute into intemperate
zeal and enthusiasm. Those who at first acted from principles of
patriotism were insensibly warmed into partizans; and king William
soon found himself at the head of a faction. As he had been bred, a
Calvinist, and always expressed an abhorrence of spiritual persecution,
the presbyter-ians, and other protestant dissenters, considered him as
their peculiar protector, and entered into his interests with the most
zealous fervour and assiduity. For the same reasons the friends of
the church became jealous of his proceedings, and employed all their
influence, first in opposing his elevation to the throne, and afterwards
in thwarting his measures. Their party was espoused by all the friends
of the lineal succession; by the Roman catholics; by those who were
personally attached to the late king; and by such as were disgusted
by the conduct and personal deportment of William since his arrival
in England. They observed, That, contrary to his declaration, he
had plainly aspired to the crown; and treated his father-in-law with
insolence and rigour; that his army contained a number of foreign
papists, almost equal to that of the English Roman catholics whom James
had employed; that the reports so industriously circulated about the
birth of the prince of Wales, the treaty with France for enslaving
England, and the murder of the earl of Essex-reports countenanced by the
prince of Orange-now appeared to be without foundation; that the Dutch
troops remained in London, while the English forces were distributed in
remote quarters; that the prince declared the first should be kept about
his person, and the latter sent to Ireland; that the two houses out of
complaisance to William, had denied their late sovereign the justice of
being heard in his own defence; and that the Dutch had lately interfered
with the trade of London, which was already sensibly diminished. These
were the sources of discontent, swelled up by the resentment of some
noblemen and other individuals, disappointed in their hopes of profit
and preferment.





ACCOUNT OF THE NEW MINISTRY.

William began his reign with a proclamation, for confirming all
protestants in the offices which they enjoyed on the first day of
December; then he chose the members of his council, who were generally
staunch to his interest, except the archbishop of Canterbury and the
earl of Nottingham, and these were admitted in complaisance to the
church-party, which it was not thought adviseable to provoke. [001]
_[See note A, at the end of this Vol.]_ Nottingham and Shrewsbury were
appointed secretaries of state; the privy-seal was bestowed upon the
marquis of Halifax; the earl of Danby was created president of
the council. These two noblemen enjoyed a good share of the king's
confidence, and Nottingham was considerable as head of the church-party:
but the chief favourite was Bentinck, first commoner on the list of
privy-counsellors, as well as groom of the stole and privy purse.
D'Averquerque was made master of the horse, Zuylestein of the robes, and
Sehomberg of the ordnance: the treasury, admiralty, and chancery were
put in commission; twelve able judges were chosen;* and the diocese of
Salisbury being vacated by the death of Dr. Ward, the king of his own
free motion filled it with Burnet, who had been a zealous stickler for
his interest; and in a particular manner instrumental in effecting the
revolution. Sancroft, archbishop of Canterbury, refused to consecrate
this ecclesiastic, though the reasons of his refusal are not specified;
but, being afraid of incurring the penalties of a premunire, he granted
a commission to the bishop of London, and three other suffragans, to
perform that ceremony. Burnet was a prelate of some parts, and great
industry; moderate in his notions of church discipline, inquisitive,
meddling, vain, and credulous. In consequence of having incurred the
displeasure of the late king, he had retired to the continent and fixed
his residence in Holland, where he was naturalized, and attached himself
to the interest of the prince of Orange, who consulted him about the
affairs of England. He assisted in drawing up the prince's manifesto,
and wrote some other papers and pamphlets in defence of his design.
He was demanded of the States by the English ambassador as a British
fugitive, outlawed by king James, and excepted in the act of indemnity.
Nevertheless, he came over with William in quality of his chaplain; and,
by his intrigues, contributed in some measure to the success of that
expedition. The principal individuals that composed this ministry have
been characterized in the history of the preceding reigns. We have had
occasion to mention the fine talents, the vivacity, the flexibility of
Halifax; the plausibility, the enterprising genius, the obstinacy of
Danby; the pompous eloquence, the warmth, and ostentation of Nottingham;
the probity and popularity of Shrewsbury. Godolphin, now brought into
the treasury, was modest, silent, sagacious, and upright. Mordaunt,
appointed first commissioner of that board, and afterwards created earl
of Monmouth, was open, generous, and a republican in his principles.
Delamere, chancellor of the exchequer, promoted in the sequel to the
rank of earl of Warrington, was close and mercenary. Obsequiousness,
fidelity, and attachment to his master, composed the character of
Bentinck, whom the king raised to the dignity of earl of Portland. The
English favourite, Sidney, was a man of wit and pleasure, possessed of
the most engaging talents for conversation and private friendship, but
rendered unfit for public business by indolence and inattention. He
was ennobled, and afterwards created earl of Romney; a title which he
enjoyed with several successive posts of profit and importance. The
stream of honour and preferment ran strong in favour of the whigs, and
this appearance of partiality confirmed the suspicion and resentment of
the opposite party.

     * Sir John Holt was appointed lord chief justice of the king's
          bench, and Sir Henry Pollexfen of the common pleas: the
          earl of Devonshire was made lord steward of the
          household, and the earl of Dorset lord
          chamberlain.--_Ralph._

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




THE CONVENTION CONVERTED INTO A PARLIAMENT.

The first resolution taken in the new council was to convert the
convention into a parliament, that the new settlement might be
strengthened by a legal sanction, which was now supposed to be wanting,
as the assembly had not been convoked by the king's writ of summons.
The experiment of a new election was deemed too hazardous; therefore the
council determined that the king should, by virtue of his own authority,
change the convention into a parliament, by going to the house of peers
with the usual state of a sovereign, and pronouncing a speech from the
throne to both houses. This expedient was accordingly practised. [002]
_[See note B, at the end of this Vol.]_ He assured them he should never
take any step that would diminish the good opinion they had conceived
of his integrity. He told them that Holland was in such a situation as
required their immediate attention and assistance; that the posture of
affairs at home likewise demanded their serious consideration; that
a good settlement was necessary, not only for the establishment of
domestic peace, but also for the support of the protestant interest
abroad: that the affairs of Ireland were too critically situated to
admit the least delay in their deliberations; he therefore begged they
would be speedy and effectual in concerting such measures as should
be judged indispensably necessary for the welfare of the nation. The
commons returning to their house, immediately passed a vote of thanks
to his majesty, and made an order that his speech should be taken into
consideration. After the throne had been declared vacant by a small
majority of the peers, those who opposed that measure had gradually
withdrawn themselves from the house, so that very few remained but such
as were devoted to the new monarch. These therefore brought in a bill
for preventing all disputes concerning the present parliament. In the
meantime, Mr. Hambden, in the lower house, put the question, Whether
a king elected by the lords spiritual and temporal, and the commons
assembled at Westminster, | coming to and consulting with the said lords
and commons, did not make as complete a parliament and legislative
power and authority as if the said king should cause new elections to
be made by writ? Many members affirmed that the king's writ was as
necessary as his presence to the being of a legal parliament, and as the
convention was defective in this particular, it could not be vested
with a parliamentary authority by any management whatsoever. The whigs
replied, That the essence of a parliament consisted in the meeting
and co-operation of the king, lords, and commons; and that it was not
material whether they were convoked by writ or by letter: they proved
this assertion by examples deduced from the history of England: they
observed that a new election would be attended with great trouble,
expense, and loss of time; and that such delay might prove fatal to
the protestant interest in Ireland, as well as to the allies on the
continent. In the midst of this debate the bill was brought down from
the lords, and being read, a committee was appointed to make some
amendments. These were no sooner made than the commons sent it back to
the upper house, and it immediately received the royal assent. By this
act the lords and commons assembled at Westminster were declared the two
houses of parliament to all intents and purposes: it likewise ordained,
That the present act, and all other acts to which the royal assent
should be given before the next prorogation, should be understood and
adjudged in law to begin on the thirteenth day of February: that the
members, instead of the old oaths of allegiance and supremacy, should
take the new oath incorporated in this act under the ancient penalty;
and that the present parliament should be dissolved in the usual manner.
Immediately after this transaction a warm debate arose in the house of
commons about the revenue, which the courtiers alleged had devolved with
the crown upon William, at least during the life of James, for which
term the greater part of it had been granted. The members in the
opposition affirmed that these grants were vacated with the throne; and
at length it was voted, That the revenue had expired. Then a motion was
made, That a revenue should be settled on the king and queen; and
the house resolved it should be taken into consideration. While they
deliberated on this affair they received a message from his majesty,
importing that the late king had set sail from Brest with an armament to
invade Ireland. They forthwith resolved to assist his majesty with
their lives and fortunes; they voted a temporary aid of four hundred and
twenty thousand pounds, to be levied by monthly assessments, and both
houses waited on the king to signify this resolution. But this unanimity
did not take place till several lords spiritual as well as temporal had,
rather than take the oaths, absented themselves from parliament. The
nonjuring prelates were Sancroft, archbishop of Canterbury; Turner,
bishop of Ely; Lake, of Chichester; Ken, of Bath and Wells; White, of
Peterborough; Lloyd, of Norwich; Thomas, of Worcester; and Frampton,
of Gloucester. The temporal peers who refused the oath were the duke
of Newcastle; the earls of Clarendon, Litchfield, Exeter, Yarmouth, and
Stafford; the lords Griffin and Stawel. Five of the bishops withdrew
themselves from the house at one time; but before they retired one of
the number moved for a bill of toleration, and another of comprehension,
by which moderate dissenters might be reconciled to the church, and
admitted into ecclesiastical benefices. Such bills were actually
prepared and presented by the earl of Nottingham, who received the
thanks of the house for the pains he had taken. From this period the
party averse to the government of William were distinguished by the
appellation of Nonjurors. They rejected the notion of a king _de facto_,
as well as all other distinctions and limitations; and declared for the
absolute power and divine hereditary indefeisible right of sovereigns.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




MUTINY IN THE ARMY.

This faction had already begun to practise against the new government.
The king having received some intimation of their designs from
intercepted letters, ordered the earl of Arran, sir Robert Hamilton, and
some other gentlemen of the Scottish nation, to be apprehended and sent
prisoners to the Tower. Then he informed the two houses of the step he
had taken, and even craved their advice with regard to his conduct in
such a delicate affair which had compelled him to trespass upon the
law of England. The lords thanked him for the care he took of their
liberties, and desired he would secure all disturbers of the peace: but
the commons empowered him by a bill to dispense with the _habeas-corpus_
act till the seventeenth day of April next ensuing. This was a stretch
of confidence in the crown which had not been made in favour of the late
king, even while Argyle and Monmouth were in open rebellion. A spirit of
discontent had by this time diffused itself through the army, and become
so formidable to the court, that the king resolved to retain the Dutch
troops in England and send over to Holland in their room such regiments
as were most tinctured with disaffection. Of these the Scottish regiment
of Dumbarton, commanded by mareschal Schomberg, mutinied on its march
to Ipswich, seized the military chest, disarmed the officers who opposed
their design, declared for king James, and with four pieces of cannon
began their march for Scotland. William, being informed of this revolt,
ordered general Ginckel to pursue them with three regiments of
Dutch dragoons, and the mutineers surrendered at discretion. As the
delinquents were natives of Scotland, which had not yet submitted in
form to the new government, the king did not think proper to punish
them as rebels, but ordered them to proceed for Holland according to his
first intention. Though this attempt proved abortive, it made a strong
impression upon the ministry, who were divided among themselves and
wavered in their principles. However, they used this opportunity to
bring in a bill for punishing mutiny and desertion, which in a little
time passed both houses and received the royal assent.




CORONATION--ABOLITION OF HEARTH-MONEY.

The coronation oath [003] _[See note C, at the end of this Vol.]_ being
altered and explained, that ceremony was performed on the eleventh day
of April, the bishop of London officiating, at the king's desire, in the
room of the metropolitan, who was a malcontent; and next day the commons
in a body waited on the king and queen at Whitehall, with an address of
congratulation. William, with a view to conciliate the affections of his
new subjects, and check the progress of clamour and discontent,
signified in a solemn message to the house of commons, his readiness to
acquiesce in any measure they should think proper to take for a new
regulation or total suppression of the hearth-money, which he understood
was a grievous imposition on his subjects; and this tax was afterwards
abolished. He was gratified with an address of thanks, couched in the
warmest expressions of duty, gratitude, and affection, declaring they
would take such measures in support of his crown, as would convince the
world that he reigned in the hearts of his people.




THE COMMONS VOTE MONEY TO INDEMNIFY THE DUTCH.

He had, in his answer to their former address, assured them of his
constant regard to the rights and prosperity of the nation: he had
explained the exhausted state of the Dutch; expatiated upon the zeal of
that republic for the interests of Britain, as well as the maintenance
of the protestant religion; and expressed his hope that the English
parliament would not only repay the sums they had expended in his
expedition, but likewise further support them to the utmost of their
ability against the common enemies of their liberties and religion. He
had observed that a considerable army and fleet would be necessary for
the reduction of Ireland and the protection of Britain, and he desired
they would settle the revenue in such a manner that it might be
collected without difficulty and dispute. The sum total of the money
expended by the states-general in William's expedition amounted to
seven millions of guilders, and the commons granted six hundred thousand
pounds for the discharge of this debt, incurred for the preservation of
their rights and religion. They voted funds for raising and maintaining
an army of two-and-twenty thousand men, as well as for equipping
a numerous fleet: but they provided for no more than half a year's
subsistence of the troops, hoping the reduction of Ireland might
be finished in that term; and this instance of frugality the king
considered as a mark of their diffidence of his administration. The
whigs were resolved to supply him gradually, that he might be the more
dependent upon their zeal and attachment; but he was not at all pleased
with their precaution.




WILLIAM'S EFFORTS IN FAVOUR OF DISSENTEES.

William was naturally biassed to Calvinism, and averse to persecution.
Whatever promises he had made, and whatever sentiments of respect he had
entertained for the church of England, he seemed now in a great measure
alienated from it by the opposition he had met with from its members,
particularly from the bishops who had thwarted his measures. By
absenting themselves from parliament, and refusing the oath, they had
plainly disowned his title and renounced his government. He therefore
resolved to mortify the church, and gratify his own friends at the
same time, by removing the obstacles affixed to nonconformity, that
all protestant dissenters should be rendered capable of enjoying and
exercising civil employments. When he gave his assent to the bill for
suspending the _habeas-corpus_ act, he recommended the establishment of
a new oath in lieu of those of allegiance and supremacy: he expressed
his hope that they would leave room for the admission of all his
protestant subjects who should be found qualified for the service;
he said, such a conjunction would unite them the more firmly among
themselves, and strengthen them against their common adversaries.
In consequence of this hint, a clause was inserted in the bill
for abrogating the old and appointing the new oaths, by which the
sacramental test was declared unnecessary in rendering any person
capable of enjoying any office or employment. It was, however, rejected
by a great majority in the house of lords. Another clause for the
same purpose, though in different terms, was proposed by the king's
direction, and met with the same fate, though in both cases several
noblemen entered a protest against the resolution of the house. These
fruitless efforts in favour of dissenters augmented the prejudice of the
churchmen against king William, who would have willingly compromised
the difference by excusing the clergy from the oaths, provided the
dissenters might be exempted from the sacramental test: but this was
deemed the chief bulwark of the church, and therefore the proposal was
rejected. The church party in the house of lords moved, That instead
of inserting a clause obliging the clergy to take the oaths, the king
should be empowered to tender them; and, in case of their refusal, they
should incur the penalty, because deprivation, or the apprehensions of
it, might make them desperate and excite them to form designs against
the government. This argument had no weight with the commons, who
thought it was indispensably necessary to exact the oaths of the clergy,
as their example influenced the kingdom in general, and the youth of
the nation were formed under their instructions. After a long and
warm debate, all the mitigation that could be obtained was a clause
empowering the king to indulge any twelve clergymen, deprived by virtue
of this act, with a third part of their benefices during pleasure.
Thus the ancient oaths of allegiance and supremacy were abrogated: the
declaration of non-resistance in the act of uniformity was repealed: the
new oath of allegiance was reduced to its primitive simplicity, and the
coronation-oath rendered more explicit. The clergy were enjoined to take
the new oaths before the first day of August, on pain of being suspended
from their office for six months, and of entire deprivation, in case
they should not take them before the expiration of this term. They
generally complied, though with such reservations and distinctions as
were not much for the honour of their sincerity.




ACT FOR A TOLERATION.

The king, though baffled in his design against the sacramental test,
resolved to indulge the dissenters with a toleration; and a bill for
this purpose being prepared by the earl of Nottingham, was, after some
debate, passed into a law, under the title of an act for exempting their
majesties' protestant subjects, dissenting from the church of England,
from the penalties of certain laws. It enacted, That none of the penal
laws should be construed to extend to those dissenters who should take
the oaths to the present government, and subscribe the declaration of
the thirtieth year of the reign of Charles II. provided that they should
hold no private assemblies or conventicles with the doors shut; that
nothing should be construed to exempt them from the payment of tithes or
other parochial duties: that, in case of being chosen into the office
of constable, churchwarden, overseer, &c. and of scrupling to take the
oaths annexed to such offices, they should be allowed to execute the
employment by deputy: that the preachers and teachers in congregations
of dissenting protestants who should take the oaths, subscribe the
declaration, together with all the articles of religion, except
the thirty-fourth and the two succeeding articles, and part of the
twentieth, should be exempted from the penalties decreed against
non-conformists, as well as from serving upon juries, or acting in
parish offices: yet all justices of the peace were empowered to require
such dissenters to subscribe the declaration and take the oaths; and, in
case of refusal, to commit them to prison without bail or mainprize.
The same indulgence was extended to anabaptists, and even to quakers,
on their solemn promise before God to be faithful to the king and queen,
and their assenting by profession and asseveration to those articles
which the others ratified upon oath: they were likewise required to
profess their belief in the Trinity and the Holy Scriptures. Even the
papists felt the benign influence of William's moderation in spiritual
matters: he rejected the proposal of some zealots, who exhorted him to
enact severe laws against popish recusants. Such a measure, he observed,
would alienate all the papists of Europe from the interests of England,
and might produce a new Catholic league which would render the war
a religious quarrel; besides, he would not pretend to screen the
protestants of Germany and Hungary, while he himself should persecute
the Catholics of England. He therefore resolved to treat them with
lenity; and though they were not comprehended in the act, they enjoyed
the benefit of the toleration.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




VIOLENT DISPUTES ABOUT THE BILL FOR A COMPREHENSION.

We have observed that, in consequence of the motion made by the bishops
when they withdrew from parliament, a bill was brought into the house
of lords for uniting their majesties' protestant subjects. This was
extremely agreeable to the king, who had the scheme of comprehension
very much at heart. In the progress of the bill a warm debate arose
about the posture of kneeling at the sacrament, which was given up
in favour of the dissenters. Another no less violent ensued upon the
subsequent question, "Whether there should be an addition of laity in
the commission to be given by the king to the bishops and others of the
clergy, for preparing such a reformation of ecclesiastical affairs as
might be the means of healing divisions, and correcting whatever might
be erroneous or defective in the constitution." A great number of
the temporal lords insisted warmly on this addition, and when it was
rejected four peers entered a formal protest. Bishop Burnet was a
warm stickler for the exclusion of the laity; and, in all probability,
manifested this warmth in hopes of ingratiating himself with his
brethren, among whom his character was very far from being popular. But
the merit of this sacrifice was destroyed by the arguments he had used
for dispensing with the posture of kneeling at the sacrament; and by his
proposing in another proviso of the bill, that the subscribers, instead
of expressing assent or consent, should only submit with a promise of
conformity.




THE COMMONS ADDRESS THE KING TO SUMMON A CONVOCATION.

The bill was with difficulty passed in the house of lords, but the
commons treated it with neglect. By this time a great number of
malcontent members, who had retired from parliament, were returned with
a view to thwart the administration, though they could not prevent
the settlement. Instead of proceeding with the bill they presented
an address to the king, thanking him for his gracious declaration and
repeated assurances that he would maintain the church of England as by
law established; a church whose doctrine and practice had evinced its
loyalty beyond all contradiction. They likewise humbly besought his
majesty to issue writs for calling a convocation of the clergy, to be
consulted in ecclesiastical matters according to the ancient usage
of parliaments; and they declared they would forthwith take into
consideration proper methods for giving ease to protestant dissenters.
Though the king was displeased at this address, in which the lords also
had concurred, he returned a civil answer by the mouth of the earl
of Nottingham, professing his regard for the church of England, which
should always be his peculiar care, recommending the dissenters to their
protection, and promising to summon a convocation as soon as such a
measure should be convenient. This message produced no effect in favour
of the bill which lay neglected on the table. Those who moved for it
had no other view than that of displaying their moderation: and now they
excited their friends to oppose it with all their interest. Others were
afraid of espousing it lost they should be stigmatized as enemies to the
church; and a great number of the most eminent presbyterians wore
averse to a scheme of comprehension, which diminished their strength and
weakened the importance of the party. Being therefore violently opposed
on one hand, and but faintly supported on the other, no wonder it
miscarried. The king however was so bent upon the execution of his
design, that it was next session revived in another form though with no
better success.




SETTLEMENT OF THE REVENUE.

The next object that engrossed the attention of the parliament was the
settlement of a revenue for the support of the government. Hitherto
there had been no distinction of what was allotted for the king's
use, and what was assigned for the service of the public; so that the
sovereign was entirely master of the whole supply. As the revenue in the
late reigns had been often embezzled and misapplied, it was now resolved
that a certain sum should be set apart for the maintenance of the king's
household and the support of his dignity; and that the rest of the
public money should be employed under the inspection of parliament.
Accordingly, since this period, the commons have appropriated the
yearly supplies to certain specified services; and an account of the
application has been constantly submitted to both houses at the next
session. At this juncture the prevailing party, or the whigs, determined
that the revenue should be granted from year to year, or at least for a
small term of years; that the king might find himself dependent upon
the parliament, and merit the renewal of the grant by a just and popular
administration. In pursuance of this maxim, when the revenue fell under
consideration, they, under pretence of charges and anticipations which
they had not time to examine, granted it by a provisional act for one
year only. The civil list was settled at six hundred thousand pounds,
chargeable with the appointments of the queen dowager, the prince and
princess of Denmark, the judges, and mareschal Schomberg, to whom
the parliament had already granted one hundred thousand pounds, in
consideration of his important services to the nation. The commons also
voted that a constant revenue of twelve hundred thousand pounds should
be established for the support of the crown in time of peace.




THE KING TAKES UMBRAGE AT THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE WHIG PARTY.

The king took umbrage at these restraints laid upon the application of
the public money, which were the most salutary fruits of the revolution.
He considered them as marks of diffidence by which he was distinguished
from his predecessors; and thought them an ungrateful return for the
services he had done the nation. The tories perceived his disgust, and
did not fail to foment his jealousy against their adversaries, which
was confirmed by a fresh effort of the whigs in relation to a militia.
A bill was brought into the house for regulating it in such a manner as
would have rendered it in a great measure independent both of the king
and the lords-lieutenants of counties. These being generally peers,
the bill was suffered to lie neglected on the table, but the attempt
confirmed the suspicion of the king, who began to think himself in
danger of being enslaved by a republican party. The tories had, by the
channel of Nottingham, made proffers of service to his majesty; but
complained at the same time that as they were in danger of being
prosecuted for their lives and fortunes, they could not, without an act
of indemnity, exert themselves in favour of the crown, lest they should
incur a persecution from their implacable enemies.




HEATS AND ANIMOSITIES ABOUT THE BILL OF INDEMNITY.

These remonstrances made such an impression on the king, that he sent a
message to the house by Mr. Hambden, recommending a bill of indemnity
as the most effectual means for putting an end to all controversies,
distinctions, and occasions of discord. He desired it might be prepared
with all convenient expedition, and with such exceptions only as should
seem necessary for the vindication of public justice, the safety of
him and his consort, and the settlement and welfare of the nation. An
address of thanks to his majesty was unanimously voted. Nevertheless,
his design was frustrated by the backwardness of the whigs, who
proceeded so slowly on the bill that it could not be brought to maturity
before the end of the session. They wanted to keep the scourge over the
heads of their enemies until they should find a proper opportunity for
revenge; and, in the meantime, restrain them from opposition by the
terror of impending vengeance. They affected to insinuate that the
king's design was to raise the prerogative as high as it had been in
the preceding reigns; and that he for this purpose pressed an act of
indemnity, by virtue of which he might legally use the instruments of
the late tyranny. The earls of Monmouth and Warrington industrously
infused these jealousies into the minds of their party: on the other
hand, the earl of Nottingham inflamed William's distrust of his old
friends: both sides succeeded in kindling an animosity, which had like
to have produced confusion, notwithstanding the endeavours used by the
earls of Shrewsbury and Devonshire, to allay those heats and remove the
suspicions that mutually prevailed.




BIRTH OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.

It was now judged expedient to pass an act for settling the succession
of the crown according to the former resolution of the convention. A
bill for this purpose was brought into the lower house, with a clause
disabling papists from succeeding to the throne: to this the lords
added, "Or such as should marry papists," absolving the subject in that
case from allegiance, The bishop of Salisbury, by the king's direction,
proposed that the princess Sophia, duchess of Hanover, and her
posterity, should be nominated in the act of succession as the next
protestant heirs, failing issue of the king and Anne princess of
Denmark. These amendments gave rise to warm debates in the lower house,
where they were vigorously opposed, not only by those who wished well in
secret to the late king and the lineal succession, but likewise by the
republican party, who hoped to see monarchy altogether extinguished in
England by the death of the three persons already named in the bill
of succession. The lords insisted upon their amendments, and several
fruitless conferences were held between the two houses. At length the
bill was dropt for the present in consequence of an event which in a
great measure dissipated the fears of a popish successor. This was the
delivery of the princess Anne, who, on the twenty-seventh day of July,
brought forth a son, christened by the name of William, and afterwards
created duke of Gloucester.




AFFAIRS OF THE CONTINENT.

In the midst of these domestic disputes, William did not neglect the
affairs of the continent. He retained all his former influence in
Holland, as his countrymen had reason to confide in his repeated
assurances of inviolable affection. The great scheme which he had
projected of a confederacy against France began at this period to
take effect. The princes of the empire assembled in the diet, solemnly
exhorted the emperor to declare war against the French king, who had
committed numberless infractions of the treaties of Munster, Osnabruck,
Nimeguen, and the truce, invaded their country without provocation,
and evinced himself an inveterate enemy of the holy Roman empire. They
therefore besought his imperial majesty to conclude a treaty of peace
with the Turks, who had offered advantageous terms, and proceed to an
open rupture with Louis, in which case they would consider it as a war
of the empire, and support their head in the most effectual manner. The
states-general published a declaration against the common enemy, taxing
him with manifold infractions of the treaty of commerce; with having
involved the subjects of the republic in the persecution which he had
raised against the protestants; with having cajoled and insulted them
with deceitful promises and insolent threats; with having plundered and
oppressed the Dutch merchants and traders in France; and, finally, with
having declared war against the states without any plausible reason
assigned. The elector of Brandenburg denounced war against France as
a power whose perfidy, cruelty, and ambition, it was the duty of every
prince to oppose. The marquis de Castanaga, governor of the Spanish
Netherlands, issued a counter declaration to that of Louis, who had
declared against his master. He accused the French king of having laid
waste the empire, without any regard to the obligations of religion and
humanity, or even to the laws of war; of having countenanced the most
barbarous acts of cruelty and oppression; and of having intrigued with
the enemies of Christ for the destruction of the empire. The emperor
negotiated an alliance offensive and defensive with the states-general,
binding the contracting parties to co-operate with their whole power
against France and her allies. It was stipulated that neither side
should engage in a separate treaty on any pretence whatsoever; that no
peace should be admitted until the treaties of Westphalia, Osnabruck,
Minister, and the Pyrenees, should have been vindicated; that, in case
of a negotiation for a peace or truce, the transactions on both sides
should be communicated _bona fide_; and that Spain and England should be
invited to accede to the treaty. In a separate article, the contracting
powers agreed, that, in case of the Spanish king's dying without issue,
the states-general should assist the emperor with all their forces to
take possession of that monarchy: that they should use their friendly
endeavours with the princes electors, their allies, towards elevating
his son Joseph to the dignity of king of the Romans, and employ their
utmost force against France should she attempt to oppose his elevation.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




WAR DECLARED AGAINST FRANCE.

William, who was the soul of this confederacy, found no difficulty in
persuading the English to undertake a war against their old enemies and
rivals. On the sixteenth day of April, Mr. Hambden made a motion for
taking into consideration the state of the kingdom with respect to
France, and foreign alliances; and the commons unanimously resolved,
that, in case his majesty should think fit to engage in a war with
France, they would, in a parliamentary way, enable him to carry it on
with vigour. An address was immediately drawn up and presented to the
king, desiring that he would seriously consider the destructive methods
taken of late years by the French king against the trade, quiet, and
interest of the nation, particularly his present invasion of Ireland,
and supporting the rebels in that kingdom. They did not doubt but the
alliances already made, and those that might hereafter be concluded by
his majesty, would be sufficient to reduce the French king to such a
condition, that it should not be in his power to violate the peace of
Christendom, nor prejudice the trade and prosperity of England; in the
mean time they assured his majesty he might depend upon the assistance
of his parliament, according to the vote which had passed in the house
of commons. This was a welcome address to king William. He assured them
that no part of the supplies which they might grant for the prosecution
of the war should be misapplied; and, on the seventh day of May, he
declared war against the French monarch. On this occasion, Louis was
charged with having ambitiously invaded the territories of the emperor,
and denounced war against the allies of England, in violation of the
treaties confirmed under the guarantee of the English crown; with
having encroached upon the fishery of Newfoundland, invaded the Caribbee
Islands, taken forcible possession of New-York and Hudson's-bay, made
depredations on the English at sea, prohibited the importation of
English manufactures, disputed the right of the flag, persecuted many
English subjects on account of religion, contrary to express treaties
and the law of nations, and sent an armament to Ireland, in support of
the rebels of that kingdom.




PROCEEDINGS IN THE CONVENTION.

Having thus described the progress of the revolution in England, we
shall now briefly explain the measures that were prosecuted in Scotland,
towards the establishment of William on the throne of that kingdom. The
meeting of the Scottish convention was fixed for the fourteenth day of
March; and both parties employed all their interest to influence the
election of members. The duke of Hamilton, and all the presbyterians,
declared for William. The duke of Gordon maintained the castle of
Edinburgh for his old master; but, as he had neglected to lay in a store
of provisions, he depended entirely upon the citizens for subsistence.
The partisans of James were headed by the earl of Balcarras, and Graham
viscount Dundee, who employed their endeavours to preserve union among
the individuals of their party; to confirm the duke of Gordon, who
began to waver in his attachment to their sovereign; and to manage their
intrigues in such a manner as to derive some advantage to their cause
from the transactions of the ensuing session. When the lords and commons
assembled at Edinburgh, the bishop of that diocese, who officiated as
chaplain to the convention, prayed for the restoration of king James.
The first dispute turned upon the choice of a president. The friends of
the late king set up the marquis of Athol in opposition to the duke of
Hamilton; but this last was elected by a considerable majority; and
a good number of the other party, finding their cause the weakest,
deserted it from that moment. The earls of Lothian and Tweedale were
sent as deputies, to require the duke of Gordon, in the name of the
estates, to quit the castle in four-and-twenty hours, and leave the
charge of it to the protestant officer next in command. The duke, though
in himself irresolute, was animated by Dundee to demand such conditions
as the convention would not grant. The negociation proving ineffectual,
the states ordered the heralds, in all their formalities, to summon him
to surrender the castle immediately, on pain of incurring the penalties
of high treason; and he refusing to obey their mandate, was proclaimed
a traitor. All persons were forbid, under the same penalties, to aid,
succour, or correspond with him; and the castle was blocked up with the
troops of the city.




LETTERS TO THE CONVENTION FROM KING WILLIAM AND KING JAMES.

Next day an express arrived from London, with a letter from king William
to the estates; and, at the same time, another from James was presented
by one Crane, an English domestic of the abdicated queen. William
observed that he had called a meeting of their estates at the desire of
the nobility and gentry of Scotland assembled at London, who requested
that he would take upon himself the administration of their affairs. He
exhorted them to concert measures for settling the peace of the kingdom
upon a solid foundation; and to lay aside animosities and factions,
which served only to impede that salutary settlement. He professed
himself sensible of the good effects that would arise from an union of
the two kingdoms; and assured them he would use his best endeavours
to promote such a coalition. A committee being appointed to draw up a
respectful answer to these assurances, a debate ensued about the letter
from the late king James. This they resolved to favour with a reading,
after the members should have subscribed an act, declaring that
notwithstanding any thing that might be contained in the letter for
dissolving the convention, or impeding their procedure, they were a free
and lawful meeting of the states; and would continue undissolved until
they should have settled and secured the protestant religion, the
government, laws, and liberties of the kingdom. Having taken this
precaution, they proceeded to examine the letter of the late sovereign,
who conjured them to support his interest as faithful subjects, and
eternize their names by a loyalty suitable to their former professions.
He said he would not fail to give them such a speedy and powerful
assistance as would enable them to defend themselves from any foreign
attempt; and even to assert his right against those enemies who had
depressed it by the blackest usurpations and unnatural attempts, which
the Almighty God would not allow to pass unpunished. He offered pardon
to all those who should return to their duty before the last day of the
month; and threatened to punish rigorously such as should stand out in
rebellion against him and his authority.




THE CONVENTION RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY OF KING WILLIAM.

This address produced very little effect in favour of the unfortunate
exile, whose friends were greatly outnumbered in this assembly. His
messenger was ordered into custody, and afterwards dismissed with a
pass instead of an answer. James, foreseeing this contempt, had, by an
instrument dated in Ireland, authorised the archbishop of Glasgow, the
earl of Balcarras, and the viscount Dundee, to call a convention of the
estates at Stirling. These three depended on the interest of the marquis
of Athol and the earl of Mar, who professed the warmest affection
for the late king; and they hoped a secession of their friends would
embarrass the convention, so as to retard the settlement of king
William. Their expectations, however, were disappointed. Athol deserted
their cause; and Mar suffered himself to be intercepted in his retreat.
The rest of their party were, by the vigilance of the duke of Hamilton,
prevented from leaving the convention, except the viscount Dundee, who
retreated to the mountains with about fifty horse, and was pursued
by order of the estates. This design being frustrated, the convention
approved and recognized, by a solemn act, the conduct of the nobility
and gentlemen who had entreated the king of England to take upon him
the administration. They acknowledged their obligation to the prince of
Orange, who had prevented the destruction of their laws, religion, and
fundamental constitution; they besought his highness to assume the reins
of government for that kingdom; they issued a proclamation requiring
all persons, from sixteen to sixty, to be in readiness to take arms
when called upon for that purpose; they conferred the command of their
horse-militia upon sir Patrick Hume, who was formerly attainted for
having been concerned in Argyle's insurrection; they levied eight
hundred men for a guard to the city of Edinburgh, and constituted the
earl of Leven their commander; they put the militia all over the kingdom
into the hands of those on whom they could rely; they created the earl
of Mar governor of Stirling-castle; they received a reinforcement of
five regiments from England under the command of Mac-kay, whom they
appointed their general; and they issued orders for securing all
disaffected persons. Then they dispatched lord Ross with an answer to
king William's letter, professing their gratitude to their deliverer,
and congratulating him upon his success. They thanked him for assuming
the administration of their affairs, and assembling a convention of
their estates.

They declared they would take effectual and speedy measures for securing
the protestant religion, as well as for establishing the government,
laws, and liberties of the kingdom. They assured him they would, as much
as lay in their power, avoid disputes and animosities; and desired the
continuance of his majesty's care and protection.




CROWN VOTED VACANT, AND AN ACT OF SETTLEMENT PASSED.

After the departure of lord Ross, they appointed a committee, consisting
of eight lords, eight knights, and as many burgesses, to prepare the
plan of a new settlement: but this resolution was not taken without
a vigorous opposition from some remaining adherents of the late king,
headed by the archbishop of Glasgow; all the other prelates, except
he of Edinburgh, having already deserted the convention. After warm
debates, the committee agreed in the following vote:--"The estates of
the kingdom of Scotland find and declare, That king James VII. being a
profest papist, did assume the royal power, and act as a king, without
ever taking the oath required by law; and had, by the advice of evil
and wicked counsellors, invaded the fundamental constitution of
this kingdom, and altered it from a legal and limited monarchy to an
arbitrary despotic power, and had governed the same to the subversion of
the protestant religion, and violation of the laws and liberties of the
nation, inverting all the ends of government; whereby he had forfaulted
the right of the crown, and the throne was become vacant." When this
vote was reported, the bishop of Edinburgh argued strenuously against
it, as containing a charge of which the king was innocent; and he
proposed that his majesty should be invited to return to his Scottish
dominions. All his arguments were defeated or overruled, and the house
confirmed the vote, which was immediately enacted into a law by a great
majority. The lord president declared the throne vacant, and proposed
that it might be filled with William and Mary, king and queen of
England. The committee was ordered to prepare an act for settling the
crown upon their majesties, together with an instrument of government
for securing the subjects from the grievances under which they
laboured.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




THE CROWN TENDERED TO WILLIAM.

On the eleventh day of April, this act, with the conditions of
inheritance, and the instrument, were reported, considered, unanimously
approved, and solemnly proclaimed at the market-cross of Edinburgh,
in presence of the lord president, assisted by the lord provost and
magistracy of the city, the duke of Queensbury, the marquisses of Athol
and Douglas, together with a great number of the nobility and gentry.
At the same time they published another proclamation, forbidding all
persons to acknowledge, obey, assist, or correspond with the late king
James; or by word, writing, or sermon, to dispute or disown the
royal authority of king William and queen Mary; or to misconstrue the
proceedings of the estates, or create jealousies or misapprehensions
with regard to the transactions of the government, on pain of incurring
the most severe penalties. Then, having settled the coronation oath,
they granted a commission to the earl of Argyle for the lords, to sir
James Montgomery for the knights, and to sir John Dalrymple for
the boroughs, empowering them to repair to London, and invest their
majesties with the government. This affair being discussed, the
convention appointed a committee to take care of the public peace, and
adjourned to the twenty-first day of May. On the eleventh day of that
month, the Scottish commissioners being introduced to their majesties at
Whitehall, presented first a preparatory letter from the estates, then
the instrument of government, with a paper containing a recital of the
grievances of the nation; and an address desiring his majesty to convert
the convention into a parliament. The king having graciously promised to
concur with them in all just measures for the interest of the kingdom,
the coronation oath was tendered to their majesties by the earl of
Argyle. As it contained a clause, importing that they should root out
heresy, the king declared, that he did not mean by these words that he
should be under an obligation to act as a persecutor: the commissioners
replying that such was not the meaning or import of the oath, he desired
them, and others present, to bear witness to the exception he had made.




THE CONVENTION STATE THEIR GRIEVANCES.

In the meantime lord Dundee exerted himself with uncommon activity in
behalf of his master. He had been summoned by a trumpet to return to the
convention, refused to obey the citation on pretence that the whigs had
made an attempt upon his life; and that the deliberations of the estates
were influenced by the neighbourhood of English troops, under the
command of Mackay. He was forthwith declared a fugitive, outlaw, and
rebel. He was rancorously hated by the pres-byterians, on whom he had
exercised some cruelties as an officer under the former government:
and for this reason the states resolved to inflict upon him exemplary
punishment. Parties were detached in pursuit of him and Balcarras. This
last fell into their hands, and was committed to a common prison;
but Dundee fought his way through the troops that surrounded him, and
escaped to the Highlands, where he determined to take arms in favour
of James, though that prince had forbid him to make any attempt of this
nature until he should receive a reinforcement from Ireland. While this
officer was employed in assembling the clans of his party, king
William appointed the duke of Hamilton commissioner to the convention
parliament. The post of secretary for Scotland was bestowed upon lord
Melvil, a weak and servile nobleman, who had taken refuge in Holland
from the violence of the late reigns: but the king depended chiefly for
advice upon Dalrymple lord Stair, president of the college of justice,
an old crafty fanatic, who for forty years had complied in all things
with all governments. Though these were rigid pres-byterians, the king,
to humour the opposite party, admitted some individuals of the episcopal
nobility to the council-board; and this intermixture, instead of
allaying animosities, served only to sow the seeds of discord and
confusion. The Scottish convention, in their detail of grievances,
enumerated the lords of the articles; the act of parliament in the reign
of Charles II. by which the king's supremacy was raised so high that he
could prescribe any mode of religion according to his pleasure; and the
superiority of any office in the church above that of presbyters. The
king in his instructions to the lord commissioner, consented to the
regulation of the lords of the articles, though he would not allow the
institution to be abrogated; he was contented that the act relating to
the king's supremacy should be rescinded, and that the church government
should be established in such a manner as would be most agreeable to the
inclinations of the people.




PRELACY ABOLISHED IN SCOTLAND.

On the seventeenth day of June, duke Hamilton opened the Scottish
parliament, after the convention had assumed this name, in consequence
of an act passed by his majesty's direction; but the members in general
were extremely chagrined when they found the commissioners so much
restricted in the affair of the lords of the articles, which they
considered as their chief grievance. [008] _[See note D, at the end of
this Vol.]_ The king permitted that the estates should choose the lords
by their own suffrages, and that they should be at liberty to reconsider
any subject which the said lords might reject. He afterwards indulged
the three estates with the choice of eleven delegates each, for this
committee, to be elected monthly, or oftener if they should think fit:
but even these concessions proved unsatisfactory while the institution
itself remained. Their discontents were not even appeased by the passing
of an act abolishing prelacy. Indeed their resentment was inflamed by
another consideration, namely, that of the king's having given seats
in the council to some individuals attached to the hierarchy. They
manifested their sentiments on this subject by bringing in a bill
excluding from any public trust, place, or employment under their
majesties, all such as had been concerned in the encroachments of the
late reign, or had discovered disaffection to the late happy change, or
in any way retarded or obstructed the designs of the convention. This
measure was prosecuted with great warmth; and the bill passed through
all the forms of the house, but proved ineffectual for want of the royal
assent.




DISPUTES IN THE PARLIAMENT.

Nor were they less obstinate in the affair of the judges whom the
king had ventured to appoint by virtue of his own prerogative. The
malcontents brought in a bill declaring the bench vacant, as it was at
the restoration; asserting their own right to examine and approve those
who should appointed to fill it; providing that if in time to come any
such total vacancy should occur, the nomination should be in the king or
queen, or regent for the time being, and the parliament retain the right
of approbation; and that all the clauses in the several acts relating to
the admission of the ordinary lords of session, and their qualifications
for that office, should be ratified and confirmed for perpetual
observation. Such was the interest of this party, that the bill was
carried by a great majority, notwithstanding the opposition of the
ministers, who resolved to maintain the king's nomination even in
defiance of a parliamentary resolution. The majority, exasperated at
this open violation of their privileges, forbade the judges whom the
king had appointed to open their commissions, or hold a session until
his majesty's further pleasure should be known: on the other hand they
were compelled to act by the menaces of the privy-council. The dispute
was carried on with great acrimony on both sides, and produced such a
ferment, that before the session opened, the ministry thought proper
to draw a great number of forces into the neighbourhood of Edinburgh to
support the judges in the exercise of their functions.




SCOTCH PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED.

The lord commissioner, alarmed at this scene of tumult and confusion,
adjourned the house till the eighth day of October; a step which, added
to the other unpopular measures of the court, incensed the opposition to
a violent degree. They drew up a remonstrance to the king, complaining
of this adjournment while the nation was yet unsettled, recapitulating
the several instances in which they had expressed their zeal and
affection for his majesty; explaining their reasons for dissenting from
the ministry in some articles; beseeching him to consider what they had
represented, to give his royal assent to the acts of parliament which
they had prepared, and take measures for redressing all the other
grievances of the nation. This address was presented to the king at
Hampton-court. William was so touched with the reproaches it implied, as
if he had not fulfilled the conditions on which he accepted the crown of
Scotland, that he, in his own vindication, published his instructions
to the commissioner; and by these it appeared that the duke might have
proceeded to greater lengths in obliging his countrymen. Before the
adjournment, however, the parliament had granted the revenue for life;
and raised money for maintaining a body of forces, as well as for
supporting the incidental expense of the government for some months; yet
part of the troops in that kingdom were supplied and subsisted by the
administration of England. In consequence of these disputes in the
Scottish parliament, their church was left without any settled form of
government; for, though the hierarchy was abolished, the presbyterian
discipline was not yet established, and ecclesiastical affairs were
occasionally regulated by the privy-council, deriving its authority from
that very act of supremacy, which, according to the claim of rights,
ought to have been repealed.




THE CASTLE OF EDINBURGH BESIEGED.

The session was no sooner adjourned than sir John Lanier converted the
blockade of Edinburgh castle into a regular siege, which was prosecuted
with such vigour that in a little time the fortifications were ruined,
and the works advanced at the foot of the walls, in which the besiegers
had made several large breaches. The duke of Gordon, finding his
ammunition expended, his defences destroyed, his intelligence entirely
cut off, and despairing of relief from the adherents of his master,
desired to capitulate, and obtained very favourable terms for his
garrison; but he would not stipulate any conditions for himself,
declaring that he had so much respect for all the princes descended from
king James VI. that he would not affront any of them so far as to insist
upon terms for his own particular: he therefore, on the thirteenth day
of June, surrendered the castle and himself at discretion. All the hopes
of James and his party were now concentred in the viscount Dundee, who
had assembled a body of Highlanders, and resolved to attack Mackay, on
an assurance he had received by message, that the regiment of Scottish
dragoons would desert that officer, and join him in the action. Mackay
having received intimation of this design, decamped immediately, and by
long marches retired before Dundee, until he was reinforced by Ramsey's
dragoons, and another regiment of English infantry: then he faced about,
and Dundee in his turn retreated into Lochaber. Lord Murray, son of the
marquis of Athol, assembled his vassals, to the number of twelve hundred
men, for the service of the regency; but he was betrayed by one of his
own dependents, who seized the castle of Blair for Dundee, and prevailed
upon the Athol men to disperse, rather than fight against James their
lawful sovereign.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




KING WILLIAM'S TROOPS DEFEATED.

The viscount was by this time reduced to great difficulty and distress.
His men had not for many weeks tasted bread or salt, or any drink but
water: instead of five hundred infantry, three hundred horse, with a
supply of arms, ammunition, and provision, which James had promised to
send from Ireland, he received a reinforcement of three hundred naked
recruits; but the transports with the stores fell into the hands of the
English. Though this was a mortifying disappointment, he bore it without
repining; and, far from abandoning himself to despair, began his march
to the castle of Blair, which was threatened with a seige by general
Mackay. When he reached this fortress, he received intelligence that the
enemy had entered the pass of Killycrankie, and he resolved to give
them battle without delay. He accordingly advanced against them, and
a furious engagement ensued, though it was not of long duration. The
Highlanders having received and returned the fire of the English, fell
in among them sword in hand with such impetuosity, that the foot were
utterly broke in seven minutes. The dragoons fled at the first charge
in the utmost consternation. Dundee's horse, not exceeding one hundred,
broke through Mackay's own regiment; the earl of Dumbarton, at the
head of a few volunteers, made himself master of the artillery: twelve
hundred of Mackay's forces were killed on the spot, five hundred taken
prisoners, and the rest fled with great precipitation for some hours,
until they were rallied by their general, who was an officer of approved
courage, conduct, and experience. Nothing could be more complete or
decisive than the victory which the Highlanders obtained; yet it was
clearly purchased with the death of their beloved chieftain the viscount
Dundee, who fell by a random shot in the engagement, and his fate
produced such confusion in his army as prevented all pursuit. He
possessed an enterprising spirit, undaunted courage, inviolable
fidelity, and was peculiarly qualified to command the people who fought
under his banner. He was the life and soul of that cause which he
espoused, and after his death it daily declined into ruin and disgrace.
He was succeeded in command by colonel Cannon, who landed the
reinforcement from Ireland; but all his designs miscarried; so that the
clans, wearied with repeated misfortunes, laid down their arms by
degrees, and took the benefit of a pardon which king William offered to
those who should submit within the time specified in his proclamation.




KING JAMES CORDIALLY RECEIVED BY THE FRENCH KING.

After this sketch of Scottish affairs, it will be necessary to take
a retrospective view of James, and relate the particulars of his
expedition to Ireland. That unfortunate prince and his queen were
received with the most cordial hospitality by the French monarch, who
assigned the castle of St. Germain for the place of their residence,
supported their household with great magnificence, enriched them with
presents, and undertook to re-establish them on the throne of England.
James, however, conducted himself in such a manner as conveyed no
favourable idea of his spirit and understanding. He seems to have been
emasculated by religion: he was deserted by that courage and magnanimity
for which his youth had been distinguished. He did not discover great
sensibility at the loss of his kingdom. All his faculties were swallowed
up in bigotry. Instead of contriving plans for retrieving his crown, he
held conferences with the Jesuits on topics of religion. The pity which
his misfortunes excited in Louis was mingled with contempt. The pope
supplied him with indulgencies, while the Romans laughed at him in
pasquinades: "There is a pious man, (said the archbishop of Rheims
ironically,) who has sacrificed three crowns for a mass." In a word, he
subjected himself to the ridicule and raillery of the French nation.




TYRCONNEL TEMPORIZES WITH WILLIAM.

All the hope of re-ascending the British throne depended upon his
friends in Scotland and Ireland. Tyr-connel, who commanded in this last
kingdom, was confirmed in his attachment to James by the persuasions of
Hamilton, who had undertaken for his submission to the prince of Orange.
Nevertheless, he disguised his sentiments, and temporized with William,
until James should be able to supply him with reinforcements from
France, which he earnestly solicited by private messages. In the
meantime, with a view to cajole the protestants of Ireland, and
amuse king William with hope of his submission, he persuaded the lord
Mountjoy, in whom the protestants chiefly confided, and baron Rice, to
go in person with a commission to James, representing the necessity of
yielding to the times, and of waiting a fitter opportunity to make use
of his Irish subjects. Mountjoy, on his arrival at Paris, instead of
being favoured with an audience by James, to explain the reasons which
Tyrconnel had suggested touching the inability of Ireland to restore his
majesty, was committed prisoner to the Bastile, on account of the zeal
with which he had espoused the protestant interest. Although Louis was
sincerely disposed to assist James effectually, his intentions were
obstructed by the disputes of his ministry. Louvois possessed the chief
credit in council; but Seignelai enjoyed a greater share of personal
favour, both with the king and madame de Maintenon, the favourite
concubine. To this nobleman, as secretary for marine affairs, James made
his chief application; and he had promised the command of the troops
destined for his service to Latisun, whom Louvois hated. For these
reasons this minister thwarted his measures, and retarded the assistance
which Louis had promised towards his restoration.




JAMES ARRIVES IN IRELAND.

Yet notwithstanding all his opposition, the succours were prepared and
the fleet ready to put to sea by the latter end of February. The French
king is said to have offered an army of fifteen thousand natives of
France to serve in this expedition; but James replied, that he would
succeed by the help of his own subjects, or perish in the attempt.
Accordingly, he contented himself with about twelve hundred British
subjects, [010] _[See note E, at the end of this Vol.]_ and a good
number of French officers, who were embarked in the fleet at Brest,
consisting of fourteen ships of the line, seven frigates, three
fire-ships, with a good number of transports. The French king also
supplied him with a considerable quantity of arms for the use of his
adherents in Ireland; accommodated him with a large sum of money, superb
equipages, store of plate, and necessaries of all kinds for the camp
and the household. At parting he presented him with his own cuirass, and
embracing him affectionately, "The best thing I can wish you (said he)
is, that I may never see you again." On the seventh day of March, James
embarked at Brest, together with the count D'Avaux, who accompanied him
in quality of ambassador, and his principal officers. He was detained
in the harbour by contrary winds till the seventeenth day of the month,
when he set sail, and on the twenty-second landed at Kinsale in Ireland.
By this time, king William perceiving himself amused by Tyrconnel, had
published a declaration, requiring the Irish to lay down their arms
and submit to the new government. On the twenty-second day of February,
thirty ships of war had been put in commission, and the command of them
conferred upon admiral Herbert; but the armament was retarded in such
a manner by the disputes of the council and the king's attention to the
affairs of the continent, that the admiral was not in a condition to
sail till the beginning of April, and then with part of his fleet only.
James was received with open arms at Kinsale, and the whole country
seemed to be at his devotion; for although the protestants in the North
had declared for the new government, their strength and number was
deemed inconsiderable when compared with the power of Tyrconnel. This
minister had disarmed all the other protestant subjects in one day, and
assembled an army of thirty thousand foot, and eight thousand cavalry,
for the service of his master.




ISSUES FIVE PROCLAMATIONS AT DUBLIN.

In the latter end of March, James made his public entry into Dublin,
amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. He was met at the
castle-gate by a procession of popish bishops and priests in their
pontificals, bearing the host, which he publicly adored. He dismissed
from the council-board the lord Granard, judge Keating, and other
protestants, who had exhorted the lord lieutenant to an accommodation
with the new government. In their room he admitted the French
ambassador, the bishop of Chester, colonel Darrington, and, by degrees,
the principal noblemen who accompanied him in the expedition. On the
second day after his arrival in Dublin, he issued five proclamations:
the first recalled all the subjects of Ireland who had abandoned the
kingdom, by a certain time, on pain of outlawry and confiscation, and
requiring all persons to join him against the prince of Orange. The
second contained expressions of acknowledgement to his catholic subjects
for their vigilance and fidelity, and an injunction to such as were not
actually in his service, to retain and lay up their arms until it
should be found necessary to use them for his advantage. By the third he
invited the subjects to supply his army with provisions; and prohibited
the soldiers to take anything without payment. By the fourth he raised
the value of the current coin; and in the fifth he summoned a parliament
to meet on the seventh day of May, at Dublin. Finally, he created
Tyrconnel a duke, in consideration of his eminent services.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




SIEGE OF LONDONDERRY.

The adherents of James in England pressed him to settle the affairs
of Ireland immediately, and bring over his army either to the north of
England, or the west of Scotland, where it might be joined by his party,
and act without delay against the usurper; but his council dissuaded him
from complying with their solicitations, until Ireland should be totally
reduced to obedience. On the first alarm of an intended massacre, the
protestants of Londonderry had shut their gates against the regiment
commanded by the earl of Antrim, and resolved to defend themselves
against the lord lieutenant. They transmitted this resolution to the
government of England, together with an account of the danger they
incurred by such a vigorous measure, and implored immediate assistance.
They were accordingly supplied with some arms and ammunition, but did
not receive any considerable reinforcement till the middle of April,
when two regiments arrived in Loughfoyl, under the command of Cunningham
and Richards. By this time king James had taken Coleraine, invested
Killmore, and was almost in sight of Londonderry. George Walker,
rector of Donaghmore, who had raised a regiment for the defence of the
protestants, conveyed this intelligence to Lundy the governor. This
officer directed him to join colonel Grafton, and take post at the
Long-causey, which he maintained a whole night against the advanced
guard of the enemy; until being overpowered by numbers, he retreated to
Londonderry and exhorted the governor to take the field, as the army of
king James was not yet completely formed. Lundy assembling a council of
war, at which Cunningham and Richards assisted; they agreed, that as the
place was not tenable, it would be imprudent to land the two regiments,
and that the principal officers should withdraw themselves from
Londonderry, the inhabitants of which would obtain the more favourable
capitulation in consequence of their retreat. An officer was immediately
dispatched to king James with proposals of a negotiation; and
lieutenant-general Hamilton agreed that the army should halt at the
distance of four miles from the town. Notwithstanding this preliminary,
James advanced at the head of his troops; but met with such a warm
reception from the besieged, that he was fain to retire to St. John's
Town in some disorder. The inhabitants and soldiers in garrison at
Londonderry were so incensed at the members of the council of war,
who had resolved to abandon the place, that they threatened immediate
vengeance. Cunningham and Richards retired to their ships, and Lundy
locked himself in his chamber. In vain did Walker and major Baker exhort
him to maintain his government. Such was his cowardice or treachery,
that he absolutely refused to be concerned in the defence of the place,
and he was suffered to escape in disguise with a load of match upon his
back; but he was afterwards apprehended in Scotland, from whence he was
sent to London to answer for his perfidy or misconduct.




COURAGEOUS DEFENCE.

After his retreat, the townsmen chose Mr. Walker and major Baker for
their governors, with joint authority; but this office they would
not undertake until it had been offered to colonel Cunningham, as the
officer next in command to Lundy. He rejected the proposal, and with
Richards returned to England, where they were immediately cashiered. The
two new governors, thus abandoned to their fate, began to prepare for
a vigorous defence; indeed their courage seems to have transcended
the bounds of discretion, for the place was very ill fortified; their
cannon, which did not exceed twenty pieces, were wretchedly mounted;
they had not one engineer to direct their operations; they had a very
small number of horse; the garrison consisted of people unacquainted
with military discipline; they wore destitute of provisions; they were
besieged by a king in person, at the head of a formidable army, directed
by good officers, and supplied with all the necessary implements for a
siege or battle. This town was invested on the twentieth day of April;
the batteries were soon opened, and several attacks were made with great
impetuosity; but the besiegers were always repulsed with considerable
loss. The townsmen gained divers advantages in repeated sallies, and
would have held their enemies in the utmost contempt, had they not been
afflicted with a contagious distemper, as well as reduced to extremity
by want of provisions. They were even tantalized in their distress;
for they had the mortification to see some ships which had arrived
with supplies from England, prevented from sailing up the river by the
batteries the enemy had raised on both sides, and a boom with which they
had blocked up the channel. At length a reinforcement arrived in the
Lough, under the command of general Kirke, who had deserted his master
and been employed in the service of king William. He found means to
convey intelligence to Walker, that he had troops and provisions on
board for their relief, but found it impracticable to sail up the river:
he promised, however, that he would land a body of forces at the Inch,
and endeavour to make a diversion in their favour-, when joined by the
troops at Inniskilling, which amounted to five thousand men, including
two thousand cavalry. He said he expected six thousand men from England,
where they were embarked before he set sail. He exhorted them to
persevere in their courage and loyalty, and assured them he would come
to their relief at all hazards. These assurances enabled them to bear
their miseries a little longer, though their numbers daily diminished.
Major Baker dying, his place was filled with colonel Michel-burn, who
now acted as colleague to Mr. Walker.




CRUELTY OF ROSENE.

King James having returned to Dublin to be present at the parliament,
the command of his army devolved to the French general Rosene, who was
exasperated at such an obstinate opposition by a handful of half-starved
militia. He threatened to raze the town to its foundations, and destroy
the inhabitants without distinction of age or sex, unless they would
immediately submit themselves to their lawful sovereign. The governors
treated his menaces with contempt, and published an order that no
person, on pain of death, should talk of surrendering. They had now
consumed the last remains of their provisions, and supported life by
eating the flesh of horses, dogs, cats, rats, mice, tallow, starch,
and salted hides, and even this loathsome food began to fail. Rosene,
finding him deaf to all his proposals, threatened to wreak his vengeance
on all the protestants of that country, and drive them under the walls
of Londonderry, where they should be suffered to perish by famine. The
bishop of Meath being informed of this design, complained to king James
of the barbarous intention, entreating his majesty to prevent its being
put in execution. That prince assured him that he had already ordered
Rosene to desist from such proceeding: nevertheless, the Frenchman
executed his threats with the utmost rigour. Parties of dragoons
were detached on this cruel service: after having stripped all the
protestants for thirty miles round, they drove these unhappy people
before them like cattle, without even sparing the enfeebled old men,
nurses with infants at their breasts, tender children, women just
delivered, and some even in the pangs of labour. Above four thousand of
these miserable objects were driven under the walls of Londonderry. This
expedient, far from answering the purpose of Rosene, produced quite
a contrary effect. The besieged were so exasperated at this act of
inhumanity, that they resolved to perish rather than submit to such
a barbarian. They erected a gibbet in sight of the enemy, and sent a
message to the French general, importing that they would hang all the
prisoners they had taken during the siege, unless the protestants whom
they had driven under the walls should be immediately dismissed. This
threat produced a negotiation, in consequence of which the protestants
were released after they had been detained three days without tasting
food. Some hundreds died of famine or fatigue; and those who lived to
return to their own habitations, found them plundered and sacked by the
papists, so that the greater number perished for want, or were murdered
by the straggling parties of the enemy; yet these very people had for
the most part obtained protections from king James, to which no respect
was paid by his general.




THE PLACE IS RELIEVED BY KIRKE

The garrison of Londonderry was now reduced from seven to five thousand
seven hundred men, and these were driven to such extremity of distress,
that they began to talk of killing the popish inhabitants and feeding on
their bodies. In this emergency Kirke, who had hitherto lain inactive,
ordered two ships laden with provisions to sail up the river under
convoy of the Dartmouth frigate. One of them, called the Mountjoy, broke
the enemy's boom; and all the three, after having sustained a very hot
fire from both sides of the river, arrived in safety at the town to
the inexpressible joy of the inhabitants. The army of James were so
dispirited by the success of this enterprise, that they abandoned the
siege in the night and retired with precipitation, after having
lost about nine thousand men before the place. Kirke no sooner took
possession of the town, than Walker was prevailed upon to embark
for England with an address of thanks from the inhabitants to their
majesties for the seasonable relief they had received.




THE INNISKILLINEES DEFEAT AND TAKE GENERAL MACARTY.

The Inniskilliners were no less remarkable than the people of
Londonderry for the valour and perseverance with which they opposed the
papists. They raised twelve companies, which they regimented under the
command of Gustavus Hamilton, whom they chose for their governor. They
proclaimed William and Mary on the eleventh day of March, and resolved
in a general council to maintain their title against all opposition. The
lord Gilmoy invested the castle of Groin belonging to the protestants
in the neighbourhood of Inniskilling, the inhabitants of which threw
succours into the place, and compelled Gilmoy to retire to Belturbet. A
detachment of the garrison, commanded by lieutenant-colonel Lloyd, took
and demolished the castle of Aughor, and they gained the advantage in
several skirmishes with the enemy. On the day that preceded the relief
of Londonderry, they defeated six thousand Irish papists at a place
called Newton-Butler, and took their commander Macarty, commonly called
lord Moncashel.




MEETING OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

The Irish parliament being assembled at Dublin, according to the
proclamation of king James, he, in a speech from the throne, thanked
them for the zeal, courage, and loyalty they had manifested; extolled
the generosity of the French king, who had enabled him to visit them in
person; insisted upon executing his design of establishing liberty of
conscience as a step equally agreeable to the dictates of humanity and
discretion, and promised to concur with them in enacting such laws as
would contribute to the peace, affluence, and security of his subjects.
Sir Richard Neagle, being chosen speaker of the commons, moved for an
address of thanks to his majesty, and that the count D'Avaux should be
desired to make their acknowledgments to the most christian king for
the generous assistance he had given to their sovereign. These addresses
being drawn up with the concurrence of both houses, a bill was brought
in to recognize the king's title, to express their abhorence of the
usurpation by the prince of Orange, as well as of the defection of the
English. Next day James published a declaration, complaining of the
calumnies which his enemies had spread to his prejudice; expatiating
upon his own impartiality in preferring his protestant subjects;
his care in protecting them from their enemies, in redressing their
grievances, and in granting liberty of conscience; promising that he
would take no step but with the approbation of parliament; offering a
free pardon to all persons who should desert his enemies and join with
him in four-and-twenty days after his landing in Ireland, and charging
all the blood that might be shed upon those who should continue in
rebellion.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




THE ACT OF SETTLEMENT REPEALED.

His conduct, however, very ill agreed with this declaration; nor can it
be excused on any other supposition but that of his being governed, in
some cases against his own inclination, by the count D'Avaux and the
Irish catholics, on whom his whole dependence was placed. As both houses
were chiefly filled with members of that persuasion, we ought not to
wonder at their bringing in a bill for repealing the act of settlement,
by which the protestants of the kingdom had been secured in the
possession of their estates. These were by this law divested of their
lands, which reverted to the heirs of those catholics to whom they
belonged before the rebellion. This iniquitous bill was framed in such
a manner, that no regard was paid to such protestant owners as had
purchased estates for valuable considerations; no allowance was made for
improvements, nor any provision for protestant widows; the possessor,
and tenants were not even allowed to remove their stock and corn. When
the bill was sent up to the lords, Dr. Dopping, bishop of Meath, opposed
it with equal courage and ability, and an address in behalf of the
purchasers under the act of settlement was presented to the king by the
earl of Granard; but notwithstanding these remonstrances, it received
the royal assent, and the protestants of Ireland were mostly ruined.




THEY PASS AN ACT OF ATTAINDER.

Yet in order to complete their destruction, an act of attainder was
passed against all protestants, whether male or female, whether of high
or low degree, who were absent from the kingdom, as well as against all
those who retired into any part of the three kingdoms, which did not own
the authority of king James, or corresponded with rebels, or were any
ways aiding, abetting, or assisting them, from the first day of August
in the preceding year. The number of protestants attainted by name in
this act amounted to about three thousand, including two archbishops,
one duke, seventeen earls, seven countesses, as many bishops, eighteen
barons, three-and-thirty baronets, one-and-fifty knights, eighty-three
clergymen, who were declared traitors, and adjudged to suffer the pains
of death and forfeiture. The individuals subjected to this dreadful
proscription, were even cut off from all hope of pardon and all benefit
of appeal; for by a clause in the act, the king's pardon was deemed null
unless enrolled before the first day of December. A subsequent law was
enacted, declaring Ireland independent of the English parliament. This
assembly passed another act, granting twenty thousand pounds per annum
out of the forfeited estates to Tyrconnel, in acknowledgment of his
signal services: they imposed a tax of twenty thousand pounds per month
for the service of the king: the royal assent was given to an act for
liberty of conscience; they enacted that the tithes payable by papists
should be delivered to priests of that communion: the maintenance of
the protestant clergy in cities and corporations was taken away; and all
dissenters were exempted from ecclesiastical jurisdictions. So that
the established church was deprived of all power and prerogative,
notwithstanding the express promise of James, who had declared,
immediately after his landing, that he would maintain the clergy in
their rights and privileges.




JAMES COINS BASE MONEY.

Nor was the king less arbitrary in the executive part of his government,
if we suppose that he countenanced the grievous acts of oppression that
were daily committed upon the protestant subjects of Ireland; but the
tyranny of his proceedings may be justly imputed to the temper of
his ministry, consisting of men abandoned to all sense of justice and
humanity, who acted from the dictates of rapacity and revenge, inflamed
with all the acrimony of religious rancour. Soldiers were permitted to
live upon free quarter; the people were robbed and plundered; licenses
and protections were abused in order to extort money from the trading
part of the nation. The king's old stores were ransacked; the shops of
tradesmen and the kitchens of burghers were pillaged, to supply the mint
with a quantity of brass, which was converted into current coin for his
majesty's occasions; an arbitrary value was set upon it, and all persons
were required and commanded to take it in payment under the severest
penalties, though the proportion between its intrinsic worth and
currency was nearly as one to three hundred. A vast sum of this
counterfeit coin was issued in the course of one year, and forced upon
the protestants in payment of merchandize, provision, and necessaries
for the king's service. James, not content with the supply granted by
parliament, imposed, by his own authority, a tax of twenty thousand
pounds per month on chattels, as the former was laid upon lands. This
seems to have been a temporary expedient during the adjournment of the
two houses, as the term of the assessment was limited to three months;
it was however levied by virtue of a commission under the seals, and
seems to have been a stretch of prerogative the less excusable, as he
might have obtained the money in a parliamentary way. Understanding that
the protestants had laid out all their brass money in purchasing great
quantities of hides, tallow, wool, and corn, he assumed the despotic
power of fixing the prices of these commodities, and then bought them
for his own use. One may see his ministers were bent upon the utter
destruction of those unhappy people.




PROTESTANT CHURCHES SEIZED BY THE CATHOLICS.

All vacancies in public schools were supplied with popish teachers. The
pension allowed from the exchequer to the university of Dublin was
cut off; the vice-provost, fellows, and scholars, were expelled: their
furniture, plate, and public library were seized without the least
shadow or pretence, and in direct violation of a promise the king had
made to preserve their privileges and immunities. His officers converted
the college into a garrison, the chapel into a magazine, and the
apartments into prisons; a popish priest was appointed provost; one
Maccarty, of the same persuasion, was made library-keeper, and the whole
foundation was changed into a catholic seminary. When bishoprics and
benefices in the gift of the crown became vacant, the king ordered the
profits to be lodged in the exchequer, and suffered the cures to be
totally neglected. The revenues were chiefly employed in the maintenance
of Romish bishops and priests, who grew so insolent under this
indulgence, that in several places they forcibly seized the protestant
churches. When complaint was made of this outrage, the king promised
to do justice to the injured, and in some places actually ordered the
churches to be restored; but the popish clergy refused to comply with
this order, alleging, that in spirituals they owed obedience to no
earthly power but the holy see, and James found himself unable to
protect his protestant subjects against a powerful body which he durst
not disoblige. Some ships appearing in the bay of Dublin, a proclamation
was issued forbidding the protestants to assemble in any place of
worship, or elsewhere, on pain of death. By a second, they were
commanded to bring in their arms on pain of being treated as rebels and
traitors. Luttrel, governor of Dublin, published an ordinance by beat
of drum, requiring the farmers to bring in their corn for his majesty's
horses within a certain day, otherwise he would order them to be hanged
before their own doors. Brigadier Sarsfield commanded all protestants
of a certain district to retire to the distance of ten miles from their
habitations on pain of death; and in order to keep up the credit of the
brass money, the same penalty was denounced, in a proclamation, against
any person who should give more than one pound eighteen shillings for a
guinea.

[Illustration: 2-013-dover.jpg DOVER]




ACTION WITH THE FRENCH FLEET.

All the revenues of Ireland, and all the schemes contrived to bolster up
the credit of the base coin, would have proved insufficient to support
the expenses of the war, had not James received occasional supplies from
the French monarch. After the return of the fleet which had conveyed
him to Ireland, Louis sent another strong squadron, commanded by Chateau
Benault, as a convoy to some transports laden with arms, ammunition, and
a large sum of money for the use of king James. Before they sailed
from Brest, king William, being informed of their destination, detached
admiral Herbert from Spithead with twelve ships of the line, one
fire-ship, and four tenders, in order to intercept the enemy. He was
driven by stress of weather into Mil-ford-haven, from whence he steered
his course to Kin-sale, on the supposition that the French fleet had
sailed from Brest, and that in all probability he should fall in with
them on the coast of Ireland. On the first day of May he discovered them
at anchor in Bantry-bay, and stood in to engage them, though they were
greatly superior to him in number. They no sooner perceived him at
day-break, than they weighed, stood out to windward, formed their line,
bore down, and began the action, which was maintained for two hours
with equal valour on both sides, though the English fleet sustained
considerable damage from the superior fire of the enemy. Herbert tacked
several times in hope of gaining the weather-gage; but the French
admiral kept his wind with uncommon skill and perseverance. At length
the English squadron stood off to sea, and maintained a running fight
till five in the afternoon, when Chateau Renault tacked about and
returned into the bay, content with the honour he had gained. The loss
of men was inconsiderable on both sides; and where the odds were so
great, the victor could not reap much glory. Herbert retired to
the isles of Scilly, where he expected a reinforcement; but being
disappointed in this expectation, he returned to Portsmouth in very
ill humour, with which his officers and men were infected. The common
sailors still retained some attachment to James, who had formerly been
a favourite among them; and the officers complained that they had been
sent upon this service with a force so much inferior to that of the
enemy. King William, in order to appease their discontent, made an
excursion to Portsmouth, where he dined with the admiral on board
the ship Elizabeth, declared his intention of making him an earl in
consideration of his good conduct and services, conferred the honour of
knighthood on the captains Ashby and Shovel, and bestowed a donation of
ten shillings on every private sailor.




DIVERS SENTENCES REVERSED.

The parliament of England thought it incumbent upon them not only to
raise supplies for the maintenance of the war in which the nation was
involved, but also to do justice with respect to those who had been
injured by illegal or oppressive sentences in the late reigns. The
attainders of lord Russel, Algernon Sidney, alderman Cornish, and lady
Lisle, were now reversed. A committee of privileges was appointed by
the lords to examine the case of the earl of Devonshire, who in the
late reign had been fined thirty thousand pounds for assaulting colonel
Culpepper in the presence-chamber. They reported that the court of
king's bench, in overruling the earl's plea of privilege of parliament,
had committed a manifest breach of privilege; that the fine was
excessive and exhorbitant, against the great charter, the common right
of the subject, and the law of the realm. The sentence pronounced upon
Samuel Johnson, chaplain to lord Russel, in consequence of which he
had been degraded, fined, scourged, and set in the pillory, was now
annulled, and the commons recommended him to his majesty for some
ecclesiastical preferment. He received one thousand pounds in money,
with a pension of three hundred pounds for his own life and that of his
son, who was moreover gratified with a place of one hundred pounds a
year; but the father never obtained any ecclesiastical benefice. Titus
Oates seized this opportunity of petitioning the house of lords for a
reversal of the judgments given against him on his being convicted of
perjury. The opinions of all the judges and counsel at the bar were
heard on this subject, and a bill of reversal passed the commons; but
the peers having inserted some amendments and a proviso, a conference
was demanded, and violent heats ensued. Oates, however, was released
from confinement, and the lords, with the consent of the commons,
recommended him to his majesty for a pardon, which he obtained, together
with a comfortable pension. The committee appointed to inquire into the
cases of the state-prisoners, found sir Robert Wright, late lord chief
justice, to have been concerned in the cruelties committed in the west
after the insurrection of Monmouth; as also one of the ecclesiastical
commissioners, and guilty of manifold enormities. Death had by this time
delivered Jefferies from the resentment of the nation. Graham and Burton
had acted as solicitors in the illegal prosecutions carried on against
those who opposed the court in the reign of Charles II.; these were now
reported guilty of having been instrumental in taking away the lives and
estates of those who had suffered the loss of either under colour of
law for eight years last past; of having, by malicious indictments,
informations, and prosecutions of _quo warranto_, endeavoured the
subversion of the protestant religion, and the government of the realm;
and of having wasted many thousand pounds of the public revenue in the
course of their infamous practices.




INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE OF MISCARRIAGES IN IRELAND.

Nor did the misconduct of the present ministry escape the animadversion
of the parliament. The lords having addressed the king to put the
Isle of Wight, Jersey, Guernsey, Scilly, Dover-castle, and the other
fortresses of the kingdom, in a posture of defence, and to disarm the
papists, empowered a committee to inquire into the miscarriages in
Ireland, which were generally imputed to the neglect of the marquisses
of Caermarthan and Halifax. They presented an address to the king,
desiring the minute-book of the committee for Irish affairs might be
put into their hands; but his majesty declined gratifying them in this
particular: then the commons voted that those persons who had advised
the king to delay this satisfaction were enemies to the kingdom.
William, alarmed at this resolution, allowed them to inspect the book,
in which they found very little for their purpose. The house resolved,
that an address should be presented to his majesty, declaring that the
succour of Ireland had been retarded by unnecessary delays; that the
transports prepared were not sufficient to convey the forces to that
kingdom; and that several ships had been taken by the enemy, for want
of proper convoy. At the same time the question was put, whether or not
they should address the king against the marquis of Halifax. But it was
carried in the negative by a small majority. Before this period, Howe,
vice-chamberlain to the queen, had moved for an address against such
counsellors as had been impeached in parliament, and betrayed the
liberties of the nation. This motion was levelled at Caemarthen and
Halifax, the first of whom had been formerly impeached of high treason,
under the title of earl of Danby; and the other was charged with all the
misconduct of the present administration. Warm debates ensued, and in
all probability the motion would have been carried in the affirmative,
had not those who spoke warmly in behalf it suddenly cooled in the
course of the dispute. Some letters from king James to his partisans
being intercepted, and containing some hints of an intended invasion,
Mr. Hambden, chairman of the committee of the whole house, enlarged upon
the imminent danger to which the kingdom was exposed, and moved for
a further supply to his majesty. In this unexpected motion he was not
seconded by one member. The house, however, having taken the letters
into consideration, resolved to draw up an address to the king, desiring
him to secure and disarm all papists of note; and they brought in a bill
for attainting several persons in rebellion against their majesties; but
it was not finished during this session.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




BILLS PASSED IN THIS SESSION.

Another bill being prepared in the house of lords, enjoining the
subjects to wear the woollen manufacture at certain seasons of the year,
a petition was presented against it by the silk-weavers of London and
Canterbury, assembled in a tumultuous manner at Westminster. The
lords refused their petition, because this was an unusual manner of
application. They were persuaded to return to their respective places
of abode; precautions were taken against a second riot; and the bill was
unanimously rejected in the upper house. This parliament passed an act,
vesting in the two universities the presentations belonging to papists:
those of the southern counties being given to Oxford; and those of
the northern to Cambridge, on certain specified conditions, Courts of
conscience were erected at Bristol, Gloucester, and Newcastle; and that
of the marches of Wales was abolished as an intolerable oppression. The
protestant clergymen, who had been forced to leave their benefices in
Ireland, were rendered capable of holding any living in England, without
forfeiting their title to their former preferment, with the proviso that
they should resign their English benefices when restored to 'those
they had been obliged to relinquish. The statute of Henry IV. against
multiplying gold and silver was now repealed; the subjects were allowed
to melt and refine metals and ores, and extract gold and silver from
them, on condition that it should be brought to the Mint, and converted
into money, the owners receiving its full value in current coin. These,
and several other bills of smaller importance being passed, the two
houses adjourned to the twentieth clay of September, and afterwards to
the nineteenth day of October.





CHAPTER II.

     _Duke of Schomberg lands with an Army in Ireland..... The
     Inniskilliners obtain a Victory over the Irish.....
     Schomberg censured for his Inactivity..... The French
     worsted at Walcourt..... Success of the Confederates in
     Germany..... The Turks defeated at Pacochin, Nissa, and
     Widen..... Death of Pope Innocent XI..... .King William
     becomes unpopular..... A good Number of the Clergy refuse to
     take the Oaths..... The King grants a Commission for
     reforming Church Discipline..... Meeting of the
     Convocation..... Their Session discontinued by repeated
     Prorogations..... Proceedings in Parliament..... The Whigs
     obstruct the Bill of Indemnity..... The Commons resume the
     Inquiry into the Cause of the Miscarriages in Ireland.....
     King William irritated against the Whigs..... Plot against
     the Government by Sir James Montgomery discovered by Bishop
     Burnet..... Warm Debates in Parliament about the Corporation
     Bills..... The King resolves to finish the Irish War in
     Person ..... General Ludlow arrives in England, but is
     obliged to withdraw..... Efforts of the Jacobites in
     Scotland..... The Court Interest triumphs over all
     Opposition in that Country..... The Tory Interest prevails
     in the New Parliament of England..... Bill for recognising
     their Majesties..... Another violent Contest about the Bill
     of Abjuration..... King William lands in Ireland..... King
     James marches to the Boyne..... William resolves to give him
     battle..... Battle of the Boyne..... Death and Character of
     Schomberg..... James embarks for France..... William enters
     Dublin and publishes his Declaration..... The French obtain
     a Victory over the English and Dutch Fleets off Beachy-
     head..... Torrington committed Prisoner to the Tower.....
     Progress of William in Ireland..... He Invests Limerick; but
     is obliged to raise the Siege, and returns to England.....
     Cork and Kinsale reduced by the Earl of Marlborough .....
     Lausun and the French Forces quit Ireland..... The Duke of
     Savoy joins the Confederacy..... Prince Waldeck defeated at
     Fleurus..... The Archduke Joseph elected King of the
     Romans..... Death of the Duke of Lorrain..... Progress of
     the War against the Turks..... Meeting of the
     Parliament..... The Commons comply with all the King's
     Demands..... Petition of the Tories in the City of
     London..... Attempt against the Marquis of Caermarthen.....
     The King's Voyage to Holland..... He assists at a
     Congress..... Returns to England._

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




SCHOMBERG LANDS WITH AN ARMY.

Though the affairs of Ireland were extremely pressing, and the
protestants of that country had made repeated application for relief,
the succours were retarded either by disputes among the ministers, or
the neglect of those who had the management of the expedition, in such
a manner that king James had been six months in Ireland before the army
was embarked for that kingdom. At length eighteen regiments of infantry,
and five of dragoons, being raised for that service, a train of
artillery provided, and transports prepared, the duke of Sehomberg, on
whom king William had conferred the chief command of this armament,
set out for Chester, after he had in person thanked the commons for the
uncommon regard they had paid to his services, and received assurances
from the house, that they would pay particular attention to him and his
army. On the thirteenth day of August he landed in the neighbourhood
of Carrickfergus with about ten thousand foot and dragoons, and took
possession of Belfast, from whence the enemy retired at his approach
to Carrickfergus, where they resolved to make a stand. The duke having
refreshed his men, marched thither, and invested the place; the siege
was carried on till the twenty-sixth clay of the month, when the
breaches being practicable, the besieged capitulated, on condition of
marching out with their arms, and as much baggage as they could carry on
their backs; and of their being conducted to the next Irish garrison,
which was at Newry. During this siege the duke was joined by the rest of
his army from England; but he had left orders for conveying the greater
part of the artillery and stores from Chester directly to Carlingford.
He now began his march through Lisburne and Hillsborough, and encamped
at Drummore, where the protestants of the north had been lately routed
by Hamilton; thence he proceeded to Loughbrillane, where he was joined
by the horse and dragoons of Inniskilling. Then the enemy abandoned
Newry and Dundalk, in the neighbourhood of which Sehomberg encamped on a
low damp ground, having the town and river on the south, and surrounded
on every other part by hills, bogs, and mountains.




THE INNISKILLINERS OBTAIN A VICTORY.

His army, consisting chiefly of new-raised men little inured to
hardship, began to flag under the fatigue of marching, the inclemency of
the weather, and scarcity of provisions. Here he was reinforced by the
regiments of Kirke, Hanmer, and Stuart; and would have continued his
march to Drogheda, where he understood Rosene lay with about twenty
thousand men, had he not been obliged to wait for the artillery, which
was not yet arrived at Carlingford. King James, having assembled all
his forces, advanced towards Schomberg, and appeared before his
intrenchments in order of battle; but the duke, knowing they were
greatly superior in number of horse, and that his own army was
undisciplined, and weakened by death and sickness, restrained his men
within the lines, and in a little time the enemy retreated. Immediately
after their departure, a conspiracy was discovered in the English camp,
hatched by some French papists, who had insinuated themselves into
the protestant regiments. One of these, whose name was Du Plessis, had
written a letter to the ambassador D'Avaux, promising to desert with
all the papists of the three French regiments in Schomberg's army. This
letter being found, Du Plessis and five accomplices were tried by a
court-martial, and executed. About two hundred and fifty papists being
discovered in the French regiments, they were sent over to England,
from thence to Holland. While Schomberg remained in this situation, the
Inniskilliners made excursions in the neighbourhood, under the command
of colonel Lloyd; and on the twenty-seventh day of September they
obtained a complete victory over five times their number of the Irish.
They killed seven hundred on the spot, and took O'Kelly their commander,
with about fifty officers, and a considerable booty of cattle. The duke
was so pleased with their behaviour on this occasion, that they received
a very honourable testimony of his approbation.




SCHOMBERG CENSURED.

Meanwhile, the enemy took possession of James-Town, and reduced Sligo,
one of the forts of which was gallantly defended by St. Sauver, a
French captain, and his company of grenadiers, until he was obliged
to capitulate for want of water and provisions. A contagious distemper
still continued to rage in Schomberg's camp, and swept off a great
number of officers and soldiers; so that in the beginning of next
spring, not above half the number of those who went over with the
general remained alive. He was censured for his inactivity, and the
king, in repeated letters, desired him to hazard an engagement, provided
any opportunity should occur; but he did not think proper to run the
risk of a battle, against an enemy that was above thrice his number,
well disciplined, healthy, and conducted by able officers. Nevertheless,
he was certainly blameable for having chosen such an unwholesome
situation. At the approach of winter he retired into quarters, in hopes
of being reinforced with seven thousand Danes, who had already arrived
in Britain. These auxiliaries were stipulated in a treaty which William
had just concluded with the king of Denmark. The English were not more
successful at sea than they had proved in their operations by land.
Admiral Herbert, now created earl of Torrington, having sailed to
Ireland with the combined squadrons of England and Holland, made a
fruitless attempt upon Cork, and lost a great number of seamen by
sickness, which was imputed to bad provisions. The Dartmouth ship of war
fell into the hands of the enemy, who infested the channel with such
a number of armed ships and privateers, that the trade of England
sustained incredible damage.




THE FRENCH WORSTED AT WALCOURT.

The affairs of France wore but a gloomy aspect on the continent, where
all the powers of Europe seemed to have conspired her destruction. King
William had engaged in a new league with the states-general, in which
former treaties of peace and commerce were confirmed. It was stipulated,
that in case the king of Great Britain should be attacked, the Dutch
should assist him with six thousand infantry, and twenty ships of the
line; and that, provided hostilities should be committed against the
states-general, England should supply them with ten thousand infantry,
and twenty ships of war. This treaty was no sooner ratified, than king
William dispatched the lord Churchill, whom he had by this time created
earl of Marlborough, to Holland, in order to command the British
auxiliaries in that service to the number of eleven thousand, the
greater part of which had been in the army of king James when the prince
of Orange landed in England. The earl forthwith joined the Dutch army,
under the command of prince Waldeck, who had fixed his rendezvous in the
county of Liege, with a view to act against the French army commanded by
the mareschal D'Humieres; while the prince of Vaudemont headed a little
army of observation, consisting of Spaniards, Dutch, and Germans, to
watch the motions of Calvo in another part of the Low-Countries. The
city of Liege was compelled to renounce the neutrality, and declare for
the allies. Mareschal D'Humieres attacked the foragers belonging to the
army of the states at Walcourt, in the month of August; an obstinate
engagement ensued, and the French were obliged to retreat in confusion,
with the loss of two thousand men, and some pieces of artillery. The
army of observation levelled part of the French lines on the side of
Courtray, and raised contributions on the territories of the enemy.




SUCCESS OF THE CONFEDERATES IN GERMANY.

The French were almost entire masters of the three ecclesiastical
electorates of Germany. They possessed Mentz, Triers, Bonne,
Keiserswaert, Philipsburgh, and Landau. They had blown up the castle of
Heildelberg, in the Palatinate, and destroyed Manheim. They had reduced
Worms and Spiers to ashes; and demolished Frankendahl, together
with several other fortresses. These conquests, the fruits of sudden
invasion, were covered with a numerous army, commanded by the mareschal
de Duras; and all his inferior generals were officers of distinguished
courage and ability. Nevertheless, he found it difficult to maintain
his ground against the different princes of the empire. The duke of
Lorraine, who commanded the imperial troops, invested Mentz, and took
it by capitulation; the elector of Brandenburgh, having reduced
Keiserswaert, undertook the siege of Bonne, which the garrison
surrendered after having made a long and vigorous defence. Nothing
contributed more to the union of the German princes than their
resentment of the shocking barbarity with which the French had
plundered, wasted, and depopulated their country. Louis having, by his
intrigues in Poland and at Constantinople, prevented a pacification
between the emperor and the Ottoman Porte, the campaign was opened in
Croatia, where five thousand Turks were defeated by a body of Croates
between Vihitz and Novi. The prince of Baden, who commanded the
imperialists on that side, having thrown a bridge over the Morava at
Passarowitz, crossed that river, and marched in quest of a Turkish
army amounting to fifty thousand men, headed by a seraskier. On the
thirteenth day of August he attacked the enemy in their intrenchments
near Patochin, and forced their lines, routed them with great slaughter,
and took possession of their camp, baggage, and artillery. They returned
to Nissa, where the general finding them still more numerous than the
imperialists, resolved to make a stand, and encamped in a situation that
was inaccessible in every part except the rear, which he left open
for the convenience of a retreat. Through this avenue he was, on the
twenty-fourth day of September, attacked by the prince of Baden,
who, after a desperate resistance, obtained another complete victory,
enriched his troops with the spoil of the enemy, and entered Nissa
without opposition. There he found above three thousand horses and a
vast quantity of provisions. Having reposed his army for a few days in
this place, he resumed his march against the Turks, who had chosen
an advantageous post at Widen, and seemed ambitious of retrieving the
honour they had lost in the two former engagements. The Germans attacked
their lines without hesitation; and though the Musselmen fought with
incredible fury, they were a third time defeated with great slaughter.
This defeat was attended with the loss of Widen, which being surrendered
to the victor, he distributed his troops in winter quarters, and
returned to Vienna covered with laurels.




DEATH OF POPE INNOCENT XI.

The French were likewise baffled in their attempt upon Catalonia, where
the duke de Noailles had taken Campredon in the month of May. Leaving a
garrison in this place, he retreated to the frontiers of France, while
the duke de Villa Hermosa, at the head of a Spanish army, blocked up the
place and laid Rousillon under contribution. He afterwards undertook the
siege in form, and Noailles marched to its relief; but he was so hard
pressed by the Spaniards that he withdrew the garrison, dismantled the
place, and retreated with great precipitation. The French king hoped to
derive some considerable advantage from the death of Pope Innocent XL
which happened on the twelfth day of August. That pontiff had been an
inveterate enemy to Louis ever since the affair of the franchises, and
the seizure of Avignon. [016] _[See note F, at the end of this Vol.]_
Cabals were immediately formed at Eome by the French faction against
the Spanish and Imperial interest. The French cardinals, de Bouillon and
Bonzi, accompanied by Furstemberg, repaired to Eome with a large sum
of money. Peter Ottoboni, a Venetian, was elected pope, and assumed the
name of Alexander VIII. The duke de Chaulnes, ambassador from France,
immediately signified in the name of his master, that Avignon should
be restored to the patrimony of the church; and Louis renounced the
franchises in a letter written by his own hand to the pontiff. Alexander
received these marks of respect with the warmest acknowledgments; but
when the ambassador and Furstemberg besought him to re-examine the
election of the bishop of Cologne, which had been the source of so much
calamity to the empire, he lent a deaf ear to their solicitations.
He even confirmed the dispensations granted by his predecessor to the
prince of Bavaria, who was thus empowered to take possession of the
electorate, though he had not yet attained the age required by the
canons. Furstemberg retired in disgust to Paris, where Louis immediately
gratified him with the abbey of St. Germains.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




KING WILLIAM BECOMES UNPOPULAR.

King William found it an easier task to unite the councils of Europe
against the common enemy than to conciliate and preserve the affections
of his own subjects, among whom he began visibly to decline in point of
popularity. Many were dissatisfied with his measures; and a great number
even of those who exerted themselves for his elevation had conceived a
disgust from his personal deportment, which was very unsuitable to the
manners and disposition of the English people. Instead of mingling
with his nobility in social amusements and familiar conversation, he
maintained a disagreeable reserve which had all the air of sullen pride;
he seldom or never spoke to his courtiers or attendants, he spent his
time chiefly in the closet retired from all communication; or among
his troops in a camp he had formed at Hounslow; or in the exercise of
hunting, to which he was immoderately addicted. This had been prescribed
to him by physicians as necessary to improve his constitution, which was
naturally weak, and by practice had become so habitual that he could not
lay it aside. His ill health co-operating with his natural aversion
to society, produced a peevishness which could not fail of being
displeasing to those who were near his person: this was increased by the
disputes in his cabinet, and the opposition of those who were professed
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 resided chiefly at Hampton-court, and expended considerable
sums in beautifying and enlarging that palace; he likewise purchased the
house at Kensington of the earl of Nottingham; and such profusion in the
beginning of an expensive war gave umbrage to the nation in general.
Whether he was advised by his counsellors, or his own sagacity pointed
out the expediency of conforming with the English humour, he now seemed
to change his disposition, and in some measure adopt the manners of his
predecessors. In imitation of Charles II. he resorted to the races at
Newmarket; he accepted an invitation to visit Cambridge, where he
behaved himself with remarkable affability to the members of the
university; he afterwards dined with the lord-mayor of London, accepted
the freedom of the city, and condescended so far as to become
sovereign-master of the company of grocers.




A GOOD NUMBER OF THE CLERGY REFUSE TO TAKE THE OATHS.

While William thus endeavoured to remove the prejudices which had been
conceived against his person, the period arrived which the parliament
had prescribed for taking the oaths to the new government. Some
individuals of the clergy sacrificed their benefices to their scruples
of conscience, and absolutely refused to take oaths that were contrary
to those they had already sworn in favour of their late sovereign. These
were distinguished by the epithet of nonjurors: but their number bore
a very small proportion to that of others, who took them with such
reservations and distinctions as redounded very little to the honour of
their integrity. Many of those who had been the warmest advocates for
non-resistance and passive obedience, made no scruple of renouncing
their allegiance to king James, and complying with the present act,
after having declared that they took the oaths in no other sense than
that of a peaceable submission to the powers that were. They even
affirmed that the legislature itself had allowed the distinction between
a king _de facto_ and a king _de jure_, as they had dropped the word
"rightful" when the form was under debate. They alleged that as prudence
obliged them to conform to the letter of the oath, so conscience
required them to give it their own interpretation. Nothing could be more
infamous and of worse tendency than this practice of equivocating in
the most sacred of all obligations. It introduced a general disregard of
oaths, which hath been the source of universal perjury and corruption.
Though this set of temporizers were bitterly upbraided both by the
nonjurors and the papists, they all concurred in representing William as
an enemy to the church; as a prince educated in the doctrines of Calvin,
which he plainly espoused, by limiting his favour and preferment to such
as were latitudinarians in religion, and by his abolishing episcopacy
in Scotland. The presbyterians in that kingdom now tyrannized in their
turn. They were headed by the earl of Crawford, a nobleman of a violent
temper and strong prejudices. He was chosen president of the parliament
by the interest of Melvil, and oppressed the episcopalians in such a
manner that the greater part of them from resentment became well-wishers
to king James. Every circumstance of the hardships they underwent was
reported in England; and the earl of Clarendon, as well as the suspended
bishops, circulated these particulars with great assiduity. The oaths
being rejected by the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishops of Ely,
Chichester, Bath and Wells, Peterborough and Gloucester, they were
suspended from their functions, and threatened with deprivation. Lake
of Chichester, being seized with a dangerous distemper, signed a solemn
declaration, in which he professed his adherence to the doctrine of
non-resistance and passive obedience, which he believed to be the
distinguishing characteristic of the church of England. After his death
this paper was published, industriously circulated, and extolled by the
party as an inspired oracle pronounced by a martyr to religious truth
and sincerity.




THE KING GRANTS A COMMISSION FOR REFORMING CHURCH DISCIPLINE.

All the clamour that was raised against the king could not divert him
from prosecuting the scheme of comprehension. He granted a commission
under the great seal to ten bishops and twenty dignitaries of the
church, authorizing them to meet from time to time in the Jerusalem
chamber, to prepare such alterations of the liturgy and the canons, and
such proposals for the reformation of ecclesiastical courts as might
most conduce to the good order, edification, and uniting of the church,
and tend to reconcile all religious differences among the protestant
subjects of the kingdom. A cry was immediately raised against this
commission, as an ecclesiastical court illegal and dangerous. At their
first meeting the authority of the commission was questioned by Sprat,
bishop of Rochester, who retired in disgust, and was followed by Mew of
Winchester, and the doctors Jane and Aldrich. These were averse to any
alteration of the forms and constitution of the church in favour of an
insolent and obstinate party, which ought to have been satisfied with
the toleration they enjoyed. They observed that an attempt to make such
alteration would divide the clergy, and bring the liturgy into disesteem
with the people, as it would be a plain acknowledgment that it wanted
correction. They thought they should violate the dignity of the church
by condescending to make offers which the dissenters were at liberty to
refuse; and they suspected some of their colleagues of a design to give
up episcopal ordination--a step inconsistent with their honour, duty,
oaths, and subscriptions.




MEETING OF THE CONVOCATION.

The commissioners, notwithstanding this secession, proceeded to debate
with moderation on the abuses of which the dissenters had complained,
and corrected every article that seemed liable to any just objection;
but the opposite party employed all their art and industry to inflame
the minds of the people. The two universities declared against all
alterations, and those who promoted them. The king himself was
branded as an enemy to the hierarchy; and they bestirred themselves so
successfully in the election of members for the convocation, that
they procured a very considerable majority. At their first meeting the
friends of the comprehension scheme proposed Dr. Tillotson, clerk of the
closet to his majesty, as prolocutor; but the other party carried it in
favour of Dr. Jane, who was counted the most violent churchman in the
whole Assembly. In a Latin speech to the bishop of London as president,
he, in the name of the lower house, asserted that the liturgy of England
needed no amendment, and concluded with the old declaration of the
barons, "_Nolumus leges Angliae mutari_. We will not suffer the laws
of England to be changed." The bishop, in his reply, exhorted them
to moderation, charity, and indulgence towards their brethren the
dissenters, and to make such abatements in things indifferent as might
serve to open a door of salvation to multitudes of straying christians.
His injunctions, however, produced no favourable effect; the lower house
seemed to be animated by a spirit of opposition. Next day the president
prorogued them, on pretence that the royal commission, by which
they were to act, was defective for want of being sealed, and that a
prorogation was necessary until that sanction should be obtained. In
this interval means were used to mollify their non-compliant tempers,
but all endeavours proved ineffectual. When they met again, the earl of
Nottingham delivered the king's commission to both houses, with a
speech of his own, and a message from his majesty, importing that he had
summoned them out of a pious zeal to do every thing that might tend to
the best establishment of the church of England, which should always
enjoy his favour and protection. He exhorted them to lay aside all
prejudice, and consider calmly and impartially whatever should be
proposed: he assured them he would offer nothing but what should be for
the honour, peace, and advantage of the protestant religion in general,
and particularly of the church of England.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




THEIR SESSION PROROGUED.

The bishops adjourning to the Jerusalem chamber, prepared a zealous
address of thanks to his majesty, which, being sent to the lower house
for their concurrence, met with violent opposition. Amendments were
proposed; a conference ensued, and, after warm debates, they agreed upon
a cold address, which was accordingly presented. The majority of the
lower house, far from taking any measures in favour of dissenters,
converted all their attention to the relief of their nonjuring brethren.
Zealous speeches were made in behalf of the suspended bishops; and Dr.
Jane proposed that something might be done to qualify them to sit in the
convocation. This, however, was such a dangerous point as they would not
venture to discuss; yet, rather than proceed upon the business for which
they had been assembled, they began to take cognizance of some pamphlets
lately published, which they conceived to be of dangerous consequence
to the christian religion. The president and his party, perceiving
the disposition of the house, did not think proper to communicate any
proposal touching the intended reformation, and the king suffered the
session to be discontinued by repeated prorogations.




PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

The parliament meeting on the nineteenth day of October, the king, in a
speech of his own composing, explained the necessity of a present supply
to carry on the war. He desired that they might be speedy in their
determinations on this subject, for these would in a great measure
influence the deliberations of the princes and states concerned in the
war against France, as a general meeting of them was appointed to be
held next month at the Hague, to settle the operations of the ensuing
campaign. He concluded with recommending the dispatch of a bill of
indemnity, that the minds of his subjects might be quieted, and that
they might unanimously concur in promoting the honour and welfare of the
kingdom. As several inflammatory bills and disputes, which had produced
heats and animosities in the last session, were still depending, the
king, after having consulted both houses, resolved to put an end to
those disputes by a prorogation. He accordingly went to the house of
lords and prorogued the parliament till the twenty-first day of October,
by the mouth of the new speaker, sir Robert Atkins; the marquis of
Halifax having resigned that office. When they re-assembled, the
king referred them to his former speech: then the commons unanimously
resolved to assist his majesty in reducing Ireland, and in joining with
his allies abroad for a vigorous prosecution of the war against France:
for these purposes they voted a supply of two millions.




THE WHIGS OBSTRUCT THE INDEMNITY BILL.

During this session the whigs employed all their influence and intrigues
in obstructing the bill of indemnity, which they knew would open a door
for favour and preferment to the opposite party, which began to gain
ground in the king's good graces. With this view they revived the
prosecution of the state prisoners. A committee was appointed to prepare
a charge against Burton and Graham. The commons resolved to impeach the
earls of Peterborough, Salisbury, and Castlemain, sir Edward Hales,
and Obadiah Walker, of high treason, for having been reconciled to the
church of Rome, contrary to the laws of the realm. A bill was ordered
to be brought in to declare the estate of the late lord chancellor
Jefferies forfeited to the crown, and attaint his blood; but it met with
such opposition that the measure was dropped: the house however agreed,
that the pecuniary penalties incurred by those persons who had exercised
offices contrary to the laws against popish recusants, should be
speedily levied and applied to the public service. The lord Griffin
being detected in maintaining a correspondence with king James and his
partizans, was committed to the Tower; but as no other evidence appeared
against him than written letters, found in the false bottom of a pewter
bottle, they could not help consenting to his being released upon bail,
as they had lately resolved that Algernon Sidney was unjustly condemned
in the reign of Charles II. because nothing but writings had been
produced against him at his trial. The two houses concurred in
appointing a committee to inquire who were the advisers and prosecutors
in taking away the lives of lord Russel, colonel Sydney, sir Thomas
Armstrong, alderman Cornish, and others; and who were chiefly concerned
in the arbitrary practices touching the writs of _quo warranto_, and
the surrender of charters. This inquiry was levelled at the marquis of
Halifax, who had concurred with the ministry of Charles in all these
severities. Though no proof appeared upon which votes or addresses could
be founded, that nobleman saw it was necessary for him to withdraw
himself from the administration; he therefore resigned the privy-seal,
which was put in commission, and reconciled himself to the tories, of
whom he became the patron and protector.




INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE OF THE MISCARRIAGES IN IRELAND RESUMED.

The commons likewise resumed the examination of the miscarriages in
Ireland, and desired the king would appoint commissioners to go over
and inquire into the condition of the army in that kingdom. Schomberg,
understanding that he had been blamed in the house of commons for his
inactivity, transmitted to the king a satisfactory vindication of his
own conduct; and it appeared that the miscarriages in Ireland were
wholly owing to John Shales, purveyor-general to the army. The commons
immediately presented an address to his majesty, praying that Shales
might be taken into custody; that all his papers, accounts, and stores,
should be secured; and that duke Schomberg might be empowered to fill
his place with a more able purveyor. The king gave them to understand
that he had already sent orders to the general for that purpose.
Nevertheless, they in another petition requested his majesty to name
those who had recommended Shales to his service, as he had exercised the
same office under king James, and was suspected of treasonable practices
against the government. William declined gratifying their request; but
he afterwards sent a message to the house, desiring them to recommend
a certain number of commissioners to superintend such provisions and
preparations as might be necessary for that service, as well as to
nominate certain persons to go over and examine the state of the army
in Ireland. The commons were so mollified by this instance of his
condescension, that they left the whole affair to his own direction,
and proceeded to examine other branches of misconduct. Instances of
mismanagement appeared so numerous and so flagrant, that they resolved
upon a subsequent address, to explain the ill conduct and success of
his army and navy; to desire he would find out the author of these
miscarriages, and for the future intrust unsuspected persons with the
management of affairs. They ordered the victuallers of the fleet to be
taken into custody, on suspicion of their having furnished the navy with
unwholesome provisions, and new commissioners were appointed. Bitter
reproaches were thrown out against the ministry. Mr. Hambden expressed
his surprise that the administration should consist of those very
persons whom king James had employed, when his affairs were desperate,
to treat with the prince of Orange, and moved that the king should be
petitioned in an address to remove such persons from his presence and
councils. This was a stroke aimed at the earl of Nottingham, whose
office of secretary Hambden desired to possess; but his motion was not
seconded, the court-members observing that James did not depute these
lords to the prince of Orange because they were attached to his own
interest, but for a very different reason, namely, that they were well
known to disapprove of his measures, and therefore would be the more
agreeable to his highness. The house however voted an address to the
king, desiring that the authors of the miscarriages might be brought to
condign punishment.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




WILLIAM IRRITATED AGAINST THE WHIGS.

In the sequel, the question was proposed, Whether a placeman ought to
have a seat in the house? and a very warm debate ensued: but it was
carried in the affirmative, on the supposition that by such exclusion
the commonwealth would be deprived of some of the ablest senators of the
kingdom. But what chiefly irritated William against the whigs was their
backwardness in promoting the public service, and their disregard of the
earnest desire he expressed to see his revenue settled for life. He said
his title was no more than a pageant, and the worst of all governments
was that of a king without treasure. Nevertheless, they would not grant
the civil list for a longer term than one year. They began to think
there was something arbitrary in his disposition. His sullen behaviour
in all probability first infused this opinion, which was strengthened
and confirmed by the insinuations of his enemies. The Scots who had come
up to London to give an account of the proceedings in their parliament,
were infected with the same notion. One Simpson, a presbyterian of that
country, whom the earl of Portland employed as a spy, had insinuated
himself into the confidence of Nevil Payne, an active and intelligent
partisan and agent of king James; by which means he supplied the earl
with such intelligence as raised him to some degree of credit with that
minister. This he used in prepossessing the earl against the king's best
friends, and infusing jealousies which were soon kindled into mutual
distrust and animosity.




PLOT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

Sir James Montgomery, who had been a warm advocate for the revolution,
received advice that the court suspected him and others of disaffection,
and was employed in seeking evidence by which they might be prosecuted.
They were equally alarmed and incensed at this intimation, and Payne
seized the opportunity of seducing them into a correspondence with the
exiled king. They demanded the settlement of the presbytery in Scotland,
and actually engaged in a treaty for his restoration. They reconciled
themselves to the duke of Queensbury, and the other noblemen of the
episcopal party: they wrote to James for a supply of money, arms, and
ammunition, together with a reinforcement of three thousand men from
Dunkirk. Montgomery had acquired great interest among the whigs of
England, and this he-employed in animating them against the king and
the ministry. He represented them as a set of wicked men, who employed
infamous spies to insnare and ruin the fast friends of the government,
and found means to alienate them so much from William, that they began
to think in earnest of recalling their banished prince The duke of
Bolton and the earl of Monmouth were almost persuaded into a conspiracy
for this purpose; they seemed to think James was now so well convinced
of his former errors, that they might trust him without scruple.
Montgomery and Payne were the chief managers of the scheme, and they
admitted Ferguson into their councils, as a veteran in the arts of
treason. In order to blast William's credit in the city, they circulated
a report that James would grant a full indemnity, separate himself
entirely from the French interest, and be contented with a secret
connivance in favour of the Roman catholics. Montgomery's brother
assured the bishop of Salisbury that a treaty with king James was
absolutely concluded, and an invitation subscribed by the whole cabal.
He said this paper would be sent to Ireland by the way of France, as the
direct communication was difficult; and he proposed a method for seizing
it before it should be conveyed out of the kingdom. Williamson, the
supposed bearer of it, had obtained a pass for Flanders, and a messenger
being sent in pursuit of him, secured his clothes and portmanteau; but
after a very strict examination nothing appeared to justify the
intelligence. Williamson had previously delivered the papers to Simpson,
who hired a boat at Deal, and arrived in safety at France. He returned
with large assurances, and twelve thousand pounds were remitted to the
Scottish undertakers. Montgomery the informer seeing his intelligence
falsified, lost his credit with the bishop, and dreading the resentment
of the other party, retired to the continent. The conspirators loudly
complained of the false imputations they had incurred. The pretended
discoveries were looked upon as fictions of the ministry, and the king
on this occasion suffered greatly in the opinion of his subjects.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




DEBATES ABOUT THE CORPORATION BILLS.

The tories still continued to carry on a secret negotiation with the
court. They took advantage of the ill-humour subsisting between the
king and the whigs; and promised large supplies of money provided this
parliament should be dissolved and another immediately convoked. The
opposite party, being apprized of their intention, brought a bill into
the house of commons for restoring corporations to their ancient rights
and privileges. They knew their own strength at elections consisted
in these corporations; and they inserted two additional severe clauses
against those who were in any shape concerned in surrendering charters.
The whole power of the tories was exerted against this clause; and now
the whigs vied with them in making court to his majesty, promising to
manifest the most submissive obedience should this bill be enacted into
a law. The strength of the tories was now become so formidable to
the house, that they out-voted the other party, and the clauses were
rejected; but the bill passed in its original form. The lords debated
upon the point, Whether a corporation could be forfeited or surrendered?
Lord chief justice Holt and two other judges declared their opinion in
the affirmative: the rest thought otherwise, as no precedents could be
produced farther back than the reign of Henry VIII. when the abbeys were
surrendered; and this instance seemed too violent to authorize such a
measure in a regular course of administration. The bill, however, passed
by one voice only. Then both parties quickened their applications to the
king, who found himself so perplexed and distracted between two factions
which he equally feared, that he resolved to leave the government in the
queen's hands and retire to Holland. He communicated this design to the
marquis of Carmarthen, the earl of Shrewsbury, and some other noblemen,
who pressed him to lay aside his resolution, and even mingled tears with
their remonstrances.




THE KING RESOLVES TO FINISH THE IRISH WAR IN PERSON.

He at length complied with their request, and determined to finish the
Irish war in person. This design was far from being agreeable to the
parliament. His friends dreaded the climate of that country, which might
prove fatal to his weak constitution. The well-wishers of James were
afraid of that prince's being hard pressed, should William take the
field against him in person.

Both houses, therefore, began to prepare an address against this
expedition. In order to prevent this remonstrance, the king went to the
parliament, and formally signified his resolution. After his speech they
were prorogued to the second day of April. On the sixth day of February
they were dissolved by proclamation, and a new parliament was summoned
to meet on the twentieth day of March. During this session, the commons,
in an address to the king, desired that a revenue of fifty thousand
pounds might be settled upon the prince and princess of Denmark, out of
the civil list; and his majesty gratified them in this particular: yet
the warmth and industry with which the friends of the princess
exerted themselves in promoting the settlement, produced a coldness and
misunderstanding between the two sisters; and the subsequent disgrace of
the earl of Marlborough was imputed to the part which his wife acted on
the occasion. She was lady of the bed-chamber, and chief confidant to
the princess, whom she strenuously advised to insist upon the settlement
rather than depend upon the generosity of the king and queen.




LUDLOW ARRIVES IN ENGLAND, BUT IS OBLIGED TO WITHDRAW.

About this period general Ludlow, who at the restoration had been
excepted from the act of indemnity, as one of those who sat in judgment
upon Charles I. arrived in England, and offered his service in reducing
Ireland, where he had formerly commanded. Though a rigid republican,
he was reputed a conscientious man, and a good officer. He had received
some encouragement to come over, and probably would have been employed
had not the commons interposed. Sir Edward Seymour, who enjoyed by grant
an estate in Wiltshire which had formerly belonged to Ludlow, began to
be in pain for his possession. He observed in the house, that the nation
would be disgraced should one of the J parricides be suffered to live in
the kingdom. An address was immediately presented to the king, desiring
a proclamation might be issued promising a reward for apprehending
general Ludlow. This was accordingly published; but not before he had
landed in Holland, from whence he returned to Vevay in Switzerland,
where he wrote the memoirs of his life, and died after an exile of
thirty years.




EFFORTS OF THE JACOBITES IN SCOTLAND.

While king William fluctuated between two parties in England, his
interest in Scotland had well nigh given way to a coalition between the
original Jacobites and Montgomery's party of discontented presbyterians.
Colonel Cannon, who succeeded the viscount Dundee in command, after
having made several unsuccessful efforts in favour of the late king's
interest, retired into Ireland; and the highlanders chose sir Hugh
Cameron for their leader. Under him they renewed their incursions with
the better prospect of success, as several regiments of the regular
troops had been sent to reinforce the army of Schomberg. James assisted
them with clothes, arms, and ammunition, together with some officers,
amongst whom was colonel Bucan, appointed to act as their chief
commander. This officer, at the head of fifteen hundred men, advanced
into the shire of Murray, in hopes of being joined by other malcontents;
but he was surprised and routed by sir Thomas Livingstone, while major
Ferguson destroyed the places they possessed in the Isle of Mull; so
that the highlanders were obliged to retire and conceal themselves among
their hills and fastnesses. The friends of James, despairing of doing
any thing effectual for his service in the field, converted all their
attention to the proceedings in parliament; where they imagined their
interest was much stronger than it appeared to be upon trial. They took
the oaths without hesitation, and hoped, by the assistance of their new
allies, to embroil the government in such a manner that the majority of
the people would declare for a restoration. But the views of these new
cemented parties were altogether incompatible, and their principles
diametrically opposite. Notwithstanding their concurrence in parliament,
the earl of Melvil procured a small majority. The opposition was
immediately discouraged: some individuals retracted, rather than fall
with a sinking cause; and mutual jealousies began to prevail. The
leaders of the coalition treated separately with king James; made
inconsistent demands; reciprocally concealed their negotiations; in a
word, they distrusted and hated one another with the most implacable
resentment.




THE COURT INTEREST PREVAILS.

The earls of Argyle, Annandale, and Breadalbane, withdrew from their
councils and repaired to England. Montgomery, terrified at their
defection, went privately to London, after he had hinted something
of the plot to Melvil, and solicited a pass from the queen, which was
refused. Annandale, having received information that Montgomery had
disclosed all the particulars of the negotiation, threw himself upon the
queen's mercy, and discovered all he knew of the conspiracy. As lie had
not treated with any of the malcontents in England, they remained secure
from his evidence; but he informed against Nevil Payne, who had been
sent down as their agent to Scotland, where he now resided. He was
immediately apprehended by the council of that kingdom, in consequence
of a letter from the earl of Nottingham; and twice put to the torture,
which he resolutely bore, without discovering his employers. Montgomery
still absconded in London, soliciting a pardon; but finding he could not
obtain it, except on condition of making a full discovery, he
abandoned his country, and chose to die in exile rather than betray his
confederates. This disunion of the conspirators, and discovery of the
plot, left the earl of Melvil in possession of a greater majority;
though even this he was fain to secure by overstraining his instructions
in the articles of patronage, and the supremacy of the crown, which he
yielded up to the fury of the fanatic presbyterians, contrary to the
intention of king William. In lieu of these, however, they indulged him
with the tax of chimney or hearth-money; as well as with a test to be
imposed upon all persons in office or parliament, declaring William and
Mary their lawful sovereigns, and renouncing the pretended title of king
James. All the laws in favour of episcopacy were repealed. Threescore
of the presbyterian ministers, who had been ejected at the restoration,
were still alive; and these the parliament declared the only sound part
of the church. The government of it was lodged in their hands; and
they were empowered to admit such as they should think proper to their
assistance. A few furious fanatics being thus associated, proceeded with
ungovernable violence to persecute the episcopal party, exercising the
very same tyranny against which they themselves had so loudly exclaimed.




THE TORY INTEREST PREVAILS IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

While the presbyterian interest thus triumphed in Scotland, the
two parties that divided England employed their whole influence and
attention in managing the elections for a new parliament; and the tories
obtained the victory. The king seemed gradually falling into the arms of
this party. They complained of their having been totally excluded from
the lieutenancy of London at the king's accession to the crown; and
now a considerable number of the most violent tories in the city were
admitted into the commission by the interest and address of the bishop
of London, the marquis of Carmarthen, and the earl of Nottingham. To
gratify that party, the earls of Monmouth and Warrington were dismissed
from their employments; nay, when the parliament met on the twentieth
day of March, the commons chose for their speaker sir John Trevor, a
violent partisan of that faction, who had been created master of the
rolls by the late king. He was a bold artful man, and undertook to
procure a majority to be at the devotion of the court, provided
he should be supplied with the necessary sums for the purposes of
corruption. William, finding there was no other way of maintaining his
administration in peace, thought proper to countenance the practice of
purchasing votes, and appointed Trevor first commissioner of the great
seal. In his speech to the new parliament, he gave them to understand
that he still persisted in his resolution of going in person to Ireland.
He desired they would make a settlement of the revenue, or establish it
for the present as a fund of credit, upon which the necessary sums for
the service of government might be immediately advanced; he signified
his intention of sending to them an act of grace, with a few exceptions,
that he might manifest his readiness to extend his protection to all his
subjects, and leave no colour of excuse for raising disturbances in
his absence, as he knew how busy some ill-affected men were in their
endeavours to alter the established government; he recommended an union
with Scotland, the parliament of which had appointed commissioners for
that purpose; he told them he should leave the administration in the
hands of the queen, and desired they would prepare an act to confirm her
authority; he exhorted them to dispatch the business for which they were
assembled, to avoid debates, and expressed his hope that they should
soon meet again to finish what might be now left imperfect.




BILL FOR RECOGNISING THEIR MAJESTIES.

The commons, in compliance with his request, voted a supply of twelve
hundred thousand pounds, one million of that sum to be raised by a
clause of credit in the revenue bills; but he could not prevail
upon them to settle the revenue for life. They granted, however, the
hereditary excise for that term, but the customs for four years only.
They considered this short term as the best security the kingdom could
have for frequent parliaments; though this precaution was not at all
agreeable to their sovereign. A poll-bill was likewise passed, other
supplies were granted, and both parties seemed to court his majesty
by advancing money on those funds of credit. The whigs, however, had
another battery in reserve. They produced, in the upper house, a bill
for recognising their majesties as the rightful and lawful sovereign of
these realms, and for declaring all the acts of the last parliament
to be good and valid. The tories were now reduced to a very perplexed
situation. They could not oppose the bill without hazarding the
interest they had so lately acquired, nor assent to it without solemnly
renouncing their former arguments and distinctions. They made no great
objections to the first part, and even proposed to enact, That those
should be deemed good laws for the time to come; but they refused to
declare them valid for that which was past. After a long debate, the
bill was committed; yet the whigs lost their majority on the report;
nevertheless, the bill was recovered, and passed with some alteration in
the words; in consequence of a nervous spirited protest, signed Bolton,
Macclesfield, Stamford, Newport, Bedford, Her bert, Suffolk, Monmouth,
Delamere, and Oxford. The whole interest of the court was thrown into
the scale with this bill, before it would preponderate against the
tories; the chiefs of whom, with the earl of Nottingham at their head,
protested in their turn. The same party in the house of commons were
determined upon a vigorous opposition; and in the mean time some
trifling objections were made, that it might be committed for amendment;
but their design was prematurely discovered by one of their faction,
who chanced to question the legality of the convention, as it was not
summoned by the king's writ. This insinuation was answered by Somers the
solicitor general, who observed, that if it was not a legal parliament,
they who were then met, and who had taken the oaths enacted by that
parliament, were guilty of high treason; the laws repealed by it were
still in force: it was their duty therefore to return to king James; and
all concerned in collecting and paying the money levied by the acts of
that parliament were highly criminal. The tories were so struck with
these arguments that the bill passed without further opposition, and
immediately received the royal assent. Thus the settlement was confirmed
by those very people who had so loudly exclaimed against it as illegal;
but the whigs, with all their management, would not have gained their
point had not the court been interested in the dispute.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}



ANOTHER VIOLENT CONTEST.

There was another violent contest between the two parties, on the import
of a bill requiring all subjects in office to abjure king James on pain
of imprisonment. Though the clergy were at first exempted from this
test, the main body of the tories opposed it with great vehemence; while
the whigs, under countenance of the ministry, supported it with equal
vigour. It produced long and violent debates; and the two factions
seemed pretty equally balanced. At length the tories represented to
the king that a great deal of precious time would be lost in fruitless
altercation; that those who declared against the bill would grow sullen
and intractable, so as to oppose every other motion that might be made
for the king's service; that, in case of its being carried, his majesty
must fall again into the hands of the whigs, who would renew their
former practices against the prerogative; and many individuals, who
were now either well affected to him, or at least neutral, would become
Jacobites from resentment. These suggestions had such weight with king
William, that he sent an intimation to the commons, desiring they would
drop the debate and proceed to matters that were more pressing. The
whigs in general were disgusted at this interposition; and the earl of
Shrewsbury, who had interested himself warmly in behalf of the bill,
resented it so deeply that he insisted on resigning his office of
secretary of state. The king, who revered his talents and integrity,
employed Dr. Tillotson and others, who were supposed to have credit with
the earl, to dissuade him from quitting his employment; but he continued
deaf to all their remonstrances, and would not even comply with the
request of his majesty, who pressed him to keep the seals until he
should return from Ireland. Long debates were likewise managed in the
house of lords upon the bill of abjuration, or rather an oath of special
fidelity to William, in opposition to James. The tories professed
themselves willing to enter into a negative engagement against the late
king and his adherents; but they opposed the oath of abjuration with all
their might: and the house was so equally divided that neither side was
willing to hazard a decision, so that all the fruit of their debates was
a prolongation of the session.




KING WILLIAM LANDS IN IRELAND.

An act was prepared for investing the queen with the administration
during the king's absence; another for reversing the judgment on a _quo
warranto_ against the city of London, and restoring it to its ancient
rights and privileges; at length the bill of indemnity so cordially
recommended by the king passed both houses. [021] _[See note G, at the
end of this Vol.]_ On the twenty-first day of May, the king closed the
session with a Short speech, in which he thanked them for the supplies
they had granted, and recommended to them a punctual discharge of their
duties in their respective counties, that the peace of the nation might
not be interrupted in his absence. The houses were adjourned to the
seventh day of July, when the parliament was prorogued and adjourned
successively. As a further security for the peace of the kingdom, the
deputy-lieutenants were authorized to raise the militia in case of
necessity. All papists were prohibited to stir above five miles from
their respective places of abode; a proclamation was published for
apprehending certain disaffected persons; sir John Cochran and Ferguson
were actually arrested on suspicion of treasonable practices. On the
fourth day of June the king set out for Ireland, attended by prince
George of Denmark, the duke of Ormond, the earls of Oxford, Scarborough,
Manchester, and many other persons of distinction: on the fourteenth
day of the month he landed at Carrickfergus, from whence he immediately
proceeded to Belfast, where he was met by the duke of Schomberg, the
prince of Wirtemberg, major-general Kirke, and other officers. By this
time colonel Wolsey, at the head of a thousand men, had defeated a
strong detachment of the enemy near Belturbat; sir John Lanier had
taken Bedloe castle; and that of Charlemont, a strong post of great
importance, together with Balingary near Cavan, had been reduced. King
William having reposed himself for two or three days at Belfast, visited
the duke's head-quarters at Lis-burne; then advancing to Hillsborough,
published an order against pressing horses, and committing violence on
the country people. When some of his general officers proposed cautious
measures, he declared he did not come to Ireland to let the grass
grow under his feet. He ordered the army to encamp and be reviewed
at Loughbrilland, where he found it amount to six-and-thirty thousand
effective men, well appointed. Then he marched to Dundalk; and
afterwards advanced to Ardee, which the enemy had just abandoned.




JAMES MARCHES TO THE BOYNE.

King James trusted so much to the disputes in the English parliament,
that he did not believe his son-in-law would be able to quit that
kingdom; and William had been six days in Ireland before he received
intimation of his arrival. This was no sooner known than he left
Dublin under the guard of the militia commanded by Luttrel, and with
a reinforcement of six thousand infantry, which he had lately received
from France, joined the rest of his forces, which now almost equalled
William's army in number, exclusive of about fifteen thousand men who
remained in different garrisons. He occupied a very advantageous post
on the bank of the Boyne, and, contrary to the advice of his general
officers, resolved to stand battle. They proposed to strengthen their
garrisons and retire to the Shannon to wait the effect of the operations
at sea. Louis had promised to equip a powerful armament against the
English fleet, and send over a great number of small frigates to destroy
William's transports, as soon as their convoy should be returned to
England. The execution of this scheme was not at all difficult, and must
have proved fatal to the English army; for their stores and ammunition
were still on board; the ships sailed along the coast as the troops
advanced in their march; and there was not one secure harbour into
which they could retire on any emergency. James, however, was bent upon
hazarding an engagement; and expressed uncommon confidence and alacrity.
Besides the river which was deep, his front was secured by a morass and
a rising ground, so that the English army could not attack him without
manifest disadvantage.




WILLIAM RESOLVES TO GIVE HIM BATTLE

King William marched up to the opposite bank of the river, and, as
he reconnoitred their situation, was exposed to the fire of some
field-pieces which the enemy purposely planted against his person.
They killed a man and two horses close by him; and the second bullet,
rebounding from the earth, grazed upon his right shoulder so as to carry
off part of his clothes and skin, and produce a considerable contusion.
This accident, which he bore without the least emotion, created some
confusion among his attendants, which the enemy perceiving, concluded
he was killed, and shouted aloud in token of their joy. The whole camp
resounded with acclamation; and several squadrons of their horse
were drawn down towards the river as if they had intended to pass
it immediately and attack the English army. The report was instantly
communicated from place to place until it reached Dublin; from thence
it was conveyed to Paris, where, contrary to the custom of the French
court, the people were encouraged to celebrate the event with bonfires
and illuminations. William rode along the line to show himself to the
army after this narrow escape. At night he called a council of war, and
declared his resolution to attack the enemy in the morning. Schomberg
at first opposed his design; but finding the king determined, he advised
that a strong detachment of horse and foot should that night pass the
Boyne at Slane-bridge, and take post between the enemy and the pass of
Duleck, that the action might be the more decisive. This council
being rejected, the king determined that early in the morning
lieutenant-general Douglas, with the right wing of infantry, and young
Schomberg, with the horse, should pass at Slane-bridge, while the main
body of foot should force their passage at Old-bridge, and the left
at certain fords between the enemy's camp and Drogheda. The duke,
perceiving his advice was not relished by the Dutch generals, retired to
his tent, where the order of battle being brought to him, he received it
with an air of discontent, saying, It was the first that had ever been
sent him in that manner. The proper dispositions being made, William
rode quite through the army by torchlight, and then retired to his tent,
after having given orders for the soldiers to distinguish themselves
from the enemy by wearing green boughs in their hats during the action.




BATTLE OF THE BOYNE.

At six o'clock in the morning, general Douglas, with young Schomberg,
the earl of Portland, and Auverquerque, marched towards Slane-bridge,
and passed the river with very little opposition. When they reached
the farther bank, they perceived the enemy drawn up in two lines, to a
considerable number of horse and foot, with a morass in their front,
so that Douglas was obliged to wait for a reinforcement. This being
arrived, the infantry was led on to the charge through the morass, while
count Schomberg rode round it with his cavalry to attack the enemy
in flank. The Irish, instead of waiting the assault, faced about and
retreated towards Duleck with some precipitation; yet not so fast but
that Schomberg fell in among their rear and did considerable execution.
King James however soon reinforced his left wing from the centre;
and the count was in his turn obliged to send for assistance. At this
juncture, king William's main body, consisting of the Dutch guards,
the French regiments, and some battalions of English, passed the river,
which was waist high, under a general discharge of artillery. King
James had imprudently removed his cannon from the other side; but he
had posted a strong body of musqueteers along the bank, behind hedges,
houses, and some works raised for the occasion. These poured in a close
fire upon the English troops before they reached the shore; but
it produced very little effect: then the Irish gave way; and some
battalions landed without further opposition. Yet, before they could
form, they were charged with great impetuosity by a squadron of the
enemy's horse; and a considerable body of their cavalry and foot,
commanded by general Hamilton, advanced from behind some little hillocks
to attack those that were landed, as well as to prevent the rest
from reaching the shore. His infantry turned their backs and fled
immediately; but the horse charged with incredible fury, both upon the
bank and in the river, so as to put the unformed regiments in confusion.
Then the duke of Schomberg, passing the river in person, put himself
at the head of the French protestants, and pointing to the enemy,
"Gentlemen," said he, "those are your persecutors;" with these words he
advanced to the attack, where he himself sustained a violent onset from
a party of the Irish horse which had broke through one of the regiments,
and were now on their return. They were mistaken for English, and
allowed to gallop up to the duke, who received two severe wounds in
the head; but the French regiments being now sensible of their mistake,
rashly threw in their fire upon the Irish while they were engaged with
the duke, and instead of saving, shot him dead upon the spot. The fate
of this general had well nigh proved fatal to the English army, which
was immediately involved in tumult and disorder; while the infantry
of king James rallied, and returned to their posts with a face of
resolution. They were just ready to fall upon the centre, when king
William having passed with the left wing, composed of the Danish, Dutch,
and Inniskilling horse, advanced to attack them on the right. They were
struck with such a panic at his appearance that they made a sudden halt,
and then facing about, retreated to the village of Dunore. There they
made such a vigorous stand that the Dutch and Danish horse, though
headed by the king in person, recoiled; even the Inniskillmers gave
way; and the whole wing would have been routed, had not a detachment
of dragoons, belonging to the regiment of Cunningham and Livison,
dismounted, and lined the hedges on each side of the defile through
which the fugitives were driven. There they did such execution upon the
pursuers as soon checked their ardour. The horse, 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 soul of the Irish during the whole engagement, was wounded and
taken--an incident which discouraged them to such a degree, that they
made no further efforts to retrieve the advantage they had lost. He was
immediately brought to the king, who asked him if he thought the Irish
would make any further resistance; and he replied, "Upon my honour, I
believe they will; for they have still a good body of horse entire."
William, eyeing him with a look of disdain, repeated, "Your honour! your
honour!" but took no other notice of his having acted contrary to
his engagement, when he was permitted to go to Ireland on promise of
persuading Tyrconnel to submit to the new government. The Irish now
abandoned the field with precipitation; but the French and Swiss troops,
that acted as their auxiliaries under Lausun, retreated in good order,
after having maintained the battle for some time with intrepidity and
perseverance.




DEATH OF SCHOMBERG.

As king William did not think proper to pursue the enemy, the carnage
was not great. The Irish lost fifteen hundred men, and the English
about one-third of that number; though the victory was dearly purchased,
considering the death of the gallant duke of Schomberg, who fell in the
eighty-second year of his age, after having rivalled the best generals
of the time in military reputation. He was descended of a noble family
in the Palatinate, and his mother was an English woman, daughter of lord
Dudley. Being obliged to leave his country on account of the troubles
by which it was agitated, he commenced a soldier of fortune, and served
successively in the armies of Holland, England, France, Portugal, and
Brandenburgh. He attained to the dignities of mareschal in France,
grandee in Portugal, generalissimo in Prussia, and duke in England.
He professed the protestant religion; was courteous and humble in his
deportment; cool, penetrating, resolute, and sagacious; nor was his
probity inferior to his courage. This battle likewise proved fatal
to the brave Caillemote, who had followed the duke's fortunes, and
commanded one of the protestant regiments. After having received a
mortal wound, he was carried back through the river by four soldiers,
and though almost in the agonies of death, he with a cheerful
countenance encouraged those who were crossing to do their duty,
exclaiming, "_A la gloire, mes enfans; a la gloire_. To glory, my
lads; to glory!" The third remarkable person who lost his life on
this occasion was Walker the clergyman, who had so valiantly defended
Londonderry against the whole army of king James. He had been very
graciously received by king William, who gratified him with a reward of
five thousand pounds, and a promise of further favour; but his military
genius still predominating, he attended his royal patron in this battle,
and being shot in the belly, died in a few minutes. The persons of
distinction who fell on the other side were the lords Dongan and
Carlingford, sir Neile O'Neile, and the marquis of Hoequincourt. James
himself stood aloof during the action on the hill of Dunmore, surrounded
with some squadrons of horse; and seeing victory declare against him,
retired to Dublin without having made the least effort to re-assemble
his broken forces. Had he possessed either spirit or conduct, his army
might have been rallied, and reinforced from his garrisons, so as to be
in a condition to keep the field, and even act upon the offensive; for
his loss was inconsiderable, and the victor did not attempt to molest
his troops in their retreat--an omission which has been charged upon him
as a flagrant instance of misconduct. Indeed, through the whole of this
engagement, William's personal courage was much more conspicuous than
his military skill.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




JAMES EMBARKS FOR FRANCE.

King James no sooner arrived at Dublin than he assembled the magistrates
and council of the city, and in a short speech resigned them to the
fortune of the victor. He complained of the cowardice of the Irish;
signified his resolution of leaving the kingdom immediately; forbade
them, on their allegiance, to burn or plunder the city after his
departure; and assured them, that, though he was obliged to yield to
force, he would never cease to labour for their deliverance. Next day he
set 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 vessel which had been prepared for his
reception. At sea he fell in with the French squadron, commanded by the
Sieur de Foran, who persuaded him to go on board one of his frigates,
which was a prime sailer. In this he was safely conveyed to France, and
returned to the place of his former residence at St. Germain's. He had
no sooner quitted Dublin than it was also abandoned by all the papists.
The protestants immediately took possession of the arms belonging to
the militia, under the conduct of the bishops of Meath and Limerick.
A committee was formed to take charge of the administration; and an
account of these transactions was transmitted to king William, together
with a petition that he would honour the city with his presence.




WILLIAM ENTERS DUBLIN.

On the morning after the battle of the Boyne, William sent a detachment
of horse and foot, under the command of M. Mellionere, to Drogheda, the
governor of which surrendered the place without opposition. The king at
the head of the army began his march for Dublin, and halted the first
night at Bally-Breghan; where, having received advice of the enemy's
retreat from the capital, he sent the duke of Ormond with a body of
horse to take possession. These were immediately followed by the Dutch
guards, who secured the castle. In a few days the king encamped at
Finglas, in the neighbourhood of Dublin, where he was visited by the
bishops of Meath and Limerick, at the head of the protestant clergy,
whom he assured of his favour and protection. Then he published a
declaration of pardon to all the common people who had served against
him, provided they should return to their dwellings and surrender their
arms by the first day of August. Those that rented lands of popish
proprietors who had been concerned in the rebellion, were required to
retain their rents in their own hands until they should have notice
from the commissioners of the revenue to whom they should be paid. The
desperate leaders of the rebellion, who had violated the laws of the
kingdom, called in the French, authorized the depredations which had
been committed upon protestants, and rejected the pardon offered to them
on the king's first proclamation, were left to the event of war, unless
by evident demonstrations of repentance they should deserve mercy, which
would never be refused to those who were truly penitent. The next step
taken by king William was to issue a proclamation reducing the brass
money to nearly its intrinsic value. In the meantime, the principal
officers in the army of James, after having seen him embark at
Waterford, returned to their troops, determined to prosecute the war as
long as they could be supplied with means to support their operations.




VICTORY GAINED BY THE FRENCH.

During these transactions, the queen, as regent, found herself
surrounded with numberless cares and perplexities. Her council was
pretty equally divided into whigs and tories, who did not always act
with unanimity. She was distracted between her apprehensions for her
father's safety and her husband's life: she was threatened with an
invasion by the French from abroad, and with an insurrection by the
Jacobites at home. Nevertheless she disguised her fears, and behaved
with equal prudence and fortitude. Advice being received that a fleet
was ready to sail from Brest, lord Torrington hoisted his flag in the
Downs, and sailed round to St. Helen's, in order to assemble such a
number of ships as would enable him to give them battle. The enemy
being discovered off Plymouth on the twentieth day of June, the English
admiral, reinforced with a Dutch squadron, stood out to sea with a view
to intercept them at the back of the Isle of Wight, should they presume
to sail up the channel, not that he thought himself strong enough to
cope with them in battle. Their fleet consisted of seventy-eight ships
of war, and two-and-twenty fire-ships; whereas, the combined squadrons
of England and Holland did not exceed six-and-fifty; but he had received
orders to hazard an engagement if he thought it might be done with any
prospect of success. After the hostile fleets had continued five days
in sight of each other, lord Torrington bore down upon the enemy off
Beachy-head, on the thirtieth day of June, at day-break. The Dutch
squadron, which composed the van, began the engagement about nine in
the morning; in about half an hour the blue division of the English were
close engaged with the rear of the French; but the red, which formed
the centre, under the command of Torrington in person, did not fill the
line till ten o'clock, so that the Dutch were almost surrounded by the
enemy, and, though they fought with great valour, sustained considerable
damage. At length the admiral's division drove between them and the
French, and in that situation the fleet anchored about five in the
afternoon, when the action was interrupted by a calm. The Dutch had
suffered so severely, that Torrington thought it would be imprudent to
renew the battle; he therefore weighed anchor in the night, and with the
tide of flood retired to the eastward. The next day the disabled ships
were destroyed, that they might not be retarded in their retreat.
They were pursued as far as Rye; an English ship of seventy guns being
stranded near Winchelsea, was set on fire and deserted by the captain's
command. A Dutch ship of sixty-four guns met with the same accident, and
some French frigates attempted to burn her; but the captain defended her
so vigorously that they were obliged to desist, and he afterwards found
means to carry her safe to Holland. In this engagement the English lost
two ships, two sea-captains, and about four hundred men; but the Dutch
were more unfortunate: six of their great ships were destroyed. Dick
and Brackel, rear-admirals, were slain, together with a great number
of inferior officers and seamen. Torrington retreated without further
interruption into the mouth of the Thames; and, having taken precaution
against any attempts of the enemy in that quarter, returned to London,
the inhabitants of which were overwhelmed with consternation.




TORRINGTON COMMITTED TO THE TOWER.

The government was infected with the same panic. The ministry pretended
to believe that the French acted in concert with the malcontents of the
nation; that insurrections in the different parts of the kingdom had
been projected by the Jacobites; and that there would be a general
revolt in Scotland. These insinuations were circulated by the court
agents in order to justify, in the opinion of the public, the measures
that were deemed necessary at this juncture; and they produced the
desired effect. The apprehensions thus artfully raised among the people
inflamed their aversion to nonjurors and Jacobites. Addresses were
presented to the queen by the Cornish tinners, by the lieutenancy of
Middlesex, and by the mayor, aldermen, and lieutenancy of London, filled
with professions of loyalty and promises of supporting their majesties
as their lawful sovereigns, against all opposition. The queen at this
crisis exhibited remarkable proofs of courage, activity, and discretion.
She issued out proper orders and directions for putting the nation in a
posture of defence, as well as for refitting and augmenting the fleet;
she took measures for appeasing the resentment of the states-general,
who exclaimed against the earl of Torrington for his behaviour in the
late action. He was deprived of his command, and sent prisoner to
the Tower; and commissioners were appointed to examine the particular
circumstances of his conduct. A camp was formed in the neighbourhood
of Torbay, where the French seemed to threaten a descent. Their fleet,
which lay at anchor in the bay, cannonaded a small village called
Teign-mouth. About a thousand of their men landed without opposition,
set fire to the place, and burned a few coasting vessels; then they
re-embarked and returned to Brest, so vain of this achievement that they
printed a pompous account of their invasion. Some of the whig partizans
published pamphlets and diffused reports, implying that the suspended
bishops were concerned in the conspiracy against the government; and
these arts proved so inflammatory among the common people, that the
prelates thought it necessary to print a paper, in which they asserted
their innocence in the most solemn protestations. The court seems to
have harboured no suspicion against them, otherwise they would not have
escaped imprisonment. The queen issued a proclamation for apprehending
the earls of Litchfield, Aylesbury, and Castlemain; viscount Preston; the
lords Montgomery and Bellasis; sir Edward Hales, sir Robert Tharold, sir
Robert Hamilton, sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, colonel Edward Sackville,
and some other officers. These were accused of having conspired with
other disaffected persons to disturb and destroy the government, and of
a design to concur with her majesty's enemies in the intended invasion.
The earl of Torrington continued a prisoner in the Tower till next
session, when he was brought into the house of commons and made a speech
in his own defence. His case produced long debates in the upper house,
where the form of his commitment was judged illegal: at length he
was tried by a court-martial appointed by the commissioners of the
admiralty, though not before an act had passed, declaring the power of
a lord high-admiral vested in those commissioners. The president of the
court was sir Ralph Delavai, who had acted as vice-admiral of the blue
in the engagement. The earl was acquitted, but the king dismissed him
from the service; and the Dutch exclaimed against the partiality of his
judges.




PROGRESS OF WILLIAM IN IRELAND.

William is said to have intercepted all the papers of his father-in-law
and Tyrconnel, and to have learned from them not only the design
projected by the French to burn the English transports, but likewise the
undertaking of one Jones, who engaged to assassinate king William. No
such attempt however was made, and in all probability the whole report
was a fiction, calculated to throw an odium on James' character. On the
ninth day of July, William detached general Douglas with a considerable
body of horse and foot towards Athlone, while he himself, having left
Trelawny to command at Dublin, advanced with the rest of his army to
Inchiquin in his way to Kilkenny. Colonel Grace, the governor of Athlone
for king James, being summoned to surrender, fired a pistol at the
trumpeter, saying, "These are my terms." Then Douglas resolved to
undertake the siege of the place, which was naturally very strong, and
defended by a resolute garrison. An inconsiderable breach was made, when
Douglas, receiving intelligence that Sarsfield was on his march to the
relief of the besieged, abandoned the enterprise after having lost above
four hundred men in the attempt. The king continued his march to the
westward; and, by dint of severe examples, established such order and
discipline in his army, that the peasants were secure from the least
violence. At Carlow he detached the duke of Ormond to take possession of
Kilkenny, where that nobleman regaled him in his own castle, which
the enemy had left undamaged. While the army encamped at Carrick,
major-general Kirke was sent to Waterford, the garrison of which,
consisting of two regiments, capitulated upon condition of marching out
with their arms and baggage, and being conducted to Mallow. The fort of
Duncannon was surrendered on the same terms. Here the lord Dover and the
lord George Howard were admitted to the benefit of the king's mercy and
protection.




HE INVESTS LIMERICK; IS OBLIGED TO RAISE THE SIEGE.

On the first day of August, William being at Chapel-Izard, published a
second declaration of mercy, confirming the former, and even extending
it to persons of superior rank and station, whether natives or
foreigners, provided they would, by the twenty-fifth day of the month,
lay down their arms and submit to certain conditions. This offer of
indemnity produced very little effect, for the Irish were generally
governed by their priests, and the news of the victory which the French
fleet had obtained over the English and Dutch, was circulated with such
exaggerations as elevated their spirits, and effaced all thoughts of
submission. The king had returned to Dublin with a view to embark for
England, but receiving notice that the designs of his domestic enemies
were discovered and frustrated, that the fleet was repaired, and the
French navy retired to Brest, he postponed his voyage and resolved to
reduce Limerick; in which Monsieur Boisseleau commanded as governor, and
the duke of Berwick and colonel Sarsfield acted as inferior officers.
On the ninth day of August, the king having called in his detachment and
advanced into the neighbourhood of the place, summoned the commander to
deliver the town; and Boisseleau answered, that he imagined the best way
to gain the good opinion of the prince of Orange, would be a vigorous
defence of the town which his majesty had committed to his charge.
Before the place was fully invested, colonel Sarsfield, with a body of
horse and dragoons, passed the Shannon in the night, intercepted the
king's train of artillery on its way to the camp, routed the troops that
guarded it, disabled the cannon, destroyed the carriages, waggons, and
ammunition, and returned in safety to Limerick. Notwithstanding this
disaster, the trenches were opened on the seventeenth day of the month,
and a battery was raised with some cannon brought from Waterford. The
siege was carried on with vigour, and the place defended with great
resolution. At length the king ordered his troops to make a lodgment in
the covered way or counterscarp, which was accordingly assaulted with
great fury; but the assailants met with such a warm reception from the
besieged, that they were repulsed with the loss of twelve hundred men
either killed on the spot or mortally wounded. This disappointment,
concurring with the badness of the weather, which became rainy and
unwholesome, induced the king to renounce his undertaking. The heavy
baggage and cannon being sent away, the army decamped and marched
towards Clonmel. William having constituted the lord Sydney and Thomas
Coningsby lords justices of Ireland, and left the command of the army
with count Solmes, embarked at Duncannon with prince George of Denmark
on the fifth of September, and next day arrived in King road, near
Bristol, from whence he repaired to Windsor.




CORK AND KINSALE REDUCED.

About the latter end of this month the earl of Marlborough arrived in
Ireland with five thousand English troops, to attack Cork and Kinsale in
conjunction with a detachment from the great army, according to a scheme
he had proposed to king William. Having landed his soldiers without much
opposition in the neighbourhood of Cork, he was joined by five thousand
men under the prince of Wirtemberg, between whom and the earl a dispute
arose about the command; but this was compromised by the interposition
of La Mellionere. The place being invested, and the batteries raised,
the besiegers proceeded with such rapidity that a breach was soon
effected. Colonel Mackillicut the governor demanded a parley, and
hostages were exchanged; but he rejected the conditions that were
offered, and hostilities recommenced with redoubled vigour. The duke
of Grafton, who served on this occasion as a volunteer, was mortally
wounded in one of the attacks, and died regretted as a youth of
promising talents. Preparations being made for a general assault,
the besieged thought proper to capitulate, and surrendered themselves
prisoners of war. Besides the governor and colonel Bicaut, the victor
found the earls of Clancarty and Tyrone among the individuals of
the garrison. Marlborough having taken possession of Cork, detached
brigadier Villiers with a body of horse and dragoons to summon the town
and forts of Kinsale, and next day advanced with the rest of the forces.
The old fort was immediately taken by assault; but sir Edward Scott,
who commanded the other, sustained a regular siege until the breach
was practicable, and then obtained an honourable capitulation. These
maritime places being reduced, all communication between France and
the enemy on this side of the island was cut off, and the Irish
were confined to Ulster, where they could not subsist without great
difficulty. The earl of Marlborough having finished this expedition in
thirty days, returned with his prisoners to England, where the fame of
this exploit added greatly to his reputation.




THE FRENCH FORCES QUIT IRELAND.

During these transactions count de Lausan, commander of the French
auxiliaries in Ireland, lay inactive in the neighbourhood of Galway, and
transmitted such a lamentable account of his situation to the court of
France, that transports were sent over to bring home the French forces.
In these he embarked with his troops, and the command of the Irish
forces devolved to the duke of Berwick, though it was afterwards
transferred to M. St. Ruth. Lausan was disgraced at Versailles for
having deserted the cause before it was desperate: Tyrconnel, who
accompanied him in his voyage, solicited the French court for a further
supply of officers, arms, clothes, and ammunition for the Irish army,
which he said would continue firm to the interest of king James if thus
supported. Meanwhile they formed themselves into separate bodies
of freebooters, and plundered the country, under the appellation of
rapparees: while the troops of king William either enjoyed their ease in
quarters, or imitated the rapine of the enemy; so that between both the
poor people were miserably harassed.




SAVOY JOINS THE CONFEDERACY.

The affairs of the continent had not yet undergone any change of
importance, except in the conduct 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
sooner declared himself, than Catinat the French general entered his
territories at the head of eighteen thousand men, and defeated him in
a pitched battle near Saluces, which immediately surrendered to the
conqueror. Then he reduced Savillana, Villa Franca, with several other
places, pursued the duke to Carignan, surprised Suza, and distributed
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 himself disappointed in the succours he
expected from the emperor and the king of Spain, demanded assistance of
the states-general and king William: to this last he sent an ambassador,
to congratulate him upon his accession to the throne of England. The
confederates in their general congress at the Hague, had agreed that
the army of the states under prince Waldeck should oppose the forces
of France, commanded by the duke of Luxembourg in Flanders; while the
elector of Brandenburgh should observe the marquis de Boufflers on
the Moselle: but before the troops of Brandenburgh could be assembled,
Boufflers encamped between the Sambre and the Mouse, and maintained a
free communication with Luxembourg.




PRINCE WALDECK DEFEATED.

Prince Waldeck understanding that this general intended to cross
the Sambre between Namur and Charleroy, in order to lay the Spanish
territories under contribution, decamped from the river Pieton, and
detached the count of Berlo with a great body of horse to observe
the motions of the enemy. He was encountered by the French army near
Fleuras, and slain: and his troops, though supported by two other
detachments, were hardly able to rejoin the main body, which continued
all night in order of battle. Next day they were attacked by the French,
who were greatly superior to them in number: after a very obstinate
engagement the allies gave way, leaving about five thousand men dead
upon the field of battle. The enemy took about four thousand prisoners,
and the greatest part of their artillery; but the victory was dearly
bought. The Dutch infantry fought with surprising resolution and
success. The duke of Luxembourg owned with surprise, that they had
surpassed the Spanish foot at the battle of Rocroy. "Prince Waldeck,
said he, ought always to remember the French horse; and I shall never
forget the Dutch infantry." The Dutch general exerted himself with
such activity, that the French derived very little advantage from their
victory. The prince being reinforced with the five English regiments,
nine thousand Hanoverians, ten thousand from the bishopric of Liege and
Holland, joined the elector of Brandenburgh; so that the confederate
army amounted to five-and-fifty thousand men, and they marched by
the way of Genap to Bois-Seigneur-Isaac. They were now superior to
Luxembourg, who thought proper to fortify his camp, that he might not
be obliged to fight except with considerable advantage. Nevertheless,
prince Waldeck would have attacked him in his intrenchments, had he not
been | prohibited from hazarding another engagement by an express
order of the states-general; and when this restriction was removed, the
elector would not venture a battle.




ARCHDUKE JOSEPH ELECTED KING.

By this time the emperor's son Joseph was by the electoral college
chosen king of the Romans; but his interest sustained a rude shock in
the death of the gallant duke of Lorraine, who was suddenly seized
with a quin-sey at a small village near Lintz, and expired, not without
suspicion of having fallen a sacrifice to the fears of the French king,
against whom he had formerly declared war as a sovereign prince unjustly
expelled from his territories. He possessed great military talents, and
had threatened to enter Lorraine at the head of forty thousand men, in
the course of the ensuing summer. The court of France, alarmed at this
declaration, is said to have had recourse to poison, for preventing the
execution of the duke's design. At his death the command of the imperial
army was conferred upon the elector of Bavaria. This prince having
joined the elector of Saxony, advanced against the Dauphin, who had
passed the Rhine at Fort-Louis with a considerable army, and intended to
penetrate into Wirtemberg; but the duke of Bavaria checked his progress,
and he acted on the defensive during the remaining part of the campaign.
The emperor was less fortunate in his efforts against the Turks, who
rejected the conditions of peace he had offered, and took the field
under a new vizier. In the month of August, count Tekeli defeated a
body of imperialists near Cronstadt, in Transylvania; then convoking
the states of that province at Albajulia, he compelled them to elect him
their sovereign; but his reign was of short duration. Prince Louis of
Baden, having taken the command of the Austrian army, detached four
regiments into Belgrade, and advanced against Tekeli, who retired into
Valachia at his approach. Meanwhile the grand vizier invested Belgrade,
and carried on his attacks with surprising resolution. At length a bomb
falling upon a great tower in which the powder magazine of the besieged
was contained, the place blew up with a dreadful explosion. Seventeen
hundred soldiers of the garrison were destroyed; the walls and ramparts
were overthrown; the ditch was filled up, and so large a breach was
opened that the Turks entered by squadrons and battalions, cutting in
pieces all that fell in their way. The fire spread from magazine to
magazine until eleven were destroyed; and in the confusion the
remaining part of the garrison escaped to Peterwaradin. By this time
the imperialists were in possession of Transylvania, and cantoned at
Cronstadt and Clausinburgh. Tekeli undertook to attack the province on
one side, while a body of Turks should invade it on the other: these
last were totally dispersed by prince Louis of Baden; but prince
Augustus of Hanover, whom he had detached against the count, was
slain in a narrow defile, and his troops were obliged to retreat with
precipitation. Tekeli however did not improve this advantage: being
apprized of the fate of his allies, and afraid of seeing his retreat cut
off by the snow that frequently chokes up the passes of the mountains,
he retreated again to Valachia, and prince Louis returned to Vienna.




MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT.

King William having published a proclamation requiring the attendance of
the members on the second day of October, both houses met accordingly,
and he opened the session with a speech to the usual purport. He
mentioned what he had done towards the reduction of Ireland; commended
the behaviour of the troops; told them the supplies were not equal to
the necessary expense; represented the danger to which the nation would
be exposed unless the war should be prosecuted 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; assured them
that the success of the confederacy abroad would depend upon the vigour
and dispatch of their proceedings; expressed his resentment against
those who had been guilty of misconduct in the management of the fleet;
recommended unanimity and expedition; and declared, that whoever should
attempt to divert their attention from those subjects of importance
which he had proposed, could neither be a friend to him nor a
well-wisher to his country. The late attempt of the French upon the
coast of England, the rumours of a conspiracy by the Jacobites,
the personal valour which William had displayed in Ireland, and the
pusillanimous behavour of James, concurred in warming the resentment of
the nation against the adherents of the late king, and in raising a
tide of loyalty in favour of the new government. Both houses presented
separate addresses of congratulation to the king and queen, upon his
courage and conduct in the field, and her fortitude and sagacity at
the helm in times of danger and disquiet. The commons, pursuant to an
estimate laid before them of the next year's expenses, voted a supply of
four millions for the maintenance of the army and navy, and settled the
funds for that purpose.




COMMONS COMPLY WITH THE KING'S DEMANDS.

They proposed to raise one million by the sale of forfeited estates in
Ireland: they resolved that a bill should be brought in for confiscating
those estates, with a clause, empowering the king to bestow a third part
of them on those who had served in the war, as well as to grant such
articles and capitulations to those who were in arms, as he should think
proper. This clause was rejected; and a great number of petitions were
offered against the bill, by creditors and heirs who had continued
faithful to the government. These were supposed to have been suggested
by the court, in order to retard the progress of the bill; for
the estates had been already promised to the king's favourites:
nevertheless, the bill passed the lower house, and was sent up to the
lords, among whom it was purposely delayed by the influence of the
ministry. It was at this juncture that lord Torrington was tried and
acquitted, very much to the dissatisfaction of the king, who not only
dismissed him from the service, but even forbade him to appear in his
presence. When William came to the house of lords to give the royal
assent to a bill for doubling the excise, he told the parliament
that the posture of affairs required his presence at the Hague; that,
therefore, they ought to lose no time in perfecting such other supplies
as were still necessary for the maintenance of the army and navy; and
he reminded them of making some provision for the expense of the civil
government. Two bills were accordingly passed for granting to their
majesties the duties of goods imported, for five years; and these,
together with the mutiny-bill, received the royal assent: upon which
occasion the king observed, that if some annual provision could be made
for augmenting the navy, it would greatly conduce to the honour
and safety of the nation. In consequence of this hint, they voted a
considerable supply for building additional ships of war,* and proceeded
with such alacrity and expedition, as even seemed to anticipate the
king's desires. This liberality and dispatch were in a great measure
owing to the management of lord Godolphin, who was now placed at the
head of the treasury, and sir John Somers, the solicitor-general.
The place of secretary of state, which had remained vacant since the
resignation of the earl of Shrewsbury, was now filled with lord Sidney;
and sir Charles Porter was appointed one of the justices of Ireland in
the room of this nobleman.

     * This supply was raised by the additional duties upon beer,
          ale, and other liquors. They also provided in the bill,
          that the impositions on wines, vinegar, and tobacco,
          should be made a fund of credit: that the surplus of the
          grants they had made, after the current service was
          provided for, should be applicable to the payment of the
          debts contracted by the war: and, that it should be
          lawful for their majesties to make use of five hundred
          thousand pounds out of the said grants, on condition of
          that sum being repaid from the revenue.--_Ralph_.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




PETITION OF THE TORIES.

Notwithstanding the act for reversing the proceedings against the city
charter, the whigs had made shift to keep possession of the magistracy:
Pilkington continued mayor, and Eobinson retained the office of
chamberlain. The tories of the city, presuming upon their late services,
presented a petition to the house of commons, complaining, That the
intent of the late act of parliament, for reversing the judgment on the
quo warranto, was frustrated by some doubtful expression; so that the
old aldermen elected by commission under the late king's great seal
still acted by virtue of that authority: that sir Thomas Pilkington
was not duly returned as mayor by the common-hall: and, that he and
the aldermen had imposed Mr. Leonard Eobinson upon them as chamberlain,
though another person was duly elected into that office: that divers
members of the common-council were illegally excluded, and others, duly
elected, were refused admittance. They specified other grievances, and
petitioned for relief. Pilkington and his associates undertook to prove
that those allegations were either false or frivolous; and presented the
petition as a contrivance of the Jacobites to disturb the peace of the
city, that the supply might be retarded and the government distressed.
In the late panic which overspread the nation, the whigs had appeared
to be the monied men, and subscribed largely for the security of the
settlement they had made, while the tories kept aloof with a suspicious
caution. For this reason the court now interposed its influence in such
a manner, that little or no regard was paid to their remonstrance.




ATTEMPT AGAINST CARMARTHEN.

The marquis of Caermarthen, lord president, who was at the head of the
tory interest in the ministry, and had acquired great credit with the
king and queen, now fell under the displeasure of the opposite faction:
and they resolved if possible to revive his old impeachment. The earl of
Shrewsbury, and thirteen other leading men, had engaged in this design.
A committee of lords was appointed to examine precedents, and inquire
whether impeachments continued in statu quo from parliament to
parliament. Several such precedents were reported; and violent
debates ensued: but the marquis eluded the vengeance of his enemies in
consequence of the following question: "Whether the earls of Salisbury
and Peterborough, who had been impeached in the former parliament for
being reconciled to the church of Rome, shall be discharged from their
bail?" The house resolved in the affirmative, and several lords
entered a protest. The commons having finished a bill for appointing
commissioners to take and state the public accounts, and having chosen
the commissioners from among their own members, sent it up to the house
of lords. There the earl of Rochester moved, That they should add some
of their number to those of the commons: they accordingly chose an equal
number by ballot; but Rochester himself being elected, refused to act:
the others followed his example, and the bill passed without alteration.
On the fifth day of January, the king put an end to the session with
a speech, in which he thanked them for the repeated instances they had
exhibited of their affection to his person and government. He told them,
it was high time for him to embark for Holland: recommended unanimity;
and assured them of his particular favour and protection. Then lord
chief baron Atkins signified his majesty's pleasure, that the two houses
should adjourn themselves to the thirty-first day of March.*

     * In this year the English planters repossessed themselves
     of part of the inland of St. Christopher, from which they
     had been driven by the French.




THE KING'S VOYAGE TO HOLLAND.

William, having settled the affairs of the nation, set out for Margate
on the sixth day of January; but the ship in which he proposed to
embark being detained by an easterly wind and hard frost, he returned to
Kensington. On the sixteenth, however, he embarked at Gravesend with a
numerous retinue, and set sail for Holland under convoy of twelve
ships of war commanded by admiral Rooke. Next day, being informed by a
fisherman that he was within a league and a half of Goree, he quitted
the yacht and went into an open boat, attended by the duke of
Ormond, the earls of Devonshire, Dorset, Portland, and Monmouth, with
Auverquerque and Zuylestcin, Instead of landing immediately, they lost
sight of the fleet, and, night coming on, were exposed in very severe
weather to the danger of the enemy and the sea, which ran very high
for eighteen hours, during which the king and all his attendants were
drenched with sea-water. When the sailors expressed their apprehensions
of perishing, the king asked if they were afraid to die in his company?
At day-break, he landed on the isle of Goree, where he took some
refreshment in a fisherman's hut; then he committed himself to the
boat again, and was conveyed to the shore in the neighbourhood of
Masslandsluys. A deputation of the states received him at Hounslardyke:
about six 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 ministers.
He afterwards, at the request of the magistrates, made his public entry
with surprising magnificence; and the Dutch celebrated his arrival with
bonfires, illuminations, and other marks of tumultuous joy. He assisted
at their different assemblies; informed them of his successes in England
and Ireland; and assured them of his constant zeal and affection for his
native country.




HE ASSISTS AT A CONGRESS.

At a solemn congress of the confederate princes, he represented in a
set speech the dangers to which they were exposed from the power
and ambition of France; and the necessity of acting with vigour and
dispatch. He declared he would spare neither his credit, forces, nor
person, in concurring with their measures; and that in the spring he
would come at the head of his troops to fulfil his engagements. They
forthwith resolved to employ two hundred and twenty-two thousand men
against France in the ensuing campaign. The proportions of the different
princes and states were regulated; and the king of England agreed to
furnish twenty thousand. He supplied the duke of Savoy so liberally,
that his affairs soon assumed a more promising aspect. The plan of
operations was settled, and they transacted their affairs with such
harmony that no dispute interrupted their deliberations. In the
beginning of March, immediately after the congress broke up, the siege
of Mons was undertaken by the French king in person, accompanied by the
Dauphin, the dukes of Orleans and Chartres. The garrison consisted
of about six thousand men, commanded by the prince of Bergue: but the
besiegers carried on their works with such rapidity as they could
not withstand. King William no sooner understood that the place
was invested, than he ordered prince Waldeck to assemble the army,
determined to march against the enemy in person. Fifty thousand men were
soon collected at Halle, near Brussels: but when he went thither,
he found the Spaniards had neglected to provide carriages, and other
necessaries for the expedition. Meanwhile, the burghers of Mons, seeing
their town in danger of being utterly destroyed by the bombs and cannon
of the enemy, pressed the governor to capitulate, and even threatened to
introduce the besiegers: so that he was forced to comply, and obtained
very honourable conditions. William, being apprized 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
     Whitehall was consumed by fire, through the negligence of
     a female servant.





CHAPTER III.

     _Conspiracy against the Government by Lord Preston and
     others..... The King fills up the vacant Bishoprics.....
     Affairs of Scotland..... Campaign in Flanneitt..... Progress
     of the Trench in Piedmont..... Election of a New Pope....The
     Emperor's Success against the Turks..... Affairs of
     Ireland..... General Ginckel reduces Athlone..... Defeats
     the Irish at Aghrim..... Undertakes the Siege of
     Limerick..... The French and Irish obtain an honourable
     Capitulation..... Twelve Thousand Irish Catholics are
     transported to France..... Meeting of the English
     Parliament..... Discontent of the Nation..... Transactions
     in Parliament..... Disputes concerning the Bill for
     regulating Trials in Cases of High Treason..... The English
     and Dutch Fleets baffled by the French..... The King
     disobliges the Presbyterians of Scotland..... The Earl of
     Breadalbane undertakes for the Submission of the
     Highlanders..... Massacre of Glencoe..... Preparations for a
     Descent upon England..... Declaration of King James.....
     Efforts of his Friends in England..... Precautions taken by
     the Queen for the Defence of the Nation..... Admiral Russel
     puts to Sea..... He obtains a complete Victory over the
     French Fleet off La Bogue..... Troops embarked at St.
     Helen's for a Descent upon France..... The Design laid
     aside..... The Troops landed at Ostend..... The French King
     takes Namur in sight of King William..... The Allies are
     defeated at Steenkirk..... Extravagant rejoicings in France
     on Account of this Victory..... Conspiracy against the Life
     of King William, hatched by the French Ministry.....
     Miscarriage of a Design upon Dunkirk..... The Campaign is
     inactive on the Rhine and in Hungary..... The Duke of Savoy
     invades Dauphine..... The Duke of Hanover created an Elector
     of the Empire._




A CONSPIRACY.

A conspiracy against the government had been lately discovered. In the
latter end of December, the master of a vessel who lived at Barking, in
Essex, informed the marquis of Carmarthen that his wife had let out one
of his boats to carry over some persons to France, and that they would
embark on the thirteenth day of the month. This intelligence being
communicated to the king and council, an order was sent to captain
Billop to watch the motion of the vessel and secure the passengers.
He accordingly boarded her at Gravesend, and found in the hold lord
Preston, Mr. Ashton, a servant of the late queen, and one Elliot.
He likewise seized a bundle of papers, some of which were scarce
intelligible; among the rest, two letters supposed to be written by
Turner, bishop of Ely, to king James and his queen, under fictitious
names. The whole amounted to an invitation to the French king to assist
king James in re-ascending the throne upon certain conditions, while
William should be absent from the kingdom; but the scheme was ill laid,
and countenanced but by a very few persons of consideration, among whom
the chiefs were the earl of Clarendon, the bishop of Ely, lord Preston,
his brother Mr. Graham, and Penn the famous quaker. Notwithstanding
the outcries which had been made against the severities of the late
government, Preston and his accomplice Ashton were tried at the Old
Bailey for compassing the death of their majesties king William and
queen Mary; and their trials were hurried on without any regard to
their petitions for delay. Lord Preston alleged in his defence that the
treasons charged upon him were not committed in the county of Middlesex,
as laid in the indictment; that none of the witnesses declared he had
any concern in hiring the vessel; that the papers were not found upon
him; that there ought to be two credible witnesses to every fact,
whereas the whole proof against him rested on similitude of hands and
mere supposition. He was, nevertheless, found guilty. Ashton behaved
with great intrepidity and composure. He owned his purpose of going to
France in pursuance of a promise he had made to general Worden, who,
on his death-bed, conjured him to go thither and finish some affairs of
consequence which he had left there depending, as well as with a view
to recover a considerable sum of money due to himself. He denied that he
was privy to the contents of the papers found upon him; he complained of
his having been denied time to prepare for his trial; and called several
persons to prove him a protestant of exemplary piety and irreproachable
morals. These circumstances had 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 custody; yet there was no privity proved; and the whig
party themselves had often expressly declared, that of all sorts of
evidence that of finding papers in a person's possession is the weakest,
because no man can secure himself from such danger. Ashton suffered with
equal courage and decorum. In a paper which he delivered to the sheriff,
he owned his attachment to king James; he witnessed to the birth of the
prince of Wales; denied his knowledge of the contents of the papers that
were committed to his charge; complained of the hard measure he had
met with from the judges and the jury, but forgave them in the sight of
heaven. This man was celebrated by the nonjurors as a martyr to loyalty;
and they boldly affirmed, that his chief crime in the eyes of the
government was his having among his baggage an account of such evidence
as would have been convincing to all the world concerning the birth
of the prince of Wales, which by a great number of people was believed
supposititious.* Lord Preston obtained a pardon; Elliot was not tried,
because no evidence appeared against him; the earl of Clarendon was
sent to the Tower, where he remained some months, and he was afterwards
confined to his own house in the country--an indulgence which he owed to
his consanguinity with the queen, who was his first cousin. The bishop
of Ely, Graham, and Penn, absconded; and a proclamation was issued for
apprehending them as traitors.

     * To one of the pamphlets published on this occasion, is
     annexed a petition to the present government in the name of
     king James's adherents, importing, that some grave and
     learned person should be authorized to compile a treatise,
     showing the grounds of William's title; and declaring, that
     in case the performance should carry conviction along with
     it, they would submit to that title, as they had hitherto
     opposed it from a principle of conscience. The best answer
     that could be made to this summons was Locke's book upon
     government, which appeared at this period.--_Ralph_.




THE KING FILLS UP THE BISHOPRICS.

This prelate's being concerned in a conspiracy, furnished the king with
a plausible pretence for filling up the vacant bishoprics. The deprived
bishops had been given to understand, that an act of parliament might
be obtained to excuse them from taking the oaths, provided they would
perform their episcopal functions; but as they declined this expedient,
the king resolved to fill up their places at his return from Holland.
Accordingly, the archbishopric of Canterbury was conferred upon
Dr. Tillotson,* one of the most learned, moderate, and virtuous
ecclesiastics of the age, who did not accept of this promotion without
great reluctance, because he foresaw that he should be exposed to the
slander and malevolence of that party which espoused the cause of his
predecessor. The other vacant Sees were given to divines of unblemished
character; and the public in general seemed very well satisfied with
this exertion of the king's supremacy. The deprived bishops at first
affected all the meekness of resignation. They remembered those
shouts of popular approbation by which they had been animated in the
persecution they suffered under the late government; and they hoped the
same cordial would support them in their present affliction; but finding
the nation cold in their concern, they determined to warm it by argument
and declamation. The press groaned with the efforts of their learning
and resentment, and every essay was answered by their opponents. The
nonjurors affirmed that Christianity was a doctrine of the cross;
that no pretence whatever could justify an insurrection against the
sovereign; that the primitive christians thought it their indispensable
duty to be passive under every invasion of their rights; and that
non-resistance was the doctrine of the English church, confirmed by all
the sanctions that could be derived from the laws of God and man.
The other party not only supported the natural rights of mankind, and
explained the use that might be made of the doctrine of non-resistance
in exciting fresh commotions, but they also argued that if passive
obedience was right in any instance, it was conclusively so with regard
to the present government; for the obedience required by scripture was
indiscriminate. "The powers that be are ordained of God--let every soul
be subject to the higher powers." From these texts they inferred that
the new oaths ought to be taken without scruple, and that those who
refused them concealed party under the cloak of conscience. On the other
hand, the fallacy and treachery of this argument were demonstrated. They
said, it levelled all distinctions of justice and duty; that those who
taught such doctrines attached themselves solely to possession, however
unjustly acquired; that if twenty different usurpers should succeed one
another, they would recognize the last, notwithstanding the allegiance
they had so solemnly sworn to his predecessor, like the fawning spaniel
that followed the thief who mounted his master's horse after
having murdered the right owner. They also denied the justice of a
lay-deprivation, and with respect to church government started tire same
distinctions "_De jure and de facto_" which they had formerly made in
the civil administration. They had even recourse to all the bitterness
of invective against Tillotson and the new bishops, whom they reviled as
intruders and usurpers; their acrimony was chiefly directed against Dr.
Sherlock, who had been one of the most violent sticklers against the
revolution, but thought proper to take the oaths upon the retreat
of king James from Ireland. They branded him as an apostate who had
betrayed his cause, and published a review of his whole conduct,
which proved a severe satire upon his character. Their attacks upon
individuals were mingled with their vengeance against the government;
and indeed the great aim of their divines, as well as of their
politicians, was to sap the foundation of the new settlement. In order
to alienate the minds of the people from the interests of the reigning
prince, they ridiculed his character; inveighed against his measures;
they accused him of sacrificing the concerns of England to the advantage
of his native country; and drew invidious comparisons between the
wealth, the trade, the taxes, of the last and of the present reign. To
frustrate these efforts of the malcontents, the court employed
their engines to answer and recriminate; all sorts of informers were
encouraged and caressed; in a proclamation issued against papists and
other disaffected persons, all magistrates were enjoined to make search,
and apprehend those who should, by seditious discourses and libels,
presume to defame the government. Thus the revolutioners commenced the
professed enemies of those very arts and practices which had enabled
them to bring their scheme to perfection.

     * Beveridge was promoted to the See of Bath and Wells,
     Fowler to that of Gloucester, Cumberland to Peterborough,
     Moor to Norwich, Grove to Chicester, and Patrick to Ely.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




AFFAIRS-OF SCOTLAND.

The presbyterians in Scotland acted with such folly, violence, and
tyranny, as rendered them equally odious and contemptible. The
transactions in their general assembly were carried on with such
peevishness, partiality, and injustice, that the king dissolved it by
an act of state, and convoked another for the month of November in the
following year. The episcopal party promised to enter heartily into the
interests of the new government, to keep the highlanders quiet, and
induce the clergy to acknowledge and serve king William, provided he
would balance the power of Melvil and his partisans in such a manner as
would secure them from violence and oppression; provided the episcopal
ministers should be permitted to perform their functions among those
people by whom they were beloved; and' that such of them as were willing
to mix with the presbyterians in their judicatories should be admitted
without any severe imposition in point of opinion. The king, who was
extremely disgusted at the presbyterians, relished the proposal, and
young Dalrymple, son of lord Stair, was appointed joint secretary
of state with Melvil. He undertook to bring over the majority of the
Jacobites, and a great number of them took the oaths; but at the same
time they maintained a correspondence with the court of St. Germains, by
the connivance of which they submitted to William that they might be in
a condition to serve James the more effectually. The Scottish parliament
was adjourned by proclamation to the sixteenth day of September.
Precautions were taken to prevent any dangerous communication with the
continent; a committee was appointed to put the kingdom in a posture of
defence; to exercise the powers of the regency in securing the enemies
of the government; and the earl of Home, with sir Peter Fraser and sir
AEneas Macpherson, were apprehended and imprisoned.




CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS.

The king having settled the operations of the ensuing campaign in
Ireland, where general Ginckel exercised the supreme command, manned
his fleet by dint of pressing sailors, to the incredible annoyance of
commerce; then leaving the queen as before at the helm of government in
England, he returned to Holland accompanied by lord Sidney, secretary
of state, the earls of Marlborough and Portland, and began to make
preparations for taking the field in person. On the thirtieth day of
May, the duke of Luxembourg having passed the Scheld at the head of a
large army, took possession of Halle, and gave it up to plunder in sight
of the confederates, who were obliged to throw up intrenchments for
their preservation. At the same time the marquis de Boufflers, with a
considerable body of forces, intrenched himself before Liege with a view
to bombard that city. In the beginning of June, king William took upon
himself the command of the allied army, by this time reinforced in such
a manner as to be superior to the enemy. He forthwith detached the count
de Tilly with ten thousand men to the relief of Liege, which was already
reduced to ruins and desolation by the bombs, bullets, and repeated
attacks of Boufflers, who now thought proper to retreat to Dinant. Tilly
having thus raised the siege, and thrown a body of troops into Huy,
rejoined the confederate army, which had been augmented ever since his
departure with six thousand men from Brandenburgh, and ten thousand
Hessians commanded by the landgrave in person. Such was the vigilance of
Luxembourg, that William could not avail himself of his superiority.
In vain he exhausted his invention in marches, counter-marches, and
stratagems, to bring on a general engagement; the French marshal avoided
it with such dexterity as baffled all his endeavours. In the course of
this campaign the two armies twice confronted each other; but they were
situated in such a manner that neither could begin the attack without a
manifest disadvantage. While the king lay encamped at Court-sur-heure,
a soldier, corrupted by the enemy, set fire to the fusees of several
bombs, the explosion of which might have blown up the whole magazine
and produced infinite confusion in the army, had not the mischief been
prevented by the courage of the men who guarded the artillery; even
while the fusees were burning, they disengaged the waggons from
the line, and overturned them down the side of a hill, so that the
communication of the fire was intercepted. The person who made this
treacherous attempt being discovered, owned he had been employed for
this purpose by the duke of Luxembourg. He was tried by a court-martial
and suffered the death of a traitor. Such perfidious practices not only
fix an indelible share of infamy on the French general, but prove how
much the capacity of William was dreaded by his enemies. King William,
quitting Court-sur-heure, encamped upon the plain of St. Girard, where
he remained till the fourth day of September, consuming the forage and
exhausting the country. Then he passed the Sambre near Jemeppe, while
the French crossed it at La Busiere, and both armies marched towards
Enghien. The enemy, perceiving the confederates were at their heels,
proceeded to Gramont, passed the Lender, and took possession of a
strong camp between Aeth and Oudenarde; William followed the same route,
and encamped between Aeth and Leuse. While he continued in his post, the
Hessian forces and those of Liege, amounting to about eighteen thousand
men, separated from the army and passed the Meuse at Naimir; then the
king returned to the Hague, leaving the command to prince Waldeck, who
forthwith removed to Leuse, and on the twentieth day of the month began
his march to Cambron. Luxembourg, who watched his motions with a curious
eye, found means to attack him in his retreat so suddenly that his rear
was surprised and defeated, though the French were at last obliged to
retire. The prince continued his route to Cambron, and in a little time
both armies retired into winter quarters. In the meantime, the Duke de
Noailles besieged and took Urgel in Catalonia, while a French squadron,
commanded by the count d'Etrees, bombarded Barcelona and Alicant.

The confederates had proposed to act vigorously in Italy against the
French; but the season was far advanced before they were in a condition
to take the field. The emperor and Spain had undertaken to furnish
troops to join the duke of Savoy; and the maritime powers contributed
their proportion in money. The elector of Bavaria was nominated to the
supreme command of the imperial forces in that country; the marquis
de Leganez, governor of the Milanese, acted as trustee for the Spanish
monarch; duke Schomberg, son of that groat general who lost his life
at the Boyne, lately created duke of Leinster, managed the interest of
William, as king of England and stadtholder, and commanded a body of the
Vaudois paid by Great Britain. Before the German auxiliaries arrived,
the French had made great progress in their conquests. Catinat besieged
and took Villa-Franca, Nice, and some other fortifications; then he
reduced Villana and Carmagnola, and detached the marquis de Feuquieres
to invest Coni, a strong fortress garrisoned by the Vaudois and French
refugees. The duke of Savoy was now reduced to the brink of ruin. He saw
almost all his places of strength in the possession of the enemy; Coni
was besieged; and La Hoguette, another French general, had forced the
passes of the valley of Aoste, so that he had free admission into the
Verceillois, and the frontiers of the Milanese. Turin was threatened
with a bombardment; the people were dispirited and clamorous, and their
sovereign lay with his little army encamped on the hill of Montcallier,
from whence he beheld his towns taken, and his palace of Rivoli
destroyed. Duke Schomberg exhorted him to act on the offensive, and give
battle to Catinat while that officer's army was weakened by detachments,
and prince Eugene* supported his remonstrance; but this proposal was
vehemently opposed by the marquis de Leganez, who foresaw that if the
duke should be defeated, the French would penetrate into the territories
of Milan. The relief of Coni, however, was undertaken by prince
Eugene, who began his march for that place with a convoy guarded by
two-and-twenty hundred horse; at Magliano he was reinforced by five
thousand militia; Bulonde, who commanded at the siege, no sooner heard
of his approach than he retired with the utmost precipitation, leaving
behind some pieces of cannon, mortars, bombs, arms, ammunition, tents,
provisions, utensils, with all his sick and wounded. When he joined
Catinat he was immediately put under arrest, and afterwards cashiered
with disgrace. Hoguette abandoned the valley of Aoste; Feuquieres was
sent with a detachment to change the garrison of Casal; and Catinat
retired with his army towards Villa Nova d'Aste.

     * Prince Eugene of Savoy, who in the sequel rivalled the
     fame of the greatest warriors of antiquity, was descended on
     the father's side from the house of Savoy, and on the
     mother's from the family of Soissons, a branch of the house
     of Bourbon. His father was Eugene Maurice, of Savoy, count
     of Soissons, colonel of the Switzers, and governor of
     Champagne and Brie: his mother was the celebrated Olimpia de
     Mancini, niece of Cardinal Mazarine. Eugene finding himself
     neglected at the court of France, engaged as a soldier of
     fortune in the service of the emperor, and soon
     distinguished himself by his great military talents: he
     was, moreover, an accomplished gentleman, learned, liberal,
     mild, and courteous; an unshaken friend; a generous enemy;
     an invincible captain; a consummate politician.




ELECTION OF A NEW POPE.

The miscarriage of the French before Coni affected Louvois, the minister
of Louis, so deeply, that he could not help shedding tears when he
communicated the event to his master, who told him with great composure
that he was spoiled by good fortune. But the retreat of the French
from Piedmont had a still greater influence over the resolutions of the
conclave at Rome, then sitting for the election of a new pope in
the room of Alexander VIII., who died in the beginning of February.
Notwithstanding the power and intrigues of the French faction headed by
cardinal d'Etrees, the affairs of Piedmont had no sooner taken this turn
than the Italians joined the Spanish and Imperial interest, and cardinal
Pignatelli, a Neapolitan, was elected pontiff. He assumed the name of
Innocent, in honour of the last pope known by that appellation, and
adopted all his maxims against the French monarch. When the German
auxiliaries arrived under the command of the elector of Bavaria, the
confederates resolved to give battle to Catinat; but he repassed the Po,
and sent couriers to Versailles to solicit a reinforcement. Then prince
Eugene invested Carmagnola, and carried on the siege with such vigour
that in eleven days the garrison capitulated. Meanwhile the marquis de
Hoquincourt undertook the conquest of Montmelian, and reduced the town
without much resistance. The castle, however, made such a vigorous
defence that Catinat marched thither in person; and, notwithstanding all
his efforts, the place held out till the second day of December, when it
surrendered on honourable conditions.




THE EMPEROR'S SUCCESS AGAINST THE TURKS.

This summer produced nothing of importance on the Rhine. The French
endeavoured to surprise Mentz, by maintaining a correspondence with one
of the emperor's commissioners; but this being discovered, their design
was frustrated. The imperial army, under the elector of Saxony, passed
the Rhine in the neighbourhood of Manheim; and the French, crossing
the same river at Philipsburgh, reduced the town of Portzheim in the
marquisate of Baden-Dourlach. The execution of the scheme projected
by the emperor for this campaign, was prevented by the death of his
general, the elector of Saxony, which happened on the second day of
September. His affairs wore a more favourable aspect in Hungary, where
the Turks were totally defeated by prince Louis of Baden on the banks
of the Danube. The imperialists afterwards undertook the siege of Great
Waradin in Translyvania; bitt this was turned into a blockade, and the
place was not surrendered till the following spring. The Turks were so
dispirited by the defeat, by which they had lost the grand vizier, that
the emperor might have made peace upon very advantageous terms; but
his pride and ambition overshot his success. He was weak, vain, and
superstitious; he imagined that now the war of Ireland was almost
extinguished, king William, with the rest of his allies, would be able
to humble the French power, though he himself should not co-operate with
heretics, whom he abhorred; and that, in the meantime, he should not
only make an entire conquest of Transylvania, but also carry his
victorious arms to the gates of Constantinople, according to some
ridiculous prophecy by which his vanity had been flattered. The Spanish
government was become so feeble, that the ministry, rather than be at
the expense of defending the Netherlands, offered to deliver the whole
country to king William, either as monarch of England, or stadtholder of
the United Provinces. He declined this offer, because he knew the people
would never be reconciled to a protestant government; but he proposed
that the Spaniards should confer the administration of Flanders upon the
elector of Bavaria, who was ambitious of signalizing his courage,
and able to defend the country with his own troops and treasure. This
proposal was relished by the court of Spain; the emperor imparted it
to the elector, who accepted the office without hesitation; and he was
immediately declared governor of the Low Countries by the council of
state at Madrid. King William, after his return from the army, continued
some time at the Hague settling the operations of the ensuing campaign.
That affair being discussed, he embarked in the Maese, and landed in
England on the nineteenth day of October.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




AFFAIRS OF IRELAND.

Before we explain the proceedings in parliament, it will be necessary to
give a detail of the late transactions in Ireland. In the beginning
of the season, the French king had sent a large supply of provisions,
clothes, and ammunition, for the use of the Irish at Limerick, under
the conduct of Monsieur St. Ruth, accompanied by a great number of
French officers furnished with commissions from king James, though St.
Kuth issued all his orders in the name of Louis. Tyrconnel had arrived
in January with three frigates and nine vessels, laden with succours of
the same nature; otherwise the Irish could not have been so long kept
together. Nor indeed could these supplies prevent them from forming
separate and independent bands of rapparees, who plundered the country,
and committed the most shocking barbarities. The lords justices, in
conjunction with general Ginckel, had taken every step their prudence
could suggest to quiet the disturbances of the country, and prevent such
violence and rapine, of which the soldiers in king William's army were
not entirely innocent. The justices had issued proclamations denouncing
severe penalties against those who should countenance or conceal such
acts of cruelty and oppression: they promised to protect all papists who
should live quietly within a certain frontier line; and Ginckel gave the
catholic rebels to understand that he was authorized to treat with them,
if they were inclined to return to their duty. Before the armies took
the field, several skirmishes had been fought between parties; and these
had always turned out so unfortunate to the enemy, that their spirits
were quite depressed, while the confidence of the English rose in the
same proportion.

St. Euth and Tyrconnel were joined by the rapparees, and general Ginckel
was reinforced by Mackay, with those troops which had reduced the
highlanders in Scotland. Thus strengthened, he, in the beginning of
June, marched from Mullingar to Ballymore, which was garrisoned by a
thousand men under colonel Bourke, who, when summoned to surrender,
returned an evasive answer. But, when a breach was made in the place,
and the besiegers began to make preparations for a general assault, his
men laid down their arms and submitted at discretion. The fortifications
of this place being repaired and augmented, the general left a garrison
for its defence, and advanced to Athlone, situated on the other side of
the Shannon, and supported by the Irish army encamped almost under its
walls. The English town on the hither side of the river was taken
sword in hand, and the enemy broke down an arch of the bridge in their
retreat. Batteries were raised against the Irish town, and several
unsuccessful attempts were made to force the passage of the bridge,
which was defended with great vigour. At length it was resolved, in a
council of war, that a detachment should pass at a ford a little to the
left of the bridge, though the river was deep and rapid, the bottom foul
and stony, and the pass guarded by a ravelin, erected for that purpose.
The forlorn hope consisted of sixty grenadiers in armour, headed by
captain Sandys and two lieutenants. They were seconded by another
detachment, and this was supported by six battalions of infantry. Never
was a more desperate service, nor was ever exploit performed with more
valour and intrepidity. They passed twenty a-breast in the face of the
enemy, through an incessant shower of balls, bullets, and grenades.
Those who followed them took possession of the bridge, and laid planks
over the broken arch. Pontoons were fixed at the same time, that
the troops might pass in different places. The Irish were amazed,
confounded, and abandoned the town in the utmost consternation; so that
in half an hour it was wholly secured by the English, who did not
lose above fifty men in this attack. Mackay, Tetteau, and Ptolemache,
exhibited proofs of the most undaunted courage in passing the river;
and general Ginckel, for his conduct, intrepidity, and success on this
occasion, was created earl of Athlone. When St. Ruth was informed,
by express, that the English had entered the river, he said, it was
impossible they should pretend to take a town which he covered with his
army, and that he would give a thousand pistoles if they would
attempt to force a passage. Sarsfield insisted upon the truth of the
intelligence, and pressed him to send succours to the town; he ridiculed
this officer's fears, and some warm expostulation passed between them.
Being at length convinced that the English were in possession of the
place, he ordered some detachments to drive them out again; but the
cannon of their own works being turned against them, they found the task
impracticable, and that very night their army decamped. St. Ruth, after
a march of ten miles, took post at Aghrim; and having, by drafts from
garrisons, augmented his army to five-and-twenty thousand men, resolved
to hazard a decisive engagement.

Ginckel, having put Athlone in a posture of defence, passed the Shannon
and marched up to the enemy, determined to give them battle, though his
forces did not exceed eighteen thousand, and the Irish were posted in a
very advantageous situation. St. Ruth had made an admirable disposition,
and taken every precaution that military skill could suggest. His centre
extended along a rising ground, uneven in many places, intersected with
banks and ditches, joined by lines of communication, and fronted by a
large bog almost impassable. His right was fortified with intrenchments,
and his left secured by the castle of Aghrim. He harangued his army
in the most pathetic strain, conjuring them to exert their courage
in defence of their holy religion, in the extirpation of heresy, in
recovering their ancient honours and estates, and in restoring a pious
king to the throne, from whence he had been expelled by an unnatural
usurper. He employed the priests to enforce his exhortations; to assure
the men that they might depend upon the prayers of the church; and that,
in case they should fall in battle, the saints and angels would convey
their souls to heaven. They are said to have sworn upon the sacrament
that they would not desert their colours, and to have received an order
that no quarter should be given to the French heretics in the army of
the prince of Orange. Ginckel had encamped on the Roscommon side of the
river Sue, within three miles of the enemy: after having reconnoitred
their posture, he resolved, with the advice of a council of war, to
attack them on Sunday the twelfth day of July. The necessary orders
being given, the army passed the river at two fords and a stone bridge,
and, advancing to the edge of the great bog, began about twelve o'clock
to force the two passages, in order to possess the ground on the other
side. The enemy fought with surprising fury, and the horse were several
times repulsed; but at length the troops upon the right carried their
point by moans of some field pieces. The day was now so far advanced,
that the general determined to postpone the battle till next morning;
but perceiving some disorder among the enemy, and fearing they would
decamp in the night, he altered his resolution and ordered the attack to
be renewed. At six o'clock in the evening the left wing of the English
advanced to the right of the Irish, from whom they met with such a warm
and obstinate reception, that it was not without the most surprising
efforts of courage and perseverance that they at length obliged them to
give ground; and even then they lost it by inches. St. Ruth, seeing them
in danger of being overpowered, immediately detached succours to them
from his centre and left wing. Mackay no sooner perceived them weakened
by these detachments, then he ordered three battalions to skirt the
bog and attack them on the left, while the centre advanced through the
middle of the morass, the men wading up to the waist in mud and water.
After they had reached the other side, they found themselves obliged
to ascend a rugged hill fenced with hedges and ditches; and these were
lined with musqeteers, supported at proper intervals with squadrons of
cavalry. They made such a desperate resistance, and fought with such
impetuosity, that the assailants were repulsed into the middle of the
bog with great loss, and St. Ruth exclaimed--"Now will I drive the
English to the gates of Dublin." In this critical conjuncture Ptolemache
came tip with a fresh body to sustain them, rallied the broken troops,
and renewed the charge with such vigour that the Irish gave way in their
turn, and the English recovered the ground they had lost, though they
found it impossible to improve their advantage. Mackay brought a body of
horse and dragoons to the assistance of the left wing, and first turned
the tide of battle in favour of the English. Major-general Rouvigny, who
had behaved with great gallantry during the whole action, advanced
with five regiments of cavalry to support the centre; when St. Kuth,
perceiving his design, resolved to fall upon him in a dangerous hollow
way which he was obliged to pass. For this purpose he began to descend
Kircommodon-hill with his whole reserve of horse; but in his way was
killed by a cannon-ball. His troops immediately halted, and his guards
retreated with his body. His fate dispirited the troops, and produced
such confusion as Sarsfield could not remedy; for though he was next
in command, he had been at variance with St. Ruth since the affair at
Athlone, and was ignorant of the plan he had concerted. Rouvigny having
passed the hollow way without opposition, charged the enemy in flank,
and bore down all before him with surprising impetuosity; the centre
redoubled their efforts and pushed the Irish 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 horse
took the route by the highway to Loughneagh; both were pursued by the
English cavalry, who for four miles made a terrible slaughter. In the
battle, which lasted two hours, and in the pursuit, above four thousand
of the enemy were slain and six hundred taken, together with all their
baggage, tents, provisions, ammunition, and artillery, nine-and-twenty
pair of colours, twelve standards, and almost all the arms of the
infantry. In a word, the victory was decisive, and not above eight
hundred of the English were killed upon the field of battle. The
vanquished retreated in great confusion to Limerick, where they resolved
to make a final stand in hope of receiving such succours 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 survived his authority and reputation. He had incurred the
contempt of the French, as well as the hatred of the Irish, whom he
had advised to submit to the new government rather than totally ruin
themselves and their families.

Immediately after the battle detachments were sent to reduce Portumny,
Bonnachar, and Moorcastle, considerable passes on the Shannon, which
were accordingly secured. Then Ginckel advanced to Galway, which he
summoned to surrender; but he received a defiance from lord Dillon
and general D'Ussone who commanded the garrison. The trenches were
immediately opened; a fort which commanded the approaches to the town
was taken by assault; six regiments of foot and four squadrons of horse
passed the river on pontoons, and the place being wholly invested, the
governor thought proper to capitulate. The garrison marched out with
the honours of war, and was allowed safe conduct to Limerick. Ginckel
directed his march to the same town, which was the only post of
consequence that now held out for king James. Within four miles of the
place he halted until the heavy cannon could be brought from Athlone.
Hearing that Luttrel had been seized by the French general D'Ussone, and
sentenced to be shot for having proposed to surrender, he sent a trumpet
to tell the commander that if any person should be put to death for such
a proposal, he would make retaliation on the Irish prisoners. On the
twenty-fifth day of August the enemy were driven from all their advanced
posts: captain Cole, with a squadron of ships, sailed up the Shannon,
and his frigates anchored in sight of the town. On the twenty-sixth day
of the month the batteries were opened, and a line of contra-vallation
was formed; the Irish army lay encamped on the other side 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 almost laid in ruins by the bombs, and large breaches made in the
wails by the battering cannon, the guns were dismounted, the out-forts
evacuated, and such other motions made as indicated a resolution to
abandon the siege. The enemy expressed their joy in loud acclamations;
but this was of short continuance. In the night the besiegers began to
throw a bridge of pontoons over the river about a mile higher up than
the camp, and this work was finished before morning. A considerable body
of horse and foot had passed when the alarm was given to the enemy, who
were seized with such consternation, that they threw down their arms and
betook themselves to flight, leaving behind them their tents, baggage,
two pieces of cannon, and one standard. The bridge was immediately
removed nearer the town and fortified; all the fords and passes were
secured, and the batteries continued firing incessantly till the
twenty-second day of the month, when Ginckel passed over with a division
of the army and fourteen pieces of cannon. About four in the afternoon
the grenadiers attacked the forts that commanded Thomond-bridge, and
carried them sword in hand after an obstinate resistance. The garrison
had made a sally from the town to support them; and this detachment was
driven back with such precipitation, that the French officer on command
in that quarter, fearing the English would enter pell-mell with the
fugitives, ordered the bridge to be drawn up, leaving his own men to the
fury of a victorious enemy. Six hundred were killed, two hundred taken
prisoners, including many officers, and a great number were drowned in
the Shannon.




THE FRENCH AND IRISH OBTAIN AN HONOURABLE CAPITULATION.

Then the English made a lodgement within ten paces of the bridge-foot;
and the Irish, seeing themselves surrounded on all sides, determined
to capitulate. General Sarsfield and colonel Wahop signified their
resolution to Scrvenmore and Rouvigny; hostages were exchanged; a
negotiation was immediately begun, and hostilities ceased on both sides
of the river. The lords justices arrived in the camp on the first day of
October, and on the fourth the capitulation was executed, extending to
all the places in the kingdom that were still in the hands of the Irish.
The Roman catholics were restored to the enjoyment of such liberty in
the exercise of religion as was consistent with the laws of Ireland, and
conformable with that which they possessed in the reign of Charles II.
All persons whatever were entitled to the protection of these laws, and
restored to the possession of their estates, privileges, and immunities,
upon their submitting to the present government, and taking the oath
of allegiance to their majesties king William and queen Mary, excepting
however certain persons who were forfeited or exiled. This article even
extended to all merchants of Limerick, or any other garrison possessed
by the Irish, who happened to be abroad, and had not borne arms since
the declaration in the first year of the present reign, provided they
should return within the term of eight months. All the persons comprised
in this and the forgoing article were indulged with a general pardon of
all attainders, outlawries, treasons, misprisons of treason, premunires,
felonies, trespasses, and other crimes and misdemeanors whatsoever,
committed since the beginning of the reign of James II.; and the lords
justices promised to use their best endeavours towards the reversal
of such attainders and outlawries as had passed against any of them
in parliament. In order to allay the violence of party and extinguish
private animosities, it was agreed that no person should be sued or
impleaded on either side for any trespass, or made accountable for the
rents, tenements, lands, or houses he had received or enjoyed since the
beginning of the war. Every nobleman and gentleman comprised in these
articles was authorized to keep a sword, a case of pistols, and a gun,
for his defence or amusement. The inhabitants of Limerick and other
garrisons were permitted to remove their goods and chattels, without
search, visitation, or payment of duty. The lords justices promised
to use their best endeavours that all persons comprehended in this
capitulation should for eight months be protected from all arrests
and executions for debt or damage; they undertook that their majesties
should ratify these articles within the space of eight months, and
use their endeavours that they might be ratified and confirmed in
parliament. The subsequent article was calculated to indemnify colonel
John Brown, whose estate and effects had been seized for the use of the
Irish army by Tyrconnel and Sarsfield, which last had been created Lord
Lucan by king James, and was now mentioned by that title. All persons
were indulged with free leave to remove with their families and effects
to any other country except England and Scotland. All officers and
soldiers in the service of king James, comprehending even the rapparees,
willing to go beyond sea, were at liberty to inarch in bodies to the
places of embarkation, to be conveyed to the continent with the French
officers and troops. They were furnished with passports, convoys, and
carriages by land and water; and general Gluckel engaged to provide
seventy ships, if necessary, for their transportation, with two men of
war for the accommodation of their officers, and to serve as a convoy to
the fleet. It was stipulated, That the provisions and forage for their
subsistence should be paid for on their arrival in France; that hostages
should be given for this indemnification, as well as for the return of
the ships; that all the garrisons should march out of their respective
towns and fortresses with the honours of war; that the Irish should have
liberty to transport nine hundred horses; that those who should choose
to stay behind might dispose of themselves according to their own fancy,
after having surrendered their arms to such commissioners as the general
should appoint; that all prisoners of war should be set at liberty on
both sides; that the general should provide two vessels to carry over
two different persons to France with intimation of this treaty; and that
none of those who were willing to quit the kingdom should be detained on
account of debt, or any other pretence.--This was the substance of the
famous treaty of Limerick, which the Irish Roman catholics considered
as the great charter of their civil and religious liberties. The town of
Limerick was surrendered to Ginckel; but both sides agreed that the two
armies should intrench themselves till the Irish could embark, that no
disorders might arise from a communication.




TWELVE THOUSAND IRISH CATHOLICS ARE TRANSPORTED TO FRANCE.

The protestant subjects of Ireland were extremely disgusted at these
concessions made in favour of vanquished rebels, who had exercised such
acts of cruelty and rapine. They complained, That they themselves, who
had suffered for their loyalty to king William, were neglected, and
obliged to sit down with their losses; while their enemies, who had
shed so much blood in opposing his government, were indemnified by
the articles of the capitulation, and even favoured with particular
indulgencies. They were dismissed with the honours of war; they were
transported at the government's expense, to fight against the English in
foreign countries; an honourable provision was made for the rapparees,
who were professed banditti; the Roman catholic interest in Ireland
obtained the sanction of regal authority; attainders were overlooked,
forfeitures annulled, pardons extended, and laws set aside, in order to
effect 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 hostages exchanged for their being duly
executed, about two thousand Irish foot, and three hundred horse, began
their march for Cork, where they proposed to take shipping for France,
under the conduct of Sarsfield; but three regiments refusing to quit
the kingdom, delivered up their arms and dispersed to their former
habitations. Those who remained at Limerick embarked on the seventh day
of November, in French transports; and sailed immediately to France,
under the convoy of a French squadron which had arrived in the bay of
Dangle immediately after the capitulation was signed. Twelve thousand
men chose to undergo exile from their native country rather than submit
to the government of king William. When they arrived in France they were
welcomed by a letter from James, who thanked them for their loyalty,
assured them they should still serve under his commission and command,
and that the king of France had already given orders for their being new
clothed and put into quarters of refreshment.




MEETING OF THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT.

The reduction of Ireland being thus completed, baron Ginckel returned to
England, where he was solemnly thanked by the house of commons for
his great services, after he had been created earl of Athlone by his
majesty. When the parliament met on the twenty-second day of October,
the king in his speech insisted upon the necessity of sending a strong
fleet to sea early in the season, and of maintaining a considerable army
to annoy the enemy abroad, as well as to protect the kingdom from insult
and invasion; for which purposes, he said, sixty-five thousand men would
be barely sufficient. Each house presented an address of congratulation
upon his majesty's safe return to England, and on the reduction of
Ireland: they promised to assist him to the utmost of their power,
in prosecuting the war with France; and, at the same time, drew up
addresses to the queen, acknowledging her prudent administration during
his majesty's absence. Notwithstanding this appearance of cordiality
and complaisance, a spirit of discontent had insinuated itself into both
houses of parliament, and even infected great part of the nation.

A great number of individuals who wished well to their country, could
not, without anxiety and resentment, behold the interest of the nation
sacrificed to foreign connexions, and the king's favour so partially
bestowed upon Dutchmen in prejudice to his English subjects. They
observed, that the number of forces he demanded was considerably greater
than that of any army which had ever been paid by the public, even when
the nation was in the most imminent danger; that instead of contributing
as allies to the maintenance of the war upon the continent, they had
embarked as principals and bore the greatest part of the burden, though
they had the least share of the profit. They even insinuated that such
a standing army was more calculated to make the king absolute at home,
than to render him formidable abroad; and the secret friends of the
late king did not fail to enforce these insinuations. They renewed their
animadversions upon the disagreeable part of his character; they dwelt
upon his proud reserve, his sullen silence, his imperious disposition,
and his base ingratitude, particularly to the earl of Marlborough, whom
he had dismissed from all his employments immediately after the signal
exploits he had performed in Ireland. The disgrace of this nobleman
was partly ascribed to the freedom with which he had complained of the
king's undervaluing his services, and partly to the intrigues of his
wife, who had gained an ascendancy over the princess Anne of Denmark,
and is said to have employed her influence in fomenting a jealousy
between the two sisters. The malcontents of the whiggish faction,
enraged to find their credit declining at court, joined in the cry
which the Jacobites had raised against the government. They scrupled not
to say, that the arts of corruption were shamefully practised to secure
a majority in parliament; that the king was as tender of the prerogative
as any of his predecessors had ever been; and that he even ventured
to admit Jacobites into his council, because they were known tools of
arbitrary power. These reflections alluded to the earls of Rochester
and Kanelagh, who, with sir Edward Seymour, had been lately created
privy-counsellors. Rochester entertained very high notions of regal
authority; he proposed severity as one of the best supports of
government; was clear in his understanding, violent in his temper, and
incorrupt in his principles. Ranelagh was a man of parts and pleasure,
who possessed the most plausible and winning address; and was capable
of transacting the most important and intricate affairs, in the midst of
riot and debauchery. He had managed the revenue of Ireland in the reign
of Charles II.; he enjoyed the office of paymaster in the army of King
James, and now maintained the same footing under the government of
William and Mary. Sir Edward Seymour was the proudest commoner in
England, and the boldest orator that ever filled the speaker's chair. He
was intimately acquainted with the business of the house, and knew every
individual member so exactly, that with one glance of his eye he could
prognosticate the fate of every motion. He had opposed the court with
great acrimony, questioned the king's title, censured his conduct, and
reflected upon his character. Nevertheless, he now became a proselyte,
and was brought into the treasury.




TRANSACTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

The commons voted three millions, four hundred and eleven thousand, six
hundred and seventy-five pounds, for the use of the ensuing year: but
the establishment of funds for raising these supplies was retarded,
partly by the ill-humour of the opposition, and partly by intervening
affairs that diverted the attention of the commons. Several eminent
merchants presented a petition to the house against the East-India
company, charging them with manifold abuses; at the same time, a
counter-petition was delivered by the company, and the affair referred
to the examination of a committee appointed for that purpose. After
a minute inquiry into the nature of the complaints, the commons voted
certain regulations with respect to the stock and the traffic;
and resolved to petition his majesty, that, according to the said
regulations, the East-India company should be incorporated by charter.
The committee was ordered to bring in a bill for this establishment; but
divers petitions being presented against it, and the company's answers
proving unsatisfactory, the house addressed the king to dissolve it,
and grant a charter to a new company. He said it was an affair of great
importance to the trade of the kingdom; therefore, he would consider the
subject, and in a little time return a positive answer. The parliament
was likewise amused by a pretended conspiracy of the papists in
Lancashire, to raise a rebellion and restore James to the throne.
Several persons were seized, and some witnesses examined: but nothing
appeared to justify the information. At length one Fuller, a prisoner
in the king's bench, offered his evidence, and was brought to the bar of
the house of commons, where he produced some papers. He obtained a blank
pass from the king for two persons, who he said would come from the
continent to give evidence. He was afterwards examined at his own
lodgings, where he affirmed that colonel Thomas Delavai and James Hayes
were the witnesses for whom he had procured the pass and the protection.
Search was made for them according to his direction, but no such persons
were found. Then the house declared Fuller a notorious impostor, cheat,
and false accuser. He was, at the request of the commons, prosecuted by
the attorney-general, and sentenced to stand in the pillory; a disgrace
which he accordingly underwent.

A bill for regulating trials in cases of high treason having been laid
aside by the lords in the preceding session, was now again brought upon
the carpet, and passed the lower house. The design of this bill was to
secure the subject from the rigours to which he had been exposed in the
late reigns: it provided, That the prisoner should be furnished with a
copy of his indictment, as also of the panel, ten days before his trial;
and, that his witnesses should be examined upon oath as well as those of
the crown. The lords, in their own behalf, added a clause enacting,
That upon the trials of any peer or peeress, for treason or misprison of
treason, all the peers who have a right to sit and vote in parliament,
should be duly summoned to assist at the trial; that this notice should
be given twenty days before the trial; and that every peer so summoned,
and appearing, should vote upon the occasion. The commons rejected this
amendment; and a free conference ensued. The point was argued with great
vivacity on both sides, which served only to inflame the dispute, and
render each party the more tenacious of their own opinion. After three
conferences that produced nothing but animosity, the bill was dropped;
for the commons resolved to bear the hardships of which they complained,
rather than be relieved at the expense of purchasing a new privilege to
the lords; and without this advantage, the peers would not contribute to
their relief.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




THE ENGLISH AND DUTCH FLEETS BAFFLED BY THE FRENCH.

The next object that engrossed the attention of the lower house, was the
miscarriage of the fleet during the summer's expedition. Admiral Russel,
who commanded at sea, having been joined by a Dutch squadron, sailed
in quest of the enemy; but as the French king had received undoubted
intelligence that the combined squadrons were superior to his navy in
number of ships and weight of metal, he ordered Tourville to avoid
an engagement. This officer acted with such vigilance, caution, and
dexterity, as baffled all the endeavours of Russel, who was moreover
perplexed with obscure and contradictory orders. Nevertheless, he
cruised all summer either in the channel or in soundings, for the
protection of the trade, and in particular secured the homeward-bound
Smyrna fleet, in which the English and Dutch had a joint concern
amounting to four millions sterling. Having scoured the channel, and
sailed along great part of the French coast, he returned to Torbay in
the beginning of August, and received fresh orders to put to sea again,
notwithstanding his repeated remonstrances against exposing large
ships to the storms that always blow about the time of the equinox. He
therefore sailed back to soundings, where he continued cruising till
the second day of September, when he was overtaken by a violent tempest,
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 second-rate, foundered at anchor off the
Ram-head; the Harwich, a third-rate, bulged upon the rocks and perished;
two others ran ashore, but were got off with little damage; but the
whole fleet was scattered and distressed. The nation murmured at the
supposed misconduct of the admiral, and the commons subjected him to an
inquiry: but when they examined his papers, orders, and instructions,
they perceived he had adhered to them with great punctuality, and
thought proper to drop the prosecution out of tenderness to the
ministry. Then the house took into consideration some letters which had
been intercepted in a French ship taken by sir Ralph Delaval. Three of
these are said to have been written by king James, and the rest sealed
with his seal. They related to the plan of an insurrection in Scotland,
and in the northern parts of England: Legge, lord Dartmouth, with one
Crew, being mentioned in them as agents and abettors in the design,
warrants were immediately issued against them; Crew absconded, but lord
Dartmouth was committed to the Tower. Lord Preston was examined touching
some ciphers which they could not explain, and, pretending ignorance,
was imprisoned in Newgate, from whence however he soon obtained
his release. The funds for the supplies of the ensuing year being
established, and several acts* passed relating to domestic regulations,
the king on the twenty-fourth day of February closed the session with
a short speech, thanking the parliament for their demonstrations of
affection in the liberal supplies they had granted, and communicating
his intention of repairing speedily to the continent. Then the two
houses, at his desire, adjourned themselves to the twelfth day of April,
and the parliament was afterwards prorogued to the twenty-ninth day of
May, by proclamation. [035] _[See note H, at the end of this Vol.]_

     * The laws enacted in this session were those: an act for
     abrogating the oath of supremacy in Ireland, and appointing
     other oaths; an act for taking away clergy from some
     offenders, and bringing others to punishment; an act against
     deer-stealing; an act for repairing the highways, and
     settling the rates of carriage of goods; an act for the
     relief of creditors against fraudulent devices; an act for
     explaining and supplying the defects of former laws for the
     settlement of the poor; an act for the encouragement of the
     breeding and feeding of cattle; and an act for ascertaining
     the tithes of hemp and flax.




THE KING DISOBLIGES THE PRESBYTERIANS OF SCOTLAND.

The king had suffered so much in his reputation by his complaisance to
the presbyterians of Scotland, and was so displeased with the conduct of
that stubborn sect of religionists, that he thought proper to admit some
prelatists into the administration. Johnston, who had been sent envoy to
the elector of Brandenburgh was recalled, and with the master of Stair,
made joint secretary of Scotland; Melvil, who had declined in his
importance, was made lord privy-seal of that kingdom; Tweedale was
constituted lord chancellor; Crawford retained the office of president
of the council; and Lothian was appointed high commissioner to the
general assembly. The parliament was adjourned to the fifteenth day
of April, because it was not yet compliant enough to be assembled with
safety; and the episcopal clergy were admitted to a share of the church
government. These measures, instead of healing the divisions, served
only to inflame the animosity of the two parties. The episcopalians
triumphed in the king's favour, and began to treat their antagonists
with insolence and scorn: the presbyterians were incensed to see
their friends disgraced, and their enemies distinguished by the royal
indulgence. They insisted upon the authority of the law, which happened
to be upon their side: they became more than ever sour, surly, and
implacable; they refused to concur with the prelatists or abate in
the least circumstances of discipline; and the assembly was dissolved
without any time or place assigned for the next meeting. The
presbyterians pretended an independent right of assembling annually,
even without a call from his majesty; they therefore adjourned
themselves, after having protested against the dissolution. The king
resented this measure as an insolent invasion of the prerogative, and
conceived an aversion to the whole sect, who in their turn began to lose
all respect for his person and government.

As the highlanders were not yet totally reduced, the earl of Breadalbane
undertook to bring them over, by distributing sums of money among their
chiefs; and fifteen thousand pounds were remitted from England for this
purpose. The clans being informed of this remittance, suspected that the
earl's design was to appropriate to himself the best part of the money,
and when he began to treat with them made such extravagant demands that
he found his scheme impracticable. He was therefore obliged to refund
the sum he had received; and he resolved to wreak his vengeance with
the first opportunity on those who had frustrated his intention. He
who chiefly thwarted his negotiation was Macdonald of Glencoe, whose
opposition rose from a private circumstance which ought to have had
no effect upon a treaty that regarded the public weal. Macdonald had
plundered the lands of Breadalbane during the course of hostilities; and
this nobleman insisted upon being indemnified for his losses, from the
other's share of the money which he was employed to distribute. The
highlander not only refused to acquiesce in these terms, but, by his
influence among the clans, defeated the whole scheme, and the earl in
revenge devoted him to destruction. King William had by proclamation
offered an indemnity to all those who had been in arms against him,
provided they would submit and take the oaths by a certain day; and this
was prolonged to the close of the present year, with a denunciation of
military execution against those who should hold out after the end of
December. Macdonald, intimidated by this declaration, repaired on the
very last day of the month to Fort-William, and desired that the oaths
might be tendered to him by colonel Hill, governor of that fortress.
As this officer was not vested with the power of a civil magistrate,
he refused to administer them; and Macdonald set out immediately for
Inverary, the county-town of Argyle. Though the ground was covered with
snow, and the weather intensely cold, he travelled with such diligence,
that the term prescribed by the proclamation was but one day elapsed
when he reached the place, and addressed himself to sir John Campbell,
sheriff of the county, who, in consideration of his disappointment at
Fort-William, was prevailed upon to administer the oaths to him and his
adherents. Then they returned to their own habitations in the valley
of Glencoe, in full confidence of being protected by the government to
which they had so solemnly submitted.




MASSACRE OF GLENCOE.

Breadalbane had represented Macdonald at court as an incorrigible rebel,
as a ruffian inured to bloodshed and rapine, who would never be obedient
to the laws of his country, nor live peaceably under any sovereign. He
observed, that he had paid no regard to the proclamation, and proposed
that the government should sacrifice him to the quiet of the kingdom,
in extirpating him with his family and dependents by military execution.
His advice was supported by the suggestions of the other Scottish
ministers; and the king, whose chief virtue was not humanity, signed a
warrant for the destruction of those unhappy people, though it does
not appear that he knew of Macdonald's submission. An order for this
barbarous execution, signed and countersigned by his majesty's own hand,
being transmitted to the master of Stair, secretary for Scotland, this
minister sent particular directions to Livingstone, who commanded the
troops in that kingdom, to put the inhabitants of Glencoe to the
sword, charging him to take no prisoners, that the scene might be more
terrible. In the month of February, captain Campbell of Glenlyon, by
virtue of an order from major Duncanson, marched into the valley of
Glencoe with a company of soldiers belonging to Argyle's regiment, on
pretence of levying the arrears of the land-tax and hearth-money. When
Macdonald demanded whether they came as friends or enemies, he answered,
as friends, and promised upon his honour that neither he nor his people
should sustain the least injury. In consequence of this declaration, he
and his men were received with the most cordial hospitality, and lived
fifteen days with the men of the valley in all the appearance of the
most unreserved friendship. At length the fatal period approached.
Macdonald and Campbell having passed the day together, parted about
seven in the evening, with mutual professions of the warmest affection.
The younger Macdonald, perceiving the guards doubled, began to suspect
some treachery, and communicated his suspicion to his brother; but
neither he nor the father would harbour the least doubt of Campbell's
sincerity: nevertheless the two young men went forth privately to make
further observations. They overheard the common soldiers say they
liked not the work; that though they would have willingly fought the
Macdonalds of the Glen fairly in the field, they held it base to murder
them in cool blood, but that their officers were answerable for the
treachery. When the youths hastened back to apprize their father of the
impending danger, they saw the house already surrounded; they heard
the discharge of muskets, the shrieks of women and children; and, being
destitute of arms, secured their own lives by immediate flight. The
savage ministers of vengeance had entered the old man's chamber, and
shot him through the head. He fell down dead in the arms of his wife,
who died next day distracted by the horror of her husband's fate. The
laird of Auchintrincken, Macdonald's guest, who had, three months before
this period, submitted to the government, and at this very time had a
protection in his pocket, was put to death without question. A boy of
eight years, who fell at Campbell's feet imploring mercy, and offering
to serve him for life, was stabbed to the heart by one Drummond a
subaltern officer. Eight-and-thirty persons suffered in this manner,
the greater part of whom were surprised in their beds, and hurried into
eternity before they had time to implore the divine mercy. The design
was to butcher all the males under seventy that lived in the valley, the
number of whom amounted to two hundred; but some of the detachments did
not arrive soon enough to secure the passes; so that one hundred and
sixty escaped. Campbell having perpetrated this cruel massacre, ordered
all the houses to be burned, made a prey of all the cattle and effects
that were found in the valley, and left the helpless women and children,
whose fathers and husbands he had murdered, naked and forlorn, without
covering, food, or shelter, in the midst of the snow that covered the
whole face of the country, at the distance of six long miles from any
inhabited place. Distracted with grief and horror, surrounded with the
shades of night, shivering with cold, and appalled with the apprehension
of immediate death from the swords of those who had sacrificed their
friends and kinsmen, they could not endure such a complication of
calamities, but generally perished in the waste, before they could
receive the least comfort or assistance. This barbarous massacre,
performed under the sanction of king William's authority, answered the
immediate purpose of the court by striking terror into the hearts of the
Jacobite high-landers; but at the same time excited the horror of all
those who had not renounced every sentiment of humanity, and produced
such an aversion to the government, as all the arts of a ministry could
never totally surmount. A detail of the particulars was published
at Paris, with many exaggerations, and the Jacobites did not fail
to expatiate on every circumstance, in domestic libels and private
conversation. The king, alarmed at the outcry which was raised upon this
occasion, ordered an inquiry to be set on foot, and dismissed the master
of Stair from his employment of secretary: he likewise pretended that he
had subscribed the order amidst a heap of other papers, without knowing
the purport of it; but as he did not severely punish those who had made
his authority subservient to their own cruel revenge, the imputation
stuck fast to his character; and the highlanders, though terrified
into silence and submission, were inspired with the most implacable
resentment against his person and administration.




PREPARATIONS FOR A DESCENT UPON ENGLAND.

A great number in both kingdoms waited impatiently for an opportunity to
declare in behalf of their exiled monarch, who was punctually informed
of all these transactions, and endeavoured to make his advantage of the
growing discontent. King William having settled the domestic affairs
of the nation, and exerted uncommon care and assiduity in equipping a
formidable fleet, embarked for Holland on the fifth day of March, and
was received by the states-general with expressions of the most cordial
regard. While he was here employed in promoting the measures of the
grand confederacy, the French king resolved to invade England in his
absence, and seemed heartily engaged in the interest of James, whose
emissaries in Britain began to bestir themselves with uncommon assiduity
in preparing the nation for his return. One Lant, who was imprisoned on
suspicion of distributing his commissions, had the good fortune to be
released, and the papists of Lancashire dispatched him to the court of
St. Germain's with an assurance that they were in a condition to receive
their old sovereign. He returned with advice that king James would
certainly land in the spring; and that colonel Parker and other officers
should be sent over with full instructions, touching their conduct at
and before the king's arrival. Parker accordingly repaired to England,
and made the Jacobites acquainted with the whole scheme of a descent,
which Louis had actually concerted with the late king. He assured them
that their lawful sovereign would once more visit his British dominions,
at the head of thirty thousand effective men, to be embarked at La
Hogue; that the transports were already prepared, and a strong squadron
equipped for their convoy; he therefore exhorted them to be speedy and
secret in their preparation, that they might be in readiness to take
arms and co-operate in effecting his restoration. This officer, and one
Johnson a priest, are said to have undertaken the assassination of king
William; but before they could execute their design his majesty set sail
for Holland.




DECLARATION OF KING JAMES.

Meanwhile James addressed a letter to several lords who had been
formerly members of his council, as well as to divers ladies of quality
and distinction, intimating the pregnancy of his queen, and requiring
them to attend as witnesses at the labour. He took notice of the injury
his family and honour had sustained, from the cruel aspersions of his
enemies concerning the birth of his son, and as Providence had now
favoured him with an opportunity of refuting the calumny of those who
affirmed that the queen was incapable of child-bearing, he assured them
in the name of his brother the French king, as well as upon his own
royal word, that they should have free leave to visit his court and
return after the labour.*

     * The letter was directed not only for privy counsellors,
     but also to the duchesses of Somerset and Beaufort, the
     marchioness of Halifax, the countesses of Derby, Mulgrave,
     Rutland, Brooks, Nottingham, Lumley, and Danby, the ladies
     Fitzharding and Fretchville, those of sir John Trevor,
     speaker of the house of commons, sir Edward Seymour, sir
     Christopher Musgrave, the wives of sir Thomas Stamford,
     lord-mayor of London, sir William Ashhurst and sir Richard
     Levert, the sheriffs, and, lastly, to Dr. Chamberlain, the
     famous practitioner in midwifery.

This invitation however no person would venture to accept. He afterwards
employed his emissaries in circulating a printed declaration, importing
that the king of France had enabled him to make another effort to
retrieve his crown; and that although he was furnished with a number of
troops sufficient to untie the hands of his subjects, he did not intend
to deprive them of their share in the glory of restoring their lawful
king and their ancient government. He exhorted the people to join his
standard. He assured them that the foreign auxiliaries should behave
with the most regular discipline, and be sent back immediately after his
re-establishment. He observed, that when such a number of his subjects
were so infatuated as to concur with the unnatural design of the prince
of Orange, he had chosen to rely upon the fidelity of his English army,
and refused considerable succours that were offered to him by his most
christian majesty; that when he was ready to oppose force with force, he
nevertheless offered to give all reasonable satisfaction to his subjects
who had been misled, and endeavoured to open their eyes with respect to
the vain pretences of his adversary, whose aim was not the reformation
but the subversion of the government; that when he saw himself deserted
by his army, betrayed by his ministers, abandoned by his favourites, and
even his own children, and at last rudely driven from his own palace
by a guard of insolent foreigners, he had for his personal safety taken
refuge in France: that his retreat from the malice and cruel designs
of the usurper had been construed into an abdication, and the whole
constitution of the monarchy destroyed by a set of men illegally
assembled, who, in fact, had no power to alter the property of the
meanest subject. He expressed his hope that by this time the nation had
fairly examined the account, and from the losses and enormous expense of
the three last years, were convinced that the remedy was worse than the
disease; that the beginning, like the first years of Nero's reign, would
in all probability be found the mildest part of the usurpation, and
the instruments of the new establishment live to suffer severely by the
tyranny they had raised; that even though the usurpation should continue
during his life, an indisputable title would survive in his issue,
and expose the kingdom to all the miseries of a civil war. He not only
solicited but commanded his good subjects to join him, according to
their duty and the oaths they had taken. He forbade them to pay taxes
or any part of the revenue to the usurper. He promised pardon, and even
rewards, to all those who should return to their duty, and to procure in
his first parliament an act of indemnity, with an exception of certain
persons * whom he now enumerated.

     * Those excepted were the duke of Ormond, the marquis of
     Winchester, the earls of Sunderland, Bath, Danhy, and
     Nottingham; the lords Newport, Delamere, Wiltshire,
     Colchester, Cornhury, Dunblain, and Churchill; the bishops
     of London and St. Asaph; sir Robert Howard, sir John Worden,
     sir Samuel Grimstone, sir Stephen Fox, sir George Treby, sir
     Basil Dixwell, sir James Oxenden; Dr. John Tillotson, Dr.
     Gilbert Burnet; Francis Russel, Richard Lovison, John
     Trenchard, Charles Duncomb, citizens of London; Edwards,
     Stapleton, and Hunt, fishermen, and all others who had
     offered personal indignities to him at Feyersham; or had
     been concerned in the barbarous murder of John Ashton Cross,
     or any other who had suffered death for their loyalty; and
     all spies, or such as had betrayed his council during his
     late absence from England.

He declared that all soldiers who should quit the service of the usurper
and enlist under his banners, might depend upon receiving their pardon
and arrears; and that the foreign troops, upon laying clown their
arms, should be paid and transported to their respective countries.
He solemnly protested that he would protect and maintain the church
of England, as by law established, in all her rights, privileges, and
possessions: he signified his resolution to use his influence with the
parliament for allowing liberty of conscience to all his subjects, as
an indulgence agreeable to the spirit of the christian religion, and
conducive to the wealth and prosperity of the nation. He said his
principal care should be to heal the wounds of the late distractions; to
restore trade by observing the act of navigation, which had been
lately so much violated in favour of strangers; to put the navy in a
flourishing condition; and to take every step that might contribute
to the greatness of the monarchy and the happiness of the people. He
concluded with professions of resignation to the Divine Will, declaring
that all who should reject his offers of mercy, and appear in arms
against him, would be answerable to Almighty God for all the blood that
should be spilt, and all the miseries in which these kingdoms might be
involved by their desperate and unreasonable opposition.

While this declaration operated variously on the minds of the people,
colonel Parker, with some other officers, enlisted men privately for
the service of James, in the counties of York, Lancaster, and in the
bishopric of Durham: at the same time, Fountaine and Holeman were
employed in raising two regiments of horse at London, that they might
join their master immediately after his landing. His partisans sent
captain Lloyd with an express to lord Melfoot, containing a detail
of these particulars, with an assurance that they had brought over
rear-admiral Carter to the interest of his majesty. They likewise
transmitted a list of the ships that composed the English fleet, and
exhorted James to use his influence with the French king, that the
count do Tourville might be ordered to attack them before they should be
joined by the Dutch squadron. It was in consequence of this advice that
Louis commanded Tourville to fall upon the English fleet, even without
waiting for the Toulon squadron commanded by the marquis D'Etrees. By
this time James had repaired to La Hogue, and was ready to embark with
his army, consisting of a body of French troops, together with
some English and Scotch refugees, and the regiments which had been
transported from Ireland by virtue of the capitulation of Limerick.




PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY THE QUEEN FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE NATION.

The ministry of England was informed of all these particulars, partly
by some agents of James who betrayed his cause, and partly by admiral
Carter, who gave the queen to understand he had been tampered with; and
was instructed to amuse the Jacobites with a negotiation. King William
no sooner arrived in Holland than he hastened the naval preparations
of the Dutch, so that their fleet was ready for sea sooner than was
expected; and when he received the first intimation of the projected
descent, he detached general Ptolemache with three of the English
regiments from Holland. These, reinforced with other troops remaining in
England, were ordered to encamp in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth.
The queen issued a proclamation, commanding all papists to depart from
London and Westminster: the members of both houses of parliament were
required to meet on the twenty-fourth day of May, that she might avail
herself of their advice in such a perilous conjuncture. Warrants
were expedited for apprehending divers disaffected persons; and
they withdrawing themselves from their respective places of abode, a
proclamation was published for discovering and bringing them to justice.
The earls of Scarsdale, Litchfield, and Newburgh; the lords Griffin,
Forbes, sir John Fenwick, sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, and others, found
means to elude the search. The earls of Huntingdon and Marlborough
were sent to the Tower; Edward Ridley, Knevitt, Hastings, and Robert
Ferguson, were imprisoned in Newgate. The bishop of Rochester was
confined to his own house; the lords Brudenal and Fanshaw were secured;
the earls of Dunmore, Middleton, and sir Andrew Forrester, were
discovered in a quaker's house, and committed to prison with several
other persons of distinction. The trainbands of London and Westminster
were armed by the queen's direction, and she reviewed them in person:
admiral Russell was ordered to put to sea with all possible expedition;
and Carter, with a squadron of eighteen sail, continued to cruise along
the French coast to observe the motions of the enemy.




ADMIRAL RUSSEL PUTS TO SEA.

On the eleventh day of May, Russel sailed from Rye to St. Helen's,
where he was joined by the squadron under Delaval and Carter. There he
received a letter from the earl of Nottingham, intimating that a
report having been spread of the queen's suspecting the fidelity of the
sea-officers, her majesty had ordered him to declare in her name that
she reposed the most entire confidence in their attachment, and
believed the report was raised by the enemies of the government. The
flag-officers and captains forthwith drew up a very loyal and dutiful
address, which was graciously received by the queen, and published for
the satisfaction of the nation. Russel, being reinforced by the Dutch
squadrons commanded by Allemonde, Callemberg, and Vandergoes, set sail
for the coast of France on the eighteenth day of May, with a fleet of
ninety-nine ships of the line, besides frigates and fire-ships. Next
day, about three o'clock in the morning, he discovered the enemy under
the count de Tour-ville, and threw out the signal for the line of
battle, which by eight o'clock was formed in good order, the Dutch in
the van, the blue division in the rear, and the red in the centre. The
French fleet did not exceed sixty-three ships of the line, and as they
were to windward Tourville might have avoided an engagement; but he had
received a positive order to fight, on the supposition that the Dutch
and English squadrons had not joined. Louis indeed was apprised of their
junction before they were descried by his admiral, to whom he dispatched
a countermanding order by two several vessels; but one of them was taken
by the English, and the other did not arrive till the day after the
engagement.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}

[Illustration: 2-038-hogue-battle.jpg BATTLE OF LA HOGUE]




HE OBTAINS A COMPLETE VICTORY OVER THE FRENCH.

Tourville therefore, in obedience to the first mandate, bore down
alongside of Russel's own ship, which he engaged at a very small
distance. He fought with great fury till one o'clock, when his rigging
and sails being considerably damaged, his ship, the Rising-Sun, which
carried one hundred and four cannon, was towed out of the line in great
disorder. Nevertheless the engagement continued till three, when the
fleets were parted by a thick fog: when this abated, the enemy were
descried flying to the northward, and Russel made the signal for
chasing. Part of the blue squadron came up with the enemy about eight in
the evening, and engaged them half an hour, during which admiral Carter
was mortally wounded. Finding himself in extremity, he exhorted his
captain to fight as long as the ship could swim, and expired with great
composure. At length the French bore away for Conquet road, having lost
four ships in this day's action. Next day, about eight in the morning,
they were discovered crowding away to the westward, and the combined
fleets chased with all the sail they could carry, until Russel's
foretopmast came by the board. Though he was retarded by this accident,
the fleet still continued the pursuit, and anchored near Cape La Hogue.
On the twenty-second of the month, about seven in the morning, part
of the French fleet was perceived near the Race of Alderney, some at
anchor, and some driving to the eastward with the tide of flood. Russel
and the ships nearest him immediately slipped their cables and chased.
The Rising Sun having lost her masts, ran ashore near Cherbourg, where
she was burned by sir Ralph Delaval, together with the Admirable,
another first-rate, and the Conquerant of eighty guns. Eighteen other
ships of their fleet ran into La Hogue, where they were attacked by sir
George Rooke, who destroyed them and a great number of transports laden
with ammunition, in the midst of a terrible fire from the enemy, and in
sight of the Irish camp. Sir John Ashby, with his own squadron and some
Dutch ships, pursued the rest of the French fleet, which escaped through
the Race of Alderney by such a dangerous passage as the English could
not attempt without exposing their ships to the most imminent hazard.
This was a very mortifying defeat to the French king, who had been so
long flattered with an uninterrupted series of victories; it reduced
James to the lowest ebb of despondence, as it frustrated the whole
scheme of his embarkation, and overwhelmed his friends in England with
grief and despair. Some historians allege that Russel did not improve
his victory with all advantages that might have been obtained before
the enemy recovered their consternation. They say his affection to the
service was in a great measure cooled by the disgrace of his friend
the earl of Marlborough; that he hated the earl of Nottingham, by whose
channel he received his orders; and that he adhered to the letter
rather than to the spirit of his instructions. But this is a malicious
imputation, and a very ungrateful return for his manifold services to
the nation. He acted in this whole expedition with the genuine spirit
of a British admiral. He plied from the Nore to the Downs with a very
scanty wind through the dangerous sands, contrary to the advice of
all his pilots; and by this bold passage effected a junction of the
different squadrons, which otherwise the French would have attacked
singly and perhaps defeated. He behaved with great gallantry during the
engagement, and destroyed about fifteen of the enemy's capital ships; in
a word, he obtained such a decisive victory, that during the remaining
part of the war the French would not hazard another battle by sea with
the English.

Russel having ordered Sir John Ashby and the Dutch admiral Callemberg to
steer towards Havre de Grace, and endeavour to destroy the remainder
of the French fleet, sailed back to St. Helen's that the damaged ships
might be refitted, and the fleet furnished with fresh supplies of
provisions and ammunition; but his principal motive was to take on board
a number of troops provided for a descent upon France, which had been
projected by England and Holland, with a view to alarm and distract the
enemy in their own dominions. The queen was so pleased with the victory
that she ordered thirty thousand pounds to be distributed among the
sailors. She caused medals to be struck in honour of the action; and the
bodies of admiral Carter and captain Hastings, who had been killed in
the battle, to be interred with great funeral pomp. In the latter end of
July seven thousand men, commanded by the duke of Leinster, embarked on
board transports to be landed at St. Maloes, Brest, or Rochefort, and
the nation conceived the most sanguine hopes of this expedition. A
council of war, consisting of land and sea officers, being held on board
the Breda to deliberate upon the scheme of the ministry, the members
unanimously agreed that the season was too far advanced to put it in
execution. Nevertheless, the admiral having detached sir John Ashby with
a squadron to intercept the remains of the French fleet in their passage
from St. Maloes to Brest, set sail for La Hogue with the rest of the
fleet and transports; but in a few days the wind shifting, lie was
obliged to return to St. Helen's.

The queen immediately dispatched the marquis of Carmarthen, the earls of
Devonshire, Dorset, Nottingham, and Rochester, together with the lords
Sidney and Cornwallis, to consult with the admiral, who demonstrated the
impracticability of making an effectual descent upon the coast of France
at that season of the year. The design was therefore laid aside, and the
forces were transported to Flanders. The higher the hopes of the
nation had been raised by this armament, the deeper they felt their
disappointment. A loud clamour was raised against the ministry as
the authors of this miscarriage. The people complained that they were
plundered and abused; that immense sums were extorted from them by the
most grievous impositions; that, by the infamous expedient of borrowing
upon established funds, their taxes were perpetuated; that their burdens
would daily increase; that their treasure was either squandered away in
chimerical projects or expended in foreign connexions, of which England
was naturally independent. They were the more excusable for exclaiming
in this manner, as their trade had suffered grievously by the French
privateers which swarmed in the Channel. In vain the merchants had
recourse to the Admiralty, which could not spare particular convoys
while large fleets were required for the defence of the nation. The
French king having nothing further to apprehend from the English
armament, withdrew his troops from the coast of Normandy; and James
returned in despair to St. Germain's, where his queen had been in his
absence delivered of a daughter, who was born in the presence of the
archbishop of Paris, the keeper of the seals, and other persons of
distinction.




THE FRENCH TAKE NAMUR IN SIGHT OF KING WILLIAM.

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 Asiatic emperor, attended by his women and parasites, his
band of music, his dancers, his opera, and, in a word, by all the
ministers of luxury and sensual pleasure. Having reviewed his army,
which amounted to about one hundred and twenty thousand men, he
undertook the siege of Namur, which he invested on both sides of the
Sambre with about one-half of his army, while the other covered the
siege under the command of Luxembourg. Namur is situated on the conflux
of the Meuse and the Sambre. The citadel was deemed one of the strongest
forts in Flanders, strengthened with a new work contrived by the famous
engineer Coehorn, who now defended it in person. The prince de Barbason
commanded the garrison, consisting of nine thousand men. The place was
well supplied, and the governor knew that king William would make strong
efforts for its relief, so that the besieged were animated with many
concurring considerations. Notwithstanding these advantages, the
assailants carried on their attacks with such vigour that in seven days
after the trenches were opened, the town capitulated and the garrison
retired into the citadel. King William, being joined by the troops of
Brandenburgh and Liege, advanced to the Mehaigne at the head of one
hundred thousand effective men, and encamped within cannon shot of
Luxembourg's army, which lay on the other side of the river. That
general however had taken such precautions, that the king of England
could not interrupt the siege nor attack the French lines without
great disadvantage. The besiegers, encouraged by the presence of
their monarch, and assisted by the superior abilities of Vau-ban their
engineer, repeated their attacks with such impetuosity that the fort
of Cohorn was surrendered after a very obstinate defence, in which
he himself had been dangerously wounded. The citadel being thus left
exposed to the approaches of the enemy, could not long withstand
the violence of their operations; the two covered ways were taken
by assault. On the twentieth of May the governor capitulated, to the
unspeakable mortification of king William, who saw himself obliged to
lie inactive at the head of a powerful army, and be an eye-witness of
the loss of the most important fortress in the Netherlands. Louis having
taken possession of the place, returned in triumph to Versailles,
where he was flattered with all the arts of adulation; while William's
reputation suffered a little from his miscarriage, and the prince of
Barbason incurred the suspicion of treachery or misconduct.




THE ALLIES DEFEATED AT STEENKIRK.

Luxembourg having placed a strong garrison in Namur, detached Bounders
with a body of troops to La Bassiere, and with the rest of his army
encamped at Soignies. The king of England sent off detachments towards
Liege and Ghent; and on the sixth day of July posted himself at Genap,
resolved to seize the first opportunity of retrieving his honour by
attacking the enemy. Having received intelligence that the French
general was in motion and intended to take post between Steenkirk and
Enghien, he passed the river Senne in order to anticipate his purpose;
but in spite of all his diligence Luxembourg gained his point, and
William encamped at Lembecq, within six miles of the French army.
Here he resolved in a council of war to attack the enemy, and every
disposition was made for that purpose. The heavy baggage he ordered
to be conveyed to the other side of the Senne; and one Millevoix, a
detected spy, was compelled by menaces to mislead Luxembourg with false
intelligence, importing 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
columns, 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
enemy at the head of ten battalions of English, Danish, and Dutch
infantry; he was supported by a considerable body of British horse and
foot, commanded by lieutenant-general Mackay. Though the ground was
intersected by hedges, ditches, and narrow defiles, the prince marched
with such diligence that he was in a condition to begin the battle about
two in the afternoon, when he charged the French with such impetuosity
that they were driven* from their posts, and their whole camp became a
scene of tumult and confusion. Luxembourg, trusting to the intelligence
he had received, allowed himself to be surprised, and it required the
full exertion of his superior talents to remedy the consequences of his
neglect. He forthwith forgot a severe indisposition under which he then
laboured; he rallied his broken battalions; he drew up his forces in
order of battle, and led them to the charge in person. 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 first quality, put themselves at the head of the
household troops, and fell with great fury upon the English, who were
very ill supported by count Solmes, the officer who commanded the centre
of the allies. The prince of Wirtemberg had taken one of the enemies'
batteries, and actually penetrated into their lines; but finding himself
in danger of being overpowered by numbers, he sent an aidecamp twice to
demand succours from Solmes, who derided his distress, saying, "Let us
see what sport these English bull-dogs will make." At length, when the
king sent an express order commanding him to sustain the left wing, he
made a motion with his horse, which could not act while his infantry
kept their ground, and the British troops, with a few Dutch and Danes,
bore the whole brunt of the engagement. They fought with surprising
courage and perseverance against dreadful odds; and the event of the
battle continued doubtful, until Boufliers joined the French army with
a great body of dragoons. The allies could not sustain the additional
weight of this reinforcement, before which they gave way, though the
retreat was made in tolerable order, and the enemy did not think
proper to prosecute the advantage they had gained. In this action the
confederates lost the earl of Angus, general Mackay, sir John Lanier,
sir Robert Douglas, and many other gallant officers, together with about
three thousand men left dead on the spot, the same number wounded or
taken, a great many colours and standards, and several pieces of cannon.




EXTRAVAGANT REJOICINGS IN FRANCE.

The French however reaped no solid advantage from this victory, which
cost them about three thousand men, including the prince of Turenne,
the marquis de Bellefond, Tilladet, and Fernacon, with many officers of
distinction: as for Millevoix the spy, he was hanged on a tree on the
right wing of the allied army. King William retired unmolested to
his own camp; and notwithstanding all his overthrows, continued a
respectable enemy, by dint of invincible fortitude and a genius fruitful
in resources. That he was formidable to the French nation, even in the
midst of his ill success, appears from divers undeniable testimonies,
and from none more than from the extravagance of joy expressed by the
people of France on the occasion of this unimportant victory. When the
princes who served in the battle returned to Paris, the roads through
which they passed were almost blocked up with multitudes; and the
whole air resounded with acclamation. All the ornaments of the fashion
peculiar to both sexes adopted the name of Steenkirk: every individual
who had been personally engaged in the action was revered as a being
of a superior species, and the transports of the women rose almost to a
degree of frenzy.




CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE LIFE OF WILLIAM.

The French ministry did not entirely depend upon the fortune of the war
for the execution of their revenge against king William, They likewise
employed assassins to deprive him of life in the most treacherous
manner.

When Louvois died, his son the marquis de Barbesieux, who succeeded him
in his office of secretary, found among his papers the draft of a scheme
for this purpose, and immediately revived the design by means of the
chevalier de Grandval, a captain of dragoons in the service. He and
colonel Parker engaged one Dumont, who undertook to assassinate king
William. Madame de Maintenon, and Paparel, paymaster to the French army,
were privy to the scheme, which they encouraged: the conspirators are
said to have obtained an audience of king James, who approved of their
undertaking, and assured them of his protection; but that unfortunate
monarch was unjustly charged with the guilt of countenancing the
intended murder, as they communicated nothing to him but an attempt to
seize the person of the prince of Orange. Dumont actually enlisted in
the confederate army, that he might have the better opportunity to shoot
the king of England when he should ride out to visit the linos,
while Grandval and Parker repaired to the French camp, with orders
to Luxembourg to furnish them with a party of horse for the rescue of
Dumont, after the blow should be struck. Whether this man's heart failed
him, or he could not find the opportunity he desired, after having
resided some weeks in the camp of the allies, he retired to Hanover; but
still corresponded with Grandval and Barbesieux. This last admitted one
Leofdale, a Dutch baron, into the secret, and likewise imparted it
to monsieur Chanlais, quarter-master general of the French army, who
animated Grandval and Leefdale with the promise of a considerable
reward, and promised to cooperate with Parker for bringing off Dumont,
for this assassin still persisted in his undertaking. Leefdale had been
sent from Holland on purpose to dive to the bottom of this conspiracy,
in consequence of advice given by the British envoy at Hanover, where
Dumont had dropped some hints that alarmed his suspicion. The Dutchman
not only insinuated himself into the confidence of the conspirators,
but likewise inveigled Grandval to Eyndhoven, where he was apprehended.
Understanding that Dumont had already discovered the design to the duke
of Zell, and that he himself had been betrayed by Leefdale, he freely
confessed all the particulars without enduring the torture; and, being
found guilty by a court-martial, was executed as a traitor.

About this period the duke of Leinster arrived at Ostend, with the
troops which had been embarked at St. Helen's. He was furnished with
cannon sent down the Meuse from Maestricht, and reinforced by a large
detachment from the king's camp at Gramont, under the command of general
Ptolemache. He took possession of Furnes, was joined by the earl of
Portland and M. d'Auverquerque, and a disposition was made for investing
Dunkirk; but on further deliberation the enterprise was thought very
dangerous, and therefore laid aside. Furnes and Dixmuyde, lately reduced
by brigadier Ramsay, were strengthened with new works, and secured by
strong garrisons. The cannon were sent back, and the troops returning to
Ostend, re-embarked for England. This fruitless expedition, added to
the inglorious issue of the campaign, increased the ill humour of the
British nation. They taxed William with having lain inactive at Gramont
with an army of one hundred thousand men, while Luxembourg was posted
at Courtray with half that number. They said, if he had found the French
lines too strong to be forced, he might have passed the Scheld higher
up, and not only laid the enemy's conquests under contribution, but even
marched into the bowels of France; and they complained that Furnes
and Dixmuyde were not worth the sums expended in maintaining their
garrisons. On the twenty-sixth day of September king William left the
army under the command of the elector of Bavaria, and repaired to his
house at Loo: in two days after his departure the camp at Gramont was
broke up; the infantry marched to Marienkerke, and the horse; to Caure.
On the sixteenth day of October, the king receiving intelligence that
Boufflers had invested Charleroy, and Luxembourg taken post in the
neighbourhood of Conde, ordered the troops to be instantly reassembled
between the village of Ixells and Halle, with design to raise the siege,
and repaired to Brussels, where he held a council of war, in which the
proper measures were concerted. He then returned to Holland, leaving the
command with the elector of Bavaria, who forthwith began his march for
Charleroy. At his approach Boufflers abandoned the siege, and moved
towards Philip-ville. The elector having reinforced the place, and
thrown supplies into Aeth, distributed his forces into winter-quarters.
Then Luxembourg, who had cantoned his army between Conde, Leuzet, and
Tournay, returned to Paris, leaving Boufflers to command in his absence.




THE CAMPAIGN INACTIVE ON THE RHINE AND IN HUNGARY.

The allies had been unsuccessful in Flanders, and they were not
fortunate in Germany. The landgrave of Hesse Cassol undertook the siege
of Eberemburgh, which, however, he was obliged to abandon. The duke
de Lorges, who commanded the French forces on the Rhine, surprised,
defeated, and took the duke of Wirtemberg, who had posted himself with
four thousand horse near Ridelsheim, to check the progress of the enemy.
Count Tallard having invested Rhinefield, the landgrave marched to its
relief with such expedition that the French wore obliged to desist and
retreat with considerable damage. The elector of Saxony had engaged
to bring an army into the field; but he complained that the emperor left
the burden of the war with France upon the princes, and converted his
chief power and attention to the campaign in Hungary. A jealousy and
misunderstanding ensued: Schoning the Saxon general, in his way to the
hot baths at Dablitz in Bohemia, was seized by the emperor's order on
suspicion of having maintained a private correspondence with the enemy,
and very warm expostulations on this subject passed between the courts
of Vienna and Dresden. Schoning was detained two years in custody; and
at length released on condition that he should never be employed again
in the empire. The war in Hungary produced no event of importance.
The ministry of the Ottoman Porte was distracted by factions, and the
seraglio threatened with tumults. The people were tired of maintaining
an unsuccessful war; the vizier was deposed; and in the midst of this
confusion, the garrison of great Waradin, which had been blocked up by
the imperialists during the whole winter, surrendered on capitulation.
Lord Paget, the English ambassador at Vienna, was sent to Constantinople
with powers to mediate a peace; but the terms offered by the emperor
were rejected at the Porte: the Turkish army lay upon the defensive, and
the season was spent in a fruitless negotiation.




THE DUKE INVADES DAUPHINE.

The prospect 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 sent to Turin with
advantageous proposals, which however the duke would not accept, because
he thought himself entitled to better terms, considering that the
allied army in Piedmont amounted to fifty thousand effective men, while
Catinat's forces were not sufficient to defend his conquests in that
country. In the month of July the duke marched into Dauphine, where he
plundered a number of villages, and reduced the fortress of Guillestre;
then passing the river Darance, he invested Ambrun, which, after a siege
of nine days, surrendered on capitulation: he afterwards laid all
the neighbouring J towns under contribution. Here duke Schomberg, who
commanded the auxiliaries in the English pay, published a declaration
in the name of king William, inviting the people to join his standard,
assuring them that his master had no other design in ordering his troops
to invade France, but that of restoring the noblesse to their ancient
splendour, their parliaments to their former authority, and the people
to their just privileges. He even offered his protection to the clergy,
and promised to use his endeavours for reviving the edict of Nantes,
which had been guaranteed by the kings of England. These offers,
however, produced little effect; and the Germans ravaged the whole
country in revenge for the cruelties which the French had committed
in the Palatinate. The allied army advanced from Ambrun to Gap, on the
frontiers of Provence, and this place submitted without opposition. The
inhabitants of Grenoble, the capital of Dauphine, and even of Lyons,
were overwhelmed with consternation; and a fairer opportunity of
humbling France could never occur, as that part of the kingdom had been
left almost quite defenceless; but this was fatally neglected, either
from the spirit of dissension which began to prevail in the allied army,
or from the indisposition of the duke of Savoy, who was seized with the
small-pox in the midst of this expedition; or, lastly, from his want of
sincerity, which was shrewdly suspected. He is said to have maintained a
constant correspondence with the court of Versailles, in complaisance to
which he retarded the operations of the confederates. Certain it is, he
evacuated all his conquests, and about the middle of September quitted
the French territories, after having pillaged and laid waste the country
through which he had penetrated.* In Catalonia the French attempted
nothing of importance during this campaign, and the Spaniards were
wholly inactive in that province.

     * At this period queen Mary, understanding that the
     protestant Vaudois were destitute of ministers to preach or
     teach the gospel, established a fund from her own privy
     purse to maintain ten preachers, and as many schoolmasters,
     in the valleys of Piedmont.




THE DUKE OF HANOVER CREATED AN ELECTOR OF THE EMPIRE.

The protestant interest in Germany acquired an accession of strength by
the creation of a ninth electorate in favour of Ernest Augustus, duke of
Hanover. He had by this time renounced all his connexions with France,
and engaged to enter heartily into the interest of the allies, in
consideration of his obtaining the electoral dignity. King William
exerted himself so vigorously in his behalf at the court of Vienna, that
the emperor agreed to the proposal, in case the consent of the other
electors could be procured. This assent, however, was extorted by the
importunities of the king of England, whom he durst not disoblige.
Leopold was blindly bigotted to the religion of Rome, and consequently
averse to a new creation that would weaken the catholic interest in the
electoral college. He therefore employed his emissaries to thwart the
duke's measures. Some protestant princes opposed him from motives of
jealousy, and the French king used all his artifice and influence
to prevent the elevation of the house of Hanover. When the duke had
surmounted all this opposition, so far as to gain over a majority of
the electors, new objections were started. The emperor suggested that
another popish electorate should be created to balance the advantage
which the Lutherans would reap from that of Hanover; and he proposed
that Austria should be raised to the same dignity; but violent
opposition was made to this expedient, which would have vested the
emperor with a double vote in the electoral college. At length, after
a tedious negotiation, the duke of Hanover, on the nineteenth day of
December, was honoured with the investiture as elector of Brunswick;
created great marshal of the empire, and did homage to the emperor:
nevertheless, he was not yet admitted into the college, because he had
not been able to procure the unanimous consent of all the electors.*

     * In the beginning of September the shock 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 same kind had happened about two months
     before in Sicily and Malta; and the town of Port-Royal in
     Jamaica was almost totally ruined by the earthquake: the
     place was so suddenly overflowed, that about fifteen hundred
     persons perished.




CHAPTER IV.

     _False Information against the Earl of Marlborough, the
     Bishop of Rochester, and others..... Sources of National
     Discontent..... Dissension between the Queen and the
     Prince's Anne of Denmark..... The House of Lords vindicate
     their Privileges in behalf of their imprisoned Members.....
     The Commons present Addresses to The King and Queen.....
     They acquit Admiral Russel, and resolve to advise his
     Majesty..... They comply with all the Demands of the
     Ministry..... The Lords present an Address of Advice to the
     King..... The Dispute between the Lords and Commons
     concerning Admiral Russel..... The Commons address the
     King..... They establish the Land tax and other
     Impositions..... Burnet's Pastoral Letter burned by the
     Hangman..... Proceedings of the Lower House against the
     Practice of kidnapping Men for the Service..... The two
     Houses address the King on the Grievances of Ireland .....
     An Account of the Place-bill, and that for triennial
     Parliaments..... The Commons petition his Majesty that he
     would dissolve the East India Company..... Trial of Lord
     Mohan for Murder..... Alterations in the Ministry..... The
     king repairs to the Continent, and assembles the Confederate
     Army in Flanders..... The French reduce Huy..... Luxembourg
     resolves to attack the Allies..... who are defeated at
     Landen..... Charleroy is besieged and taken by the
     Enemy..... Campaign on the Rhine..... The Duke of Savoy is
     defeated bv Catinat in the Plain of Marsaglia.....
     Transactions in Hungary and Catalonia..... Naval
     Affairs..... A Fleet of Merchant Ships under Convoy of Sir
     George Rooke attacked, and partly destroyed by the French
     Squadrons ..... Wheeler's Expedition to the West Indies.....
     Benbow bombards St. Maloes..... The French King has recourse
     to the Mediation of Denmark..... Severity of the Government
     against the Jacobites..... Complaisance of the Scottish
     Parliament..... The King returns to England, makes some
     Changes in the Ministry, and opens the Session of
     Parliament..... Both Houses inquire into the Miscarriages by
     Sea..... The Commons grant a vast Sum for the Services of
     the ensuing Year..... The King rejects the Bill against free
     and impartial Proceedings in Parliament; and the Lower House
     remonstrates on this Subject..... Establishment of the Bank
     of England..... The East India Company obtain a now
     Charter..... Bill for a general Naturalization dropped.....
     Sir Francis Wheeler perishes in a Storm..... The English
     attempt to make a Descent in Camaret Bay, but are repulsed
     with Loss..... They bombard Dieppe, Havre-de-Grace, Dunkirk,
     and Calais..... Admiral Russel sails for the Mediterranean,
     relieves Barcelona, and winters at Cadiz..... Campaign in
     Flanders..... The Allies reduce Huy..... The Prince of Baden
     passes the Rhine, but is obliged to repass that River.....
     Operations in Hungary..... Progress of the French in
     Catalonia..... State of the War in Piedmont..... The King
     returns to England..... The Parliament meets..... The Bill
     for Triennial Parliaments receives the Royal Assent.....
     Death of Archbishop Tillotson and of Queen Mary.....
     Reconciliation between the King and the Princess of
     Denmark._

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




THE EARL OF MARLBOROUGH, BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, &c, FALSELY ACCUSED.

While king William seemed wholly engrossed by the affairs of the
continent, England was distracted by domestic dissension, and overspread
with vice, corruption, and profaneness. Over and above the Jacobites,
there was a set of malcontents whose number daily increased. They
not only murmured at the grievances of the nation, but composed and
published elaborate dissertations upon the same subject. These made
such impressions upon the people, already irritated by heavy burdens,
distressed in their trade, and disappointed in their sanguine
expectations, that the queen thought it necessary to check the progress
of those writers by issuing out a proclamation offering a reward to such
as would discover seditious libellers. The earl of Marlborough had
been committed to the Tower on the information of one Robert Young, a
prisoner in Newgate, who had forged that nobleman's hand-writing, and
contrived the scheme of an association in favour of king James, to which
he affixed the names of the earls of Marlborough and Salisbury, Sprat,
bishop of Rochester, the lord Cornbury, and sir Basil Firebrace. One of
his emissaries had found means to conceal this paper in a certain part
of the bishop's house at Bromley in Kent, where it was found by the
king's messengers, who secured the prelate in consequence of Young's
information. But he vindicated himself to the satisfaction of the whole
council; and the forgery of the informer was detected by the confession
of his accomplice. The bishop obtained his release immediately and the
earl of Marlborough was admitted to bail in the court of king's bench.




SOURCES OF NATIONAL DISCONTENT.

So many persons of character and distinction had been imprisoned during
this reign upon the slightest suspicion, that the discontented part
of the nation had some reason to insinuate they had only exchanged
one tyrant for another. They affirmed that the _habeas-corpus_ act was
either insufficient to protect the subject from false imprisonment, or
had been shamefully misused. They expatiated upon the loss of ships,
which had lately fallen a prey to the enemy; the consumption of seamen;
the neglect of the fisheries; the interruption of commerce, in which the
nation was supplanted by her allies, as well as invaded by her enemies;
the low ebb of the kingdom's treasure, exhausted in hiring foreign
bottoms, and paying foreign troops to fight foreign quarrels; and the
slaughter of the best and bravest of their countrymen, whose blood had
been lavishly spilt in support of connexions with which they ought to
have had no concern. They demonstrated the mischiefs that necessarily
arose from the unsettled state of the nation. They observed that the
government could not be duly established until a solemn declaration
should confirm the legality of that tenure by which their majesties
possessed the throne; that the structure of parliaments was deficient
in point of solidity, as they existed entirely at the pleasure of
the crown, which would use them no longer than they should be found
necessary in raising supplies for the use of the government. They
exclaimed against the practice of quartering soldiers in private houses
contrary to the ancient laws of the land, the petition of rights, and
the subsequent act on that subject passed in the reign of the second
Charles. They enumerated among their grievances the violation of
property, by pressing transport ships into the service without settling
any fund of payment for the owners; the condition of the militia, which
was equally burdensome and useless; the flagrant partiality in favour
of allies, who carried on an open commerce with France, and supplied the
enemy with necessaries, while the English laboured under the severest
prohibitions, and were in effect the dupes of those very powers
whom they protected. They dwelt upon the ministry's want of conduct,
foresight, and intelligence, and inveighed against their ignorance,
insolence, and neglect, which were as pernicious to the nation as if
they had formed a design of reducing it to the lowest ebb of disgrace
and destruction. By this time, indeed, public virtue was become the
object of ridicule, and the whole kingdom was overspread with
immorality and corruption; towards the increase of which many concurring
circumstances happened to contribute. The people were divided into three
parties, namely, the Williamites, the Jacobites, and the discontented
Revolutioners; these factions took all opportunities to thwart, to
expose, and to ridicule the measures and principles of each other, so
that patriotism was laughed out of doors as an hypocritical pretence.
This contention established a belief that every man consulted his own
private interest at the expense of the public, a belief that soon grew
into a maxim almost universally adopted. The practice of bribing a
majority in parliament had a pernicious influence upon the morals of all
ranks of people, from the candidate to the lowest borough elector. The
expedient of establishing funds of credit for raising supplies to defray
the expenses of government, threw large premiums and sums of money into
the hands of low sordid usurers, brokers, and jobbers, who distinguished
themselves by the name of the monied interest. Intoxicated by this flow
of wealth, they affected to rival the luxury and magnificence of their
superiors; but being destitute of sentiment and taste to conduct them
in their new career, they ran into the most absurd and illiberal
extravagancies. They laid aside all decorum; became lewd, insolent,
intemperate, and riotous. Their example was caught by the vulgar.
All principle, and even decency, was gradually banished; talent lay
uncultivated, and the land was deluged with a tide of ignorance and
profligacy.




DISSENSION BETWEEN THE QUEEN AND PRINCESS ANNE.

King William having ascertained the winter quarters of the army, and
concerted the operations of the ensuing campaign with the states-general
and the ministers of the allies, set sail for England on the fifteenth
day of October; on the eighteenth landed at Yarmouth, was met by the
queen at Newhall, and passed through the city of London to Kensington
amidst the acclamations of the populace. He received a congratulatory
address from the lord-mayor and aldermen, with whom he dined in public
by invitation. A day of thanksgiving was appointed for the victory
obtained at sea. The lustring company was established by patent, and
the parliament met on the fourth day of November. The house of lords was
deeply infected with discontent, which in some measure proceeded
from the dissension between the queen and her sister, the princess of
Denmark, which last underwent every mortification which the court could
inflict. Her guards were taken away; all honours which had been paid to
her rank by the magistrates of Bath, where she sometimes resided,
and even by the ministers of the church where she attended at divine
service, were discontinued by the express order of his majesty. Her
cause was naturally espoused by those noblemen who had adhered to her
in her former contest with the king about an independent settlement; and
these were now reinforced by all the friends of the earl of Marlborough,
united for a double tie; for they resented the disgrace and confinement
of that lord, and thought it their duty to support the princess Anne
under a persecution incurred by an attachment to his countess. The earl
of Shrewsbury lived in friendship with Marlborough, and thought he had
been ungratefully treated by the king; the marquis of Halifax befriended
him from opposition to the ministry; the earl of Mulgrave for an
opportunity to display his talents, and acquire that consideration which
he thought due to his merit. Devonshire, Montague, and Bradford, joined
in the same cause from principle; the same pretence was used by the
earls of Stamford, Monmouth, Warrington, and other whigs, though in
effect they were actuated by jealousy and resentment against those
by whom they had been supplanted. As for the Jacobites, they gladly
contributed their assistance to promote any scheme that had a tendency
to embroil the administration.




THE LORDS VINDICATE THEIR PRIVILEGES.

The king, in his speech to parliament, thanked them for their last
supplies, congratulated them upon the victory obtained at sea, condoled
them on the bad success of the campaign by land, magnified the power of
France, represented the necessity of maintaining a great force to oppose
it, and demanded subsidies equal to the occasion. He expressed his
reluctance to load them with additional burdens, which he said could not
be avoided, without exposing his kingdom to inevitable destruction. He
desired their advice towards lessening the inconveniences of exporting
money for the payment of the forces. He intimated a design of making a
descent upon France; declared he had no aim but to make his subjects a
happy people; and that he would again cheerfully expose his life for the
welfare of the nation. The lords, after an adjournment of three days,
began with great warmth to assert their privileges, which they conceived
had been violated in the cases of the earl of Marlborough and the other
noblemen who had been apprehended, committed to prison, and afterwards
admitted to bail by the court of king's-bench. These circumstances
being fully discussed in a violent debate, the house ordered lord Lucas,
constable of the Tower, to produce the warrants of commitment, and the
clerk of the king's-bench to deliver the affidavit of Aaron Smith, the
court solicitor, upon which the lords had been remanded to prison. At
the same time the whole affair was referred to a committee, empowered
to send for persons, papers, and records. The judges were ordered to
attend: Aaron Smith was examined touching the evidence against the
committed lords. The committee reported their general resolution,
which produced a vehement dispute. The opinion of the judges was
unsatisfactory to both parties; the debate was referred to a committee
of the whole house, in which it was resolved and declared, as the sense
of that assembly, that in pursuance of the _habeas-corpus_ act, it was
the duty of the judges and gaol-delivery to discharge the prisoner on
bail if committed for high treason, unless it be made appear, upon oath,
that there are two witnesses against the said prisoner, who cannot be
produced in that term, session, or general gaol-delivery. They likewise
resolved it was the intention of the said statute, that in case there
should be more than one prisoner to be bailed or remanded, there must be
oath made that there are two witnesses against each prisoner, otherwise
he cannot be remanded to prison. These resolutions were entered in the
books as standing directions to all future-judges, yet not without
great opposition from the court members. The next debate turned upon
the manner in which the imprisoned lords should be set at liberty.
The contest became so warm that the courtiers began to be afraid, and
proposed an expedient which was put in practice. The house adjourned to
the seventeenth day of the month, and at its next meeting was given to
understand that the king had discharged the imprisoned noblemen. After
another warm debate, a formal entry was made in the journals, importing,
That the house being informed of his majesty's having given directions
for discharging the lords under bail in the king's-bench, the debate
about that matter ceased. The resentment of the peers being thus
allayed, they proceeded to take his majesty's speech into consideration.




THE COMMONS PRESENT ADDRESSES TO THE KING AND QUEEN.

The commons having voted an address of thanks, and another, praying that
his majesty's foreign alliances should be laid before them, determined
on a bill for regulating trials in cases of high treason. They passed
a vote of thanks to admiral Russel, his officers and seamen, for the
victory they had obtained, and then proceeded to an inquiry, Why that
victory had not been pursued? why the descent had not been made? and why
the trade had not been better protected from the enemy's cruisers? The
admiral having justified his own conduct, they commanded the lords of
the admiralty to produce copies of all the letters and orders which had
been sent to the admiral; they ordered Russel to lay before them his
answers; and the commissioners of the transports, victuallers, and
office of ordnance, to deliver in an account of their proceedings. They
then presented addresses to the king and queen, acknowledging the favour
of God in restoring him to his people; congratulating him upon his
deliverance from the snares of his open and secret enemies; and assuring
him they would, according to his majesty's desire in his most gracious
speech, be always ready to advise and assist him in the support of
his government. The queen was thanked for her gracious and prudent
administration during his majesty's absence; they congratulated her on
their signal deliverance from a bold and cruel design formed for their
destruction, as well as on the glorious victory which her fleet had
gained; and they assured her that the grateful sense they had of their
happiness under her government, should always be manifested in constant
returns of duty and obedience.

After this formal compliment, the house, instead of proceeding to the
supplies, insisted upon perusing the treaties, public accounts, and
estimates, that they might be in a condition to advise as well as to
assist his majesty. Being indulged with those papers, they passed a
previous vote that a supply should be given; then they began to concert
their articles of advice. Some of the members loudly complained of
partiality to foreign generals, and particularly reflected upon the
insolence of count Solmes, and his misconduct at Steenkirk. After some
warm altercation, the house resolved one article of their advice should
be, that his majesty would be pleased to fill up the vacancies that
should happen among the general officers, with such only as were natives
of his dominions, and that the commander-in-chief of the English should
be an Englishman. Their next resolution implied, that many of the great
affairs of the government having been for some time past unsuccessfully
managed, the house should advise his majesty to prevent such mischiefs
for the future, by employing men of knowledge, ability, and integrity.
Individual members inveighed bitterly against cabinet councils, as a
novelty in the British system of government by which the privy-council
was jostled out of its province. They complained that all the grievances
of the nation proceeded from the vicious principles of the ministry:
they observed, that he who opposed the establishment could not be
expected to support it with zeal. The earl of Nottingham was mentioned
by name, and the house resolved that his majesty should be advised to
employ in his councils such persons only whose principles obliged them
to support his rights against the late king, and all other pretenders.
Marlborough's interest still predominated among the commons. His friend
Russel acquitted himself to the satisfaction of the house, and shifted
the blame of the miscarriage upon his enemy the earl of Nottingham,
by declaring that twenty days elapsed between his first letter to that
nobleman and his lordship's answer. The earl's friends, of whom there
was a great number in the house, espoused his cause with great vigour,
and even recriminated upon Russel; so that a very violent debate ensued.
Both parties agreed that there had been mismanagement in the scheme of a
descent. It was moved, that one cause of the miscarriage was the want of
giving timely and necessary orders, by those to whom the management of
the affair was committed. The house divided, and it was carried in the
affirmative by one voice only. At the next sitting of the committee,
sir Richard Temple proposed they should consider how to pay the forces
abroad, by means of English manufactures, without ex porting money. They
resolved that the house should be moved to appoint a committee to
take this expedient into consideration. Sir Francis Wilmington was
immediately called upon to leave the chair, and the speaker resumed his
place. All that had been done was now void, as no report had been made;
and the committee was dissolved. The house however revived it, and
appointed a day for its sitting; but before it could resume its
deliberations, admiral Russel moved for its being adjourned, and all its
purposes were defeated.

The court agents had by this time interposed, and secured a majority
by the infamous arts of corruption. The commons no longer insisted upon
their points of advice. Their whole attention was now centered in
the article of assistance. They granted about two millions for the
maintenance of three-and-thirty thousand seamen, the building of some
additional ships of war, and the finishing of Plymouth dock; and seven
hundred and fifty thousand pounds to supply the deficiency of the
quarterly poll. The estimates of the land-service were not discussed
without tedious debates and warm disputes. The ministry demanded
fifty-four thousand men, twenty thousand of whom should be kept at home
for the defence of the nation, while the rest should serve abroad in the
allied army. Many members declared their aversion to a foreign war,
in which the nation had no immediate concern and so little prospect
of success. Others agreed that the allies should be assisted on the
continent with a proportion of British forces; but that the nation
should act as an auxiliary, not as a principal, and pay no more than
what the people would cheerfully contribute to the general expense.
These reflections, however, produced no other effect than that of
prolonging the debate. Ministerial influence had surmounted all
opposition. The house voted the number of men demanded. Such was their
servile complaisance, that when they examined the treaties by which the
English and Dutch contracted equally with the German princes, and found
that, notwithstanding these treaties, Britain bore two-thirds of the
expense, they overlooked this flagrant instance of partiality, and
enabled the king to pay the proportion. Nay, their maxims were so much
altered, that, instead of prosecuting their resentment against foreign
generals, they assented to a motion that the prince of Wirtemberg, the
major-generals Tetteau and La Forest, who commanded the Danish troops in
the pay of the states-general, should be indulged with such 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 subsistence of the land forces, and for defraying extraordinary
expenses attending the war upon the continent, including subsidies to
the electors of Saxony and Hanover.




THE LORDS PRESENT AN ADDRESS OF ADVICE TO THE KING.

The house of lords meanwhile was not free from animosity and contention.
The Marlborough faction exerted themselves with great vivacity. They
affirmed, it was the province of their house to advise the sovereign:
like the commons, they insisted upon the king's having asked their
advice because he had mentioned that word in his speech, though he never
dreamed that they would catch at it with such eagerness. They moved,
that the task of digesting the articles of advice should be undertaken
by a joint committee of both houses; but all the dependents of the court,
including the whole bench of bishops, except Watson of St. David's, were
marshalled to oppose this motion, which was rejected by a majority of
twelve; and this victory was followed with a protest of the vanquished.
Notwithstanding this defeat, they prosecuted their scheme of giving
advice; and after much wrangling and declamation, the house agreed in an
address of remonstrance, advising and beseeching his majesty, That the
commanding officer of the British forces should be an Englishman; that
English officers might take rank of those in the confederate armies, who
did not belong to crowned heads; that the twenty thousand men to be left
for the defence of the kingdom should be all English, and commanded
by an English general; that the practice of pressing men for the fleet
should be remedied; that such officers as were guilty of this practice
should be cashiered and punished; and, lastly, that no foreigners should
sit at the board of ordnance. This address was presented to the king,
who received it coldly, and said he would take it into consideration.

Then the lords resolved to inquire into the miscarriage of the purposed
descent, and called for all the papers relating to that affair; but
the aim of the majority was not so much to rectify the errors of the
government, as to screen Nottingham, and censure Russel. That nobleman
produced his own book of entries, together with the whole correspondence
between him and the admiral, whom he verbally charged with having
contributed to the miscarriage of the expedition. This affair was
referred to a committee. Sir John Ashby was examined. The house directed
the earl to draw up the substance of his charge; and these papers were
afterwards delivered to a committee of the commons, at a conference
by the lord-president, and the rest of the committee above. They were
offered for the inspection of the commons, as they concerned some
members of that house, by whom they might be informed more fully of
the particulars they contained. At another conference which the commons
demanded, their committee declared, in the name of the house, That they
had read and well considered the papers which their lordships had sent
them, and which they now returned: that finding Mr. Russel, one of
their members, often mentioned in the said papers, they had unanimously
resolved, that admiral Russel, in his command of the fleets during
the last summer's expedition, had behaved with fidelity, courage, and
conduct. The lords irritated at this declaration, and disappointed in
their resentment against Russel, desired a free conference between the
committees of both houses. The earl of Rochester told the commons, he
was commanded by the house of lords to inform them that their lordships
looked upon the late vote and proceeding of the lower house, in
returning their papers, to be irregular and unparliamentary, as they had
not communicated to their lordships the lights they had received,
and the reason upon which their vote was founded. A paper to the same
purport was delivered to colonel Granville, who promised to present it to
the commons, and make a faithful report of what his lordship had said.
Thus the conference ended, and the inquiry was discontinued.




THE COMMONS ADDRESS THE KINO.

The lower house seemed to be as much exasperated against the earl of
Nottingham as the lords were incensed at Russel. A motion was made that
his majesty should be advised to appoint such commissioners of the board
of admiralty as were of known experience in maritime affairs. Although
this was overruled, they voted an address to the king, praying, that
for the future, all orders for the engagement of the fleet might pass
through the hands of the said commissioners; a protest by implication
against the conduct of the secretary. The consideration of ways and
means was the next object that engrossed the attention of the lower
house. They resolved that a rate of four shillings in the pound, for one
year, should be charged upon all lands according to their yearly value;
as also upon all personal estates, and upon all offices and employments
of profit, other than military offices in the army and navy. The act
founded on this resolution empowered the king to borrow money on the
credit of it, at seven per cent. They further enabled him to raise one
million on the general credit of the exchequer, by granting annuities.
They laid several new duties on a variety of imports. They renewed the
last quarterly poll, providing that in case it should not produce three
hundred thousand pounds, the deficiencies might be made up by borrowing
on the general credit of the exchequer. They continued the impositions
on wine, vinegar, tobacco, and sugar, for five years; and those on
East-India goods for four years. They laid a new imposition of eight per
cent, on the capital stock of the East-India company, estimated at seven
hundred and forty-four thousand pounds; of one per cent, on the African;
of five pounds on every share of the stock belonging to the Hudson's Bay
company; and they empowered his majesty to borrow five hundred thousand
pounds on these funds, which were expressly established for maintaining
the war with vigour.*

     * The French king hearing how liberally William was
     supplied, exclaimed, with some emotion, "My little cousin
     the prince of Orange is fixed in the saddle--but, no matter,
     the last Louis d'or must carry it."




BURNET'S PASTORAL LETTER BURNED.

The money-bills were retarded in the upper house by the arts of Halifax,
Mulgrave, and other malcontents. They grafted a clause on the land-tax
bill, importing, that the lords should tax themselves. It was adopted by
the majority, and the bill sent with this amendment to the commons,
by whom it was unanimously rejected as a flagrant attempt upon their
privileges. They demanded a conference, in which they declared that
the clause in question was a notorious encroachment upon the right
the commons possessed, of regulating all matters relating to supplies
granted by parliament. When this report was debated in the house of
lords, the earl of Mulgrave displayed uncommon powers of eloquence and
argument, in persuading the house, that, by yielding to this claim of
the commons, they would divest themselves of their true greatness, and
nothing would remain but the name and shadow of a peer, which was but a
pageant. Notwithstanding all his oratory, the lords relinquished their
clause, declaring, at the same time, that they had agreed to pass the
bill without alteration, merely in regard to the present urgent state of
affairs, as being otherwise of opinion that they had a right to insist
upon their clause. A formal complaint being made in the house of commons
against the pamphlet entitled, "King William and Queen Mary Conquerors,"
as containing assertions of dangerous consequence to their majesties, to
the liberty of the subject, and the peace of the kingdom, the licenser
and printer were taken into custody. The book being examined, resolved
that it should be burned by the hands of the common hangman, and that
the king should be moved to dismiss the licenser from his employment.
The same sentence they pronounced upon a pastoral letter of bishop
Burnet, in which this notion of conquest had been at first asserted.
The lords, in order to manifest their sentiments on the same subject,
resolved, That such an assertion was highly injurious to their
majesties, inconsistent with the principles on which the government
was founded, and tending to the subversion of the rights of the people.
Bohun the licenser was brought to the bar of the house, and discharged
upon his own petition, after having been reprimanded on his knees by the
speaker.

Several members having complained that their servants had been kidnapped
and sent to serve as soldiers in Flanders, the house appointed a
committee to inquire into the abuses committed by press-masters; and
a suitable remonstrance was presented to the king, who expressed his
indignation at this practice, and assured the house that the delinquents
should be brought to exemplary punishment. Understanding however in the
sequel, that the methods taken by his majesty for preventing this abuse
had not proved, effectual, they resumed their inquiry, and proceeded
with, uncommon vigour on the information they received. A great number
of persons who had been pressed were discharged by order of the house;
and captain Winter, the chief undertaker for this method of recruiting
the army, was carried by the sergeant before the lord chief justice,
that he might be prosecuted according to law.




THE TWO HOUSES ADDRESS THE KING.

Before the heats occasioned by this unpopular expedient were allayed,
the discontent of the nation was further inflamed by complaints from
Ireland, where lord Sidney was said to rule with despotic authority.
These complaints were exhibited by sir Francis Brewster, sir William
Gore, sir John Macgill, lieutenant Stafford, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Kerne.
They were examined at the bar of the house, and delivered an account
of their grievances in writing. Both houses concurred in this inquiry;
which, being finished, they severally presented addresses to the king.
The lords observed, That there had been great abuses in disposing of the
forfeited estates; that protections had been granted to the Irish not
included in the articles of Limerick; so that protestants were deprived
of the benefit of the law against them; that the quarters of the army
had not been paid according to the provision made by parliament; that
a mayor had been imposed upon the city of Dublin for two years
successively, contrary to the ancient privileges and charter; that
several persons accused of murder had been executed without proof;
and one Sweetman, the most guilty, discharged without prosecution. The
commons spoke more freely in their address; they roundly explained the
abuses and mismanagement of that government, by exposing the protestant
subjects to the free quarter and violence of a licentious army; by
recruiting the troops with Irish papists who had been in open rebellion
against his majesty; by granting protections to Irish Roman-catholics,
whereby the course of the law was stopped; by reversing outlawries for
high treason not comprehended in the articles of Limerick; by letting
the forfeited estates at undervalue, to the prejudice of his majesty's
revenue; by embezzling the stores left in the towns and garrisons by
the late king James, as well as the effects belonging to the forfeited
estates, which might have been employed for the better preservation
of the kingdom; and, finally, by making additions to the articles of
Limerick after the capitulation was signed and the place surrendered.
They most humbly besought his majesty to redress these abuses, which had
greatly encouraged the papists, and weakened the protestant interest in
Ireland. The king graciously received both addresses, and promised
to pay a particular regard to all remonstrances that should come from
either house of parliament; but no material step was taken against the
lords Sidney, Athlone, and Coningsby, who appeared to have engrossed
great part of the forfeitures by grants from the crown; and even
commissioner Culliford, who had been guilty of the most grievous acts of
oppression, escaped with impunity.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




ACCOUNT OF THE PLACE AND TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENT BILLS.

The old whig principle was not yet wholly expelled from the lower house.
The undue influence of the court was exerted in such an open scandalous
manner, as gave offence to the majority of the commons. In the midst of
all their condescension, sir Edward Hussey, member for Lincoln, brought
in a bill touching free and impartial proceedings in parliament. It was
intended to disable all members of parliament from enjoying places of
trust and profit, and particularly levelled against the officers of
the army and navy, who had insinuated themselves into the house in such
numbers, that this was commonly called the officers' parliament. The
bill passed the house of commons, and was sent up to the lords, by whom
it was read a second time and committed; but the ministry employing
their whole strength against it, on the report it was thrown out by a
majority of two voices. The earl of Mulgrave again distinguished himself
by his elocution, in a speech that was held in great veneration by the
people; and, among those who entered a protest in the journals of the
house when the majority rejected the bill, was prince George of Denmark,
duke of Cumberland. The court had not collected themselves from the
consternation produced by such a vigorous opposition, when the earl of
Shrewsbury produced another bill for triennial parliaments, providing
that there should be an annual session; that if, at the expiration of
three years, the crown should not order the writs to be issued, the lord
chancellor, or keeper, or commissioner of the great seal, should issue
them _ex officio_, and by authority of this act, under severe penalties.
The immediate object of this bill was the dissolution of the present
parliament, which had already sat three sessions, and began to be
formidable to the people from its concessions to the ministry. The
benefits that would accrue to the constitution from the establishment
of triennial parliaments were very well understood, as these points had
been frequently discussed in former reigns. The courtiers now objected,
that frequent elections would render the free-holders proud and
insolent, encourage faction among the electors, and entail a continual
expense upon the member, as he would find himself obliged, during the
whole time of the sitting, to behave like a candidate, conscious how
soon the time of election would revolve. In spite of the ministerial
interest in the upper house, the bill passed, and contained a proviso
that the present parliament should not continue any longer than the
month of January next ensuing. The court renewed its efforts against it
in the house of commons, where nevertheless it was carried, with some
alterations which the lords approved. But all these endeavours were
frustrated by the prerogative of the king, who, by refusing his assent,
prevented its being enacted into a law.

It was at the instigation of the ministry that the commons brought in a
bill for continuing and explaining certain temporary laws then expiring
or expired. Among these was an act for restraining the liberty of the
press, which owed its original to the reign of Charles II., and had been
revived in the first year of the succeeding reign. The bill passed the
lower house without difficulty, but met with warm opposition in the
house of lords; a good number of whom protested against it, as a law
that subjected all learning and true information to the arbitrary will
of a mercenary, and perhaps ignorant licenser, destroyed the properties
of authors, and extended the evil of monopolies. The bill for regulating
trials was dropped, and, in lieu of it, another produced for the
preservation of their majesties' sacred persons and government; but this
too was rejected by the majority in consequence of the ministry's
secret management. The East India company narrowly escaped dissolution.
Petitions and counter-petitions were delivered into the house of
commons; the pretensions on both sides were carefully examined; a
committee of the whole house resolved, that there should be a new
subscription of a joint stock, not exceeding two millions five hundred
thousand pounds, to continue for one-and-twenty years. The report was
made and received, and the public expected to see the affair brought
to a speedy issue; but the company had recourse to the same expedients
which had lately proved so successful in the hands of the ministry.
Those who had been the most warm in detecting their abuses suddenly
cooled; and the prosecution of the affair began to languish. Not but
that the house presented an address to his majesty, praying that he
would dissolve the company upon three years' warning, according to
the condition of their charter. He told them he would consider their
address, and they did not further urge their remonstrance. The bill for
ascertaining the commissions and salaries of the judges, to which the
king had refused the royal assent in the last session, was revived,
twice read, and rejected; and another for preventing the exportation and
melting of the coin, they suffered to lie neglected on the table. On the
fourteenth day of March the king put an end to the session, after having
thanked the parliament for so great testimonies of their affection, and
promised the supplies should not be misapplied. He observed that
the posture of affairs called him abroad, but that he would leave a
sufficient number of troops for the security of the kingdom; he assured
them he would expose his person upon all occasions for the advantage of
these kingdoms; and use his utmost endeavours to make them a flourishing
nation. [046] _[See note I, at the end of this Vol.]_




TRIAL OF LORD MOHUN--ALTERATIONS IN THE MINISTRY.

During the course of this session, lord Mohun was indicted and tried
by the peers in Westminster-hall, as an accomplice in the murder of
one Montford a celebrated comedian, the marquis of Carmarthen acting as
lord-steward upon this occasion. The judges having been consulted,
the peers proceeded to give their judgments _seriatim_, and Mohun was
acquitted by a great majority. The king, who from his first accession
to the throne had endeavoured to trim the balance between the whigs and
tories, by mingling them together in his ministry, made some alterations
at this period that savoured of the same policy. The great seal, with
the title of lord keeper, was bestowed upon sir John Somers, who was
well skilled in the law, and in many other branches of polite and useful
literature. He possessed a remarkable talent for business, in which he
exerted great patience and assiduity; was gentle, candid, and equitable;
a whig in principles, yet moderate, pacific, and conciliating. Of the
same temper was sir John Trenchard, now appointed secretary of state.
He had been concerned with the duke of Monmouth, and escaped to the
continent, where he lived some years; was calm, sedate, well acquainted
with foreign affairs, and considered as a leading man in his party.
These two are said to have been promoted at the recommendation of the
earl of Sunderland, who had by this time insinuated himself into the
king's favour and confidence; though his success confirmed the opinion
which many entertained of his having betrayed his old master. The
leaders of the opposition were sir Edward Seymour, again become a
malcontent, and sir Christopher Mus-grave, a gentleman of Cumberland,
who though an extravagant tory from principle, had refused to concur
with all the designs of the late king. He was a person of a grave and
regular deportment, who had rejected many offers of the ministry, which
he opposed with great violence; yet on some critical occasions his
patriotism gave way to his avarice, and he yielded up some important
points in consideration of large sums which he received from the court
in secret. Others declared war against the administration, because they
thought their own talents were not sufficiently considered. Of these the
chief were Paul Foley and Robert Harley. The first was a lawyer of good
capacity, extensive learning, and virtuous principles; but peevish,
obstinate, and morose. He entertained a very despicable opinion of the
court; and this he propagated with equal assiduity and success. Harley
possessed a good fund of learning; was capable of uncommon application,
particularly turned to politics. He knew the forms of parliament, had a
peculiar dexterity at protracting and perplexing debates; and cherished
the most aspiring ambition. Admiral Russel was created treasurer of
the household; but the command of the fleet was vested in the hands
of Killigrew, Delavai, and Shovel. Sir George Rooke was declared
vice-admiral of the red, and John lord Berkeley of the blue division;
their rear-admirals were Matthew Aylmer and David Mitchel.




THE KING ASSEMBLES THE CONFEDERATE ARMY IN FLANDERS.

The king having visited the fleet and fortifications at Portsmouth,
given instructions for annoying the enemy by sea, and left the
administration in the hands of the queen, embarked on the last day of
March, near Gravesend, and arrived in Holland on the third of April. The
troops of the confederates were forthwith ordered to assemble: but while
he was employed in making preparations for the campaign, the French king
actually took the field, attended by madame de Maintenon, and all the
court ladies. His design was supposed to be upon some town in Brabant:
his army amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand men, completely
armed, and abundantly supplied with all necessaries for every sort of
military operation. King William immediately took possession of the
strong camp at Parke near Lou-vain, a situation which enabled him to
cover the places that were most exposed. Understanding that the French
emissaries had sown the seeds of dissension between the bishop and
chapter of Liege, he sent the duke of Wirtemberg thither, to reconcile
the different parties, and concert measures for the further security
of the place. He reinforced the garrison with nine battalions; and
the elector palatine lay with his troops in readiness to march to its
relief. William likewise threw reinforcements into Maestricht, Huy, and
Char-leroy; and he himself resolved to remain on the defensive, at the
head of sixty thousand men, with a numerous train of artillery.




THE FRENCH REDUCE HUY.

Louis having reviewed his army at Gemblours, and seen his designs upon
Brabant defeated by the diligence of his antagonist, detached Boufflers
with twenty thousand men to the Upper Rhine to join the dauphin, who
commanded in that quarter; then leaving the conduct of his forces in
the Netherlands to the duke de Luxembourg, he returned with his court
to Versailles. Immediately after his departure, Luxembourg fixed his
head-quarters at Mildert; and king William strengthened his camp on
that side with ten battalions and eight-and-twenty pieces of cannon.
The enemy's convoys were frequently surprised by detachments from the
garrison of Charleroy; and a large body of horse, foot, and dragoons,
being drafted out of Liege and Maestricht, took post at Huy, under the
command of the count de Tilly, so as to straiten the French in their
quarters. These however were dislodged by Luxembourg in person, who
obliged the count to pass the Jaar with precipitation, leaving behind
three squadrons and all his baggage, which fell into the hands of the
enemy. This check however was balanced by the success of the duke of
Wirtemberg, who, at the head of thirteen battalions of infantry and
twenty squadrons of horse, forced the French lines between the
Scheldt and the Lys, and laid the whole country as far as Lisle under
contribution. On that very day, which was the eighteenth of July,
Luxembourg marched towards Huy, which was next morning invested by M.
de Villeroy. The other covered the siege, and secured himself 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
garrison mutined, the castles were surrendered, the governor remained
a prisoner, and his men were conducted to Liege. The confederate army
advanced in order to relieve the town; but the king being apprised of
its fate, detached ten battalions to reinforce the garrison of Liege,
and next day returned to Neer-Hespen.




THE DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG RESOLVES TO ATTACK THE ALLIES.

Luxembourg made a motion towards Liege as if he had intended to besiege
the place; and encamped at Hellecheim, about seven leagues from the
confederates. Knowing how much they were weakened by the different
detachments which had been made from their army, he resolved to attack
them in their camp, or at least fall upon their rear should they retreat
at his approach. On the twenty-eighth day of July he began his march in
four columns, and passed the Jaar near its source, with an army superior
to the allies by five-and-thirty thousand men. The king of England at
first looked upon this motion as a feint to cover the design upon Liege;
but receiving intelligence that their whole army was in full march to
attack him in his camp, he resolved to keep his ground, and immediately
drew up his forces in order of battle. His general officers advised him
to repass the Geete; but he chose to risk a battle, rather than expose
the rear of his army in repassing that river. His right wing extended as
far as Neer-Winden, along the Geete, covered with hedges, hollow ways,
and a small rivulet; the left reached to Neer-Landen; and these two
villages were joined by a slight intrenchment which the king ordered
to be thrown up in the evening. Brigadier Ramsay, with the regiments of
O'Farrel, Mackay, Lauder, Leven and Monroe, were ordered to the right of
the whole army, to line some hedges and hollow ways on the farther side
of the village of Lare. Six battalions of Brandenburgh were posted
to the left of this village; and general Dumont, with the Hanoverian
infantry, possessed the village of Neer-Winden, which covered part
of the camp, between the main body and the right wing of the cavalry.
Neer-Landen, on the left, was secured by six battalions of English,
Danes, and Dutch. The remaining infantry was drawn up in one line behind
the intrenchment. The dragoons upon the left guarded the village of
Donnai upon the brook of Beck, and from thence the left wing of horse
extended to Neer-Landen, where it was covered by this rivulet.

The king having visited all the posts on horseback, and given the
necessary orders, reposed himself about two hours in his coach; and
early in the morning sent for his chaplain, whom he joined in prayer
with great devotion. At sun-rising the enemy appeared drawn up in order
of battle; and the allies began to play their cannon with good success.
About eight in the morning they attacked the villages of Lare and
Neer-Winden with great fury; and twice made themselves masters of these
posts, from whence they were as often repulsed.

The allies still kept their ground; and the duke of Berwick was taken by
his uncle brigadier Churchill. Then the French made an attack upon the
left wing of the confederates at Neer-Landen; and after a very obstinate
dispute, were obliged to give way, though they still kept possession of
the avenues. The prince of Conti, however, renewed the charge with the
flower of the French infantry; and the confederates being overpowered,
retreated from the village, leaving the camp in that part exposed.
Villeroy marching this way with a body of horse, was encountered and
repulsed by the count D'Arco, general of the Bavarian cuirassiers; and
the duke de Chartres narrowly escaped being taken. Meanwhile Luxembourg,
the prince of Conti, the count de Marsin, and the marshal de Joyeuse,
charged on the right, and in different parts of the line with such
impetuosity as surmounted all resistance. The camp of the confederates
was immediately filled with French troops: the villages of Lare
and Neer-Winden were taken after a long and desperate dispute. The
Hanoverian and Dutch horse being broken, the king in person brought the
English cavalry to their assistance. They fought with great gallantry;
and for some time retarded the fate of the day. The infantry were
rallied, and stood firm until all their ammunition was expended. In a
word, they were scarce able to sustain the weight of such a superiority
in point of number, when the marquis D'Harcourt joined the enemy from
Huy, with two-and-twenty fresh squadrons, which immediately turned
the scale in their favour. The elector of Bavaria, after having made
extraordinary efforts, retreated with great difficulty over the bridge
to the other side of the river, where he rallied the troops in order
to favour the retreat of those who had not passed. The king seeing the
battle lost, and the whole army in confusion, retired with the infantry
to Dormul on the brook of Beck, where the dragoons of the left wing were
posted, and then ordered the regiments of Wyndham, Lumley, and Calway,
to cover his retreat over the bridge at Neer-Hespen, which he effected
with great difficulty. Now all was tumult, rout, and consternation; and
a great number of the fugitives threw themselves 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 several places, and taken
prisoner by the enemy; and the count de Solmes was mortally wounded.
Ptolemache brought off the greater part of the English infantry with
great gallantry and conduct; as for the baggage, it had been sent to
Liege before the engagement; but the confederates lost sixty pieces of
cannon, and nine mortars, a great number of standards and colours,* with
about seven thousand men killed and wounded in the action. It must be
owned that the allies fought with great valour and perseverance; and
that king William made prodigious efforts of courage and activity to
retrieve the fortune of the day. He was present in all parts of the
battle; he charged in person both on horseback and on foot, where the
danger was most imminent. His peruke, the sleeve of his coat, and the
knot of his scarf, were penetrated by three different musket bullets;
and he saw a great number of soldiers fall on every side of him. The
enemy bore witness to his extraordinary valour. The prince of Conti, in
a letter to his princess which was intercepted, declared that he saw the
prince of Orange exposing himself to the greatest dangers; and that such
valour richly deserved the peaceable possession of the crown he
wore. Yet here, as in every other battle he fought, his conduct and
disposition were severely censured. Luxembourg having observed the
nature of his situation immediately before the engagement, is said to
have exclaimed, "Now I believe Waldeck is really dead;" alluding to that
general's known sagacity in choosing ground for an encampment. Be that
as it will, he paid dear for his victory. His loss in officers and men
exceeded that of the allies; and he reaped no solid advantage from the
battle. He remained fifteen days inactive at Waren, while king William
recalled the duke of Wirtemberg, and drafting troops from Liege and
other garrisons, was in a few days able to hazard another engagement.

     * The duke of Luxembourg sent such a number of standards and
     ensigns to Paris during the course of this war, that the
     prince of Conti called him the Upholsterer of Notre Dame, a
     church in which those trophies were displayed.




CHARLEBOY TAKEN BY THE ENEMY.

Nothing remarkable happened during the remaining part of the
Campaign, until Luxembourg, being rejoined by Boufflers with a strong
reinforcement from the Rhine, invested Charleroy. He had taken his
measures with such caution and dexterity, that the allies could not
frustrate his operations, without attacking his lines at a great
disadvantage. The king detached the elector of Bavaria and the duke
of Wirtemberg, with thirty battalions and forty squadrons, to make a
diversion in Flanders; but they returned in a few days without having
attempted any thing of consequence. The garrison of Charleroy defended
the place with surprising valour, from the tenth of September to
the eleventh of October, during which period they had repulsed the
assailants in several attacks; but at length despairing of relief, the
governor capitulated on the most honourable conditions: the reduction
of the place was celebrated with a _Te Deum_, and other rejoicings
at Paris. Louis however, in the midst of all his glory, was extremely
mortified when he reflected what little advantage he had reaped from
all his late victories. The allies had been defeated successively at
Fleurus, Steenkirk, and Landen; yet in a fortnight after each of those
battles William was always in a condition to risk another engagement.
Formerly Louis had conquered half of Holland, Flanders, and
Franche-Comte, without a battle; whereas, now he could not with his
utmost efforts, and after the most signal victories, pass the frontiers
of the United Provinces. The conquest of Charleroy concluded the
campaign in the Netherlands, and both armies went into winter-quarters.




CAMPAIGN ON THE RHINE.

The French army on the Rhine, under De Lorges, passed that river in the
month of May at Philipsburgh, and invested the city of Heidelberg,
which they took, plundered, and reduced to ashes. This general committed
numberless barbarities in the Palatinate, which he ravaged without even
sparing the tombs of the dead. The French soldiers on this occasion seem
to have been actuated by the most brutal inhumanity. They butchered
the inhabitants, violated the women, plundered the houses, rifled the
churches, and murdered the priests at the altar. They broke open the
electoral vault, and scattered the ashes of that illustrious family
about the streets. They set fire to different quarters of the city; they
stripped about fifteen thousand of the inhabitants, without distinction
of age or sex, and drove them naked into the castle, that the garrison
might be the sooner induced to capitulate. There they remained like
cattle in the open air, without food or covering, tortured between the
horrors of their fete and the terrors of a bombardment. When they were
set at liberty, in consequence of the fort's being surrendered, a great
number of them died along the banks of the Neckar, from cold, hunger,
anguish, and despair. These enormous cruelties, which would have
disgraced the arms of a Tartarian freebooter, were acted by the express
command of Louis XIV. of France, who has been celebrated by so many
venal pens, not only as the greatest monarch, but also as the most
polished prince of Christendom. De Lorges advanced towards the Neckar
against the prince of Baden, who lay encamped on the other side of
the river; but in attempting to pass, he was twice repulsed with
considerable damage. The dauphin joining the army, which now amounted to
seventy thousand men, crossed without opposition; but found the Germans
so advantageously posted, that he would not hazard an attack; having
therefore repassed the river, he secured Stutgard with a garrison,
sent detachments into Flanders and Piedmont, and returned in August to
Versailles. In Piedmont the allies were still more unfortunate. The duke
of Savoy and his confederates seemed bent upon driving the French from
Casal and Pignerol. The first of these places was blocked up, and the
other actually invested. The fort of St. Bridget that covered the place
was taken, and the town bombarded. Meanwhile Catinat being reinforced,
descended into the plains. The duke was so apprehensive of Turin that
he abandoned the siege of Pignerol, after having blown up the fort,
and marched in quest of the enemy to the plain of Mar-saglia, in the
neighbourhood of his capital. On the fourth day of October, the French
advanced upon them from the hills between Orbasson and Prosasque, and
a desperate engagement ensued. The enemy charged the left wing of the
confederates sword in hand with incredible fury; though they were
once repulsed, they renewed the attack with such impetuosity that the
Neapolitan and Milanese horse were obliged to give way, and disordered
the German cavalry. These falling upon the foot, threw the whole wing
into confusion. Meanwhile the main body and the other wing sustained the
charge without flinching, until they were exposed in flank by the defeat
of the cavalry; then the whole front gave way. In vain the second line
was brought up to sustain them; the horse 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 thousand
men killed or wounded on the field of battle. The duke of Schomberg
having been denied the post which was his due, insisted upon fighting at
the head of the troops maintained by the king of Great Britain, who were
posted 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 desired he would take upon him the command, and retreat with the
infantry and right wing; but he refused to act without the order of his
highness, and said things were come to such a pass that they must either
conquer or die. He continued to animate his men with his voice and
example, until he received a shot in the thigh. His valet seeing him
fall, ran to his assistance, and called for quarter, but was killed by
the enemy before he could be understood. The duke being taken at the
same instant, was afterwards dismissed upon his parole, and in a few
days died at Turin, universally lamented on account of his great and
amiable qualities. The earl of Warwick and Holland, who accompanied him
as a volunteer, shared his fate in being wounded and taken prisoner;
but he soon recovered his health and liberty. This victory was as
unsubstantial as that of Landen, and almost as dear in the purchase;
for the confederates made an obstinate defence, and yielded solely to
superior number. The duke of Savoy retreated to Moncalier, and threw a
reinforcement into Coni, which Catinat would not venture to besiege,
so severely had he been handled in the battle. He therefore contented
himself with laying the country under contribution, reinforcing the
garrisons of Casal, Pignerol, and Suza, and making preparations for
repassing the mountains. The news of this victory no sooner reached
Paris, than Louis dispatched M. de Chanlais to Turin, with proposals
for detaching the duke of Savoy from the interest of the allies; and the
pope, who was now become a partisan of France, supported the negotiation
with his whole influence; but the French king had not yet touched upon
the right string. The duke continued deaf to all his addresses.




TRANSACTIONS in HUNGARY and CATALONIA.

France had been alike successful in her intrigues at the courts of Rome
and Constantinople. The vizier at the Porte had been converted into a
pensionary and creature of Louis; but the war in which the Turks had
been so long and unsuccessfully engaged, rendered him so odious to the
people, that the grand seignor deposed him in order to appease their
clamours. The English and Dutch ambassadors at Constantinople forthwith
renewed their mediation for a peace with the emperor; but the terms
they proposed were still rejected with disdain. In the meantime general
Heusler, who commanded the imperialists at Transylvania, reduced the
fortresses of Jeno and Villaguswar. In the beginning of July the duc de
Croy assumed the chief command of the German army, passed the Danube and
the Saave, and invested Belgrade. The siege was carried on for some
time with great vigour, but at length abandoned at the approach of the
vizier, who obliged the imperialists to repass the Saave, and sent out
parties which made incursions into Upper-Hungary. The power of France
had never been so conspicuous as at this juncture, when she maintained
a formidable navy at sea, and four great armies in different parts of
Europe. Exclusive of the operations in Flanders, Germany, and Piedmont,
the count de Noailles invested Eoses in Catalonia, about the latter end
of May, while at the same time it was blocked up by the French fleet
under the command of the count D'Etrees. In a few days the place was
surrendered by capitulation, and the castle of Ampurias met with the
same fate. The Spanish power was reduced to such a degree, that Noailles
might have proceeded in his conquests without interruption, had he
not been obliged to detach part of his army to reinforce Catinat in
Piedmont.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Nothing could be more inglorious for the English than their operations
by sea in the course of this summer. The king had ordered the admirals
to use all possible despatch in equipping the fleets, that they might
block up the enemy in their own ports and protect the commerce, which
had suffered severely from the French privateers. They were however so
dilatory in their proceedings, that the squadrons of the enemy sailed
from their harbours before the English fleet could put to sea. About the
middle of May it was assembled at St. Helen's, and took on board five
regiments intended for a descent on Brest; but this enterprise was never
attempted. When the English and Dutch squadrons joined, so as to form
a very numerous fleet, the public expected they would undertake some
expedition of importance; but the admirals were divided in opinion,
nor did their orders warrant their executing any scheme of consequence.
Killigrew and Delavai did not escape the suspicion of being disaffected
to the service; and France was said to have maintained a secret
correspondence with the malcontents in England. Louis had made
surprising efforts to repair the damage which his navy had sustained.
He had purchased several large vessels and converted them into ships of
war; he had laid an embargo on all the shipping of his kingdom until his
squadrons were manned; he had made a grand naval promotion to encourage
the officers and seamen; and this expedient produced a wonderful spirit
of activity and emulation. In the month of May his fleet sailed to the
Mediterranean in three squadrons, consisting of seventy-one capital
ships, besides bomb-ketches, fire-ships, and tenders.

In the beginning of June, the English and Dutch fleets sailed down the
channel. On the sixth, sir George Rooke was detached to the Straits
with a squadron of three-and-twenty ships as convoy to the Mediterranean
trade. The grand fleet returned to Torbay, while he pursued his voyage,
having taken under his protection about four hundred merchant ships
belonging to England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Hamburgh, and Flanders.
On the sixteenth his scouts discovered part of the French fleet under
Cape St. Vincent; next day their whole navy appeared, to the amount of
eighty sail. Sixteen of these plied up to the English squadron, while
the vice-admiral of the white stood off to sea to intercept the ships
under convoy. Sir George Rooke, by the advice of the Dutch vice-admiral
Vandergoes, resolved if possible to avoid an engagement, which could
only tend to their absolute ruin. He forthwith sent orders to the small
ships that were near the land to put into the neighbouring ports of
Faro, St. Lucar, and Cadiz, while he himself stood off with an easy sail
for the protection of the rest. About six in the evening, ten sail of
the enemy came up with two Dutch ships of war commanded by the captains
Schrijver and Vander-Poel, who seeing no possibility of escaping, tacked
in shore, and, thus drawing the French after them, helped to save the
rest of the fleet. When attacked they made a most desperate defence, but
at last were overpowered by numbers and taken. An English ship of war
and a rich pinnace were burned; nine-and-twenty merchant vessels
were taken, and about fifty destroyed by the counts de Tourville and
D'Etrees. Seven of the largest Smyrna ships fell into the hands of M.
de Cotlegon, and four he sunk in the bay of Gibraltar. The value of
the loss sustained on this occasion amounted to one million sterling.
Meanwhile Rooke stood off with a fresh gale, and on the nineteenth sent
home the Lark ship of war with the news of his misfortune; then he bore
away for the Madeiras, where having taken in wood and water, he set sail
for Ireland, and on the third day of August arrived at Cork with fifty
sail, including ships of war and trading vessels. He detached captain
Fairborne to Kinsale with all his squadron except six ships of the
line, with which, in pursuance of orders, he joined the great fleet then
cruising in the chops of the channel. On the twenty-fifth day of August
they returned to St. Helen's, and the four regiments were landed. On
the nineteenth day of September, fifteen Dutch ships of the line and
two frigates set sail for Holland; and twenty-six sail, with seven
fire-ships, were assigned as guard-ships during the winter.




EXPEDITION TO THE WEST INDIES.

The French admirals, instead of pursuing Rooke to Madeira, made an
unsuccessful attempt upon Cadiz, and bombarded Gibraltar, where the
merchants sunk their ships that they might not fall into the hands of
the enemy. Then they sailed along the coast of Spain, destroyed some
English and Dutch vessels at Malaga, Alicant, and other places, and
returned in triumph to Toulon. About this period sir Francis Wheeler
returned to England with his squadron from an unfortunate expedition in
the West Indies. In conjunction with colonel Codrington, governor of
the Leeward Islands, he made unsuccessful attempts upon the islands of
Martinique and Dominique. Then he sailed to Boston in New England with
a view to concert an expedition against Quebec, which was judged
impracticable. He afterwards steered for Placentia in Newfoundland,
which he would have attacked without hesitation; but the design
was rejected by a majority of voices in the council of war. Thus
disappointed, he set sail for England, and arrived at Portsmouth in a
very shattered condition, the greater part of his men having died in the
course of this voyage.




BENBOW BOMBARDS ST. MALOES.

In November another effort was made to annoy the enemy. Commodore Benbow
sailed with a squadron of twelve capital ships, four bomb-ketches, and
ten brigantines, to the coast of St. Maloes, and anchoring within
half a mile of the town, cannonaded and bombarded it for three days
successively. Then his men landed on an island where they burned a
convent. On the nineteenth they took the advantage of a dark night, a
fresh gale, and a strong tide, to send in a fire-ship of a particular
contrivance, styled the Infernal, in order to burn the town; but she
struck upon a rock before she arrived at the place, and the engineer was
obliged to set her on fire and retreat. She continued burning for some
time, and at last blew up with such an explosion as shook the whole town
like an earthquake, unroofed three hundred houses, and broke all the
glass and earthenware for three leagues around. A capstan that weighed
two hundred pounds was transported into the place, and falling upon a
house, levelled it to the ground; the greatest part of the wall
towards the sea tumbled down; and the inhabitants were overwhelmed
with consternation, so that a small number of troops might have taken
possession without resistance, but there was not a soldier on board.
Nevertheless the sailors took and demolished Quince-fort, and did
considerable damage to the town of St. Maloes, which had been a nest of
privateers that infested the English commerce. Though this attempt was
executed with great spirit and some success, the clamours of the people
became louder and louder. They scrupled not to say that the councils
of the nation were betrayed; and their suspicions rose even to the
secretary's office. They observed, that the French were previously
acquainted with all the motions of the English, and took their measures
accordingly for their destruction. They collected and compared a
good number of particulars that seemed to justify their suspicion of
treachery. But the misfortunes of the nation in all probability arose
from a motley ministry divided among themselves, who, instead of acting
in concert for the public good, employed all their influence to thwart
the views and blacken the reputations of each other. The people in
general exclaimed against the marquis of Carmarthen, the earls of
Nottingham and Rochester, who had acquired great credit with the queen,
and, from their hatred to the whigs, betrayed the interests of the
nation.




THE FRENCH KING HAS RECOURSE TO THE MEDIATION OF DENMARK.

But if the English were discontented, the French were miserable in spite
of all their victories. That kingdom laboured under a dreadful famine,
occasioned partly from unfavourable seasons, and partly from the
war, which had not left hands sufficient to cultivate the ground.
Notwithstanding all the diligence and providence of their ministry
in bringing supplies of corn from Sweden and Denmark, their care
in regulating the price and furnishing the markets, their liberal
contributions for the relief of the indigent, multitudes perished of
want, and the whole kingdom was reduced to poverty and distress. Louis
pined in the midst of his success. He saw his subjects exhausted 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 solicited the northern crowns to engage
as mediators for a general peace. A memorial was actually presented by
the Danish minister to king William, by which it appears that the
French king would have been contented to purchase a peace with some
considerable concessions; but the terms were rejected by the king of
England, whose ambition and revenge were not yet gratified, and whose
subjects, though heavily laden, could still bear additional burdens.

The Jacobites had been very attentive to the progress of dissatisfaction
in England, which they fomented with their usual assiduity. The late
declaration of king James had been couched in such imperious terms as
gave offence even to some of those who favoured his interest. The earl
of Middleton therefore, in the beginning of the year, repaired to St.
Germain's and obtained another, which contained the promise of a general
pardon without exception, and every other concession that a British
subject could demand of his sovereign. About the latter end of May, two
men named Canning and Dormer were apprehended for dispersing copies of
this paper, tried at the Old Bailey, found guilty of not only dispersing
but also of composing a false and seditious libel, sentenced to pay five
hundred marks a-piece, to stand three times in the pillory, and find
sureties for their good behaviour. But no circumstance reflected more
disgrace on this reign than the fate of Anderton, the supposed printer
of some tracts against the government. He was brought to trial for
high treason; he made a vigorous defence in spite of the insults
and discouragement he sustained from a partial bench. As nothing but
presumptions appeared against him, the jury scrupled to bring in
a verdict that would affect his life, until they were reviled and
reprimanded by judge Treby, then they found him guilty. In vain recourse
was had to the queen's mercy; he suffered death at Tyburn, and left a
paper protesting solemnly against the proceedings of the court, which
he affirmed was appointed not to try but to convict him, and petitioning
heaven to forgive his penitent jury. The severity of the government
was likewise exemplified in the case of some adventurers, who having
equipped privateers to cruise upon the English, under joint commissions
from the late king James and Louis XIV., happened to be taken by the
English ships of war. Dr. Oldys, the king's advocate, being commanded
to proceed against them as guilty of treason and piracy, refused to
commence the prosecution; and gave his opinion in writing that they
were neither traitors nor pirates. He supported his opinion by arguments
before the council; these were answered by Dr. Littleton, who succeeded
him in the office from which he was dismissed; and the prisoners were
executed as traitors. The Jacobites did not fail to retort those
arts upon the government which their adversaries had so successfully
practised in the late reign. They inveighed against the vindictive
spirit of the administration, and taxed it with encouraging informers
and false witnesses--a charge for which there was too much foundation.

The friends of James in Scotland still continued to concert designs
in his favour; but their correspondence was detected, and their aims
defeated, by the vigilance of the ministry in that kingdom. Secretary
Johnston not only kept a watchful eye over all their transactions, but
by a dexterous management of court liberality and favour, appeased the
discontents of the presbyterians so effectually, that the king ran no
risk in assembling the parliament. Some offices were bestowed upon the
leaders of the kirk party, and the duke of Hamilton, being reconciled
to the government, was appointed commissioner. On the eighteenth day of
April the session was opened, and the king's letter, replete with the
most cajoling expressions, being read, the parliament proceeded to
exhibit undeniable specimens of their good humour. They drew up a very
affectionate answer to his majesty's letter; they voted an addition of
six new regiments to the standing forces of the kingdom; they granted
a supply of above one hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling to his
majesty; they enacted a law for levying men to serve on board the royal
navy; they fined all absentees, whether lords or commons, and vacated
the seats of all those commissioners who refused to take the oath of
assurance, which was equivalent to an abjuration of king James; they
set on foot an inquiry about an intended invasion; they published some
intercepted letters supposed to be written to king James by Nevil Payne,
whom they committed to prison and threatened with a trial for high
treason; but he eluded the danger by threatening in his turn to impeach
those who had made their peace with the government; they passed an
act for the comprehension of such of the episcopal clergy as should
condescend to take the oaths by the tenth day of July. All that the
general assembly required of them was, an offer to subscribe the
confession of faith, and to acknowledge presbytery as the only
government of the Scottish church; but they neither submitted to
these terms, nor took the oaths within the limited time, so that
they forfeited all legal right to their benefices. Nevertheless they
continued in possession, and even received private assurances of the
king's protection. It was one of William's political maxims to court his
domestic enemies; but it was never attended with any good effect. This
indulgence gave offence to the presbyterians, and former distractions
began to revive.




THE KING RETURNS TO ENGLAND.

The king having prevailed upon the states-general to augment their land
forces and navy for the service of the ensuing campaign, embarked for
England, and arrived at Kensington on the thirtieth day of October.
Finding the people clamorous and discontented, the trade of the
nation decayed, the affairs of state mismanaged, and the ministers
recriminating upon one another, he perceived the necessity of changing
hands, and resolved to take his measures accordingly. Sunderland,
his chief counsellor, represented that the tories were averse to the
continuance of a war which had been productive of nothing but damage and
disgrace; whereas, the whigs were much more tractable, and would bleed
freely, partly from the terror of invasion and popery, partly from the
ambition of being courted by the crown, and partly from the prospect of
advantage, in advancing money to the government on the funds established
by parliament; for that sort of traffic which obtained the appellation
of the monied interest was altogether a whig-gish institution. The king
revolved these observations in his own mind; and, in the meantime, the
parliament met on the seventh day of November, pursuant to the last
prorogation. In his speech, he expressed his resentment against
those who were the authors of the miscarriages at sea; represented the
necessity of increasing the land forces and the navy; and demanded a
suitable supply for these purposes. In order to pave the way to their
condescension, he had already dismissed from his council the earl
of Nottingham, who, of all his ministers, was the most odious to the
people. His place would have been immediately filled with the earl of
Shrewsbury; but that nobleman suspecting this was a change of men rather
than of measures, stood aloof for some time, until he received such
assurances from the king as quieted his scruples, and then he accepted
the office of secretary. The lieutenancy for the city of London, and all
other commissions over England, were altered with a view to favour the
whig interest; and the individuals of that party were indulged with
many places of trust and profit; but the tories were too powerful in the
house of commons to be exasperated, and therefore a good number of them
were retained in office.




BOTH HOUSES INQUIRE INTO THE MISCARRIAGES BY SEA.

On the sixth day of the session, the commons unanimously resolved
to support their majesties and their government; to inquire into
miscarriages; and to consider of means for preserving the trade of the
nation. The Turkey company was summoned to produce the petitions they
had delivered to the commissioners of the Admiralty for convoy: lord
Falkland, who sat at the head of that board, gave in copies of all the
orders and directions sent to sir George Rooke concerning the Straits
fleet, together with a list of all the ships at that time in commission.
It appeared, in the course of this inquiry, that the miscarriage of
Rooke's fleet was in a great measure owing to the misconduct of the
admirals, and the neglect of the victualling-office; but they were
screened by a majority. Mr. Harley, one of the commissioners for taking
and stating the public accounts, delivered a report, which contained a
charge of peculation against lord Falkland. Rainsford, receiver of the
rights and perquisites of the navy, confessed that he had received and
paid more money than that which was charged in the accounts; and, in
particular, that he had paid four thousand pounds to lord Falkland
by his majesty's order. This lord had acknowledged before the
commissioners, that he had paid one half of the sum, by the king's
order, to a person who was not a member of either house; and that the
remainder was still in his hands. Rainsford owned he had the original
letter which he received from Falkland, demanding the money; and this
nobleman desiring to see it, detained the voucher; a circumstance
that incensed the commons to such a degree, that a motion was made for
committing him to the Tower, and debated with great warmth, but was at
last over-ruled by the majority. Nevertheless, they agreed to make him
sensible of their displeasure, and he was reprimanded in his place. The
house of lords having also inquired into the causes of the miscarriages
at sea, very violent debates arose, and at length the majority resolved,
that the admirals had done well in the execution of the orders they had
received. This was a triumph over the whig lords, who had so eagerly
prosecuted the affair, and now protested against the resolution not
without great appearance of reason. The next step of the lords was to
exculpate the earl of Nottingham, as the blame seemed to lie with him on
the supposition that the admirals were innocent. With a view therefore
to transfer this blame to Trenchard, the whiggish secretary, the earl
gave the house to understand that he had received intelligence from
Paris in the beginning of June, containing a list of the enemy's fleet
and the time of their sailing; that this was communicated to a committee
of the council, and particularly imparted to secretary Trenchard,
whose province it was to transmit instructions to the admirals. Two
conferences passed on this subject between the lords and commons.
Trenchard delivered in his defence in writing; and was in his turn
screened by the whole efforts of the ministry, in which the whig
influence now predominated. Thus an inquiry of such national
consequence, which took its rise from the king's own expression of
resentment against the delinquents, was stifled by the arts of the
court, because it was likely to affect one of its creatures; for, though
there was no premeditated treachery in the case, the interest of
the public was certainly sacrificed to the mutual animosity of the
ministers. The charge of lord Falkland being resumed in the house
of commons, he appeared to have begged and received of the king the
remaining two thousand pounds of money which had been paid by Rainsford:
he was therefore declared guilty of a high misdemeanor and breach of
trust, and committed to the Tower; from whence however he was in two
days discharged upon his petition.




VAST SUMS GRANTED FOR THE SERVICES OF THE ENSUING YEAR.

Harley, Foley, and Harcourt, presented to the house a state of the
receipts and issues of the revenue, together with two reports from the
commissioners of accounts concerning sums issued for secret services,
and to members of parliament. This was a discovery of the most
scandalous practices in the mystery of corruption, equally exercised on
the individuals of both parties, in occasional bounties, grants,
places, pensions, equivalents, and additional salaries. The malcontents
therefore justly observed, the house of commons was so managed that the
king could baffle any bill, quash all grievances, stifle accounts,
and rectify the articles of Limerick. When the commons took into
consideration the estimates and supplies of the ensuing year, the king
demanded forty thousand men for the navy, and above one hundred thousand
for the purposes of the land service. Before the house considered these
enormous demands, they granted four hundred thousand pounds by way of
advance, to quiet the clamours of the seamen, who were become mutinous
and desperate for want of pay, upwards of one million being due to them
for wages. Then the commons voted the number of men required for the
navy; but they were so ashamed of that for the army, that they thought
it necessary to act in such a manner as should imply that they still
retained some regard for their country. They called for all the treaties
subsisting between the king and his allies; they examined the different
proportions of the troops furnished by the respective powers; they
considered the intended augmentations, and fixed the establishment of
the year at four-score and three thousand, one hundred, and twenty-one
men, including officers. For the maintenance of these they allotted the
sum of two millions, five hundred and thirty thousand, five hundred and
nine pounds. They granted two millions for the navy, and about five
hundred thousand pounds, to make good the deficiencies of the annuity
and poll bills; so that the supplies for the year amounted to about
five millions and a half, raised by a land-tax of four shillings in the
pound, by two more lives in the annuities, a further excise on beer, a
new duty on salt, and a lottery.

Though the malcontents in parliament could not withstand this torrent of
profusion, they endeavoured to distress the court interest, by reviving
the popular bills of the preceding session; such as that for regulating
trials in cases of high treason, the other for the more frequent calling
and meeting of parliaments, and that concerning free and impartial
proceedings in parliament. The first was neglected in the house of
lords; the second was rejected; the third was passed by the commons, on
the supposition that it would be defeated in the other house. The lords
returned it with certain amendments, to which the commons would not
agree: a conference ensued; the peers receded from their corrections,
and passed the bill, to which the king however refused his assent.
Nothing could be more unpopular and dangerous than such a step at this
juncture. The commons, in order to recover some credit with the people,
determined to disapprove of his majesty's conduct. The house formed
itself into a committee, to take the state of the kingdom into
consideration. They resolved, that whoever advised the king to refuse
the royal assent to that bill, was an enemy to their majesties and the
kingdom. They likewise presented an address, expressing their concern
that he had not given his consent to the bill; and beseeching his
majesty to hearken for the future to the advice of his parliament,
rather than to the counsels of particular persons, who might have
private interests of their own, separate from those of his majesty
and his people. The king thanked them for their zeal, professed a warm
regard for their constitution, and assured them he would look upon
all parties as enemies who should endeavour to lessen the confidence
subsisting between the sovereign and the people. The members in the
opposition were not at all satisfied with this general reply. A day
being appointed to take it into consideration, a warm debate was
maintained with equal eloquence and acrimony. At length the question
being put that an address should be made for a more explicit answer, it
passed in the negative by a great majority.




ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND.

The city of London petitioned that a parliamentary provision should be
made for the orphans, whose fortunes they had scandalously squandered
away. Such an application had been made in the preceding session, and
rejected with disdain, as an imposition on the public; but now those
scruples were removed, and the house passed a bill for this purpose,
consisting of many clauses, extending to different charges on the city
lands, aqueducts, and personal estates; imposing duties on binding
apprentices, constituting freemen, as also upon wines and coals imported
into London. On the twenty-third day of March these bills received
the royal assent; and the king took that opportunity of recommending
despatch, as the season of the year was far advanced, and the enemy
diligently employed in making preparations for an early campaign. The
scheme of a national bank, like those of Amsterdam and Genoa, had been
recommended to the ministry as an excellent institution, as well for
the credit and security of the government, as the increase of trade and
circulation. One project was invented by Dr. Hugh Chamberlain, proposing
the circulation of tickets on land security; but William Paterson was
author of that which was carried into execution, by the interest of
Michael Godfrey and other active projectors. The scheme was founded
on the motion of a transferable fund, and a circulation by bill on the
credit of a large capital. Forty merchants subscribed to the amount of
five hundred thousand pounds, as a fund of ready money, to circulate one
million at eight per cent, to be lent to the government; and even
this fund of ready money bore the same interest. When it was properly
digested in the cabinet, and a majority in parliament secured for its
reception, the undertakers for the court introduced it into the house of
commons, and expatiated upon the national advantages that would accrue
from such a measure. They said it would rescue the nation out of the
hands of extortioners and usurers, lower interest, raise the value
of land, revive and establish public credit, extend circulation,
consequently improve commerce, facilitate the annual supplies, and
connect the people the more closely with the government. The project was
violently opposed by a strong party, who affirmed that it would become
a monopoly, and engross the whole money of the kingdom; that, as it must
infallibly be subservient to government views, it might be employed
to the worst purposes of arbitrary power; that instead of assisting it
would weaken commerce, by tempting people to withdraw their money from
trade and employ it in stock-jobbing; that it would produce a swarm of
brokers and jobbers to prey upon their fellow-creatures, encourage
fraud and gaming, and further corrupt the morals of the nation.
Notwithstanding these objections, the bill made its way through the two
houses, establishing the funds for the security and advantage of the
subscribers; empowering their majesties to incorporate them by the name
of the governor and company of the bank of England, under a proviso,
that at any time after the first day of August, in the year one thousand
seven hundred and five, upon a year's notice, and the repayment of the
twelve hundred thousand pounds, the said corporation should cease and
determine. The bill likewise contained clauses of appropriation for the
services of the public. The whole subscription was filled in ten clays
after its being opened; and the court of directors completed the payment
before the expiration of the time prescribed by the act, although they
did not call in more than seven hundred and twenty thousand pounds
of the money subscribed. All these funds proving inadequate to the
estimates, the commons brought in a bill to impose stamp duties upon all
vellum, parchment, and paper, used in almost every kind of intercourse
between man and man; and they crowned the oppression of the year with
another grievous tax upon carriages, under the name of a bill for
licensing and regulating hackney and stage coaches.




EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHArTER.

The commons, in a clause of the bill for taxing several joint-stocks,
provided, that in case of a default in the payment of that tax, within
the time limited by the act, the charter of the company so failing
should be deemed void and forfeited. The East India company actually
neglected their payment, and the public imagined the ministry would
seize this opportunity of dissolving a monopoly against which so
many complaints had been made; but the directors understood their own
strength; and, instead of being broken, obtained the promise of a new
charter. This was no sooner known, than the controversy between them
and their adversaries was revived with such animosity, that the council
thought proper to indulge both parties with a hearing. As this produced
no resolution, the merchants who opposed the company petitioned, that,
in the meanwhile, the new charter might be suspended. Addresses of the
same kind were presented by a great number of clothiers, linen-drapers,
and other dealers. To these a written answer was published by the
company; the merchants printed a reply, in which they undertook to prove
that the company had been guilty of unjust and unwarrantable actions,
tending to the scandal of religion, the dishonour of the nation, the
reproach of our laws, the oppression of the people, and the ruin of
trade. They observed, that two private ships had exported in one year
three times as many cloths as the company had exported in three years.
They offered to send more cloth and English merchandise to the Indies
in one year than the company had exported in five; to furnish the
government with five hundred tons of saltpetre for less than one half
of the usual price; and they represented, that the company could neither
load the ships they petitioned for in England, nor reload them in the
East Indies. In spite of all these remonstrances, the new charter passed
the great seal; though the grants contained in it were limited in such a
manner that they did not amount to an exclusive privilege, and subjected
the company to such alterations, restrictions, and qualifications, as
the king should direct before the twenty-ninth day of September. This
indulgence, and other favours granted to the company, were privately
purchased of the ministry, and became productive of a loud outcry
against the government. The merchants published a journal of the whole
transaction, and petitioned the house of commons that their liberty of
trading to the East Indies might be confirmed by parliament. Another
petition was presented by the company, praying that their charter
might receive a parliamentary sanction. Both parties employed all their
address in making private application to the members. The house having
examined the different charters, the book of their new subscriptions,
and every particular relating to the company, resolved that all the
subjects of England had an equal right to trade to the East Indies
unless prohibited by act of parliament.

{WILLIAM AND MARY, 1688--1701.}




GENERAL NATURALIZATION BILL.

But nothing engrossed the attention of the public more than a bill which
was brought into the house for a general naturalization of all foreign
protestants. The advocates for this measure alleged, That great part
of the lands of England lay uncultivated; that the strength of a nation
consisted in the number of inhabitants; that the people were thinned by
the war and foreign voyages, and required an extraordinary supply; that
a great number of protestants, persecuted in France and other countries,
would gladly remove to a land of freedom, and bring along with them
their wealth and manufactures; that the community had been largely
repaid for the protection granted to those refugees who had already
settled in the kingdom. They had introduced several new branches of
manufacture, promoted industry, and lowered the price of labour; a
circumstance of the utmost importance to trade, oppressed as it was with
taxes, and exposed to uncommon hazard from the enemy. The opponents
of the bill urged with great vehemence, That it would cheapen the
birthright of Englishmen; that the want of culture was owing to the
oppression of the times; that foreigners being admitted into the
privileges of the British trade, would grow wealthy at the expense of
their benefactors, and transfer the fortunes they had gained into their
native country; that the reduction in the price of labour would be a
national grievance, while so many thousands of English manufacturers
were starving for want of employment, and the price of provisions
continued so high that even those who were employed could scarce supply
their families with bread; that the real design of the bill was to make
such an accession to the dissenters as would render them an equal match
in the body politic for those of the church of England; to create a
greater dependence on the crown, and, in a word, to supply a foreign
head with foreign members. Sir John Knight, a member of the house, in
a speech upon this subject, exaggerated the bad consequences that would
attend such a bill, with all the wit and virulence of satire: it was
printed and dispersed through the kingdom, and raised such a flame among
the people as had not appeared since the revolution. They exclaimed,
that all offices would be conferred upon Dutchmen, who would become
lord-danes, and prescribe the modes of religion and government; and they
extolled sir John Knight as the saviour of the nation. The courtiers,
incensed at the progress of this clamour, complained in the house of
the speech which had been printed; and sir John was threatened with
expulsion and imprisonment. He therefore thought proper to disown
the paper, which was burned by the hands of the common hangman. This
sacrifice served only to increase the popular disturbance, which rose
to such a height of violence, that the court party began to tremble; and
the bill was dropped for the present.

Lord Coningsby and Mr. Porter had committed the most flagrant acts of
oppression in Ireland. These had been explained during the last session
by the gentlemen who appealed against the administration of lord Sidney,
but they were screened by the ministry; and therefore the earl of
Bellamont now impeached them in the house of commons, of which he
and they were members. After an examination of the articles exhibited
against them, the commons, who were by this time at the devotion of the
court, declared, that, considering the state of affairs in Ireland, they
did not think them fit grounds for an impeachment.--In the course of
this session, the nation sustained another misfortune in the fate of
sir Francis Wheeler, who had been appointed commander-in-chief of the
Mediterranean squadron. He received instructions to take under his
convoy the merchant ships bound to Turkey, Spain, and Italy; to cruise
thirty days in a certain latitude for the protection of the Spanish
plate-fleet homeward bound; to leave part of his squadron at Cadiz
as convoy to the trade for England; to proceed with the rest to the
Mediterranean; to join the Spanish fleet in his return; and to act in
concert with them, until he should be joined by the fleet from Turkey
and the Straits, and accompany them back to England. About the latter
end of October he set sail from Saint Helen's, and in January arrived
at Cadiz with the ships under his convoy. There leaving rear-admiral
Hopson, he proceeded for the Mediterranean. In the bay of Gibraltar he
was overtaken by a dreadful tempest, under a lee-shore, which he could
not possibly weather, and where the ground was so foul that no anchor
would hold. This expedient however was tried. A great number of ships
were driven ashore, and many perished. The admiral's ship foundered at
sea, and he and all his crew were buried in the deep, except two Moors
who were miraculously preserved. Two other ships of the line, three
ketches, and six merchant ships were lost. The remains of the fleet
were so much shattered, that, instead of prosecuting their voyage,
they returned to Cadiz in order to be refitted, and sheltered from the
attempts of the French squadrons, which were still at sea under the
command of Chateau-Renaud and Cabaret. On the twenty-fifth day of April,
the king-closed the session with a speech in the usual style, and the
parliament was prorogued to the eighteenth day of September. [053]
_[See note K, at the end of this Vol.]_




THE ENGLISH ATTEMPT TO MAKE A DESCENT IN CAMARET-BAY.

Louis of France being tired of the war, which had impoverished his
country, continued to tamper with the duke of Savoy, and, by the canal
of the pope, made some offers to the king of Spain, which were rejected.
Meanwhile he resolved to stand upon the defensive during the ensuing
campaign, 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 having received intelligence of the design upon Barcelona,
endeavoured to prevent the junction of the Brest and Toulon squadrons,
by sending Russel to sea as early as the fleet could be in a condition
to sail; but before he arrived at Portsmouth, the Brest squadron had
quitted that harbour. On the third day of May the admiral sailed
from St. Helen's with the combined squadrons of England and Holland,
amounting to ninety ships of the line, besides frigates, fire-ships,
and tenders. He detached captain Pritchard of the Monmouth with
two fire-ships, to destroy a fleet of French merchant ships near
Conquet-bay; and this service being performed, he returned to St.
Helen's, where he had left Adm. Cloudesley Shovel with a squadron, to
take on board a body of land forces intended for a descent upon the
coast of France. These being embarked under the command of general
Ptolemache, the whole fleet sailed again on the twenty-ninth of May.
The land and sea officers, in a council of war, agreed that part of the
fleet designed for this expedition should separate from the rest and
proceed to Camaret-bay, where the forces should be landed. On the fifth
day of June, lord Berkeley, who commanded this squadron, parted with the
grand fleet, and on the seventh anchored between the bays of Camaret and
Bertaume. Next day the marquis of Carmarthen, afterwards duke of
Leeds, who served under Berkeley as rear-admiral of the blue, entered
Camaret-bay with two large ships and six frigates, to cover the troops
in landing. The French had received intelligence of the design, and
taken such precautions, under the conduct of the celebrated engineer
Vauban, that the English were exposed to a terrible fire from new
erected batteries, as well as from a strong body of troops, and though
the ships cannonaded them with great vigour, the soldiers could not
maintain any regularity in landing. A good number were killed in the
open boats before they reached the shore; and those who landed were
soon repulsed, in spite of all the endeavours of general Ptolemache,
who received a wound in the thigh, which proved mortal. Seven hundred
soldiers are said to have been lost on this occasion, besides those who
were killed on board of the ships. The Monk ship of war was towed off
with great difficulty; but a Dutch frigate of thirty guns fell into the
hands of the enemy.

After this unfortunate attempt, lord Berkeley, with the advice of a
council of war, sailed back for England, and at St. Helen's received
orders from the queen to call a council, and deliberate in what manner
the ships and forces might be best employed. They agreed to make some
attempt upon the coast of Normandy. With this view they set sail on the
fifth day of July. They bombarded Dieppe, and reduced the greatest part
of the town to ashes. Thence they steered to Havre-de-Grace, which met
with the same fate. They harassed the French troops who marched after
them along shore. They alarmed the whole coast, and filled every town
with such consternation that they would have been abandoned by the
inhabitants had not they been detained by military force. On the
twenty-sixth of July, lord Berkeley returned to St. Helen's, where he
quitted the fleet, and the command devolved upon sir Cloudesley Shovel.
This officer having received instructions to make an attempt upon
Dunkirk, sailed round to the Downs, where he was joined by M. Meesters,
with six-and-twenty Dutch pilots. On the twelfth of September he
appeared before Dunkirk; and next day sent in the Charles galley, with
two bomb-ketches, and as many of the machines called infernals. These
were set on fire without effect, and the design miscarried; then Shovel
steered to Calais, which having bombarded with little success, he
returned to the coast of England; and the bomb-ketches and machines were
sent into the river Thames.




ADMIRAL RUSSEL RELIEVES BARCELONA.

During these transactions, admiral Russel with the grand fleet sailed
for the Mediterranean; and being joined by rear-admiral Neville from
Cadiz, together with Callemberg and Evertzen, he steered towards
Barcelona, which was besieged by the French fleet and army. At his
approach, Tourville retired with precipitation into the harbour of
Toulon; and Noailles abandoned his enterprise. The Spanish affairs were
in such a deplorable condition, that without this timely assistance the
kingdom must have been undone. While he continued in the Mediterranean,
the French admiral durst not venture to appear at sea, and all his
projects were disconcerted. After having asserted the honour of the
British flag in those seas during the whole summer, he sailed in the
beginning of November to Cadiz, where, by an express order of the
king, he passed the winter, during which he took such precautions for
preventing Tourville from passing the Straits, that he did not think
proper to risk the passage.




CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS.

It will now be necessary to describe the operations on the continent.
In the middle of May king William arrived in Holland, where he consulted
with the states-general. On the third day of June he repaired to
Beth-lem-abbey near Louvain, the place appointed for the rendezvous of
the army; and there he was met by the electors of Bavaria and Cologn.
In a few days a numerous army was assembled, and every thing seemed to
promise an active campaign. On the third day of June the dauphin assumed
the command of the French forces, with which Luxembourg had taken post
between Mons and Maubeuge; and passing the Sambre, encamped at Fleuras,
but on the eighteenth he removed from thence, and took up his quarters
between St. Tron and Wanheim; while the confederates lay at Roosbeck.
On the eleventh of July, the dauphin marched in four columns to Oerle
upon the Jaar, where he pitched his camp. On the twenty-second the
confederates marched to Romale; then the dauphin took the route to
Vignamont, where he secured his army by entrenchments, as his forces
were inferior in number to those of the allies; and as he had been
directed by his father to avoid an engagement. In this situation both
armies remained till the fifteenth day of August, when king William sent
the heavy baggage to Louvain; and on the eighteenth made a motion to
Sombref. This was no sooner known to the enemy than they decamped; and
having marched all night, posted themselves between Temploux and Masy,
within a league and a half of the confederates. The king of England
resolved to pass the Scheld, and with this view marched by the way of
Nivelle and Soignes to Chievres; from thence he detached the duke of
Wirtemberg, with a strong body of horse and foot, to pass the river at
Oudenarde, while the elector of Bavaria advanced with another detachment
to pass it at Pont de Espieres. Notwithstanding all the expedition
they could make, their purpose was anticipated by Luxembourg, who being
apprised of their route had detached four thousand horse, with each
a foot soldier behind the trooper, to reinforce M. de Valette who
commanded that part of the French line. These were sustained by a choice
body of men, who travelled with great expedition without observing the
formalities of a march. Mareschal de Villeroy followed the same route
with all the cavalry of the right wing, the household troops, and twenty
field-pieces; and the rest of the army was brought up by the dauphin in
person. They marched with such incredible diligence, that the elector
of Bavaria could scarce believe his own eyes when he arrived in sight of
the Scheld and saw them intrenching themselves on the other side of the
river. King William having reconnoitred their disposition, thought it
impracticable to pass at that place; and therefore marched down the
river to Oudenarde, where a passage had been already effected by the
duke of Wirtemberg. Here the confederates passed the Scheld on the
twenty-seventh day of the month; and the king fixed his head-quarters at
Wanneghem. His intention was to have taken possession of Courtray, and
established winter-quarters for a considerable part of his army in that
district; but Luxembourg having posted himself between that place and
Menin, extended his lines in such a manner that the confederates could
not attempt to force them, nor even hinder him from subsisting his army
at the enginse (expense ?) of the castellany of Courtray, during the
remainder of the campaign. This surprising march was of such importance
to the French king, that he wrote with his own hand a letter of thanks
to his army; and ordered that it should be read to every particular
squadron and battalion.




THE ALLIES REDUCE HUY.

The king of England, though disappointed in his scheme upon Courtray,
found means to make some advantage of his superiority in number. He
drafted troops from the garrison of Liege and Maestricht; 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 Holstein-Ploen,
with orders to undertake the siege of Huy. Next day the whole
confederate forces passed the Lys, and encamped at Wouterghem. From
thence the king with a part of the army marched to Roselsaer; this
diversion obliged the dauphin to make considerable detachments for the
security cf Ypres and Menin on the one side, and to cover Furnes and
Dunkirk on the other. At this juncture, a Frenchman, being seized in the
very act of setting fire to one of the ammunition waggons in the allied
army, confessed he had been employed for this purpose by some of the
French generals, and suffered death as a traitor. On the sixteenth day
of the month the duke of Holstein-Ploen invested Huy, and earned on the
siege with such vigour that in ten days the garrison capitulated. The
king ordered Dixmuyde, Deynse, Ninove, and Tirelemont, to be secured for
winter quarters to part of the army; the dauphin returned to Versailles;
William quitted the camp on the last day of September; and both armies
broke up about the middle of October.

The operations on the Rhine were preconcerted between king William and
the prince of Baden, who had visited London in the winter. The dispute
between the emperor and the elector of Saxony was compromised; and this
young prince dying during the negotiation, the treaty was perfected by
his brother and successor, who engaged to furnish twelve thousand men
yearly, in consideration of a subsidy from the court of Vienna. In the
beginning of June, mareschal de Lorges passed the Rhine at Philipsburgh,
in order to give battle to the imperialists encamped at Halibron. The
prince of Baden, who was not yet joined by the Saxons, Hessians, nor by
the troops of Munster and Paderborn, dispatched couriers to quicken the
march of these auxiliaries, and advanced to Eppingen, where he proposed
to wait till they should 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 concluded that this
was a desperate effort, and immediately halted to make the necessary
preparations for an engagement. This pause enabled prince Louis to take
possession of a strong pass near Sintzheim, from which he could not
easily be dislodged. Then the mareschal proceeded to Viseloch, and
ravaged the adjacent country, in hopes of drawing the imperialists from
their intrenchments. The prince being joined by the Hessians, resolved
to beat up the quarters of the enemy; and the French general being
apprised of his design, retreated at midnight with the utmost
precipitation. Having posted himself at Ruth, he sent his heavy baggage
to Philipsburgh; then he moved to Gonsbergh in the neighbourhood of
Manheim, repassed the Rhine, and encamped between Spires and Worms. The
prince of Baden being joined by the allies, passed the river by a
bridge of boats near Hagenbach, in the middle of September; and laid the
country of Alsace under contribution. Considering the advanced season of
the year this was a rash undertaking; and the French general resolved
to profit by his enemy's temerity. He forthwith advanced against the
imperialists, foreseeing that should they be worsted in battle, their
whole army would be ruined. Prince Louis, informed of his intention,
immediately passed the Rhine; and this retreat was no sooner effected
than the river swelled to such a degree that the island in the middle,
and a great part of the camp he had occupied, was overflowed. Soon after
this incident both armies retired into winter-quarters. The campaign
in Hungary produced no event of importance. It was opened by the new
vizier, who arrived at Belgrade in the middle of August: and about the
same time Caprara assembled the imperial army in the neighbourhood of
Peterwaraden. The Turks passed the Saave in order to attack their camp,
and carried on their approaches with five hundred pieces of cannon; but
made very little progress. The imperialists received reinforcements; the
season wasted away; a feud arose between the vizier and the chain of the
Tartars; and the Danube being swelled by heavy rains, so as to interrupt
the operations of the Turks, their general decamped in the night of
the first of October. They afterwards made an unsuccessful attempt upon
Titul, while the imperial general made himself master of Giula. In
the course of this summer the Venetians, who were also at war with the
Turks, reduced Cyclut, a place of importance on the river Naranta, and
made a conquest of the island of Scio in the Archipelago.




PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH.

We have already observed that the French king had determined to act
vigorously in Catalonia. In the beginning of May, the duke de Noailles
advanced at the head of eight and twenty thousand men to the river Ter,
on the opposite bank of which the viceroy of Catalonia was encamped with
sixteen thousand Spaniards. The French general passed the river in
the face of this army, and attacked their intrenchments with such
impetuosity, that in less than an hour they were totally defeated. Then
he marched to Palamos, and undertook the siege of that place, while at
the same time it was blocked up by the combined squadrons of Brest and
Toulon. Though the besieged made an obstinate defence, the town was
taken by storm, the houses were pillaged, and the people put to the
sword, without distinction of age, sex, or condition. Then he invested
Gironne, which in a few days capitulated. Ostalric met with the same
fate, and Noailles was created viceroy of Catalonia by the French king.
In the beginning of August he distributed his forces into quarters of
refreshment along the river Ter-dore, resolving to undertake the siege
of Barcelona, which was saved by the arrival of admiral Russel. The war
languished in Piedmont, on account of a secret negotiation between the
king of France and the duke of Savoy; notwithstanding the remonstrances
of Rouvigny earl of Galway, who had succeeded the duke of Schomberg in
the command of the British forces in that country. Casal was closely
blocked up by the reduction of Fort St. George, and the Vaudois gained
the advantage in some skirmishes in the valley of Ragclas; but no design
of importance was executed.*

     * In the course of this year, M. du Casse, governor of St.
     Domingo, made an unsuccessful attempt upon the Island of
     Jamaica; and M. St. Clair, with four men of war, formed a
     design against St. John's, Newfoundland; but he was repulsed
     with loss by the valour of the inhabitants.

England had continued very quiet under the queen's administration, if we
except some little commotions occasioned by the practices, or pretended
practices, of the Jacobites. Prosecutions were revived against certain
gentlemen of Lancashire and Cheshire, for having been concerned in the
conspiracy formed in favour of the late king's projected invasion
from Normandy. These steps were owing to the suggestions of infamous
informers, whom the ministry countenanced. Colonel Parker and one Crosby
were imprisoned, and bills of treason found against them; but Parker
made his escape from the Tower, and was never retaken, though a reward
of four hundred pounds was set upon his head. The king having settled
the affairs of 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 session of parliament with a speech, in which he observed
that the posture of affairs was improved both by sea and land since they
last parted; in particular, that a stop was put to the progress of
the French arms. He desired they would continue the act of tonnage and
poundage, which would expire at Christmas; he reminded them of the
debt for the transport ships employed in the reduction of Ireland; and
exhorted them to prepare some good bill for the encouragement of seamen.
A majority in both houses was already secured; and in all probability he
bargained for their condescension by agreeing to the bill for triennial
parliaments. This Mr. Harley brought in by order of the lower house
immediately after their first adjournment; and it kept pace with the
consideration of the supplies. The commons having examined the estimates
and accounts, voted four millions, seven hundred sixty-four thousand,
seven hundred and twelve pounds, for the service of the army and navy.
In order to raise this sum they continued the land tax; they renewed the
subsidy of tonnage and poundage for five years, and imposed new duties
on different commodities.* The triennial bill enacted, that a parliament
should be held once within three years at least; that within three years
at farthest after the dissolution of the parliament then subsisting, and
so from time to time for ever after, legal writs under the great seal
should be issued by the direction of the crown for calling, assembling,
and holding another new parliament; that no parliament should continue
longer than three years at farthest, to be accounted from the first day
of the first session; and that the parliament then subsisting should
cease and determine on the first day of November next following, unless
their majesties should think fit to dissolve it sooner. The duke of
Devonshire, the marquis of Halifax, the earls of Weymouth and Aylesbury,
protested against this bill, because it tended to the continuance of the
present parliament longer than, as they apprehended, was agreeable to
the constitution of England.

     * They imposed certain rates and duties upon marriages,
     births, and burials, bachelors, and widows. They passed an
     act for laying additional duties upon coffee, tea, and
     chocolate, towards paying the debt due for the transport
     ships: and another, imposing duties on glass ware, stone,
     and earthen bottles, coal, and culm.




DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON AND OF QUEEN MARY

While this bill was depending, Dr. John Tillotson, archbishop of
Canterbury, was seized with a fit of the dead palsy in the chapel
of Whitehall, and died on the twenty-second day of November, deeply
regretted by the king and queen, who shed tears of sorrow at his
decease; and sincerely lamented by the public, as a pattern of elegance,
ingenuity, meekness, charity, and moderation. These qualities he must
be allowed to have possessed, notwithstanding the invectives of his
enemies, who accused him of puritanism, flattery, and ambition; and
charged him with having conduced to a dangerous schism in the church, by
accepting the archbishopric during the life of the deprived Sancroft.
He was succeeded in the metropolitan See by Dr. Tennison, bishop of
Lincoln, recommended by the whig-party which now predominated in the
cabinet. The queen did not long survive her favourite prelate. In about
a month after his decease she was taken ill of the smallpox, and the
symptoms proving dangerous, she prepared herself for death with great
composure. She spent some time in exercises of devotion and private
conversation with the new archbishop; she received the sacrament with
all the bishops who were in attendance; and expired on the twenty-eighth
day of December, in the thirty-third year of her age, and in the sixth
of her reign, to the inexpressible grief of the king, who for some weeks
after her death could neither see company nor attend to the business of
state. Mary was in her person tall and well-proportioned, with an oval
visage, lively eyes, agreeable features, a mild aspect, and an air
of dignity. Her apprehension was clear, her memory tenacious, and her
judgment solid. She was a zealous protestant, scrupulously exact in
all the duties of devotion, of an even temper, and of a calm and mild
conversation. She was ruffled by no passion, and seems to have been a
stranger to the emotions of natural affection; for she ascended without
compunction the throne from which her father had been deposed, and
treated her sister as an alien to her blood. In a word, Mary seems to
have imbibed the cold disposition and apathy of her husband; and to
have centered all her ambition in deserving the epithet of an humble and
obedient wife. [056] _[See note L, at the end of this Vol.]_




RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE KING AND THE PRINCESS OF DENMARK.

The princess Anne being informed of the queen's dangerous indisposition,
sent a lady of her bed-chamber to desire she might be admitted to her
majesty; but this request was not granted. She was thanked for her
expression of concern; and given to understand, that the physicians had
directed that the queen should be kept as quiet as possible. Before her
death, however, she sent a forgiving message to her sister; and after
her decease, the earl of Sunderland effected a reconciliation between
the king and the princess, who visited him at Kensington, where she was
received with uncommon civility. He appointed the palace of St. James
for her residence, and presented her with the greater part of the
queen's jewels. But a mutual jealousy and disgust subsisted under these
exteriors of friendship and esteem. The two houses of parliament waited
on the king at Kensington, with consolatory addresses on the death of
his consort; their example was followed by the regency of Scotland, the
city and clergy of London, the dissenting ministers, and almost all the
great corporations in England.*

     * The earls of Rochester and Nottingham are said to have
     started a doubt, whether the parliament was not dissolved by
     the queen's death; but this dangerous motion met with no
     countenance.

[Illustration: 2-056-william3.jpg WILLIAM III.]




CHAPTER V. WILLIAM.

     _Account of the Lancashire Plot..... The Commons inquire
     into the Abuses which had crept into the Army..... They
     expel and prosecute some of their own Members for Corruption
     in the Affair of the East India Company..... Examination of
     Cooke, Acton, and others..... The Commons impeach the Duke
     of Leeds..... The Parliament is prorogued..... Session of
     the Scottish Parliament..... They inquire into the Massacre
     of Glencoe..... They pass an Act for erecting a Trading
     Company to Africa and the Indies..... Proceedings in the
     Parliament of Ireland..... Disposition of the Armies in
     Flanders..... King William undertakes the Siege of
     Namur..... Famous Retreat of Prince Vaudemont..... Brussels
     is bombarded by Villeroy..... Progress of the Siege of
     Namur..... Villeroy attempts to relieve it..... The
     Besiegers make a desperate Assault..... The Place
     capitulates..... Boufflers is arrested by order of King
     William..... Campaign on the Rhine and in Hungary..... The
     Duke of Savoy takes Casal..... Transactions in
     Catalonia..... The English Fleet bombard's St. Maloes and
     other places on the Coast of France..... Wilmot's expedition
     to the West Indies..... A new Parliament..... They pass the
     Bill for regulating Trials in Cases of High Treason.....
     Resolutions with respect to the new Coinage..... The Commons
     address the King to recall a Grant he had made to the Earl
     of Portland..... Another against the new Scottish
     Company..... Intrigues of the Jacobites..... Conspiracy
     against the life of William..... Design of an Invasion
     defeated..... The two Houses engage in an Association for
     the Defence of his Majesty..... Establishment of a Land
     Bank..... Trial of the Conspirators..... The Allies burn the
     Magazine at Civet..... Louis the Fourteenth makes Advances
     towards a Peace with Holland..... He detaches the Duke of
     Savoy from the Confederacy..... Naval Transactions.....
     Proceedings in the Parliaments of Scotland and Ireland.....
     Zeal of the English Commons in their Affection to the
     King..... Resolutions touching the Coin and the support of
     Public Credit..... Enormous Impositions..... Sir John Fen-
     wick is apprehended..... A Bill of Attainder being brought
     into the House against him produces violent Debates..... His
     Defence..... The Bill passes..... Sir John Fenwick is
     beheaded..... The Earl of Monmouth sent to the Tower.....
     Inquiry into Miscarriages by Sea..... Negotiations at
     Ryswick..... The French take Barcelona..... Fruitless
     Expedition of Admiral Neville to the West Indies..... The
     Elector of Saxony is chosen King of Poland..... Peter the
     Czar of Muscovy travels in Disguise with his own Ambassadors
     ..... Proceedings in the Congress at Ryswick..... The
     Ambassadors of England, Spain, and Holland, sign the
     Treaty..... A general Pacification._

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}




ACCOUNT OF THE LANCASHIRE PLOT.

THE kingdom now resounded with the complaints of the papists and
malcontents, who taxed the ministry with subornation of perjury in
the case of the Lancashire gentlemen who had been persecuted for the
conspiracy. One Lunt, an Irishman, had informed sir John Trench-ard,
secretary of state, that he had been sent from Ireland with commissions
from king James to divers gentlemen in Lancashire and Cheshire; that he
had assisted in buying arms and enlisting men to serve that king in
his projected invasion of England; that he had been twice despatched by
those gentlemen to the court of St. Germain's, assisted many Jacobites
in repairing to France, helped to conceal others that came from that
kingdom; and that all those persons told him they were furnished with
money by sir John Friend, to defray the expense of their expeditions.
His testimony was confirmed by other infamous emissaries, who received
but too much countenance from the government. Blank warrants were
issued, and filled up occasionally with such names as the informers
suggested. These were delivered to Aaron Smith, solicitor to the
treasury, who with messengers accompanied Lunt and his associates
to Lancashire, under the protection of a party of Dutch horse-guards
commanded by one captain Baker. They were empowered to break open
houses, seize papers, and apprehend persons, according to their
pleasure; and they committed many acts of violence and oppression. The
persons against whom these measures were taken, being apprized of the
impending danger, generally retired from their own habitations. Some,
however, were taken and imprisoned; a few arms were secured; and in
the house of Mr. Standish, at Standish-hall, they found the draft of
a declaration to be published by king James at his landing. As
this prosecution seemed calculated to revive the honour of a stale
conspiracy, and the evidences were persons of abandoned characters,
the friends of those who were persecuted found no great difficulty in
rendering the scheme odious to the nation. They even employed the pen
of Ferguson, who had been concerned in every plot that was hatched since
the Rye-house conspiracy. This veteran, though appointed housekeeper to
the excise-office, thought himself poorly recompensed for the part he
had acted in the revolution, became dissatisfied, and upon this occasion
published a letter to sir John Trenchard on the abuse of power. It
was replete with the most bitter invectives against the ministry, and
contained a great number of flagrant instances in which the court
had countenanced the vilest corruption, perfidy, and oppression. This
production was in every body's hand, and had such an effect upon the
people, that when the prisoners were brought to trial at Manchester,
the populace would have put the witnesses to death had they not been
prevented by the interposition of those who were friends of the accused
persons, and had already taken effectual measures for their safety.
Lunt's chief associate in the mystery of information was one Taaffe,
a wretch of the most profligate principles, who, finding himself
disappointed in his hope of reward from the ministry, was privately
gained over by the agents for the prisoners. Lunt, when desired in court
to point out the persons whom he had accused, committed such a mistake
as greatly invalidated his testimony; and Taaffe declared before the
bench, that the pretended plot was no other than a contrivance between
himself and Lunt in order to procure money from the government. The
prisoners were immediately acquitted, and the ministry incurred a
heavy load of popular odium, as the authors or abettors of knavish
contrivances to insnare the innocent. The government, with a view to
evince their abhorrence of such practices, ordered the witnesses to
be prosecuted for a conspiracy against the lives and estates of the
gentlemen who had been accused; and at last the affair was brought into
the house of commons. The Jacobites triumphed in their victory. They
even turned the battery of corruption upon the evidence for the crown,
not without making a considerable impression. But the cause was now
debated before judges who were not at all propitious to their views. The
commons having set on foot an inquiry, and examined all the papers and
circumstances relating to the pretended plot, resolved that there was
sufficient ground for the prosecution and trials of the gentlemen at
Manchester; and that there was a dangerous conspiracy against the king
and government. They issued an order for taking Mr. Standish into
custody; and the messenger reporting that he was not to be found, they
presented an address to the king, desiring a proclamation might be
published offering a reward for apprehending his person. The peers
concurred with the commons in their sentiments of this affair; for
complaints having been laid before their house also by the persons
who thought themselves aggrieved, the question was put whether the
government had cause to prosecute them, and carried in the affirmative,
though a protest was entered against this vote by the earls of Rochester
and Nottingham. Notwithstanding these decisions, the accused gentlemen
prosecuted Lunt and two of his accomplices for perjury at the Lancaster
assizes, and all three were found guilty. They were immediately indicted
by the crown for a conspiracy against the lives and liberties of the
persons they had accused. The intention of the ministry in laying
this indictment was to seize the opportunity of punishing some of
the witnesses for the gentlemen who had prevaricated in giving their
testimony; but their design being discovered, the Lancashire men refused
to produce their evidence against the informers; the prosecution dropped
of consequence, and the prisoners were discharged.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}




INQUIRY INTO THE ABUSES IN THE ARMY.

When the commons were employed in examining the state of the revenue,
and taking measures for raising the necessary supplies, the inhabitants
of Royston presented a petition, complaining that the officers and
soldiers of the regiment belonging to colonel Hastings, which was
quartered upon them, exacted subsistence-money, even on pain of military
execution. The house was immediately kindled into a flame by this
information. The officers and Pauncefort, agent for the regiment, were
examined: then it was unanimously resolved that such a practice was
arbitrary, illegal, and a violation of the rights and liberties of the
subject. Upon further inquiry, Pauncefort and some other agents were
committed to the custody of the sergeant, for having neglected to pay
the subsistence money they had received for the officers and soldiers.
He was afterwards sent to the Tower, together with Henry Guy, a member
of the house and secretary to the treasury, the one for giving and the
other for receiving a bribe to obtain the king's bounty. Pauncefort's
brother was likewise committed for being concerned in the same commerce.
Guy had been employed, together with Trevor the speaker, as the
court-agent for securing a majority in the house of commons; for that
reason he was obnoxious to the members in the opposition, who took this
opportunity to brand him, and the courtiers could not with any decency
screen him from their vengeance. The house having proceeded in this
inquiry, drew up an address to the king, enumerating the abuses which
had crept into the army, and demanding immediate redress. He promised
to consider the remonstrance and redress the grievances of which they
complained. Accordingly, he cashiered colonel Hastings; appointed a
council of officers to sit weekly and examine all complaints against any
officer and soldier; and published a declaration for the maintenance
of strict discipline, and the due payment of quarters. Notwithstanding
these concessions, the commons prosecuted their examinations: they
committed Mr. James Craggs, one of the contractors for clothing the
army, because he refused to answer upon oath to such questions as might
be put to him by the commissioners of accounts. They brought in a bill
for obliging him and Mr. Richard Harnage, the other contractor, together
with the two Paunceforts, to discover how they had disposed of the sums
paid into their hands on account of the army, and for punishing them in
case they should persist in their refusal. At this period they received
a petition against the commissioners for licensing hackney-coaches.
Three of them, by means of an address to the king, were removed with
disgrace for having acted arbitrarily, corruptly, and contrary to the
trust reposed in them by act of parliament.

Those who encouraged this spirit of reformation, introduced another
inquiry about the orphans' bill, which was said to have passed into an
act by virtue of undue influence. A committee being appointed to inspect
the chamberlain's books, discovered that bribes had been given to sir
John Trevor, speaker of the house, and Mr. Hungerford, chairman of
the grand committee. The first being voted guilty of a high crime and
misdemeanor, abdicated the chair, and Paul Foley was appointed speaker
in his room. Then sir John and Hungerford were expelled the house: one
Nois, a solicitor for the bill, was taken into custody because he had
scandalized the commons, in pretending he was engaged to give great sums
to several members, and denying this circumstance on his examination.
The reformers in the house naturally concluded that the same arts had
been practised in obtaining the new charter of the East India company,
which had been granted so much against the sense of the nation. Their
books were subjected to the same committee that carried on the former
inquiry, and a surprising scene of venality and corruption was soon
disclosed. It appeared that the company, in the course of the preceding
year, had paid near ninety thousand rounds in secret services, and that
sir Thomas Cooke, one of the directors, and a member of the house, had
been the chief managers of this infamous commerce. Cooke, refusing to
answer, was committed to the Tower, and a bill of pains and penalties
brought in obliging him to discover how the sum mentioned in the report
of the committee had been distributed. The bill was violently opposed
in the upper house by the duke of Leeds, as being contrary to law
and equity, and furnishing a precedent of a dangerous nature. Cooke,
agreeably to his own petition, being brought to the bar of the house of
lords, declared that he was ready and willing to make a full discovery,
in case he might be favoured with an indemnifying vote to secure him
against all actions and suits, except those of the East India company
which he had never injured. The lords complied with his request and
passed a bill for this purpose, to which the commons added a penal
clause, and the former was laid aside.




EXAMINATION OF COOKE, ACTON, AND OTHERS.

When the king went to the house to give the royal assent to the
money-bills, he endeavoured to discourage this inquiry by telling
the parliament that the season of the year was far advanced, and the
circumstances of affairs extremely pressing, he therefore desired they
would despatch such business as they should think of most importance
to the public, as he should put an end to the session in a few days.
Notwithstanding this shameful interposition, both houses appointed
a joint committee to lay open the complicated scheme of fraud and
iniquity. Cooke, on his first examination, confessed that he
had delivered tallies for ten thousand pounds to Francis Tyssen,
deputy-governor, for the special service of the company; an equal sum
to Richard Acton, for employing his interest in preventing a new
settlement, and endeavouring to establish the old company; besides two
thousand pounds by way of interest and as a further gratuity; a thousand
guineas to colonel Fitzpatrick, five hundred to Charles Bates, and three
hundred and ten to Mr. Molinenx, a merchant, for the same purpose; and
he owned that sir Basil Firebrace had received forty thousand pounds on
various pretences. He said he believed the ten thousand pounds paid
to Tyssen had been delivered to the king by sir Josiah Child, as a
customary present which former kings had received, and that the sums
paid to Acton were distributed among some members of parliament.
Firebrace being examined, affirmed that he had received the whole forty
thousand pounds for his own use and benefit; but that Bates had received
sums of money, which he understood were offered to some persons of the
first quality. Acton declared that ten thousand pounds of the sum which
he had received was distributed among persons who had interest with
members of parliament, and that great part of the money passed through
the hands of Craggs, who was acquainted with some colonels in the
house and northern members. Bates owned he had received the money in
consideration of using his interest with the duke of Leeds in favour of
the company; that this nobleman knew of the gratuity; and that the sum
was reckoned by his grace's domestic, one Robart, a foreigner, who kept
it in his possession until this inquiry was talked of, and then it was
returned. In a word, it appeared by this man's testimony, as well as by
that of Firebrace on his second examination, that the duke of Leeds
was not free from corruption, and that sir John Trevor was a hireling
prostitute.




THE DUKE OF LEEDS IMPEACHED.

The report of the committee produced violent altercations, and the most
severe strictures upon the conduct of the lord president. At length the
house resolved that there was sufficient matter to impeach Thomas,
duke of Leeds, of high crimes and misdemeanors, and that he should be
impeached thereupon. Then it was ordered that Mr. comptroller Wharton
should impeach him before the lords in the name of the house and of all
the commons in England. The duke was actually in the middle of a speech
for his own justification, in which he assured the house, upon his
honour, that he was not guilty of the corruptions laid to his charge,
when one of his friends gave him intimation of the votes which had
passed in the commons. He concluded his speech abruptly, and repairing
to the lower house, desired he might be indulged with a hearing. He was
accordingly admitted, with the compliment of a chair, and leave to
be covered. After having sat a few minutes, he took off his hat and
addressed himself to the commons in very extraordinary terms. Having
thanked them for the favour of indulging him with a hearing, he said
that house would not have been then sitting but for him. He protested
his own innocence with respect to the crime laid to his charge. He
complained that this was the effect of a design which had been long
formed against him. He expressed a deep sense of his being under the
displeasure of the parliament and nation, and demanded speedy justice.
They forthwith drew up the articles of impeachment, which being
exhibited at the bar of the upper house, he pleaded not guilty, and the
commons promised to make good their charge; but by this time such arts
had been used as all at once checked the violence of the prosecution.
Such a number of considerable persons were involved in this mystery of
corruption, that a full discovery was dreaded by both parties. The duke
sent his domestic Robart out of the kingdom, and his absence furnished
a pretence for postponing the trial. In a word, the inquiry was dropped;
but the scandal stuck fast to the duke's character.

In the midst of these deliberations, the king went to the house on the
third day of May, when he thanked the parliament for the supplies they
had granted; signified his intention of going abroad; assured them he
would place the administration of affairs in persons of known care and
fidelity; and desired that the members of both houses would be more than
ordinarily vigilant in preserving the public peace. The parliament was
then prorogued to the eighteenth of June. [057] _[See note M, at the end
of this Vol.]_ The king immediately appointed a regency to govern the
kingdom in his absence; but neither the princess of Denmark nor
her husband were intrusted with any share in the administration--a
circumstance that evinced the king's jealousy, and gave offence to a
great part of the nation. [058] _[See note N, at the end of this Vol.]_




THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT.

A session of parliament was deemed necessary in Scotland, to provide new
subsidies for the maintenance of the troops of that kingdom, which had
been so serviceable in the prosecution of the war. But as a great outcry
had been raised against the government on account of the massacre of
Glencoe, and the Scots were tired of contributing towards the expense
of a war from which they could derive no advantage, the ministry thought
proper to cajole them with the promise of some national indulgence.
In the meantime, a commission passed the great seal for taking a
precognition of the massacre, as a previous step to the trial of the
persons concerned in that perfidious transaction. On the ninth day
of May, the session was opened by the marquis of Tweedale, appointed
commissioner, who, after the king's letter had been read, expatiated
on his majesty's care and concern for their safety and welfare; and his
firm purpose to maintain the presbyterian discipline in the church of
Scotland. Then he promised, in the king's name, that if they would pass
an act for establishing a colony in Africa, America, or any other part
of the world where a colony might be lawfully planted, his majesty would
indulge them with such rights and privileges as he had granted in like
cases to the subjects of his other dominions. Finally, he exhorted
them to consider ways and means to raise the necessary supplies for
maintaining their land forces, and for providing a competent number of
ships of war to protect their commerce. The parliament immediately voted
an address of condolence to his majesty on the death of the queen; and
they granted one hundred and twenty thousand pounds sterling for the
service of the ensuing year, to be raised by a general poll-tax, a
land-tax, and an additional excise.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}




THEY INQUIRE INTO THE MASSACRE OF GLENCOE.

Their next step was to desire the commissioner would transmit their
humble thanks to the king for his care to vindicate the honour of the
government and the justice of the nation, in ordering a precognition
to be taken with respect to the slaughter of Glencoe. A motion was
afterwards made that the commissioners should exhibit an account of
their proceedings in this affair; accordingly a report, consisting
of the king's instructions, Dalrymple's letters, the depositions
of witnesses, and the opinion of the committee, was laid before the
parliament. The motion is said to have been privately influenced by
secretary Johnston, for the disgrace of Dalrymple, who was his rival in
power and interest. The written opinion of the commissioners, who were
creatures of the court, imported, That Macdonald of Glencoe had been
perfidiously murdered; that the king's instructions contained nothing
to warrant the massacre; and that secretary Dalrymple had exceeded his
orders. The parliament concurred with this report. They resolved, That
Livingston was not to blame for having given the orders contained in
his letters to lieutenant-colonel Hamilton; that this last was liable
to prosecution; that the king should be addressed to give orders, either
for examining major Duncanson in Flanders, touching his concern in this
affair, or for sending him home to be tried in Scotland; as also, that
Campbell of Glenlyon; captain Drummond, lieutenant Lindsey, ensign
Lundy, and sergeant Barber, should be sent to Scotland, and prosecuted
according to law, for the parts they had acted in that execution. In
consequence of these resolutions, the parliament drew up an address to
the king, in which they laid the whole blame of the massacre upon the
excess in the master of Stair's letters concerning that transaction.
They begged that his majesty would give such orders about him, as he
should think fit for the vindication of his government; that the actors
in that barbarous slaughter might be prosecuted by the king's advocate
according to law; and that some reparation might be made to the men of
Glencoe who escaped the massacre, for the losses they had sustained
in their effects upon that occasion, as their habitations had been
plundered and burned, their lands wasted, and their cattle driven away;
so that they were reduced to extreme poverty. Notwithstanding this
address of the Scottish parliament, by which the king was so solemnly
exculpated, his memory is still loaded with the suspicion of having
concerted, countenanced, and enforced this barbarous execution,
especially as the master of Stair escaped with impunity, and the other
actors of the tragedy, far from being punished, were preferred in the
service. While the commissioners were employed in the inquiry, they made
such discoveries concerning the conduct of the earl of Breadalbane, as
amounted to a charge of high treason; and he was committed prisoner
to the castle of Edinburgh; but it seems he had dissembled with the
highlanders by the king's permission, and now sheltered himself under
the shadow of a royal pardon.




THEY PASS AN ACT FOR ERECTING A TRADING COMPANY.

The committee of trade, in pursuance of the powers granted by the king
to his commissioner, prepared an act for establishing a company trading
to Africa and the Indies, empowering them to plant colonies, hold
cities, towns, or forts, in places uninhabited, or in others with the
consent of the natives; vesting them with an exclusive right, and an
exemption for one-and-twenty years from all duties and impositions.
This act was likewise confirmed by letters patent under the great seal,
directed by the parliament, without any further warrant from the crown.
Paterson, the projector, had contrived the scheme of a settlement upon
the isthmus of Darien, in such a manner as to carry on a trade in the
South Sea as well as in the Atlantic; nay, even to extend it as far
as the East Indies: a great number of London merchants, allured by the
prospect of gain, were eager to engage in such a company, exempted
from all manner of imposition and restriction. The Scottish parliament
likewise passed an act in favour of the episcopal clergy, decreeing,
That those who should enter into such engagements to the king as were
by law required, might continue in their benefices under his majesty's
protection, without being subject to the power of presbytery. Seventy
of the most noted ministers of that persuasion took the benefit of
this indulgence. Another law was enacted, for raising nine thousand men
yearly to recruit the Scottish regiments abroad; and an act for erecting
a public bank; then the parliament was adjourned to the seventh day of
November.




PROCEEDINGS IN THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

Ireland began to be infected with the same factions which had broke out
in England since the revolution: lord Capel, lord-deputy, governed in a
very partial manner, oppressing the Irish papists without any regard to
equity or decorum. He undertook to model a parliament in such a manner
that they should comply with all the demands of the ministry; and he
succeeded in his endeavours by making such arbitrary changes in offices
as best suited his purpose. These precautions being taken, he convoked
a parliament for the twenty-seventh day of August, when he opened
the session with a speech, expatiating upon their obligations to
king-William, and exhorting them to make suitable returns to such a
gracious sovereign. He observed, that the revenue had fallen short
of the establishment; so that both the civil and military lists were
greatly in debt; that his majesty had sent over a bill for an additional
excise, and expected they would find ways and means to answer the
demands of the service. They forthwith voted an address of thanks, and
resolved to assist his majesty to the utmost of their power, against
all his enemies, foreign and domestic. They passed the bill for an
additional excise, together with an act for taking away the writ "_De
heretico comburendo_;" another annulling all attainders and acts passed
in the late pretended parliament of king James; a third to prevent
foreign education; a fourth for disarming papists; and a fifth for
settling the estates of intestates. Then they resolved, That a sum
not exceeding one hundred and sixty-three thousand three hundred and
twenty-five pounds, should be granted to his majesty; to be raised by
a poll-bill, additional customs, and a continuation of the additional
excise. Sir Charles Porter, the chancellor, finding his importance
diminished, if not entirely destroyed, by the assuming disposition and
power of the lord-deputy, began to court popularity by espousing the
cause of the Irish against the severity of the administration, and
actually formed a kind of tory interest which thwarted lord Capel in all
his measures. A motion was made in parliament to impeach the chancellor
for sowing discord and division among his majesty's subjects; but being
indulged with a hearing by the house of commons, he justified himself so
much to their satisfaction, that he was voted clear of all imputation
by a great majority. Nevertheless, they, at the end of the session,
sent over an address, in which they bore testimony to the mild and just
administration of their lord-deputy.




DISPOSITION OF THE ARMIES.

King William having taken such steps as were deemed necessary for
preserving the peace of England in his absence, crossed the sea to
Holland in the middle of May, fully determined to make some great effort
in the Netherlands that might aggrandize his military character, and
humble the power of France which was already on the decline. That
kingdom was actually exhausted in such a manner that the haughty Louis
found himself obliged to stand upon the defensive against enemies over
whom he had been used to triumph with uninterrupted success. He heard
the clamours of his people which he could not quiet; he saw his advances
to peace rejected; and to crown his misfortunes, he sustained an
irreparable loss in the death of Francis de Montmorency, duke of
Luxembourg, to whose military talents he owed the greatest part of his
glory and success. That great officer died in January at Versailles, in
the sixty-seventh year of his age; and Louis lamented his death the more
deeply, as he had not another general left in whose understanding he
could confide. The conduct of the army in Flanders was intrusted to
mareschal Villeroy, and Boufflers commanded a separate army though
subject to the other's orders. As the French king took it for granted
that the confederates would have a superiority of numbers in the field,
and was well acquainted with the enterprising genius of their chief, he
ordered a new line to be drawn between Lys and the Scheld; he caused a
disposition to be made for covering Dunkirk, Ypres, Tournay, and Namur;
and laid injunctions on his general to act solely on the defensive.
Meanwhile, the confederates formed two armies in the Netherlands.
The first consisted of seventy battalions of infantry, and eighty-two
squadrons of horse and dragoons, chiefly English and Scots, encamped
at AErseele, Caneghem, and Wouterghem, between Thield and Deynse, to
be commanded by the king in person, assisted by the old prince of
Vaudemont. The other army, composed of sixteen battalions of foot and
one hundred and thirty squadrons of horse, encamped at Zellich and
Hamme, on the road from Brussels to Dendermonde, under the command
of the elector of Bavaria, seconded by the duke of Holstein-Ploen.
Major-general Ellemberg was posted near Dixmuyde with twenty battalions
and ten squadrons; and another body of Brandenburg and Dutch troops,
with a reinforcement from Liege, lay encamped on the Mehaigne, under the
conduct of the baron de Heyden, Lieutenant-general of Brandenburgh, and
the count de Berlo, general of the Liege cavalry. King-William arrived
in the camp on the fifth clay of July, and remained eight days at
AErseele. Then he marched to Bekelar, while Villeroy retired behind his
lines between Menin and Ypres, after having detached ten thousand men
to reinforce Boufflers, who had advanced to Pont d'Espieres; but he too
retreating within his lines, the elector of Bavaria passed the Scheld
and took post at Kirkhoven; at the same time the body under Heyden
advanced towards Namur.




WILLIAM UNDERTAKES THE SIEGE OF NAMUR.

The king of England having by his motions drawn the forces of the enemy
on the side of Flanders, directed the baron de Heyden and the earl of
Athlone, who commanded forty squadrons from the camp of the elector of
Bavaria, to invest Namur, and this service was performed on the third
day of July; but as the place was not entirely surrounded, mareschal
Boufflers threw himself into it with such a reinforcement of dragoons
as augmented the garrison to the number of fifteen thousand chosen men.
King William and the elector brought up the rest of the forces, which
encamped on both sides of the Sambre and the Mose, and the lines of
circumvallation were begun on the sixth day of July under the direction
of the celebrated engineer, general Coehorn. The place was formerly
very strong, both by situation and art; but the French, since its last
reduction, had made such additional works that both the town and citadel
seemed impregnable. Considering the number of the garrison and the
quality of the troops, commanded by a mareschal of France distinguished
by his valour and conduct, the enterprise was deemed 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 intelligence of a motion made by a body of French troops with
a view to intercept the convoys, detached twenty squadrons of horse and
dragoons to observe the enemy.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}




FAMOUS RETREAT OF PRINCE VAUDEMONT.

Prince Vaudemont, who was left at Roselsaer with fifty battalions, and
the like number of squadrons, understanding that Villeroy had passed the
Lys in order to attack him, took post with his left near Grammen, his
right by AErseele and Caneghem, and began to fortify his camp with a
view to expect the enemy. Their vanguard appearing on the evening of the
thirteenth at Dentreghem, he changed the disposition of his camp,
and intrenched himself on both sides. Next day, however, perceiving
Villeroy's design was to surround him by means of another body of troops
commanded by M. Montai, who had already passed the Scheld for that
purpose, he resolved to avoid an engagement, and effected a retreat
to Ghent, which is celebrated as one of the most capital efforts of
military conduct. He forthwith detached twelve battalions and twelve
pieces of cannon to secure Newport, which Villeroy had intended to
invest; but that general now changed his resolution, and undertook the
siege of Dixmuyde, garrisoned by eight battalions of foot and a regiment
of dragoons, commanded by major-general Ellemberg, who in six-and-thirty
hours after the trenches were opened, surrendered himself and his
soldiers prisoners of war. This scandalous example was followed by
colonel O'Farrel, who yielded up Deynse on the same shameful conditions,
even before a battery was opened by the besiegers. In the sequel, they
were both tried for their misbehaviour; Ellemberg suffered death, and
O'Farrel was broke with infamy. The prince of Vaudemont sent a message
to the French general, demanding the garrisons of those two places,
according to a cartel which had been settled between the powers at war;
but no regard was paid to this remonstrance. Villeroy, after several
marches and countermarches, appeared before Brussels on the thirteenth
day of August, and sent a letter to the prince of Berghem, governor of
that city, importing that the king his master had ordered him to bombard
the town, by way of making reprisals for the damage done by the English
fleet to the maritime towns of France; he likewise desired to know in
what part the electress of Bavaria resided, that he might not fire
into that quarter. After this declaration, which was no more than an
unmeaning compliment, he began to bombard and cannonade the place with
red-hot bullets, which produced conflagrations in many different parts
of the city, and frightened the electress into a miscarriage. On the
fifteenth, the French discontinued their firing, and retired to Enghein.

During these transactions, the siege of Namur was prosecuted with great
ardour under the eye of the king of England; while the garrison defended
the place with equal spirit and perseverance. On the eighteenth day
of July, major-general Ramsay and lord Cutis, at the head of five
battalions, English, Scots, and Dutch, attacked the enemy's advanced
works on the right of the counterscarp. They were sustained by six
English battalions commanded by brigadier-general Fitzpatrick; while
eight foreign regiments, with nine thousand pioneers, advanced on the
left under major-general Salish. The assault was desperate and bloody,
the enemy maintaining their ground for two hours with undaunted courage;
but at last they were obliged to give way, and were pursued 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 so well pleased with
the behaviour of the British troops, that during the action he laid his
hand upon the shoulder of the elector of Bavaria, and exclaimed with
emotion, "See, my brave English." On the twenty-seventh the English and
Scots, lander Ramsay and Hamilton, assaulted the counterscarp, where
they met with prodigious opposition from the fire of the besieged.
Nevertheless, being sustained by the Dutch, they made a lodgement on the
foremost covered-way before the gate of St. Nicholas, as also upon part
of the counterscarp. The valour of the assailants on this occasion was
altogether unprecedented, and almost incredible; while on the other hand
the courage of the besieged was worthy of praise and admiration. Several
persons were killed in the trenches at the side of the king, and among
these Mr. Godfrey, deputy-governor of the bank of England, who had come
to the camp to confer with his majesty about remitting money for the
payment of the army. On the thirtieth day of July the elector of Bavaria
attacked Vauban's line that surrounded the works of the castle. General
Coehorn was present in this action, which was performed with equal
valour and success. They not only broke the line, but even took
possession of Coehorn's fort, in which however they found it impossible
to effect a lodgement. On the second day of August, lord Cutts, with
four hundred English and Dutch grenadiers, attacked the salient angle
of a demi-bastion, and lodged himself on the second counterscarp. The
breaches being now practicable, and preparations made for a general
assault, count Guiscard the governor capitulated for the town on the
fourth of August; and the French retired into the citadel, against which
twelve batteries played upon the thirteenth. The trenches meanwhile were
carried on with great expedition, notwithstanding all the efforts of the
besieged, who fired without ceasing, and exerted amazing diligence and
intrepidity in defending and repairing the damage they sustained. At
length the annoyance became so dreadful from the unintermitting showers
of bombs and red-hot bullets, that Boufflers, after having made divers
furious sallies, formed a scheme for breaking through the confederate
camp with his cavalry. This however was prevented by the extreme
vigilance of king William.

After the bombardment of Brussels, Villeroy, being-reinforced with all
the troops that could be drafted from garrisons, advanced towards Namur
with an army of ninety thousand men; and prince Vaudemont, being joined
by the prince of Hesse with a strong body of forces from the Rhine, took
possession of the strong camp at Masy, within five English miles of
the besieging army. The king understanding that the enemy had reached
Fleurus, where they discharged ninety pieces of cannon as a signal to
inform the garrison of their approach, left the conduct of the siege
to the elector of Bavaria, and took upon himself the command of the
covering army, in order to oppose Villeroy, who being further reinforced
by a detachment from Germany, declared that he would hazard a battle for
the relief of Namur. But when he viewed the posture of the allies near
Masy, he changed his resolution and retired in the night without noise.
On the thirtieth day of August, the besieged were summoned to surrender,
by count Horn, who in a parley with the count de Lamont, general of
the French infantry, gave him to understand that mareschal Villeroy had
retired towards the Mehaigne; so that the garrison could not expect to
be relieved. No immediate answer being returned to this message, the
parley was broke off, and the king resolved to proceed without delay to
a general assault, which he had already planned with the elector and his
other generals. Between one and two in the afternoon, lord Cutts, who
desired the command though it was not his turn of duty, rushed out
of the trenches of the second line, at the head of three hundred
grenadiers, to make a lodgement in the breach of Terra-nova, supported
by the regiments of Coulthorp, Buchan, Hamilton, and Mackay;
while colonel Marselly with a body of Dutch, the Bavarians, and
Brandenburghers, attacked at two other places. The assailants met with
such a warm reception, that the English grenadiers were repulsed,
even after they had mounted the breach, lord Cutts being for some
time disabled by a shot in the head. Marselly was defeated, taken, and
afterwards killed by a. cannon ball from the batteries of the besiegers.
The Bavarians by mistaking their way were exposed to a terrible fire, by
which their general count Rivera, and a great number of their officers,
were slain: nevertheless, they fixed themselves on the outward
intrenchment on the point of the Coehorn next to the Sambre, and
maintained their ground with amazing fortitude. Lord Cutts, when his
wound was dressed, returned to the scene of action, and ordered two
hundred chosen men of Mackay's regiment, commanded by lieutenant Cockle,
to attack the face of the salient angle next to the breach sword in
hand, while the ensigns of the same regiment should advance and plant
their colours on the pallisadoes. Coekle and his detachment executed the
command he had received with admirable intrepedity. They broke through
the pallisadoes, drove the French from the covered way, made a lodgement
in one of the batteries, and turned the cannon against the enemy. The
Bavarians being thus sustained, made their post good. The major-generals
La Cave and Schwerin lodged themselves at the same time on the covered
way; and though the general assault did not succeed in its full extent,
the confederates remained masters of a very considerable lodgement,
nearly an English mile in length. Yet this was dearly purchased with
the lives of two thousand men, including many officers of great rank
and reputation. During the action the elector of Bavaria signalised his
courage in a very remarkable manner, riding from place to place through
the hottest of the fire, giving his directions with notable presence
of mind, according to the emergency of circumstances, animating the
officers with praise and promise of preferment, and distributing
handfuls of gold among the private soldiers.

On the first day of September, the besieged having obtained a cessation
of arms that their dead might be buried, the count de Guiscard appearing
on the breach, desired to speak with the elector of Bavaria. His
highness immediately mounting the breach, the French governor offered
to surrender the fort of Cohorn; but was given to understand, that if
he intended to capitulate, he must treat for the whole. This reply being
communicated to Boufflers, he agreed to the proposal: the cessation
was prolonged, and that very evening the capitulation was finished.
Villeroy, who lay encamped at Gemblours, was no sooner apprised of this
event by a triple discharge of all the artillery, and a running fire
along the lines of the confederate army, than he passed the Sambre near
Charleroy with great precipitation; and having reinforced the garrison
of Dinant, retreated towards the lines in the neighbourhood of Mons. On
the fifth day of September the French garrison, which was now reduced
from fifteen to five thousand five hundred men, evacuated the citadel of
Namur. Boufflers, in marching out, was arrested in name of his Britannic
majesty, by way of reprisal for the garrisons of Dixmuyde and Deynse,
which the French king had detained contrary to the cartel subsisting
between the two nations. The mareschal was not a little discomposed at
this unexpected incident, and expostulated warmly with Mr. Dyckvelt,
who assured him that the king of Great Britain entertained a profound
respect for his person and character. William even offered to set him at
liberty, provided he would pass his word that the garrisons of Dixmuyde
and Deynso should be sent back, or that he himself would return in a
fortnight. He said that he could not enter into any such engagement,
as he did not know his master's reasons for detaining the garrisons in
question. He was therefore reconveyed to Namur; from thence removed
to Maestricht, and treated with great reverence and respect, till
the return of an officer whom he had despatched to Versailles with an
account of his captivity. Then he engaged his word, that the garrisons
of Dixmuyde and Deynse should be sent back to the allied army. He was
immediately released and conducted in safety to Dinant. When he repaired
to Versailles, Louis received him with very extraordinary marks of
esteem and affection. He embraced him in public with the warmest
expressions of regard; declared himself perfectly well satisfied with
his conduct; created him a duke and peer of France; and presented him
with a very large sum, in acknowledgment of his signal services.




CAMPAIGN ON THE RHINE.

After the reduction of Namur, which greatly enhanced the military
character of king William, he retired to his house at Loo, which was
his favourite place of residence, leaving the command to the elector
of Bavaria; and about the latter end of September both armies began to
separate. The French forces retired within their lines. A good number of
the allied troops were distributed in different garrisons; and a strong
detachment marched towards Newport, under the command of the prince of
Wirtemberg, for the security of that place. Thus ended the campaign in
the Netherlands. On the Rhine nothing of moment was attempted by either
army. The mareschal de Lorges, in the beginning of June, passed the
Rhine at Philipsburgh; and posting himself at Brucksal, sent out parties
to ravage the country. On the eleventh of the same month the prince of
Baden joined the German army at Steppach, and on the eighth day of July
was reinforced by the troops of the other German confederates, in the
neighbourhood of Wiselock. On the nineteenth the French retired without
noise, in the night, towards Manheim, where they repassed the river
without any interruption from the imperial general; then he sent off a
large detachment to Flanders. The same step was taken by the prince of
Baden; and each army lay inactive in their quarters for the remaining
part of the campaign. The command of the Germans in Hungary was
conferred upon the elector of Saxony; but the court of Vienna was so
dilatory in their preparations, that he was not in a condition to act
till the middle of August. Lord Paget had been sent ambassador
from England to the Ottoman Porte, with instructions relating to a
pacification; but before he could obtain an audience the sultan died,
and was succeeded by his nephew Mustapha, who resolved to prosecute the
war in person. The warlike genius of this new emperor afforded but an
uncomfortable prospect to his people, considering that Peter, the czar
of Muscovy, had taken the opportunity of the war in Hungary, to invade
the Crimea and besiege Azoph; so that the Tartars were too much employed
at home to spare the succours which the sultan demanded. Nevertheless,
Mustapha and his vizier took the field before the imperialists could
commence the operations of the campaign, passed the Danube, took Lippa
and Titul by assault, stormed the camp of general Veterani, who was
posted at Lugos with seven thousand men, and who lost his life in the
action. The infantry were cut to pieces, after having made a desperate
defence; but the horse retreated to Caronsebes, under the conduct of
general Trusches. The Turks after this exploit retired to Orsowa. Their
navy meanwhile surprised the Venetian fleet at Scio, where several ships
of the republic were destroyed, and they recovered that island, which
the Venetians thought proper to abandon; but in order to balance this
misfortune, these last obtained a complete victory over the pacha of
Negropont in the Morea.




THE DUKE OF SAVOY TAKES CASAL.

The French king still maintained a secret negotiation with the duke of
Savoy, whose conduct had been for some time mysterious and equivocal.
Contrary to the opinion of his allies, he undertook the siege of
Casal, which was counted one of the strongest fortifications in Europe,
defended by a numerous garrison, abundantly supplied with ammunition and
provisions. The siege was begun about the middle of May; and the
place was surrendered by capitulation in about fourteen days, to the
astonishment of the confederates, who did not know that this was a
sacrifice by which the French court obtained the duke's forbearance
during the remaining part of the campaign. The capitulation imported,
that the place should be restored to the duke of Mantua, who was the
rightful proprietor; that the fortifications should be demolished at the
expense of the allies; that the garrison should remain in the fort
till that work should be completed; and hostages were exchanged for
the performance of these conditions. The duke understood the art of
procrastination so well, that September was far advanced before the
place was wholly dismantled; and then he was seized with an ague, which
obliged him to quit the army.




TRANSACTIONS IN CATALONIA.

In Catalonia the French could hardly maintain the footing they had
gained. Admiral Russel, who wintered at Cadiz, was created admiral,
chief-commander, and captain general of all his majesty's ships
employed, or to be employed, in the narrow-seas and in the
Mediterranean. He was reinforced by four thousand five hundred soldiers,
under the command of brigadier-general Stewart; and seven thousand
men, Imperialists as well as Spaniards, were drafted from Italy for the
defence of Catalonia. These forces were transported to Barcelona under
the convoy of admiral Nevil, detached by Russel for that purpose. The
affairs of Catalonia had already changed their aspect. Several French
parties had been defeated. The Spaniards had blocked up Ostalric and
Castel-Follit: Noailles had been recalled, and the command devolved to
the duke de Vendome, who no sooner understood that the forces from Italy
were landed, than he dismantled Ostalric and Castel-Follit, and retired
to Palamos. The viceroy of Catalonia and the English admiral having
resolved to give battle to the enemy and reduce Palamos, the English
troops were landed on the ninth day of August, and the allied army
advanced to Palamos. The French appeared in order of battle; but the
viceroy declined an engagement. Far from attacking the enemy he withdrew
his forces, and the town was bombarded by the admiral. The miscarriage
of this expedition was in a great measure owing to a misunderstanding
between Russel and the court of Spain. The admiral complained that his
catholic majesty had made no preparations for the campaign; that he had
neglected to fulfil his engagements with respect to the Spanish squadron
which ought to have joined the fleets of England and Holland; that
he had taken no care to provide tents and provisions for the British
forces. On the twenty-seventh day of August he sailed for the coast of
Provence, where the fleet was endangered by a terrible tempest; then he
steered down the Straits, and toward the latter end of September arrived
in the bay of Cadiz. There he left a number of ships under the command
of sir David Mitchel, until he should be joined by sir George Rooke
who was expected from England, and returned home with the rest of the
combined squadrons.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}




THE ENGLISH FLEET BOMBARDS ST. MALOES, &c.

While admiral Russel asserted the British dominion in the Mediterranean,
the French coasts were again insulted in the channel by a separate fleet
under the command of lord Berkeley of Stratton, assisted by the Dutch
admiral Allemonde. On the fourth day of July they anchored before St.
Maloes, which they bombarded from nine ketches covered by some frigates,
which sustained more damage than was done to the enemy. On the sixth,
Granville underwent the same fate, and then the fleet returned to
Portsmouth. The bomb vessels being refitted, the fleet sailed round to
the Downs, where four hundred soldiers were embarked for an attempt upon
Dunkirk, under the direction of Meesters the famous Dutch engineer, who
had prepared his infernals and other machines for the service. On the
first day of August the experiment was tried without success. The bombs
did some execution; but two smoke ships miscarried. The French had
secured the Ris-bank and wooden forts with piles, bombs, chains, and
floating batteries, in such a manner that the machine-vessels could not
approach near enough to produce any effect. Besides, the councils of the
assailants were distracted by violent animosities. The English officers
hated Meesters, because he was a Dutchman, and had acquired some credit
with the king; he on the other hand treated them with disrespect. He
retired with his machines in the night, and refused to co-operate with
lord Berkeley in his design upon Calais, which was now put in execution.
On the sixteenth he brought his batteries to bear upon this place,
and set fire to it in different quarters; but the enemy had taken such
precautions as rendered his scheme abortive.




EXPEDITION TO THE WEST INDIES.

A squadron had been sent to the West Indies under the joint-command of
captain Robert Wilmot and colonel Lilingston, with twelve hundred
land forces. They had instructions to co-operate with the Spaniards
in Hispaniola, against the French settlements on that island, and to
destroy their fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland in their return.
They were accordingly joined by seventeen hundred Spaniards raised
by the president of St. Domingo; but instead of proceeding against
Petit-Guavas, according to the directions they had received, Wilmot
took possession of Port Francois, and plundered the country for his own
private advantage, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Lilingston,
who protested against his conduct. In a word, the sea and land officers
lived in a state of perpetual dissension; and both became extremely
disagreeable to the Spaniards, who soon renounced all connexion with
them and their designs. In the beginning of September the commodore set
sail for England, and lost one of his ships in the gulph of Florida. He
himself died in his passage; and the greater part of the men being swept
off by an epidemical distemper, the squadron returned to Britain in a
most miserable condition. Notwithstanding the great efforts the nation
had made to maintain such a number of different squadrons for the
protection of commerce, as well as to annoy the enemy, the trade
suffered severely from the French privateers, which swarmed in both
channels and made prize of many rich vessels. The marquis of Caermarthen,
being stationed with a squadron off the Scilly islands, mistook a fleet
of merchant ships for the Brest fleet, and retired with precipitation
to Milford-Haven. In consequence of this retreat, the privateers took
a good number of ships from Barbadoes, and five from the East-Indies,
valued at a million sterling. The merchants renewed their clamour
against the commissioners of the Admiralty, who produced their orders
and instructions in their own defence. The marquis of Caermarthen had
been guilty of flagrant misconduct on this occasion; but the chief
source of those national calamities was the circumstantial intelligence
transmitted to France from time to time by the malcontents of England;
for they were actuated by a scandalous principle which they still
retain, namely, that of rejoicing in the distress of their country.




A NEW PARLIAMENT.

King William, after having conferred with the states of Holland and the
elector of Brandenburgh who met him at the Hague, embarked for England
on the nineteenth day of October, and arrived in safety at Margate, from
whence he proceeded to London, where he was received as a conqueror,
amidst the rejoicings and acclamations of the people. On the same day he
summoned a council at Kensington, in which it was determined to convoke
a new parliament. While the nation was in good humour, it was supposed
that they would return such members only as were well affected to
the government; whereas the present parliament might proceed in
its inquiries into corruption and other grievances, and be the less
influenced by the crown, as their dependence was of such short duration.
The parliament was therefore dissolved by proclamation, and a new one
summoned to meet at Westminster on the twenty-second day of November.
While the whole nation was occupied in the elections, William, by the
advice of his chief confidants, laid his own disposition under restraint
in another effort to acquire popularity. He honoured the diversions
of Newmarket with his presence, and there received a compliment of
congratulation from the university of Cambridge. Then he visited the
earls of Sunderland, Northampton, and Montague, at their different
houses in the country; and proceeded with a splendid retinue to Lincoln,
from whence he repaired to Welbeck, a seat belonging to the duke of
Newcastle in Nottinghamshire, where he was attended by Dr. Sharp,
archbishop of York, and his clergy. He lodged one night with lord Brooke
at Warwick castle, dined with the duke of Shrewsbury at Ryefort, and by
the way of Woodstock, made a solemn entry into Oxford, having been met
at some distance from the city by the duke of Or-mond, as chancellor of
the university, the vice-chancellor, the doctors in their habits, and
the magistrates in their formalities. He proceeded directly to the
theatre, where he was welcomed in an elegant Latin speech; he received
from the chancellor on his knees the usual presents of a large English
Bible, and book of Common-Prayer, the cuts of the university, and a pair
of gold-fringed gloves. The conduits ran with wine, and a magnificent
banquet was prepared; but an anonymous letter being found in the street,
importing that there was a design to poison his majesty, William
refused to eat or drink in Oxford, and retired immediately to Windsor.
Notwithstanding this abrupt departure, which did not savour much of
magnanimity, the university chose sir William Trumball, secretary of
state, as one of their representatives in parliament.




BILL FOR REGULATING TRIALS IN CASES OF HIGH-TREASON.

The whig interest generally prevailed in the elections, though many even
of that party were malcontents; and when the parliament met, Foley
was again chosen speaker of the commons. The king in his first speech
extolled the valour of the English forces; expressed his concern at
being obliged to demand such large supplies from his people; observed
that the funds had proved very deficient, and the civil list was in
a precarious condition; recommended to their compassion the miserable
situation of the French protestants; took notice of the bad state of
the coin; desired they would form a good bill for the encouragement and
increase of seamen; and contrive laws for the advancement of commerce.
He mentioned the great preparations which the French were making for
taking the field early; in treated them to use despatch; expressed
his satisfaction at the choice which his people had made of their
representatives in the house of commons; and exhorted them to proceed
with temper and unanimity. Though the two houses presented addresses of
congratulation to the king upon his late success, and promised to assist
him in prosecuting the war with vigour, the nation loudly exclaimed
against the intolerable burdens and losses to which they were subjected
by a foreign scheme of politics, which, like an unfathomable abyss,
swallowed up the wealth and blood of the kingdom. All the king's
endeavours to cover the disgusting side of his character had proved
ineffectual; he was still dry, reserved, and forbidding; and the
malcontents inveighed bitterly against his behaviour to the princess
Anne of Denmark. When the news of Namur's being reduced arrived in
England, this lady congratulated him upon his success in a dutiful
letter, to which he would not deign to send a reply, either by writing
or message, nor had she or her husband been favoured with the slightest
mark of regard since his return to England. The members in the lower
house, who had adopted opposing maxims either from principle or
resentment, resolved that the crown should purchase the supplies with
some concession in favour of the people. They therefore brought in the
so long contested bill for regulating trials in cases of high treason,
and misprison of treason; and considering the critical juncture of
affairs, the courtiers were afraid of obstructing such a popular
measure. The lords inserted a clause, enacting, that a peer should be
tried by the whole peerage; and the commons at once assented to this
amendment. The bill provided, that persons indicted for high treason, or
misprison of treason, should be furnished with a copy of the indictment
five days before the trial; and indulged with council to plead in their
defence; that no person should be indicted but upon the oaths of two
lawful witnesses swearing to overt-acts; that in two or more distinct
treasons of divers kinds, alleged in one bill of indictment, one
witness to one, and another witness to another, should not be deemed
two witnesses; that no person should be prosecuted for any such crime,
unless the indictment be found within three years after the offence
committed, except in case of a design or attempt to assassinate or
poison the king, where this limitation should not take place; that
persons indicted for treason, or misprison of treason, should bo
supplied with copies of the panel of the jurors, two days at least
before the trial, and have process to compel their witnesses to appear;
that no evidence should be admitted of any overt-act not expressly laid
in the indictment; that this act should not extend to any impeachment,
or other proceeding in parliament; nor to any indictment for
counterfeiting his majesty's coin, his great seal, privy seal, sign
manual, or signet.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}




RESOLUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO A NEW COINAGE.

This important affair being discussed, the commons proceeded to examine
the accounts and estimates, and voted above five millions for the
service of the ensuing year. The state of the coin was by this time
become such a national grievance as could not escape the attention
of parliament. The lords prepared an address to the throne, for a
proclamation to put a stop to the currency of diminished coin; and
to this they desired the concurrence of the commons. The lower house,
however, determined to take this affair under their own inspection. They
appointed a committee of the whole house to deliberate on the state of
the nation with respect to the currency. Great opposition was made to a
recoinage, which was a measure strenuously recommended and supported
by Mr. Montague, who acted on this occasion by the advice of the great
mathematician sir Isaac Newton. The enemies of this expedient argued,
that should the silver coin be called in, it would be impossible to
maintain the war abroad, or prosecute foreign trade, inasmuch as the
merchant could not pay his bills of exchange, nor the soldier receive
his subsistence; that a stop would bo put to all mutual payment; and
this would produce universal confusion and despair. Such a reformation
could not be effected without some danger and difficulty; but it was
become absolutely necessary, as the evil daily increased, and in a
little time must have terminated in national anarchy. After long and
vehement debates, the majority resolved to proceed with all possible
expedition to a new coinage. Another question arose, Whether the new
coin, in its different denominations, should retain the original weight
and purity of the old; or the established standard be raised in value?
The famous Locke engaged in this dispute against Mr. Lowndes, who
proposed that the standard should be raised; the arguments of Mr. Locke
were so convincing, that the committee resolved the established standard
should be preserved with respect to weight and fineness. They likewise
resolved, that the loss accruing to the revenue from clipped money,
should be borne by the public. In order to prevent a total stagnation,
they further resolved, that after an appointed day no clipped money
should pass in payment, except to the collectors of the revenue and
taxes, or upon loans or payments into the exchequer; that after another
day to be appointed, no clipped money of any sort should pass in any
payment whatsoever; and that a third day should be fixed for all persons
to bring in their clipped money to be recoined, after which they should
have no allowance upon what they might offer. They addressed the king
to issue a proclamation agreeably to these resolutions; and on the
nineteenth day of December it was published accordingly. Such were
the fears of the people, augmented and inflamed by the enemies of
the government, that all payment immediately ceased, and a face of
distraction appeared through the whole community. The adversaries of
the bill seized this opportunity to aggravate the apprehensions of
the public. They inveighed against the ministry as the authors of this
national grievance; they levelled their satire particularly at Montague;
and it required uncommon fortitude and address to avert the most
dangerous consequences of popular discontent. The house of commons
agreed