ill'

msiifi-i'<

iyi>
mf'.t'y'-

•'Kite '

THE

HISTOEY OF ENGLAND.

G. WOODFALL AND SON, angel court, skinner street, London.

THE

HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

THE REVOLUTION

THE DEATH OF GEORGE THE SECOND.

designed as

A CONTINUATION OF MR. HUME'S HISTORY.
BY T. SMOLLETT, M.D.
A NEW EDITION,
WITH THE author's LAST COBRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
IN POUR VOLUMES.
VOL. I.

LONDON :
PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND ;
LONGMAN AND CO. ; J. M. RICHARDSON ; HATCHARD AND SON ; 8. BAGSTER;
J. G. F. AND G. RIVINGTON ; T. TEGG ; J. BOHN ; j. CARPENTER ; HAMILTON
AND CO.; WHITTAKER AND CO.; DUNCAN AND MALCOLM; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL,
AND CO. ; E. HODGSON; BIGG AND SON; T. BUMPUS ; J. DOWDING; J. BAIN;
SMITH, ELDER, AND CO. ; J. MAYNARD ; J. TEMPLEMAN ; CAPES AND CO. ;
R. MACKIE ; H. W ASHBOURNE; J. HEARNE; W. PICKERING; BLACK AND CO.;
J. fraser; L. a. LEWIS; W. H. reid; T. and W. BOONE; T. GEEVES; H.
BICKERS ; J. SNOW ; L. BOOTH ; G. ROUTLEDGE ; WALLER AND SON : AND G.
AND J. ROBINSON, LIVERPOOL : J. AND J. J. DEIGHTON, CAMBRIDGE ; AND J.
PARKER, OXFORD.
1841.

YALE

I

CONTENTS

VOL. L

CHAPTER I.

State of the Nation immediately after the Revolution. — Account
of the new Ministry. — The Convention converted into a Parlia
ment. — Mutiny in the Army. — The Coronation, and Abolition of
Hearth-money. — The Commons vote a Sum of Money to indem
nify 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. —
Hfeats 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 recognize 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 Scottish 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. — Tjrrconnel
temporizes with King WUliam. — James arrives in Ireland. — Issues
five Proclamations at Dublin. — Siege of Londonderry. — The In
habitants defend themselves with surprising Courage and Per
severance. — Cruelty of Rosene, the French General. — The Place
is relieved by Kirke. — The Inniskilliners defeat and take General
Macarty. — 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

vi CONTENTS.
are forbid to assemble on Pain of Death. — Admiral Herbert worsted
by the French Fleet, in an Engagement near Bantrey-bay.— -Divers
Sentences and Attainders reversed in ParUament. — Inquiry into
the Cause of Miscarriages in Ireland. — Bills passed in this Session
of Parliament  Page 1

CHAPTER II.
Duke of Schomberg lands with an army in Ireland. — The Innis
killiners 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 Patochin,
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 discon
tinued by repeated Prorogations. — Proceedings in Parliament. —
The Whigs obstruct the BiU of Indemnity. — The Commons re
sume the Inquiry into the Cause of the Miscarriages in Ireland. —
King William irritated against the Whigs. — Plot against the Go
vernment by Sir James Montgomery discovered by Bishop Burnet.
— Warm Debates in Parliament about the Corporation-bill. — The
King resolves to finish the Irish War in Person. — General Ludlow
arrives in England, but is obliged to vidthdraw. — Efforts of the
Jacobites iu Scotland. — The Court Interest triumphs over all Op
position in that Country. — The Tory Interest prevails in the new
Parliament of England. — Bill for recognizing 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. — Lauzun and the
French Forces quit Ireland. — The Duke of Savoy joins the Con
federacy. — Prince Waldeck defeated at Fleurus. — The Archduke
Joseph elected King of the Romans. — Death of the Duke of Lor
raine. — Progress of the War against the Turks. — Meeting of the
Parliament. — The Commons comply vtdth 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 .... 50
CHAPTER III.
Conspiracy against the Government by Lord Preston and others. —
The King fills up the vacant Bishoprics  Affairs of Scotland.

CONTENTS. vii
— Campaign in Flanders. —Progress of the French 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 EngUsh and
Dutch Fleets worsted by the French in an Engagement off
Beachy Head. — The King disobliges the Presbyterians of Scot
land. — The Earl of Breadalbane undertakes for the Submission of
the- Highlanders. — Massacre of Glencoe. — Preparations for a De
scent 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 Hogue. — 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 AlUes 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 Hun
gary. — The Duke of Savoy invades Dauphine. — The Duke of
Hanover created an Elector of the Empire .... Page 99

CHAPTER IV.
False Information against the Earl of Marlborough, the Bishop of
Rochester, and others. — Sources of national Discontent. — Dis
sension between the Queen and the Princess 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.
—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 Com
pany. — Trial of Lord Mohun 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. — Cam
paign on the Rhine. — The Duke of Savoy is defeated by Catinat

ii CONTENTS.
in the Plain of Mareaglia. — Transactions in Hungary and Cata
lonia.— 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 Govemment 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 new Charter. —
Bill for a general Naturalization dropped. — Sir Francis Wheeler
perishes in a Storm. — The EngUsh 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 Parhaments
receives the royal Assent. — Death of Archbishop Tillotson and of
Queen Mary. — Reconciliation between the King and the Princess
of Denmark  Page 149

CHAPTER V.
Account of the La,ncashire 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 ParUament 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 Parlia
ment 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. — Pro
gress 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 bombards St.
Maloes and other Places on the Coast of France. — Wilmot's Ex
pedition to tbe West Indies. — A new Parliament. — They pass a
Bill for regulating Trials in Cases of High Treason. — Resolutions
with Respect to a new Coinage. — The Commons address the King,
to recall a Grant he had made to the Earl of Portland.— Another

CONTENTS. ix
against the new Scottish Company. — Intrigues of the Jacobites.—
Conspiracy against the Life of WilUam.— Design of an Invasion
defeated. — The two Houses engage in an Association for the De
fence of his Majesty. — Establishment of a Land-Bank.— Trial of
the Conspirators.- The AlUes burn the Magazine at Givet. —
Louis the Fourteenth makes Advances towards a Peace with Hol
land — 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
pubUc Credit. — Enormous Impositions. — Sir John Fenwick 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. — Nego
tiations at Ryswick. — The French take Barcelona. — Fruitless Ex
pedition 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 Rysvidck. — The Ambassadors of England, Spain,
and Holland, sign the Treaty. — A general Pacification. Page 205

CHAPTER VI.
State of Parties. — Characters of the Ministers. — The Commons re
duce the Number of standing Forces to Ten Thousand. — They
establish the Civil List ; and assign Funds for pa3ang the national
Debts. — They take Cognizance of fraudulent Endorsements of
Exchequer Bills. — A new East India Company constituted by Act
of Parliament. — Proceedings against a Book written by WilUam
Molineux of Dublin — And against certain Smugglers of Alamodes
and Lustrings from France. — Society for the Reformation of Man
ners. — The Earl of Portland resigns his Employments. — The King
disowns the Scottish trading Company. — He embarks for Holland.
— First Treaty of Partition. — Intrigues of France at the Court
of Madrid. — King WiHiam is thwarted by his new Parliament. —
He is obliged to send away his Dutch Guards. — The Commons
address the King against the Papists. — The ParUament prorogued.
— The Scottish Company make a Settlement on the Isthmus of
Darien — Which, however, they are compelled to abandon. — Re
monstrances of the Spanish Court against the Treaty of Partition.
— The Commons persist in their Resolutions to mortify the King.
— Inquiry into the Expedition of Captain Kidd. — A Motion made
against Burnet, Bishop of Sarum. — Inquiry into the Irish For
feitures. — The Commons pass a Bill of Resumption — And a severe
Bill against Papists. — The old East India Company re-established.
— Dangerous Ferment in Scotland. — Lord Somers dismissed from
his Employments. — Second Treaty of Partition. — Death of the
Duke of Gloucester. — The King sends a Fleet into the Baltic, to
the Assistance of the Swedes. — The second Treaty of Partition
generally disagreeable to the European Powers. — The French In-

X CONTENTS.
terest prevaijs at the Coiyt of Spain. — King William finds Means
to allay thei Heats in Stotland. — The King of Spain dies, after
having bequeathed his Dominions by Will to the Duke of Anjou.
— The French King's Apology for accepting the Will. — The
States-General own PhiUp as King of Spain. — A new Ministry
and a new Parliament. — 'The Commons unpropltious to the Court.
— The Lords are more condescending. — An intercepted Letter
from the Earl of Milfort to his Brother. — Succession of the Crown
settled upon the Princess Sophia, Electress-Dowager of Hanover,
and the protestant Heirs of her Body. — The Duchess of Savoy
protests against this Act. — Ineffectual Negotiation with France.
— Severe Addresses from both Houses in Relation to the Partition
Treaty. — WilUam is obUged to acknowledge the King of Spain.
— The two Houses seem to enter into the King's Measures. —
The Commons resolve to virreak their Vengeance on the old Mi
nistry. — The Earls of Portland and Oxford, the Lords Somers
and Halifax, are impeached. — Disputes between the two Houses.
— The House of Peers acquits the impeached Lords  Petition of
Kent. — Favourable End of the Session. — Progress of Prince
Eugene in Italy. — Sketch of the Situation of Affairs in Europe.
— Treaty of AlUance between the Emperor and the maritime
Powers. — Death of King James. — The French King owns the
pretended Prince of Wales as King of England. — Addresses to
King William on that Subject. — New ParUament. — The King's
last Speech to both Houses received with great Applause. — Great
Harmony between the King and Parliament. — The two Houses
pass the Bill for Abjuration. — The Lower House justifies the Pro
ceedings of the Commons in the preceding ParUament. — Affairs
of Ireland. — The King recommends an Union of the two King
doms. — He falls from his Horse. — His Death — And Character. Page 288
CHAPTER VII.
Anne succeeds to the Throne.— She resolves to fulfil the Engage
ments of her Predecessor with his Allies. — A French Memorial
presented to the States-General.— The Queen's Inclination to the
Tories. — War declared against France.— The Pai-Uament pro
rogued.— Warm Opposition to the Ministry in the Scottish Par
liament. — They recognize her Majesty's Authority. — The Queen
appoints Commissioners to treat of an Union between England
and Scotland. — State of Affairs on the Continent. — Keiserswaert
and Landau taken by the Allies.— Progress of the Earl of Marl
borough in Flanders. — He nai-rowly escapes being taken by a
French Partisan. — The ImperiaUsts are worsted at Fridlinguen.
— Battle of Luzzara, in Italy.— The King of Sweden defeats Au
gustus at Lissou in Poland.— Fruitless Expedition to Cadiz by the
Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke. — They take and destroy
the Spanish Galleons at Vigo. — Admiral Benbow's Engao-ement
with Du Casse in the West Indies.— The Queen assembles^a new
Parliament. — Disputes between the two Houses.— The Lords in-

CONTENTS. xi
quire into the Conduct of Sir George Rooke.— The Pariiament
make a Settlement on Prince George of Denmark. — The Earl of
Marlborough created a Duke. — All Commerce and Correspondence
prohibited between Holland and the two Crowns of France and
Spain. — A Bill for preventing occasional Conformity. — It mis
carries. — Violent Animosity between the two Houses, produced by
the Inquiry into the PubUc Accounts.— Disputes between the two
Houses of Convocation. — Account of the Parties in Scotland. —
Dangerous Heats in the Parliament of that Kingdom. — The Com
missioner is abandoned by the Cavaliers.-^He is in Danger of his
Life, and suddenly prorogues the Parliament. — Proceedings of
the Irish ParUament. — They pass a severe Act against Papists. —
The Elector of Bavaria defeats the ImperiaUsts at Scardingen, and
takes Possession of Ratisbon.- — The Allifes reduce Bonne. — Battle
of Eckeren. — The Prince of Hesse is defeated by the French at
Spirebach.— Treaty between the Emperor and the Duke of Savoy.
— The King of Portugal accedes to the Grand AlUance. — Sir
Cloudesley Shovel sails with a Fleet to the Mediterranean.- — Ad
miral Graydon's bootless Expedition to the West Indies.— Charles,
King of Spain, arrives in England  Page 385

CHAPTER VIII.
The Commons revive the Bill against occasional Conformity.— ^Con
spiracy trumped up by Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat.i^.-The Lords
present a Remonstrance to the Queen. — The Commons pass a Vote
in favour of the Earl of Nottingham. — Second Remonstrance of
the Lords. — Further Disputes between the two Houses. — The
Queen grants the First Fruits and the Tenths to the poor Clergy.
' — Inquiry into Naval Affairs. — Trial of Lindsay. — Meeting of the
Scottish Parliament. — Violent Opposition to the Ministry in that
Kingdom. — Their Parliament pass the Act of Security.'— Melan
choly Situation of the Emperor's Affairs. — The Duke of Marl
borough marches at the Head of the allied Army into Germany. —
He defeats the Bavarians at Schellenberg. — Fruitless Negotiation
with the Elector of Bavaria. — The Confederates obtain a complete
Victory at Hochstadt. — Siege of Landau. — The Duke of Marl
borough returns to England. — State of the War in different Parts
of Europe. — Campaign in Portugal.-^Sir George Rooke takes
Gibraltar — And worsts the French Fleet in a Battle off Malaga.
—Session of Parliament in England. — An Act of Alienation
passed against the Scots. — Manor of Woodstock granted to the
Duke of Marlborough. — Disputes between the two Houses on the
Subject of the Aylesbury Constables. — The Parliament dissolved.
— Proceedings in the Parliament of Scotland. — They pass an Act
for a Treaty of Union vnth England. — Difference between the
Parliaments and Convocation in Ireland. — Fruitless Campaign on
the Moselle. — The Duke of Marlborough forces the French Lines
in Brabant. — He is prevented by the Deputies of the States from
attacking the French Army.— He visits the imperial Court of

xii CONTENTS.
Vienna. — State of the War on the Upper Rhine, in Hungary,
Piedmont, Portugal, and Poland. — Sir 'Thomas Dilkes destroys
Part of the French Fleet, and relieves Gibraltar. — The Earl of
Peterborough and Sir Cloudesley Shovel reduce Barcelona. — The
Earl's surprising Progress in Spain. — New Parliament in England.
— Bill for a Regency in Case of the Queen's Decease. — Debates
in the House of Lords upon the supposed Danger to which the
Church was exposed. — The ParUament prorogued. — Disputes in
the Convocation. — Conferences opened for a Treaty of Union with
Scotland. — Substance of the Treaty  Page 446

CHAPTER IX.

Battle of RamiUies, in which the Prench are defeated. — The Siege
of Barcelona raised by the English Fleet. — Prince Eugene obtains
a complete Victory over the French at Turin. — Sir Cloudesley
Shovel sails with a Reinforcement to Charles, King of Spain. —
The King of Sweden marches into Saxony. — The French King
demands Conferences for a Peace. — Meeting of the Scottish Par
liament.-^ Violent Opposition to the Union. — The Scots in general
averse to the Treaty — Which is nevertheless confirmed by their
Parliament. — Proceedings in the English Parliament. — The Com
mons approve of the Articles of the Union. — The Lords pass a
Bill for the Security of the Church of England. — Arguments used
against the Articles of the Union — Which, however, are confirmed
by Act of Parliament. — The Parliament revived by Proclamation.
• — The Queen gives Audience to a Muscovite Ambassador. — Pro
ceedings in Convocation. — France threatened vdth total Ruin. —
The Allies are defeated at Almanza. — Unsuccessful Attempt upon
Toulon.— Sir Cloudesley Shovel wrecked on the Rocks of Scilly.
— Weakness of the Emperor on the Upper Rhine. — Interview
.betweeen the King of Sweden and the Duke of Marlborough. —
Inactive Campaign in the Netherlands. — Harley begins to form
a Party against the Duke of Marlborough. — The Nation discon
tented vidth the Whig Ministry. — Meeting of the first British
Parliament. — Inquiry into the State of the War in Spain. — Gregg,
a Clerk in the Secretary's Office, detected in a Correspondence
with the French Ministry. — Harley resigns his Employments. —
The Pretender embarks at Dunkirk for Scotland.— His Design is
.defeated. — State of the Nation at that Period. — ParUament dis
solved. — The Prench surprise GhentandBruges. — They are routed
at Oudenarde. — The Allies invest Lisle.— Theydefeatalarge Body
of French Forces at Wynendale. — The Elector of Bavaria attacks
Brussels. — Lisle surrendered, Ghent taken, and Bruges abandoned.
— Conquest of Minorca by General Stanhope. — Rupture between
the Pope and the Emperor. — Death of Prince George of Denmark.
— The new ParUament assembled.— Naturalization Bill.— Act of
Grace. — Disputes about the Muscovite Ambassador compromised. 514

THE

HISTORY

ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.
WILLIAM AND MARY.
State of the Nation immediately after the Revolution. — Account of
the new Ministry. — The Convention converted into a ParUa
ment. — Mutiny in the Army. — The Coronation, and Abolition of
Hearth-money. — The Commons vote a Sum of Money to iftdem-
nify 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 Wil
liam and King James. — They recognize the Authority of King
William. — They vote the Crown vacant, and pass an Act of
Settlement in favour of WilUam and Mary. — They appoint Com
missioners to make a Tender of the Crovm to WilUam, who re
ceives it on the Conditions they propose. — Enumeration of their
Grievances. — The Convention is declared a ParUament, 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 Scottish Parliament — Which is ad
journed. — 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 vnth King William. —
James arrives in Ireland. — Issues five Proclamations at Dublin.
VOL. I. B

2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
— 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 Macarty. — 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 CathoUcs, and they are forbid to
assemble on Pain of Death. — Admiral Herbert worsted by the
French Fleet, in an Engagement near' Ban trey-bay. — Divers Sen
tences and Attainders reversed in ParUament. — Inquiry into
the Cause of Miscarriages in Ireland. — Bills passed in this Ses
sion of Parliament.
CHAP. The constitution of England had now assumed a
new aspect. The maxim of hereditary, indefeasible
1689. right was at length renounced by a free i^arliament.
State ofthe 'jjjg power of the crown was acknowledered to flow
nation im- ^ i,. -n i f
mediately from 110 other fountain than that or a contract with
^er the ^j^g people. Allegiance and protection were declared
reciprocal ties depending upon each other. The re
presentatives 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 pre
rogatives 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 par
liaments 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 he 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

WILLIAM AND MARY.

with some precipitation, before the plan had been pro- chap.
perly digested and matured ; and this will be the case .

in every establishment formed upon a sudden emer- 1689.
gency 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 ^wre humano: and that, though
the change proceeded from a republican spirit, the ,
settlement was built upon tory maxims ; for the exe
cution 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 re
vived, and was heated by dispute into intemperate zeal
and enthusiasm. , Those who at first acted from prin
ciples of patriotism were insensibly warmed into par
tisans ; and King William soon found himself at the
head of a faction. As he had been bred a Calvinist,
and alM^ays expressed an abhorrence of spiritual per
secution, the presbyterians, and other protestant dis
senters, 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 em
ployed all their influence, first in opposing his eleva
tion 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 de
claration, 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 in
dustriously circulated about the birth of the Prince of
Wales, the treaty with France for enslaving England,
b2

1 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, and the murder of the Earl of Essex, reports coun-
. tenanced by the Prince of Orange, now appeared to be

1689. 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 William began his reign with a proclamation, for
nistry. Confirming all protestants in the offices which they en-
Coiieetion J'^J^*^ ^"^ *^^® ^^'^^ ^^7 ^^ December: then he chose
Reresby. the members of his council, who were generally stanch
"™'''", 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 advisable to provoke. 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'Auverquerque was made master of the
horse, Zuylestein of the robes, and Schomberg of the
ordnance : the treasury, admiralty, and chancery were
put in commission ; twelve able judges were chosen'' ;
" The council consisted of the Prince of Denmark, tlie Archbishop of Canter
bury, the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquisses of Halifax and Winchester, the Earls
of Danby, Lindsey, Devonshire, Dorset, Middlesex, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Bed
ford, Bath, Macclesfield, and Nottingham ; the Viscounts Fauconberg, Mordaunt,
Newport, Lumley ; the Lords Wharton, Montagu, Delaraere, Churchill; Mr.
Bentinck, Mr. Sidney, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Henry Capel, Mr. Fowle, Mr.
Russel, Mr. Hambden, and Mr. Boscawen.
¦¦ Sir John Holt was appointed lord chief justice of the King's Bench, and Sir
Henry Pollexfen of the Common Pleas : the Eail of Devonshire was made lord
steward of the household, and the Earl of Dorset lord chamberlain  Ralph.

WILLIAM AND MARY.
and tbe diocese of Salisbury being vacated by the chap.
death of Dr. Ward, the king, of his own free motion, ^
filled it with Burnet, who had been a zealous stickler 1689.
for his interest ; and, in a particular manner, instru
mental in effecting the revolution. Sancroft, Arch
bishop of Canterbury, refused to consecrate this eccle
siastic, though the reasons of his refusal are not spe
cified ; 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 na
turalized, 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 fu
gitive, 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 in
trigues, contributed in some measure to the success of
that expedition. The principal individuals that com
posed this ministry have been characterised in the
history of the preceding reigns. We have had occa
sion to mention the fine talents, the vivacity, the flexi
bility of Halifax ; the plausibility, the enterprising-
genius, the obstinacy of Danby ; the pompous, elo
quence, the warmth, and ostentation of Nottingham;
the probity and popularity of Shrewsbury. Godol
phin, 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 re
publican in his principles. Delamere, chancellor of
the exchequer, promoted in the sequel to the rank of
Earl of Warrington, was close and mercenary. Ob
sequiousness, fidelity, and attachment to his master,

1689.

The con
vention converted
into a par
liament.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, composed the character of Bentinck, whom the king
^' raised to the dignity of Earl of Portland. The Eng
lish 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 en
nobled, and afterwards created Earl of Romney ; a title
which he enjoyed with several successive posts of profit
and importance. The stream of honour and prefer
ment ran strong in favour of the whigs, and this ap
pearance of partiality confirmed the suspicion and re
sentment of the opposite party.
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 sanc
tion, 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 de
termined 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 prac
tised". He assured them he should never take any
° This expedient was attended with an unsurmountable absurdity. If the ma
jority of the Convention could not grant a legal sanction to the establishment they
had made, they could never invest the Prince of Orange with a just right to ascend
the throne ; for they could not give what they had no right to bestow ; and if he
ascended the throne without a just title, he could have no right to sanctify that
assembly to which he owed his elevation. When the people are obliged, by tyranny,
or otber accidents, to have recourse to the firet principles of society, namely, their own
preservation, iu electing a new sovereign, it will deserve consideration, whetherthat
choice is to be effected by the majority of a Parliament which has been- dissolved,
indeed by any Parliament whatsoever, or by the body of the nation, assembled in
communities, corporations, by tribes, or centuries, to signify their assent or dissent
with respect to the pereon proposed as their sovereign. This kind of election might
be attended with great inconvenience and difficulty, but these cannot possibly be
avoided when the constitution is dissolved by setting aside the lineal succession to
the throne. The constitution of England is founded on a Parliament consisting of
King, Lords, and Commons : but when there is no longer a king, the Parliament
is defective, and the constitution impaired ; the members of the Lower House are
the representatives of the people, expressly chosen to maintain the constitution in
church and state, and sworn to support the rights ofthe crown, as well as the liber
ties of the nation ; but though they are elected to maintain, they have no power to
alter the constitution. When the king foifeits the allegiance of his subjects, and
it becomes necessai-y to dethrone him, 3ie power of so doing cannot possibly reside
in the representatives who are chosen, under certain limitations, for the purposes of
a legislature which no longer exists ; their power is of course at an end, and they are
reduced to a level with other individuals that constitute the community. The right

WILLIAM AND MARY.

step that would diminish the good opinion they had chap.
conceived of his integrity. He told them that Hoi- ''

land was in such a situation as required their imme- 1689.
diate attention and assistance; that the posture of
affairs at home likewise demanded their serious con
sideration ; 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 ad
mit of the least delay in their deliberations : he, there
fore, begged they would be speedy and effectual in
concerting such measures as should be judged indis
pensably 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 par-
of altering the constitution, therefore, or of deviating from the established practice
of inheritance in regard to the succession of the crown, is inherent in the body of
the people, and every individual has an equal right to his share in the general deter
mination, whether his opinion be signified viva voce, or by a representative whom he
appoints and instructs for the purpose. It may be suggested, that the Prince of
Orange was raised to the throne without any convulsion, or any such difficulties and
inconveniences as we have assumed to be the necessary consequences of a raeasure
of that nature. To this remark we answer, that since the Revolution, these kingdoms
have been divided and harassed by violent and implacable factions, that eagerly seek
the destruction of each other : that they have been exposed to plots, conspiracies,
insurrections, civil wai-s, and successive rebellions, which have not been defeated
and quelled without vast effusion of blood, infinite mischief, calamity, and expense
to the nation ; that they are still subjected to all those alarms and dangere which
are engendered by a disputed title to the throne, and the efforts of an artftil pre
tender ; that they are necessarily wedded to the affairs of the continent, and their
interests sacrificed to foreign connexions, from which they can never be disengaged.
Perhaps all these calamities might have been prevented by the interposition ofthe
Prince of Orange. King James, without forfeiting the crown, might have been laid
under such restrictions that it would not have been in his power to tyrannize over
his subjects either in spirituals or temporals. The power of the militia might
have been vested in the two Houses of Parliament, as well as the nomination of
persons to fill the great offices ofthe church and state, and superintend the economy
of the administration, in the application of the public money i a law might have
been. passed for annual parliaments, and the king might have been deprived of his
power to convoke, adjourn, prorogue, anddissolve them at his pleasure. Had these
measures been taken, the king must have been absolutely disabled from employing
either foi"Ce or corruption in the prosecution of arbitrary designs, and the people
must have been fairly represented in a rotation of parliaments, whose power and
influence would have been but of one year's duration.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, liament. In the mean time, Mr. Hambden, in the
" lower house, put the question. Whether a king elected
1689. 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 au
thority, 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 de
duced 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 ap
pointed 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 par
liament to all intents and purposes : it likewise or
dained. 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. i
James ; for which term the greater part of it had been chap.
granted. The members ih the opposition affirmed,  '. 
that these grants were vacated with the throne ; and 1689.
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 for-thwith 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 Can
terbury ; 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, Lichfield, 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 com
prehension, by which moderate dissenters might be
reconciled to the church, and admitted into ecclesiastical
benefices. Such bills were actually prepared and pre
sented 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 Non
jurors. 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
indefeasible right of sovereigns.
This faction had already begun to practise against Mutiny in

10 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. ll^Q new government. The king having received some
intimation of their designs from intercepted letters,
1689. 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 con
duct 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-cm'pus 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 de
tain 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 mi
nistry, who were divided among themselves, and wa
vered in their principles. However, they seized 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.

WILLIAM AND MARY. II
The coronation oath'' being altered and explained, chap.
that ceremony was performed on the eleventh day of.

April, the Bishop of London officiating, at the king's 1689.
desire, in the room of the metropolitan, who was a natira°and
malecontent ; and next day the Commons, in a body, abolition of
waited on the king and queen at Whitehall, with an money.
address of congratulation. William, with a view to
conciliate the affection 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 df 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.
He had, in his answer to their former address, assured The com-
' 1-iii mons vote
them or his constant regard to the rights and pro- a sum of
sperity of the nation : he had explained the exhausted ?J^"^yJ?
state of the Dutch ; expatiated upon the zeal of that the Dutch.
republic for the interest 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 con
siderable army and fleet would be necessary for the re-
¦i The new form ofthe coronation-oath consisted in the following questions and
answers : " Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this king
dom of England, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes
in parliament agreed on, and the laws and customs of the same ?"
" 1 solemnly promise so to do."
" Will you, to the utmost of your power, cause law and justice in mercy to be
executed in all your judgments ?" " I will."—" Will you, to the utmost of your
power, maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Pro
testant reformed religion as by law established ? and will you preserve unto the
bishops and clergy of this realm, and to the churches committed to then- charge,
all such rights and privileges as, by law, do or shall appertain unto them, or any
of them ?"
" All this I promise to do."
Then the King or Queen, laying his or her hand upon the Gospels, shall say,
" The things which I have here before promised I will perform and keep. So help
me God."

12 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, duction of Ireland, and the protection of Britain ; and
'¦ he desired they would settle the revenue in such a man-

1689. ner, that it might be collected without difficulty and dis
pute. 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 maintain
ing 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 admi
nistration. The whigs were resolved to supply him
gradually, that he raight be the more dependent upon
their zeal and attachment : but he was not at all
pleased with their precaution.
William's William was naturally biassed to Calvinism, and
vour ofthe' averse to persecution. Whatever promises he had
dissenters, made, and whatever sentiments of respect he had en
tertained 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 absent
ing themselves from parlianient, 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 ca
pable 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 su
premacy : 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 13
clause was inserted in the bill for abrogating the old chap.
and appointing the new oaths, by which the sacra- "
mental test was declared unnecessary in rendering any 1689.
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 iu 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 ex
ample influenced the kingdom in general, and the
youth of the nation were formed under their instruc
tion. After a long and warm debate, all the mitiga
tion 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 ex
plicit. 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 en
tire deprivation, in case they should not take them be
fore the expiration of this term. They generally com-

14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, plied, though with such reservations and distinctions
' as were not much for the honour of their sincerity.
1689. The king, though baffled in his design against the
toilmtion. 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 dissent
ing 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 IL, 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 con
stable, 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 dissent
ing protestants, who should take the oaths, subscribe
the declaration, together with all the articles of reli
gion, except the thirty-fourth and the two succeeding
articles, and part of the twentieth, should be exempted
from the penalties decreed against nonconformists, 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 re
jected the proposal of some zealots, who exhorted him
to enact severe laws against popish recusants. Such a

WILLIAM AND MARY. 15
measure, he observed, would alienate all the papists of chap.
Europe from the interests of England, and might pro

duce a new catholic league, which would render the 1689.
war a religious quarrel : besides, he could 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 vrith
lenity; and though they were not comprehended in
the act, they enjoyed the benefit of the toleration.
We have observed, that, in consequence of the mo- violent dis-
tion made by the bishops when they withdrew from thebiiifOTa
parliament, a bill was brought into the House of Lords comprehen-
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 vio
lent, 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 eccle
siastical affairs as might be the means of healing di
visions, and correcting whatever might be erroneous
or defective in the constitution." A great number
of the temporal lords insisted warmly on this addi
tion, 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 sacri
fice was destroyed by the arguments he had used for
dispensing with the posture of kneeling at the sacra
ment; and by his proposing, in another proviso of
the bill, that the subscribers, instead of expressing
assent and consent, should only submit with a promise
of conformity.
The bill was with difficulty passed in the House of The Com-
Lords : but the Commons treated it with neglect. By dress the
this time, a great number of malecontent members, who tingtosum-
' o 1-1 mon a con-
had retired from parliament, were returned, with a vocation of
the clergy.

16 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, view to thwart the administration, though they could
.not prevent the settlement. Instead of proceeding

1689. vi^ith the bill, they presented an address to the king,
thanking him for his gracious declaration, and re
peated 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, ac
cording 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 sum
mon 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, lest they should be
stigmatized as enemies to the church ; and a great
number of the most eminent presbyterians were 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 mis
carried. 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.
Settiement The ucxt object that engrossed the attention of the
t e reve- pariiament was the settlement of a revenue for the
siqiport 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

nue.

WILLIAM AND MARY. I7
often embezzled and misapplied, it was now resolved chap.
that a certain sum should be set apart for the main- ''
tenance of the king's household, and the support of 1689.
his dignity ; and that the rest of the public money
should be employed under the inspection of parlia
ment. Accordingly, since this period, the Commons
have appropriated the yearly supplies to certain spe
cified 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. Li pur
suance of this maxim, when the revenue fell under
consideration, they, on pretence of charges and anti
cipations 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 dow
ager, 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 kiuff took umbrage at these restraints laid The king
upon the application of the public money, which were brage at the
the most salutary fruits of the revolution. He con- Pfj^g^^,,"^
sidered them as marks of diffidence, by which he was party.
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 adver
saries, 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
ofthe king and the lords-lieutenants of counties. These
being generally peers, the bill was suffered to lie neg-
VOL. I. /fc. c

18

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. I.
1689.

Heats and
animosities about the
bill of in-
demnitv.

lected 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 prof
fers of service to his majesty: but complained at the
same time, that as they were in danger of being pro
secuted 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.
These remonstrances made such impression on the
king, that he sent a message to the house by Mr. Hamb
den, 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
liis consort, and the settlement and welfare of the na
tion. An address of thanks to his majesty was unani
mously voted. Nevertheless, his design was frustrated
by the backwardness of the whigs, who proceeded so
slowly in the bill, that it could not be brought to ma
turity 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 mean time, restrain them from opposition,
by the terror of impending vengeance. They affected
to insinuate that the king's design was to raise the pre
rogative as high as it had been in the preceding reigns ;
and that he for this purpose pressed an act of indem
nity, by virtue of which he might legally use the
instruments of the late tyranny. The Earls of Mon
mouth and Warrington industriously infused these jea
lousies into the minds of their party: on the other
haud, the Earl of Nottingham inflamed William's dis
trust of his old friends : both sides succeeded in kin
dling 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.
It Avas now judged expedient to pass an act for

WILLIAM AND MARY. 19
settling the succession of the crown, according to the chap.
former resolution of the convention. A bill for this '

purpose was brought into the LoAver House, with a clause 1689.
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, wljere
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 Eng
land, 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
dropped for the present, in consequence of an event
which in a gi-eat measure dissipated the fears of a popish
successor. This was the delivery of the Princess Anne, ^"Ig^of*^
who, on the twenty-seventh day of July, brought forth Gloucester.
a son, christened by the name of William, and after
wards created Duke of Gloucester.
In the midst of these domestic disputes, William did ^^
not neglect the affairs of the continent. He retained nent.
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 com
mitted numberless infractions of the treaties of Mun
ster, 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 advan
tageous terms, and proceed to an open rupture with
c2

Affairs of
conti-

20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Louis ; in which case, they would consider it as a war
^' of the empire, and support their head in the most

1689. effectual manner. The states-general published a de
claration against the common enemy, taxing him with
manifold infractions of the treaty of commerce ; with
having involved the subjects of the republic in the per
secution 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 Brandenburgh 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 de
clared 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 bar
barous acts of cruelty and oppression ; and of having
intrigued with the enemies of Christ for the destruc
tion ofthe 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,
Munster, and the Pyrenees, should have been vindi
cated: that in case of a negotiation for a peace or
truce, the transactions on both sides should be com
municated bond fide : and that Spain and England
should be invited to accede to the treaty. In a sepa
rate 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 2]
Utmost force against France, should she attempt to chap.
oppose his elevation.

William, who was the soul of this confederacy, found 1689.
no difficulty in persuading the English to undertake a ^^"J^'
war against their old enemies and rivals. On the six- against
teenth 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 Com
mons 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 he would
seriously consider the destmctive 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 wel
come 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 en
croached 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

22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, armament to Ireland, in support of the rebels of that
" kingdom.

1689. Having thus described the progress of the revolution
Proceedings in England, we shall now briefly explain the measures
Mention of" that Were prosecuted in Scotland, towards the establish-
Scotiand. ment 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, de
clared 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 par
tisans 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
Tweeddale 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 negotiation proving ineffectual, tbe 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 23
persons were forbid, under the same penalties, to aid, chap.
succour, or correspond with him ; and the castle was '
blocked up with the troops of the city. 1689.
Next day an express arrived from London, with a Letters to
letter from King William to the estates ; and, at the don from"'
same time, another from James was presented by one King wii-
Crane, an English domestic of the abdicated queen. :S™gjames.
William observed, that he had called a meeting of their
estates at the desire of the nobility and gentry of Scotian d
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 govern
ment, laws, and liberties of the kingdom. Having
taken this precaution, they proceeded to examine the
letter of the late sovereign, who conjured them to sup
port 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 speedy
and powerful assistance as would enable them to de
fend themselves from any foreign attempt ; and even
to assert his right against those enemies who had de
pressed 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

24 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, should stand out in rebellion against him and his au-
" thority.
1689. This address produced very little efTect in favour of
The con- the Unfortunate exile, whose friends were greatly out-
cognTze the numbered in this assembly. His messenger was ordered
authority of into custody, and afterwards dismissed with a pass in-
ifamf ^''" stead of an answer. James, foreseeing this contempt,
had, by an instrument dated in Ireland, authorized the
Archbishop of Glasgow, the Earl of Balcarras, and the
Viscount Dundee, to call a convention of the estates at
Stirling. These tliree 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 con
vention, 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, pre
vented 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 ap
proved and recognised, by a solemn act, the conduct
of the nobility and gentlemen who had entreated the
King of England to take upon him the administra
tion. They acknowledged their obligation to the
Prince of Orange, who had prevented the destruction
of their laws, religion, and ftindamental constitution ;
they besought his highness to assume the reins of go
vernment for that kingdom : they issued a proclama
tion, 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 at
tainted for having been concerned in Argyle's insur
rection : 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 25
from England, under the command of Mackay, whom chap.
they appointed their general ; and they issued orders

for securing all disaffected persons. Then they de- 1689.
spatched 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 esta
blishing 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 pro
tection. After the departure of Lord Ross, they appointed ^3"va-
a coinmittee, consisting of eight lords, eight knights, cant, and
and as many burgesses, to prepare the plan of a new settlement
settlement : but this resolution was not taken without passed.
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 sub
version of the protestant religion, and violation of the
laws and liberties of the nation, inverting all the ends
of government ; whereby he had forefaulted 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 over
ruled, and the house confirmed the vote, which was

26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, immediately enacted into a law by a great majority.
" The lord president declared the throne vacant, and
1689. 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 govern
ment for securing the subjects from the grievances
under which they laboured.
Crown ten. Qu the eleventh day of April, this act, with the
and^ac-° couditious' of inheritance, and the instrument, were
cepted by reported, considered, unanimously approved, and so-
I iam. jgQ-^jjiy 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 Queens
berry, 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 au
thority of King William and Queen Mary ; or to mis
construe the proceedings of the estates, or create jea
lousies or misapprehensions with regard to the trans
actions of the government, on pain of incurring the
most severe penalties. Then, having settled the coro
nation 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 dis
cussed, 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 govern
ment, with a paper containing a recital ofthe 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 coro
nation oath was tendered to their majesties by the Earl

WILLIAM AND MARY. 27
of Argyle. As it contained a clause, importing, that chap.
they should root out heresy, the king declared that he .

did not mean by these words, that he should be under 1689.
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.
In the mean time, Lord Dundee exerted himself with Convention
uncommon activity in behalf of his master. He had grievances.
been summoned by a trumpet to return to the conven
tion, but 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 presbyterians, 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 sur
rounded 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 Mel vil, a weak and servile nobleman, who had
taken refuge in Holland from the violences of the late
reigns : but the king depended chiefly for advice upon
Dalrymple Lord Stair, president ofthe college of justice,
an old crafty fanatic, who for fifty years had complied
in all things with all governments. Though these
were rigid presbyterians, the king, to humour the op
posite party, admitted some individuals ofthe 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 con-

28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, vention, in their detail of grievances, enumerated the
" lords of the articles ; the act of parliament in the reign
1689. 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, con
sented to the regulation of the lords of the articles,
though he would not allow the institution to be abro
gated ; 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 On the seventeenth day of June, Duke Hamilton
Scotland. Opened the Scottish parliament, after the convention
Dissatkfac- ^ad assumcd this name, in consequence of an act passed
Scots. by his majesty's direction ; but the members in general
were extremely chagrined when they found the com
missioners so much restricted in the affair of the lords
of the articles, which they considered as their chief
grievance °. 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 re
mained. Their discontents were not even appeased
by the passing of an act abolishing prelacy. Indeed
their resentment was inflamed by another considera
tion, namel)^ that of the king's having given seats in
the council to some individuals attached to the hier
archy. They manifested their sentiments on this sub-
' The lords of the articles, by the gradual usurpation of the crown, actually con
stituted a grievance intolerable in a free nation. The king empowered the com
missioner to choose eight bishops, whom he authorized to nominate eight noblemen:
these together chose eight barons and eight burgesses ; and this whole number, in
conjunction vvith the officers of state as supernumeraries, constituted the lords ofthe
articles. This committee possessed the sole exclusive right and liberty of bringing
in motions, making overtures for redressing wrongs, and proposing means and ex
pedients for the relief, safety, and benefit of the subjects. Proceedings of the
Scots Parliament vindicated.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 29
ject by bringing in a bill, excluding from any public chap.
trust, place, or employment under their majesties, all .

such as had been concerned in the encroachments of 1689.
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 pro
secuted with great warmth ; and the bill passed through
all the forms of the house, but proved ineffectual, for
want of the royal assent.
Nor were they less obstinate in the affair of the violent dis-
judges, whom the king had ventured to appoint by Scottish
virtue of his prerogative. The malecontents brought Parliament.
in a bill declaring the bench vacant, as it was at the
restoration ; asserting their own right to examine and
approve those who should be appointed to fill it ; pro
viding, 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 Parlia
ment 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,
forbad 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. ^^^ g^^^^
The lord commissioner, alarmed at this scene oftishParfia-
tumult and confusion, adjourned the House till the P™*^'^^-
eighth day of October ; a step, which, added to the a remo'n-
other unpopular measures of the court, incensed the f/^^^tP'^'
the king.

30 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, opposition to a violent degree. They drew up a re-
. monstrance to the king, complaining of this adjourn-

1689. ment, 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 ar
ticles; beseeching him to consider what they had re
presented, to give his royal assent to the acts of parlia
ment which they had prepared, and take measures for
redressing all the other grievances ofthe 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 commis
sioner ; 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 king
dom were supplied aud 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 castie The scssiou was no sooner adjourned than Sir John
burgh be- Lanier converted the blockade of Edinburgh-castle
^^sedand 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 ammu
nition expended, his defences destroyed, his intelligence
entirely cut off", and despairing of relief from the ad
herents of his master, desired to capitulate, and obtained
very favourable terms for his garrison : but he would

WILLIAM AND MARY. 31
not stipulate any conditions for himself, declaring, that chap.
he had so much respect for all the princes descended ^'
from King James VI. that he would not affront any 1689.
of them so far as to insist upon terms for his own par
ticular ; 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 regi
ment of Scottish dragoons would desert their 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 Lochabar. 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
dependants, who seized the castle of Blair for Dundee,
and prevailed upon the Athol men to disperse, rather
than fight against James their lawful sovereign.
The viscount was by this time reduced to great dif- The troops
, ficulty and distress. His men had not for many weeks wiiiiam de-
tasted bread or salt, or any drink but water : instead ^^^^^ *'
of five hundred infantry, three hundred horse, with a kie.
supply of arms, ammunition, and provision, which .lames
had promised to send from Ireland, he received a rein
forcement of three hundred naked recruits; but the
transports with the stores fell into the hands of the
English. Though this was a mortifying disappoint
ment, 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 siege 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 re
ceived and returned the fire of the English, fell in

32 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- among them sword in hand with such impetuosity,
that the foot were utterly broke in seven minutes. The

1689. dragoons fled at the first charge in the utmost con
sternation: Dundee's horse, not exceeding one hun
dred, 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 precipi
tation for some hours, until they were rallied by their
general, who was an officer of approved courage, con
duct, and experience. Nothing could be more com
plete or decisive than the victory which the Highlanders
obtained ; yet it was dearly 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 dis
grace. 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.
Saif^r ^^^^^' *^^® sketch of Scottish affairs, it will be neces-
ceived by sary to take a retrospective view of James, and relate
the French the particulars of his expedition to Ireland. That un
fortunate 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 under
took, 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 under
standing. He seems to have been emasculated by re
ligion : he was deserted by that courage and magna-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 33
nimity for which his youth had been distinguished, chap.
He did not discover great sensibility at the loss of his "
kingdom. All his faculties were swallowed up in 1689.
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
bim with indulgences, 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. All the hope of re-ascending the British throne Tyrconnel
depended upon his friends in Scotland and Ireland. '^^^K^ng
Tyrconnel, who commanded in this last kingdom, was wiiUam.
confirmed in his attachment to James, by the persua
sions of Hamilton, who had undertaken for his sub
mission to the Prince of Orange. Nevertheless, he
disguised his sentiments, and temporised with William,
until James should be able to supply him with rein
forcements from France, which he earnestly solicited
by private messages. In the mean time, 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 con
fided, and Baron Rice, to go in person with a com
mission 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 ar
rival at Paris, instead of being favoured with an audi
ence 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 in
tentions 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 Maintenou, the
favourite concubine. To this nobleman, as secretary
VOL. I. D

34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, for marine affairs, James made his chief application ;
^' and he had promised the command of the troops de-
1689. stined for his service to Lausun, whom Louvois hated.
For these reasons this minister thwarted his measures,
and retarded the assistance which Louis had promised
toward his restoration.
James ar- Yet, notwithstanding all his opposition, the succours
land!'" '^^' 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'
and a good number of French officers, who were em
barked 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 per
ceiving himself amused by Tyrconnel, had published a
' James in this expedition was attended by the Duke of Berwick and by his
brother, Mr. Fitzjames, grand prior, tbe Duke of Powis, the Earis of Dover, Mel-
fort, Abercorn, and Seaforth ; the Lords Henry and Thoraas Howard, the Lords
Drummond, Dungan, Trendraught, Buchan, Hundson, and Brittas ; the Bishops
of Chester and Galway; the late Lord Chief- Justice Herbert; the Marquis
D'Estrades, M. de Rosene, mareschal de champ; Mamoe, Pusignan, and Lori,
lieutenant-generals; Prontee, engineer-general ; the Marquis d' Abbeville, Sir John
Sparrow, Sir Roger Strictland, Sir WiUiam Jennings, Sir Henry Bond, Sir
Charles Carney, Sir Edward Vaudrey, Sir Charles Murray, Sir Robert Parker,
Sir Alphonso Maiolo, Sir Samuel Foxon, and Sir William Wallis ; by the Colonels
Porter, Sarsfield, Anthony, and John Harailton, Simon and Henry Luttrel,
Ramsay, Dorrington, Sutheriand, Clifford, Parker, Purcel, Cannon, and Field
ing, with about two-and-twenty other officei-s of inferior rank.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 35
declaration, requiring the Irish to lay down their arms, chap.
and submit to the new government. On the twenty- "
second day of February, thirty ships of war had been put 1689.
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 Tyr
connel. 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.
In the latter end of March, James made his public James is-
entry into Dublin, amidst the acclamations of the in- prociama-
habitants. He was met at the castle-gate by a pro- *^^^^^
cession of popish bishops and priests in their pontificals,
bearing the host, which he publicly adored. He dis
missed 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 Dorrington,
and, by degrees, the principal noblemen who accom
panied 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 acknowledgment to his ca
tholic 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 pro
visions ; and prohibited the soldiers to take any thing
d2

36 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, without payment. By the fourth he raised the value
" of the current coin ; and in the fifth he summoned a
1689. Parliament to meet on the seventh day of May at
Dublin. Finally, he created Tyrconnel a duke, in
consideration of his eminent services.
Siege of The adherents of James in England pressed him to
d'e""'^""' 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 so
licitations, 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 ac
cordingly 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 Cole-
raine, invested Killmore, and was almost in sight of
Londonderry. George Walker, rector of Donagh-
more, 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
Crafton, 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 37
retreat. An officer was immediately despatched to chap.
King James, with proposals of a negotiation; nnd
Lieutenant-General Hamilton agreed that the army 1689.
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 re
ception 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 in
censed at the members of the council of war, who had
resolved to abandon the place, that they threatened
immediate vengeance. Cunningham and Richards re
tired 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 cow
ardice 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.
After his retreat the townsmen chose Mr. Walker The inha-
and Major Baker for their governors, with joint au-fen'd'them-
thority ; but this office they would not undertake, until ^^i™^ ™ti»
it had been offered to Colonel Cunningham, as the courage"^
officer next in command to Lundy. He reiected the ^""^ P^"^^-
'VQTBXiCGt
proposal, and with Richards returned to England,
where they were immediately cashiered. The two new
governors thus abandoned to their fate, began to pre
pare 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 disci
pline : they were destitute of provisions : they were
besieged by a king in pierson, at the head of a for
midable 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

38 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, were made with great impetuosity ; but the besiegers
^' were always repulsed with considerable loss. The
1689. townsmen gained divers advantages in repeated sallies,
and would have held their enemies in the utmost con
tempt, had they not been afflicted with a contagious
distemper, as well as reduced to extremity, by want of
provision. 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 reinforce
ment 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 far
vour, when joined by the troops at Inniskillin, which
amounted to five thousand men, including two thou-
sand 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 cou
rage 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 Michelburn, who now
acted as colleague to Mr. Walker.
Rosene the ^^°§' J^™*^^ haviiig returned to Dublin, to be pre-
French'ge- scut at the Parhament, the command of his army de
volved to the French General Rosene, who was exas
perated 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

neral.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 39
the last remains of their provision, and supported life chap.
by eating the flesh of horses, dogs, cats, rats, mice, ^'
tallow, starch, and salted hides, and even this loathsome 1689.
food began to fail. Rosene, finding them 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 in
formed of this design, complained to King James of
the barbarous intention, entreating his majesty to pre
vent its being put in execution. That prince assured
him that he had already ordered Rosene to desist from
such proceedings. Nevertheless, the. Frenchman exe
cuted 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 ob
jects were driven under the walls of Londonderry.
This expedient, far from answering the purpose of
Rosene, produced a quite contrary effect. The be
sieged 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, im
porting, 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 im
mediately dismissed. This threat produced a negotia
tion, in consequence of which the Protestants were
released, after they had been detained three days with
out 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 ifrom King James, to which no
respect was paid by his general.
The garrison of Londonderry was now reduced from

40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, seven to five thousand seven hundred men, and these
" were driven to such extremity of distress, that they
1689. began to talk of killing the popish inhabitants, and
de°r^ rel feeding ou their bodies. In this emergency, Kirke,
lieved by vi'ho had hithorto lain inactive, ordered two ships laden
with provisions to sail up the river, under convoy of
the Dartmouth frigate. One of these, 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 inex
pressible 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 em
bark for England, with an address of thanks from the
inhabitants to their majesties for the seasonable relief
they had received.
The Innis- The Iiiniskilliners were no less remarkable than the
killiners de- ij>tji j>ii i i
featandtake psopie 01 Londonderry tor the valour and perseverance
General 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 op
position. The Lord Gilmoy invested the castle of
Crom belonging to the Protestants in the neighbour
hood of Inniskillin, the inhabitants of which threw
succours into the place, and compelled Gilmoy to re
tire to Belturbet. A detachment of the garrison, com
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd, took and de
molished 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 Montcashel.
thelrish"^ The Irish Parliament being assembled at Dubhn,
Parliament, 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 41
generosity of the French king, who had enabled him chap.
to visit them in person ; insisted upon executing his .

design of establishing liberty of conscience as a step 1689.
equally agreeable to the dictates of humanity and dis
cretion, 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 acknowledg
ments to the Most Christian King, for the generous
assistance he had given to their sovereign. These ad
dresses being drawn up, with the concurrence of both
Houses, a bill was brought in to recognize the king's
title, to express their abhorrence 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 im
partiality 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
vrith 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.
His conduct, however, very ill agreed with his de- ^g^JJj^^f *'
claration; nor can it be excused on any other sup- settlement.
position, 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 set
tlement, 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 their rebellion. This iniquitous bill was framed
in such a manner, that no regard was paid to such

42 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, protestant owners as had purchased estates for valuable
' considerations : no allowance was made for improve-
1689. ments, 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 pre
sented to the king by the Earl of Granard : but notwith
standing these remonstrances, it received the royal as
sent: and the Protestants of Ireland were mostly ruined.
Pass an act Yet, iu Order to complete their destruction, an
against ab- act of attainder was passed against all Protestants,
sentees. whether male or female, whether of high or low de
gree, who were absent from the kingdom, as well as
against all those who retired into any part of the three
kingdoms, who did not own the authority of King
James, or correspond with rebels, or were any ways
aiding, abetting, or assisting to 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 inde
pendent of the EngHsh Parliament. This assembly
passed another act, granting twenty thousand pounds
per annum, out of the forfeited estates, to Tyrconnel,
iu acknowledgment of his signal services ; they im
posed a tax of twenty thousand pounds per month
for the service of the king: the royal assent was
given to an act for hberty 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 43
away ; and all dissenters were exempted from eccle- chap.
siastical jurisdictions. So that the established church '
was deprived of all power and prerogative ; notwith- 1689.
standing the express promise of James, who had de
clared, immediately after his landing, that he would
maintain the clergy in their rights and privileges.
Nor was the king less arbitrary in the executive part ^^"^^ ™'"^
„, . , ¦ <• ,1 basemoney.
or his government, it we suppose that he countenanced The Pro-
the grievous acts of oppression that were daily com- j^g^^j °^
mitted upon the protestant subjects of Ireland : but the cmeiiy op-
tyranny of his proceedings may be justly imputed to P^^^^^"^-
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 per
mitted to live upon free quarter : the people were
robbed and plundered : licences and protections were
abused, in order to extort money from the trading
part of the nation. The king's old stores were ran
sacked : 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 merchandise, 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 adjourn
ment 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 ex
cusable, as he might have obtained the money in a
parliamentary way. Understanding that the Protest
ants had laid out all their brass money, in purchasing

44 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, great quantities of hides, tallow, wool, and corn, he
" assumed the despotic power of fixing the prices of these
1689. commodities, and then bought them for his own use.
One may see, his ministers were bent upon the utter
destruction of those unhappy people.
churchesare ^^^ vacancies iu public schools were supplied with
seizedbythe popisli teaclicrs. The pension allowed from the ex-
and^heTie choquer to the university of Dublin was cut off: the
forbid to as- vicc-provost, fellows, aiid scholars were expelled : their
pain of °° furniture, plate, and public library, were seized, with-
death. out the least shadow of pretence, and in direct violation
of a promise the king had made to preserve their pri
vileges and immunities. His officers converted the
college into a garrison, the chapel into a magazine, and
the apartments into prisons : a popish priest was ap
pointed provost : one Macarty of the same persuasion
was made library-keeper : and the whole foundation
was changed into a catholic seminary. When bishop
rics 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 neg
lected. 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, for
bidding 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, go
vernor 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.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 45
Brigadier Sarsfield commanded all Protestants of a cer- chap.
tain district to retire to the distance of ten miles from  '. 

their habitations, on pain of death ; and, in order to 1689.
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.
All the revenues of Ireland, and all the schemes ^^l^
contrived to bolster up the credit of the base coin, worsted by
would have proved insufficient to support the expenses ^ggt'^Jn^an
of the war, had not James received occasional sup- engage-
plies from the French monarch. After the return of g^^*^"^'
the fleet which had conveyed him to Ireland, Louis bay.
sent another strong squadron, commanded by Chateau
Renault, 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 Milford-haven, from whence he steered
his course to Kinsale, 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 Bantrey-bay, and stood in to engage them,
though they were greatly superior to him in number.
They no sooner perceived him at daybreak, 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

46 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, victor could not reap much glory. Herbert retired to
' the isles of Scilly, where he expected a reinforcement ;
1689. 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 for
merly 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.
Burnet. King William, in order to appease their discontent,
K^ng! ^ made an excursion to Portsmouth, where he dined
Beicarres. .^^^j^ ^^le admiral on board the ship Elizabeth, declared
ette. his intention of creating him an earl, in consideration
Voltaire. ^^ j^ig g^^^j couduct 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 sen- The Parliament of England thought it incumbent
att"a!ndere upou them, uot oiily to raise supplies for the mainte-
reversedin nauce of the War in which the nation was involved,
ar amen . ^^^ ^j^^ ^^ ^^ justice with rospect to thoso 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 Devon
shire, who in the late reign had been fined thirty thou
sand pounds, for assaulting Colonel Culpepper in the
presence chamber. They reported that the court of
King's Bench, in over-ruling the eail's plea of privilege
of Parliament, had committed a manifest breach of pri
vilege: that the fine was excessive and exorbitant,
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 hun-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 47
dred pounds a year; but the father never obtained ^"j^^-
any ecclesiastical benefice. Titus Gates seized this.

opportunity of petitioning the House of Lords for a 1689-
reversal of the judgment given against him on his
being convicted of perjury. The opinions of all the
j'udges and counsel at the bar were heard on this sub
ject, and a bill of reversal passed the Commons : but
the peers having inserted some amendment and a pro
viso, a conference was demanded, and violent heats
ensued. Oates, however, was released from confine
ment; and the Lords, with the consent of the Com
mons, 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 Mon
mouth ; 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, en
deavoured 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.
Nor did the misconduct of the present ministry inq^'ir'n'o
escape the animadversion of the Parliament. The miscar-
Lords having addressed the king to put the Isle of ^jj^^*™
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
Caermarthen and Halifax. They presented an address
to the king, desiring the minute-book of the committee

48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, for Irish affairs might be put into their hands ; but his
' majesty declined gratifying them in this particular :
1689. 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. How, vice-chamberlain to the queen, had
moved for an address against such counsellors as had
been impeached in Parliament, and betrayed the liber
ties of the nation. — This motion was levelled at Caer
marthen and Halifax, the first of whom had been for
merly 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 of 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 ex
posed, 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 ad
dress to the king, desiring him to secure and disarm
all Papists of note ; and they brought in a bill for at
tainting several persons in rebellion against their ma
jesties : but it was not finished during this session.
in'this^se?'^ Another bill being prepared in the House of Lords,
sbnof Par- eujoiniug the subjects to wear the woollen manufacture
liament.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 49
at certain seasons of the year, a petition was presented chap.
against it by the silk-weavers of London and Canter- ^'
bury, assembled in a tumultuous manner at Westmin- 1689.
ster. 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 uni
versities the presentations belonging to Papists.: those
of the southern counties being given to Oxford ; and
those of the northern to Cambridge, on certain speci
fied conditions. Courts of conscience were erected at
Bristol, Gloucester, and Newcastle; and that of the
Marches of Wales was abolished, as an intolerable op
pression. The protestant clergymen, who had been
forced to leave their benefices in Ireland, were ren
dered capable of holding any living in England, with
out 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 mul
tiplying 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 import
ance, being passed, the two Houses adjourned to the
twentieth day of September, and afterwards to the
nineteenth day of October.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAPTER II.
Duke of Schomberg lands with an Army in Ireland. — The Inniskil
liners 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 Patochin,
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 ofthe Convocation. — Their Session discon
tinued by repeated Prorogations. — Proceedings in Parliament. —
The Whigs obstruct the Bill of Indemnity. — The Commons re
sume the Inquiry into the Cause of the Miscarriages in Ireland. —
King William irritated against the Whigs. — Plot against the Go
vernment by Sir James Montgomery discovered by Bishop Burnet.
— Warm Debates in Parliament about the Corporation-bill. — The
King resolves to finish the Irish War in Person. — General Ludlow
arrives in England, but is obliged to AA'ithdra^^-. — Efforts of the
Jacobites in Scotland. — The Court Interest triumphs over all Op
position in that Country. — The Tor}' Interest prevails in the new
Parliament of England. — Bill for recognizing their Majesties. — ¦
Another violent Contest about the Bill of Abjuration. — King Wil
liam lands in Ireland. — King James marches to the Boyne. —
William resolves to give him Battle. — Battle ofthe Boyne. — Death
and Character of Schomberg. — James embarks for France. — Wil
liam enters Dublin and publishes his Declaration. — The French
obtain a Victory over the English and Dutch Fleets off Beechy
Head. — ^Torrington committed Prisoner to the Tower. — Progress
of WiUiam in Ireland. — He invests Limerick ; but is obliged to
raise the Siege, and returns to England. — Cork and Kinsale re
duced by the Earl of Marlborough. — Lauzun 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 Komans. — Death of the Duke of Lorraine. —
Progress of the War against the Turks. — Meeting of the Parlia
ment. — The Commons comply with all the King's Demands. — Pe
tition 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.
CHAP. Though the affairs of Ireland were extremely press-
 '.  ing, and the Protestants of that country had made re-
Dukfof P^^*®^ application for relief, the succours were retarded
Schomberg either by disputes among the ministers, or the neglect
lands with of those who had the management of the expedition, in
ireS'" such a manner that King James had been six months

WILLIAM AND MARY. 51
in Ireland before the army was embarked for that chap.
kingdom. At length eighteen regiments of infantry,

and five of dragoons, being raised for that service, a 1689.
train of artillery provided, and transports prepared, the
Duke of Schomberg, on whom King William had con
ferred 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 thou
sand 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-day of the month, when the breaches
being practicable, the besieged capitulated, on con
dition 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 Hillsbo
rough, and encamped at Drummore, where the Protest
ants of the North had been lately routed by Hamilton :
thence he proceeded to Loughbrillane, where he was
joined by the horse and dragoons of InniskiUin. Then
the enemy abandoned Newry and Dundalk, in the
neighbourhood of which Schomberg 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.
His army, consisting chiefly of new raised men little ^{j?,'j^"^.
inured to hardship, began to flag under the fatigue of tain a vic-
marching, the inclemency of the weather, and scarcity J^^wdl
of provision. Here he was reinforced by the regiments
of Kirke, Hanmer, and Stuart ; and would have con
tinued his march to Drogheda, where he understood
e2

.'52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHj^^P- Rosene lay with about twenty thousand men, had he
not been obliged to wait for the artillery, which was

1689. not yet arrived at Carlingford. King James, having
assembled all his forces, advanced towards Schomberg,
and appeared before his entrenchments in order of
battle ; but the duke, knowing they were greatly supe
rior iu number of horse, and that his own army was
undisciplined, and weakened by death and sickness, re
strained 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 am
bassador D'Avaux, promising to desert with all the
Papist.s of the French regiments in Schomberg's army.
This letter being foand, Du Plessis and five accomphces
were tried Ijy a court-martial and executed. About
two hundred and fifty Papists being discovered iu 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.
Tho duke was so pleased with their behaviour on this
occasion, that they received a very honourable testimony
of his approbation.
fetured'for Meanwhile, the enemy took possession of James-
inactivity. Town, and reduced Sligo, one of the forts of -which
was gallantly defended by St. Sauver, a French cap
tain, and his company of grenadiers, until he was
obliged to capitulate for want of water and provision.
A contagious distemper still continued to rage in
Schomberg's camp, and swept oft" 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,

WILLIAM AND MARY. 53
desired him to hazard an engagement, provided any chap.
opportunity should occur ; but he did not think proper "
to run the risk of a battle, against an enemy that w^as I689.
above thrice his number, well-disciplined, healthy, and
conducted by able officers. Nevertheless, lie was cer
tainly blameable for having chosen sucli au unwhole
some 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 Corlc, and
lost a great number of seamen by sickness, which was
impvited to bad provision. The Dartmouth ship of
war fell into the hands of the enemy, who infested the
channel with such a number of armed ships and pri
vateers, that the trade of England sustained incredible
damage. The affairs of France wore but a gloomv aspect on TheFrench
the continent, where all the powers of Europe seemed waicourt.
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 sti])ulated, 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-Gciioral, England
should supply them with ten thousand infantry and
twenty ships of war. This treaty was no sooner ratified
than king William despatched the Lord Churchill,
whom he had by this time created Earl of Marlborough,
to Holland, in order to command the British tiuxiliaries
in that service, to tlie number of eleven thousand, the
greater part of ^vhich 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 ren-

54

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHA^P- dezvous in the county of Liege, with a view to act
____^ against the French army commanded by the Mareschal
1689. 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 en
gagement ensued, and the French were obliged to re
treat 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 Cour-
tray, and raised contributions on the temtories of the
enemy.
Success of The French were almost entire masters of the three
rates inGer- ecclcsiastical electorates of Gennany. They possessed
Turks dl'''^ Mentz, Triers, Bonne, Keiserswaert, Philipsburgh, and
feated at Laudau. They had blowai up the castle of Heidelberg,
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. Never
theless, he found it difficult to maintain his ground
against the different princes of the empire. The Duke
of Lorraine, who commanded the imperial troops, in
vested Mentz, and took it by capitulation ; the Elector
of Brandenburgh, having reduced Keiserswaert, under
took the siege of Bonne, which the gan-ison surrendered,
after having made a long and vigorous defence. No
thing 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 in
trigues 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 Croats

Patochin, Nissa, and
Widen.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 55
between Vihitz and Novi. The Prince of Baden, who chap.
commanded the Imperialists on that side, having thrown .

a bridge over the Morava at Passarowitz, crossed that 1689.
river, and marched in quest of the Turkish army,
amounting to fifty thousand men, headed by a seras-
kier. On the thirtieth day of August he attacked the
enemy in their entrenchments near Patochin, and forced
their lines, routed them with great slaughter, and took
possession of their camp, baggage, and artillery. They
retreated 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 inacces
sible 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 resist
ance, obtained another complete victory, enriched his
troops with the spoils of the enemy, and entered Nissa
without opposition. There he found above three thou
sand horses and a vast quantity of provision. Having
reposed his army for a few days in this place, he re
sumed 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 with
out hesitation ; and though the Mussulmen 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 re
turned to Vienna, covered with laurels.
The French were likewise baffled in their attempt ^^'•*^j°^q
upon Catalonia, where the Duke de Noailles had taken cen't^xi"°
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 Rousil-
lon 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 with
drew the garrison, dismantled the place, and retreated
with great precipitation. The French king hoped to

56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
cii'^P- derive some considerable advantage from the death of
Pope Innocent XL, which happened on the twelfth day

1689. of August. That pontiff had been an inveterate enemy
to Louis ever since the affair of the franchises, and the
seizure of Avignon*. Cabals Vi^ere immediately formed
at Rome by the French faction against the Spanish and
imperial interest. The French Cardinals de Bouillon
and Bonzi, accompanied by Furstemberg, repaired to
Rome with a larg-e 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 patri
mony of the church ; and Louis renounced the fran
chises, in a letter written by his own hand to the new
pontiff. Alexander received these marks of respect
with the Avarmest acknowledgments; but, when the
ambassador and Furstemberg besought him to re-ex
amine the election of the Bishop of Cologn, which had
been the source of so much calamity to the empire, he
lent a deaf ear to their solicitations. He even con
firmed 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. Furstem
berg retired in disgust to Paris, Avhere Louis imme
diately gratified him with the Abbey of St. Germains.
ifam^r'' -^"^S' William found it an easier task to unite the
comes un- couucils of Europo agaiust the common enemy, than
popular. ^Q conciliate and preserve the affections of his own
8 The franchises were privileges of asylum, annexed not only to the houses of
ambassadors at Rome, but even to the whole district in which any ambassador
chanced to live. This privilege was become a terrible nuisance, inasmuch as it
afforded protection to the most atrocious criminals, who filled this city with rapine
and murder. Innocent XI. resolving to remove this evil, published abull, abolish
ing the franchises ; and almost all the catholic powers of Europe acquiesced in what
he had done, upon being duly informed of the grievance. Louis XIV. however,
from a spirit of pride and insolence, refused to part wilh any thing that looked like
a prerogative ot his crown. He said the King of France was not the imitator, but
a patton and example for other princes. He rejected with disdain the mild re-
presentations of the pope ; he sent the Marquis de Laverden as his arabassador
to Rome, with a formidable train, to insult Innocent even in his own city That
nobleman swaggered through the streets of Rome like a bravo, taking all oppor
tunities to affront the pope, who e.xcommunicated him in revenge. On the other
hand, the Parliament of Paris appealed from the pope's bull to a future council.
Louis caused the pope's nuncio to be put under arrest, look possession of Avig
non, which belonged to the see of Rome, and set the holy father at defiance.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 57
subjects, among whom he began visibly to decline in chap.
point of popularity. Many were dissatisfied with his '
measures ; and a great number even of those who ex- 1689.
erted themselves for his elevation had conceived a dis- .
gust from his personal deportment, which was very
unsuitable to the manners and disposition of theEnglish
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 exer
cise of hunting, to which he was immoderately ad
dicted. This had been prescribed to him by physicians
as necessary to improve his constitution, which was
naturally weak, and by practice had become so ha
bitual, that he could not lay it aside. His ill-health
co-operating with his natural aversion to society, pro
duced a peevishness avhich could not fail of being dis
pleasing to those who were near his person ; this was
increased by the disputes in his cabinet, and the op
position 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 dis
position, and in some measure adopt the manners of
his predecessors. In imitation of Charles II. he re
sorted to the races at Newmarket ; he accepted an
invitation to visit Cambridge, where he behaved him
self 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 con-

58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, descended so far as to become sovereign-master of the
" company of grocers.
1689. While William thus endeavoured to remove the pre-
mtober of ju^ices which had been conceived against his person,
the clergy the period arrived which the Parliament had prescribed
Ske^the" for taking the oaths to the new government. Some
oaths. indi-viduals 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 scru
ple 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 pru
dence 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 had been the source
of universal perjury and cormption. Though this set
of temporisers were bitterly upbraided both by the non
jurors and the Papists, they all concurred in represent
ing 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 abolish
ing episcopacy in Scotland. The presbyterians of that
kingdom now tyrannised in their turn. They were
headed by the Earl of Cra^vford, a nobleman of a
violent temper and strong prejudices. He was chosen

WILLIAM AND MARY. 59
president of the Parliament by the interest of Melvil, chap.
and oppressed the Episcopalians in such a manner, that

the greater part of them, from resentment, became 1689.
well-wishers to King James. Every circumstance of
the hardships they underwent was reported in Eng
land; and the Earl of Clarendon, as well as the sus
pended 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.
All the clamour that was raised against the king The king
could not divert him from prosecuting the scheme of f ommission
comprehension. He granted a commission under the f™ reform-
great seal to ten bishops, and twenty dignitaries of the difcipiine.
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 differ
ences among the protestant subjects of the kingdom.
A cry was immediately raised againt 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 follo\\ed 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 au
attempt to make such alteration would (Uvide the

60 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, clergy, and bring the liturgy into disesteem with the
. peojile, as it would be a plain acknowledgment that it

1689. 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 commissioiiers, notwithstanding this secession,
cation."^ " proceeded to debate with moderation on the abuses of
which the dissenters had complained, and con-ected
every article that seemed liable to any just objection ;
but the opposite party employed all their art and in
dustry to inflame the minds of the peojile. 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 them
selves 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
accounted 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 amend
ment, and concluded with the old declaration of the
barons, " Nolumus leges Anglice 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 in
different 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 pro
rogation was necessary until that sanction should be
obtained. In this interval means were used to molhfy

WILLIAM AND MARY. 61
their non-compliant tempers ; but all endeavours proved c ha p.
ineffectual. When they met again, the Earl of Not- '
tingham delivered the king's commission to both 16P9-
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 Eng
land, which should always enjoy his favour and protec
tion. 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.
The bishops adjourning to the Jerusalem-chamber, Their ses-
prepared a zealous address of thanks to his majesty, tinned by
which, being sent to the Lower House for their con- repeated
currence, met with violent opposition. Amendments tions."
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 dis
senters, converted all their attention to the relief of
their nonjuring brethren. Zealous speeches were
made iu 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
fpr which they had been assembled, they began to take
cognisance of some pamphlets lately published, which
they conceived to be of dangerous consequence to the
Christian religion. The president and his party, per
ceiving the disposition of the House, did not think
proper to communicate any proposal touching the in
tended reformation, and the king suffered the session
to be discontinued by repeated prorogations.
The Parliament meeting on the nineteenth day of .Preceed-
^ . ,,.. Icl- • logs '" P*"--
October, the kmg, in a speech of his own composing, nament.
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

62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
chap, in a great measure influence the deliberations of the
princes and states concerned in the war against France,

1689. 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 recom
mending the despatch 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 ani
mosities 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 Parlianient 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 During this session the whigs employed all their
bill ofhi- ^ influence and intrigues in obstructing the bill of in
demnity, demnity, 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 pri
soners. A committee was appointed to prepare a
charge against Burton and Graham. The Commons
resolved to impeach the Earis of Peterborough, Salis
bury, and Castlemain, Sir Edward Hales, and Obadiah
Walker, of high treason, for having been reconciled to
the church of Rome, contrary to the la^^-s 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 i-ecusants should be speedily

WILLIAM AND MARY. 63
levied, and applied to the public service. The Lord chap.
Griffin being detected in maintaining a correspondence "
with King James, and his partisans, was committed to 1689.
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 touch
ing 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 re
conciled himself to the tories, of whom he became the
patron and protector.
The Commons likewise resumed the examinations The Com-
of the miscarriages in Ireland, and desired the king ^™ethein-
would appoint commissioners, to go over and inquire quiry into
into the condition of the army in that kingdom, the m^cai°
Schomberg, understanding that he had been blamed nages in
in the House of Commons for his inactivity, trans
mitted 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 pre
sented an address to his majesty, praying that Shales
might be taken into custody ; that all his papers, ac
counts, 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 under
stand that he had already sent orders to the general
for that purpose. Nevertheless, they in another pe-

04 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, tition requested his majesty to name those who had
' recommended Shales to his service, as he had exercised
1689. the same office under King James, and was suspected
of treasonable practices against the government. Wil
liam declined gratifying their request ; but he after
wards sent a message to the House, desiring them to
recommend a certain number of commissioners to su
perintend 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 ex
plain the ill conduct and success of his army and na^vy ;
to desire he would find out the authors of these mis
carriages, and for the future entrust unsuspected per
sons with the management of affairs. They ordered
the victuallers of the fleet to be taken into custody on
suspicion of their having furnished the n&vy with un
wholesome 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 de
sired to possess ; but his motion was not seconded, the
court-members observing that James did not depute
those 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 disap
prove 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
ofthe miscarriages might be brought to condign punish
ment.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 65
In the sequel, the question was proposed, Whe- chap.
ther a placeman ought to have a seat in the House ? .

and a very warm debate ensued ; but it was car- '689.
ried in the affirmative, on the supposition that by ,?'''? '^ii-
such exclusion the commonwealth would be deprived tatedagainst
of some of the ablest senators of the kingdom. But *'"'^ '^'''S^-
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 pro
ceedings 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 inteHigent partisan and
agent of King James; by which means he supplied
the earl with such intelligence as raised him to some
degi'ee 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.
Sir James Montsromery, who had been a warm ad- p'°' '^i"^*
-r-k' 1 • • 1 1 • -the govern-
vocate tor the Revolution, received advice that the ment by
court suspected him and others of disaffection, and ^o^^Agf ^
was employed in seeking evidence by which they mery dis-
might be prosecuted. They were equally alarmed ^^^^p'^3j[^_
and incensed at this intimation, and Payne seized the net.
opportunity of seducing them into a correspondence
with the exiled king. They demanded the settlement
of presbytery in Scotland, and actually engaged in a
treaty for his restoration. They reconciled themselves
to the Duke of Queensberry, and the other noblemen
of the episcopal party : they wrote to James for a sup-
VOL. I. F

66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
chap, ply of money, arms, and ammunition, together with a
' reinforcement of three thousand men from Dunkirk.
1689. Montgomery had acquired great interest among the
whigs of England, and this he employed in animating
them against the king and the ministry. He repre
sented them as a set of wicked men, who employed
infamous spies to ensnare 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 per
suaded into a conspiracy for this purpose ; they seemed
to think James was now so well convinced of his for
mer 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, se
parate 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 com
munication 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 port
manteau: but, after a very strict examination, no
thing 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 thou
sand 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 con
tinent. The conspirators loudly complained of the
false imputations they had incurred. The pretended

WILLIAM AND MARY. 67
discoveries were looked upon as fictions of the minis- chap.
try, and the king on this occasion suffered greatly in

the opinion of his subjects. 1689.
The tories still continued to carry on a secret Warm de-
negotiation with the court. They took advantage of parUament
the ill-humour subsisting beween the king and the about the
whigs ; and promised large supplies of money, pro- tionS
-vided this Parliament should be dissolved, and another
immediately convoked. The opposite party, being
apprised 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 surrender
ing 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 in the House, that they
outvoted the other party, and the clauses were re
jected ; but the bill passed in its original form. The
Lords debated upon the point. Whether a corporation
could be forfeited or surrendered? Lord Chief Jus
tice 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 surren
dered : and this instance seemed too violent to au
thorize such a measure in a regular course of admi
nistration. The bill, however, passed by one voice
only. Then both parties quickened their applications
to the king, who found himself so perplexed and dis
tracted 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 Caermarthen, the Earl of
Shrewsburj', and some other noblemen, who pressed
him to lay aside his resolution, and even mingled
tears with their remonstrances.
He at length complied with their request, and de-
F 2

68 CHAP. IL
1689.
The king
resolves to
finish the
Irish war in
person.

GeneralLudlow ar
rives in
England,
but is
obliged to
withdraw.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
termined to finish the Irish war in person. This de
sign 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 pre
pare an address against this expedition. In order to
prevent this remonstrance, the king went to the Par
liament, 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 dis
solved 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 ; aud his majesty
gratified them in this particular : yet the warmth and
industry with which the friends of the princess ex
erted themselves in promoting the settlement, pro
duced 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 confident of the princess, whom
she strenuously advised to insist upon the settlement,
rather than depend upon the generosity of the king
and queen.
About this period. General Ludlow, who at the
Restoration had been excepted from the act of indem
nity, as one of those who sat in judgment upon
Charles I., arrived in Eiigland, and offered his service
in reducing Ireland, where he had formerly com
manded. Though a rigid republican, he was reputed
a conscientious man, and a good officer. He had
received some encouragement to come over, and pro
bably would have been employed, had not the Com
mons 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 pos
session. He observed in the House, that the nation

WILLIAM AND MARY.

would be disgraced, should one of the parricides be chap.
suffered to live in the kingdom. An address was im- .

mediately presented to the king, desiring a proclama- 1689.
tion might be issued, promising a reward for appre
hending General Ludlow. This was accordingly pub
lished ; but not before he had landed in Holland, from
whence he returned to Vevay in Swisserland, where he
wrote the memoirs of his life, and died after an exile
of thirty years.
While King William fluctuated between two parties ^°^ °^
in England, his interest in Scotland had well nigh cobites in
given way to a coalition between the original Jacobites s<=°ti*"^-
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 Ca
meron 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 as
sisted them with clothes, arms, and ammunition, to
gether with some officers, amongst whom was Colonel
Bucan, appointed to act as their chief commander.
This officer, at the head of fifteen hundred men, ad
vanced into the shire of Murray, in hope of being
joined by other malecontents : but he was surprised
and routed by Sir Thomas Livingstone, while Major
Ferguson destroyed the places they possessed in the
Isle of Mull; so thatthe Highlanders were obhged 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, con
verted all their attention to the proceedings in Parlia
ment ; 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 govern
ment 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 incom
patible; and their principles diametrically opposite.

70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Notwithstanding their concurrence in Parliament, the
"¦ Earl of Melvil procured a small majority. The op-

1689. positionwas 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 resent
ment.
The court The Earls of Argyle, Annandale, and Breadalbane,
umphfove'r withdrew from their councils, and repaired to Eng-
aii opposi- land. Montgomery, terrified at their defection, went
country**' 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 re
ceived information that Montgomery had disclosed
all the particulars of the negotiation, threw himself
upon the queen's mercy, and disclosed all he knew of
the conspiracy. As he had not treated with any of
the malecontents 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 imme
diately apprehended by the council of that kingdom,
in consequence of a letter from the Earl of Notting
ham; and twice put to the torture, which he reso
lutely bore, without discovering his employers. Mont
gomery 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 con
federates. This disunion of the conspirators, and dis
covery of the plot, left the Earl of Melvil in possession
of a greater majority ; though even this he was fain to
secure by overstraiiiing 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 and Parliament, de-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 71
daring William and Mary their lawful sovereigns, and chap.
renouncing the pretended title of King James. All

the laws in favour of episcopacy were repealed. Three- 1689,
score 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 govemment 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.
While the presbyterian interest thus triumphed in An. 1690.
Scotland, the two parties that divided England em- interest'pre.
ployed their whole influence and attention in ma- ^^Us in the
naging the elections for a new Parliament, and the ment S *
tories obtained the victory. The king seemed gra- England.
dually falling into the arms of this party. They com
plained 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 com
mission by the interest and address of the Bishop of
London, the Marquis of Caermarthen, 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 Burnet.
faction, who had been created Master of- the Rolls by Rennet.
the late king. He was a bold, artful man, and under- Tmdai.
tooU to procure a majority to be at the devotion of the
court, provided he should be supplied with the neces
sary sums for the purposes of corruption. William,
finding there was no other way of maintaining his
administration in peace, thought proper to counte
nance 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 under
stand, that he still persisted in his resolution of going
in person to Ireland. He desired they would make a

72 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
chap, settlement of the revenue, or establish it for the pre-
sent as a fund of credit, upon which the necessary
1690. sums for the service of the government might be im
mediately advanced : he signified his intention of send
ing to them an act of grace, with a few exceptions,
that he might manifest his readiness to extend his pro
tection 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 pur
pose : 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 despatch 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 The Commons, in compliance with his request, voted
their^ajeE a supply of twolve hundred thousand pounds, one
ties. 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 ad
vancing money on those funds of credit. The whigs,
however, had another battery in reserve. They pro
duced, in the Upper House, a bill for recognising
their majesties as the rightful and lawful sovereigns
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 ar
guments and distinctions. They made no great ob-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 73
jections to the first part, and even proposed to enact, chap.
That those should be deemed good laws for the time '
to come ; but they refused to declare them valid for i690.
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 conse
quence of a nervous, spirited protest, signed Bolton,
Macclesfield, Stamford, Newport, Bedford, Herbert,
Suffolk, Monmouth, Delamere, and Oxford. The
whole interest of the court was thrown into the scale
with this bill, before it could preponderate against the
tories, the chiefs of whom, with the Earl of Notting
ham 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 pre
maturely discovered by one of the 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 Parhament, they
who were then met, and who had taken the oaths
enacted by that Parliament, were guilty of high trea
son : 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 argu
ments, that the bill passed without farther opposi
tion, 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.
There was another violent contest between the two Another
parties, on the import of a bill requiring all subjects IZt'^boat'
in office to abjure King James, on pain of imprison- the bill of
ment. Though the clergy were at first exempted " '^^ """
from this test, the main body of the tories opposed it

74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ^i^ii great vehemence ; while the whigs, under coun-
" tenance of the ministry, supported it with equal vi-
1690. gour. 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 pre
rogative ; 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 WilHam, that he sent an in
timation 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
interested himself warmly in behalf of the bill, re
sented 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 ma
jesty, who pressed him to keep the seals until he
should return from Ireland. Long debates were like
wise 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 pro^
fessed themselves willing to enter into a negative en
gagement 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.
ikm^lmdi" "^"^ ^^* ^^^ prepared for investing the queen -with
in Ireland! the administration during the king's absence : another
for reversing the judgment on a quo warranto against

WILLIAM AND MARY. 76
the city of London, and restoring it to its ancient chap.
rights and privileges ; and at length, the bill of in-  '. 
demnity so cordially recommended by the king passed 1690-
both Houses''. 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 ad
journed successively. As a farther 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 lauded 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 Bel-
turbat ; Sir John Lanier had taken Bedloe-castle ; and
that of Charlemont, a strong post of great importance,
together with Balingargy, near Cavan, had been re
duced. King William having reposed himself for two
or three days at Belfast, visited the duke's head quarters
at Lisburne : then advancing to Hillsborough, published
" The following persons were excepted from the benefit of this act. William,
Marquis of Powis ; Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon ; Robert, Earl of Sunderland;
John, Earl of Melford; Roger, Earl of Castlemain; Nathaniel, Lord Bishop of
Durham ; Thomas, Lord Bishop of St. David's ; Henry, Lord Dover ; Lord
Thomas Howard ; Sir Edward Hales ; Sir Francis Withers, Sir Edward Lutwych,
Sir Thomas Jenner, Sir Nicholas Butler, Sir William Herbert, Sir Richard Hol
loway, Sir Richard Heath, Sir Roger L'Estrange, William Molineux, Thomas
Tyndesly, Colonel Townly, Colonel Lundy, Robert Brent, Edward Morgan,
Philip Burton, Richard Graham, Edward Petre, Obadiah Walker, Matthew
Crone, and George Lord Jefferies, deceased.

76 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, an order against pressing horses, and committing vio-
"¦ lence on the country-people. When some of his gene-

1690. ral 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 re
viewed at Loughbrilland, when he found it amount to
six-and-thirty thousand effective men well appointed.
Then he marched to Dundalk; and afterwards ad
vanced to Ardee, -yvhich the enemy had just abandoned.
King James King Jamcs trusted so much to the disputes in the
thrBoyn'r. English Pariiament, 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 inti
mation of his arrival. This was no sooner known than
he left Dublin under the guard of the mihtia com
manded 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 gar
risons. 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 pro
posed 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
agaiust the English fleet, and send over a great number
of small frigates to destroy WiUiam's transports as soon
as their convoy should be returned to England. The
execution of this scheme was not at all difficult, and
raust 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 liarbour 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 se
cured by a morass and a rising ground : so that the
English army could not attack him without manifest
disadvantage. King William marched up to the opposite bank of

WILLIAM AND MARY. 77
the river, and, as he reconnoitred their situation, was chap.
exposed to the fire of some field pieces, which the

enemy purposely planted against his person. They .'690.
killed a man and two horses close by him ; and the resolve™ to
second bullet rebounding from the earth, grazed upon gi^^ i*™*'^
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 re
sounded 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 deter
mined, 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 counsel 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 discon
tent, 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 torch
light, and then retired to his tent, after having given

78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
chap, orders for the soldiers to distinguish themselves from
"• the enemy, by wearing green boughs in their hats
1690. during the action.
Battle ofthe At six o'clock iu the morning. General Douglas,
^°y"''- 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 num
ber 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 iu
flank. The Irish, instead of waiting the assault, faced
about, and retreated towards Duleck with some pre
cipitation ; 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 Wil
liam'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 Eng
lish troops before they reached the shore ; but it
produced very little effect : then the Irish gave way ;
and some battalions landed without farther 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, com
manded 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 79

chap. IL

passed 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:" 1690.
with these words he advanced to the attack, where he
himself sustained a violet onset from a party of the
Irish horse, which had broke through one of the regi
ments, 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, com
posed of the Danish, Dutch, and Inniskillin 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 Dunmore. There they made such a
vigorous stand, that the Dutch and Danish horse,
though headed by the king in person, recoiled ; even
the Inniskilliners gave way ; and the whole wing would
have been routed, had not a detachment of dragoons,
belonging to the regiments of Cunningham and Levison,
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, retiu-ning 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 farther
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 resist-

80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ance ; and he replied, " Upon my honour, I believe
. they will ; for they have still a good body of horse

1690. entire." William eyeing him with a look of disdain, re
peated, "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 govern
ment. The Irish now abandoned the field with pre
cipitation : but the French and Swiss troops, that acted
as their auxiliaries, under Lauzun, retreated in good
order, after having maintained the battle for some time
with intrepidity and perseverance.
Death and As King William did not think proper to pursue
Schombei^. 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 Hol
land, England, France, Portugal, and Brandenburg.
He attained to the dignities of mareschal in France,
grandee in Portugal, generalissimo in Prussia, and
duke in England. He professed the protestant re
ligion ; was com'teous and humble in his deportment ;
coo], 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 pro
testant 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 ; d la gloire ! To glory, my lads ;
to glory !" The third remarkable person who lost his
life on this occasion was Walker the clergyman, who

WILLIAM AND MARY. 81
had so valiantly defended Londonderry against the chap.

IL

whole army of King James. He had been very gra- .
ciously received by King William, who gratified him 1690.
with a reward of five thousand pounds, and a promise
of further favour ; but his military genius still predo
minating, 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 Hocquincourt. 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 con
dition 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 omis
sion which has been charged upon him as a flagrant
instance of misconduct. Indeed, through the whole
of this engagement, WiUiam's personal courage was
much more conspicuous than his military skill.
King James no sooner arrived at Dublin, than he James em-
Dcirks for
assembled the magistrates and council of the city, and France.
in a short speech resigned them to the fortmie of the
victor. He complained of the cowardice of the Irish ;
signified his resolution of leaving the kingdom imme
diately ; 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 con
veyed to France, and returned to the place of his
VOL. I. G

82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, former residence at St. Germain's. He had no sooner
' quitted Dublin, than it was also abandoned by all the
1690. 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 On the morning after the battle of the Boyne, Wil-
Unfand " ' liam Sent a detachment of horse and foot, under the
publishes command of M. Mellionere, to Drogheda, the governor
tion. "'' ^^' 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 imme
diately 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 pro
prietors, 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 the
Protestants, and rejected the pardon offered to ihem
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 re
fused to those who were truly penitent. The next step
taken by King William was to issue a proclamation,
reducing the brass money to neariy its intrinsic value.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 83
In the mean time, the principal officers in the army of chap.
James, after having seen him embark at Waterford,

returned to their troops, determined to prosecute the i^so.
war as long as they could be supplied with means to
support their operations.
During these transactions, the queen, as regent, TheFrench
found herself surrounded with numberless cares and toryoverThe
perplexities. Her council was pretty equally divided EngUshand
into whigs and tories, who did not always act -with off Beachy-
unanimity. She was distracted between her appro- 'lead.
hensions 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 Ply
mouth, 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 se
venty-eight ships of war, and two-and-twenty fireships :
whereas the combined squadrons of England and
Holland did not exceed six-and-fifty ; but he had re
ceived 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 daybreak. 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 EngUsh 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
g2

84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, -vvith great valour, sustained considerable damage. At
' length, the admiral's division drove between them and
1690. the French, and in that situation the fleet 'anchored
about five in the afternoon, when the action was inter
rupted 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 east
ward. 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 unfor
tunate : six of their great ships were destroyed. Dick
and Brackel, rear-admirals, were slain, together -with a
great number of inferior officers and seamen. Tor
rington retreated without further interruption into the
mouth of the Thames ; and, having taken precautions
against any attempts of the enemy in that quarter, re
turned to London, the inhabitants of which were over
whelmed with consternation.
Torrington The government was infected -with the same panic.
prisoner to The ministry pretended to believe that the French
the Tower, acted in concert with the malecontents 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 insinu
ations 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 lieu-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 85
tenancy of London, filled with professions of loyalty, chap.
and promises of supporting their majesties, as their  '. —
lawful sovereigns, against all opposition. The queen, 1690.
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 fieet,
which lay at anchor in the bay, cannonaded a small
village called Tingmouth. About a thousand of their
men landed without opposition, set fire to the place,
and burned a few coasting vessels ; then they re-em
barked and returned to Brest, so vain of this achieve
ment, that they printed a pompous account of their
invasion. Some of the whig partisans published pam
phlets, and diffused reports, implying, that^theSsus-
pended 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 imprison
ment. The queen issued a proclamation for appre
hending the Earls of Lichfield, Aylesbury, and Castle
main ; 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 per
sons 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, Avhen he was
brought into the House of Commons, and made a

86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHA^P- speech in his own defence. His case produced long
debates in the Upper House, where the form of his

1690. 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 Delaval, 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 is said to have intercepted all the papers of
Ireland '" his fathei-iu-law and Tyrconnel, and to have learned
from them, not only the design projected by the French
to burn the EngUsh transports, but likewise the under
taking 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, cal
culated to throw an odium on James's 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 Tre
lawney 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 pos
session 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,

WILLIAM AND MARY. 87
consisting of two regiments, capitulated, upon con- chap.
dition of marching out with their arms and baggage, "
and being conducted to Mallow. The fort of Dun- 1690.
cannon 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 pro
tection. On the first day of August, WUliam being at Cha- ?.« '"Y^^''
pel-Izard, published a second declaration of mercy, but is
confirming the former, and even extending it to per- °aise^t^e'°
sons of superior rank and station, whether natives or siege, and
foreigners, provided they would, by the twenty-fifth Endand"
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 go
verned by their priests, and the news of the victory
which the French fleet had obtained over the English
and Dutch had circulated with such exaggerations as
elevated their spirits, and effaced all thoughts of sub
mission. The king had returned to Dublin, with a
view to embark for England; but receiving notice
that the designs of his domestic enemies were disco
vered 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 infe
rior officers. On the ninth day of August, the king
having called in his detachment, and advanced into
the neighbourhood of the place, summoned the com
mander to deliver the town ; and Boisseleau answered,
that he imagined the best way to gain the good opi
nion 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, de
stroyed the carriages, waggons, and ammunition, and
returned in safety to Limerick. Notwithstanding
this disaster, the trenches were opened on the seven-

88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, teenth day of the month, and a battery was raised with
some cannon brought from Waterford. The siege
1690. was carried on with vigour, and the place defended
with great resolution. At length the king ordered
his troops to make a lodgement in the covered way
or counterscarp, which was accordingly assaulted with
great fury ; but the assaUants 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 anny decamped, and
marched towards Clonmel. WilUam having consti
tuted the Lord Sidney 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 About the latter end of this month the Earl of
dSced by^' Marlborough arrived in Ireland, with five thousand
tfie Earl of EugUsh troops, to attack Cork and Kinsale, in con-
rough?' junction with a detachment from the great army,
according to a scheme he had proposed to King Wil
liam. Having landed his soldiers without much op
position in the neighbourhood of Cork, he was joined
by five thousand men, under the Prince of Wirtem
berg, 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 pro
ceeded with such rapidity, that a breach was soon ef
fected. Colonel Mackillicut, the governor, demanded
a parley, and hostages were exchanged; but he re
jected 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. Prepara
tions being made for a general assault, the besieged

WILLIAM AND MARY. 89
thought proper to capitulate, and surrendered them- chap.
selves prisoners of war. Besides the governor and  '. 
Colonel Ricaut,. the victor found the earls of Clan- 1690.
carte and Tyrone among the individuals of the gar
rison. 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, sus
tained 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 pri
soners to England, where the fame of this exploit
added greatly to his reputation.
During these transactions, Count de Lauzun, com- Lauzun and
mander of the French auxiliaries in Ireland, lay in- forces'^quit
active in the neighbourhood of Galway, and trans- Ireland.
mitted 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. Lauzun 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 ammu
nition for the Irish army, which he said would con
tinue firm to the interest of King James, if thus sup
ported. Meanwhile they formed themselves into se
parate bodies of freebooters, and plundered the coun
try, under the appellation of Rapparies : 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.
The affairs of the continent had not yet under-

90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, gone any change of importance, except in the con-
"• duct of the Duke of Savoy, who renounced his
1690. neutrality, engaged in an alliance with the emperor
The Duke and King of Spain, and, in a word, acceded to the
ilinslhl grand confederacy. He had no sooner declared him-
confede- self, 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 con
gratulate him upon his accession to the throne of Eng
land. 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 as
sembled, Boufflers encamped between the Sambre and
the Meuse, and maintained a free communication with
Luxembourg.
PrinceWai- Princo Waldeck understanding that this general
e^at Fieu- intended to cross the Sambre between Namur and
™s. 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
w^as encountered by the French army near Fleurus,
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 bat
tle. Next day they were attacked by the French,
who were greatly superior to them in numbers : after
a very obstinate engagement the allies gave way, leav-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 91
ing about five thousand men dead upon the field of chap.
battle. The enemy took about four thousand pri-.

soners, and the greatest part of their artillery; but 1690.
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 ad
vantage from their victory. The prince being rein
forced 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-Isaayc. They were now su
perior 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 entrench
ments, 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.
By this time, the emperor's son Joseph was by the The Arch-
electoral college chosen King of the Romans ; but his 61"^/^^^''
interest sustained a rude shock in the death of the King ofthe
gallant Duke of Lorraine, who was suddenly seized with DeShofthe
a quinsey, at a small village near Lintz, and expired, Duke of
not without suspicion of having fallen a sacrifice to the pr^T°ss of
fears ofthe French king, against whom he had formerly the war
declared war, as a sovereign prince unjustly expelled Turks.
from his territories. He possessed great military ta
lents, and had threatened to enter Lorraine, at the
head of forty thousand men, in the course of the en
suing 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 con
ferred upon the Elector of Bavaria. This prince.

92 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, having joined the Elector of Saxony, advanced against
" the Dauphin, who had passed the Rhine at Fort-
1690. Louis with a considerable army, and intended to pe
netrate 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 visir. 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 Aus
trian army, detached four regiments into Belgrade,
and advanced against Tekeli, who retired into Valachia
at his approach. Meanwhile the grand visir invested
Belgrade, and carried on his attacks with surprising re
solution. 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 de
stroyed ; 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 Peterwara-
din. By this time the imperialists were in possession
of Transylvania, and cantoned at Cronstadt and Clau-
senburgh. 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, how
ever, did not improve this advantage. Being apprised
of the fate of his allies, and afraid of seeing his retreat
cut off by the snow that frequently chokes up the passes

WILLIAM AND MARY. 93
of the mountains, he retreated again to Valachia, and chap.
Prince Louis returned to Vienna. '

King William having pubUshed a proclamation, re- 1690.
quiring the attendance of the members on the second Meeting of
day of October, both Houses met accordingly, and he ment." '*"
opened the session with a speech to the usual purport.
He mentioned what he had done towards the reduc
tion 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 despatch 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 de
clared, 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-Avisher 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 pusillani
mous behaviour 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, upou
his courage and conduct in the field, and her fortitude
and sagacity at the helm, in times of danger and dis
quiet. 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
na-yy, and settled the funds for that purpose.
They proposed to raise one million by the sale of The Com-
forfeited estates in Ireland : they resolved that a bill piy „ith ^i
should be brought in for confiscating those estates, t^e king's
with a clause, empowering the king to bestow a third

94 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, part of them on those who had served in the war, as
well as to grant such articles and capitulations to those

1690. 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 : ne
vertheless, 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 ac
quitted, very much to the dissatisfaction of the king,
who not only dismissed him from the service, but even
foi'bade 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 uo 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 ex
pense of the civU government. Two bills were accord
ingly passed for granting to their majesties the duties
on 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 gTcatly 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 despatch were in a great measure owing
to the management of Lord Godolphin, m'Iio was now
placed at the head of the treasury, and Sir John Somers,
' 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
theil- majesties to make use of five hundred thousand pounds, out ofthe said grants,
on condition of that sum being repaid from the revenue  Ralph.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 95
the solicitor-general. The place of secretary of state, chap.
which had remained vacant since the resignation of the

Earl of Shrewsbury, was now filled with Lord Sidney ; 1690.
and Sir Charles Porter was appointed one of the justices
of Ireland, in the room of this nobleman.
Notwithstanding the act for reversing the proceed- Petition of
• • o J. triG tones iti
ings agamst the city-charter, the whigs had made shift the city of
to keep possession of the magistracy : Pilkington con- London.
tinned mayor, and Robinson 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 ex
pression; so that the old aldermen elected by com
mission 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. Leo
nard Robinson 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 admit
tance. They specified other grievances, and petitioned
for relief. Pilkington and his associates undertook to
prove that those allegations were either false or fri
volous ; and represented 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 moneyed men,
and subscribed largely for the security of the settle
ment 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.
The Marquis of Caermarthen, lord president, who Attempt
was at the head of the tory interest in the ministry, M^-quis of
and had acquired great credit with the king and queen, Caermar-
now fell under the displeasure of the opposite faction ;
and they resolved, if possible, to revive his old im
peachment. The Earl of Shrewsbury, and thirteen

96 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, other leading men, had engaged in this design. A
"¦ committee of lords was appointed to examine pre-

1690. cedents, 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 govern
ment. 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 them
selves to the thirty-first day of Marche
An. 1691. William, having settled the affairs of the nation,
voyage"to^ Set out for Margate on the sixth day of January ; but
Holland, tlic ship iu which he proposed to embark being de
tained by an easterly wind and hard frost, he returned
to Kensington. On the sixteenth, however, he em
barked 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 in
formed by a fisherman that he was within a league
j In this year the English planters repossessed themselves of part of the island
of St. Christopher's, from which they had been driven by the French.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 97
and a half of Goree, he quitted the yacht, and went chap.
into an open boat, attended by the Duke of Ormond, .

the Earls of Devonshire, Dorset, Portland, and Mon- I69i.
mouth, with Auverquerque and Zuylestein. 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 daybreak, 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 Measlandsluys. 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 col
leges, 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 as
semblies ; informed them of his successes in England
and Ireland ; and assured them of his constant zeal
and affection for his native country.
At a solemn congress of the confederate princes, he He assists
represented, in a set speech, the dangers to which they ^els!"°Re-
were exposed from the power and ambition of France ; '"">^ '°
and the necessity of acting with vigour and despatch. "^™ "
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 re
solved to employ two hundred and twenty-two thou
sand 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
VOL. I. H

98 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, promising aspect. The plan of operations was settled,
" and they transacted their affairs with such harmony,
1691. 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 with
stand. 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 pro
vide 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 govemor to
capitulate, and even threatened to introduce the be
siegers : so that he was forced to comply, and obtained
very honourable conditions. William, being apprised
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 vfas con
sumed by fire, through the negligence of a female servant.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 99

CHAPTER IIL
Conspiracy against the Government by Lord Preston and others.—
The King fills up the vacant Bishoprics. — Affairs of Scotland.
— Campaign in Flanders. — Progress of the French 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 EngHsh and
Dutch Fleets worsted by the French in an Engagement off
Beachy-head. — The King disobliges the Presbyterians of Scot
land. — 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 Hogue.
— 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 De
sign 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 against the government had been *^hap.
lately discovered. In the latter end of December, "
the master of a vessel who lived at Barking, in Essex, i69i.
informed the Marquis of Caermarthen, that his wife ^°"^i'j"th7
had let out one of his boats to carry over some persons government
'to France ; and that they would embark on the thir- p^^e^ton'^^and
teenth day of the month. This intelligence being others.
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 Prestop, Mr. Ashton, a servant of the late queen,
h2

]00 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, and one Elliot. He likewise seized a bundle of papers,
^^^' some of which were scarce intelligible : among the rest.

1691. 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 WilUam 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 -wit
nesses to every fact ; whereas, the whole proof against
him rested on similitude of hands, and mere supposi
tion. 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 Wordon, who,
on his deathbed, conjured him to go thither, and finish
some affairs of consequence whicli he had left there
depending ; as well as with a -view to recover a con
siderable 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 irre
proachable morals. These circumstances had no weight
-with the court. He was browbeaten 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 101
whig party themselves had often expressly declared, '-'j^j^^'
that of all sorts of e-vidence, that of finding papers in a .

person's possession is the weakest, because no man can i^^i-
secure himself from such danger. Ashton suffered
with equal courage and decorum. In a paper which
he deUvered 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 thera in the sight of heaven.
This man was celebrated by the nonjurors as a martyr Bumet.
to loyalty; and they boldly affirmed, that his chief Tracts.
crime in the eyes of the government was his having Burchet.
among his baggage an account of such evidence as Rjaph.'
would have been convincing to all the world, concern
ing 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, be
cause 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.
This prelate's being concerned in a conspiracy fur- ^{^g^up'Jfe
nished the king with a plausible pretence for filling up vacant
the vacant bishoprics. The deprived bishops had been '"^''°P"='-
given to understand, that an act of Parliament might
be obtained to excuse thera 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
' To one of the pamphlets published on this occasion is annexed a petition to
the present govemment, in the name of King James's adherents, importing, that
some grave and learned persons should be authorized to compile a treatise, showing
the grounds of WiUiam'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.

102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, conferred upon Dr. Tillotson", one of the most learned,
.moderate, and virtuous ecclesiastics of the age, who

III.

1691. did not accept of this promotion without great reluct
ance, 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 cha
racter ; 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 govern
ment ; 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 non
jurors affirmed, that Christianity was a doctrine of the
cross ; that no pretence whatever could justify an in
surrection 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 man
kind, 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." Frora 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
¦" Beveridge was promoted to the see of Bath and Wells, Fowler to that of
Gloucester, Cumberland to Peterborough, Moor to Norwich, Grove to Chi
chester, and Patrick to Ely.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 103
fallacy and treachery of this argument were demon- '^^j}^'
strated. They said, it levelled all distinctions of justice '
and duty ; that those who taught such doctrines at- I69i.
tached themselves solely to possession, however unjustly
acquired; that, if twenty different usurpers should
succeed one another, they would recognise 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 ha-ving murdered the right owner. They also
denied the justice of a lay-deprivation, and with re
spect to church-government started the same distinc
tions " de jure and de facto," which they had formerly
made in the civil administration. They had even re
course 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
Jaraes from Ireland. They branded him as an apo
state, who had betrayed his cause, and published a
review of his whole conduct, which proved a severe
satire upon his character. Their attacks upon indi-
"viduals 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 interest of the reigning prince,
they ridiculed his character ; inveighed against his mea
sures : 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 malecontents, 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

104 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, those very arts and practices which had enabled them
' to bring their scheme to perfection.
1691. The Presbyterians in Scotland acted with such folly,
Affairs of yioleuce, aud tyranny, as rendered them equally odious
Scotian . ^^^ contemptible. The transactions in their general,
assembly were carried on -with such pee-vishness, par
tiality, 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 minis
ters 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 corre
spondence with the court of St. Gerraains, by the con
nivance of which they submitted to Willi3,m, that they
might be in a condition to serve James the more ef
fectually. The Scottish Parliament was adjourned by
proclamation to the sixteenth day of Septeraber. Pre
cautions were taken to prevent any dangerous commu
nication 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 Horae, with Sir Peter
Fraser and Sir ^neas Macpherson, were apprehended
and imprisoned.
innSs '^^^ ^^^S' having settled the operations of the en-
¦ suing campaign in Ireland, where General Ginckel
exercised the supreme coramand, manned his fleet by
dint of pressing saUors, to the incredible annoyance of

WILLIAM AND MARY. 105
commerce ; then, leaving the queen as before at the ^?jj ^•
helm of government in England, he returned to Hoi- " 
land, accorapanied by Lord Sidney, secretary of state, I69i.
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 Luxerabourg
having passed the Scheldt 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 entrenchments for their preservation. At the same
time the Marquis de Boufflers, with a considerable
body of forces, entrenched hiraself before Liege, with
a view to bombard that city. In the beginning of
June, King William took upon himself the comraand
of the allied array, by this time reinforced in such a
manner as to be superior to the enemy. He forth-with
detached the Comit 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 con
federate army, which had been augraented ever since
his departure with six thousand men frora Branden
burgh, and ten thousand Hessians, commanded by the
landgrave in person. Such was the vigilance of Lux
embourg, 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 con
fronted 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 borabs, the explosion of
which might have blown up the whole magazine, and
produced infinite confusion in the array, 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.

106 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^fii^' and overturned thera down the side of a hill; so that
 '. — the coramunication of the fire was intercepted. The
1691. person who raade this treacherous atterapt being dis
covered, 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 eneraies.
King William, quitting Court-sur-heure, encamped
upon the plain of St. Girard, where he remained tiU
the fourth day of September, consuming the forage,
and exhausting the country. Then he passed the
Sambre near Jeraeppe, while the French crossed it at
La Busiere, and both arraies raarched towards Enghien.
The enemy, perceiving the confederates were at their
heels, proceeded to Gramont, passed the Dender, and
took possession of a strong camp between Aeth and
Oudenarde: William followed the same route, and
encamped between Aeth and Leuse. While he con
tinued 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
Namur : then the king returned to the Hague, lea-ving
the coramand to Prince Waldeck, who forthwith re
moved 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 arraies re
tired into winter quarters. In the mean time, the Duke
de Noailles besieged and took Urgel in Catalonia, whUe
a French squadron, commanded by the Count d'Etrees,
borabarded Barcelona and Alicant.
the°French '^^^ Confederates had proposed to act vigorously in
in Vied" Italy against the French ; but the season was far ad-
mont. vanced before they were in a condition to take the
field. The emperor and Spain had undertaken to
ftirnish troops to join the Duke of Savoy ; and the
maritime powers contributed their proportion in money.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 197
The Elector of Bavaria was nominated to the supreme '^^jl^'
coramand of the imperial forces in that country : the '
Marquis de Leganez, governor of the Milanese, acted 1691.
as trustee for the Spanish monarch : Duke Schomberg,
son of that great 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 Bri
tain. Before the Gerraan auxiliaries arrived, the
French had made great progress in their conquest.
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 adraission into the Verceillois, and
the frontiers of the Milanese. Turin was threatened
with a borabardment : the people were dispirited and
clamorous, and their sovereign lay with his little array
encamped on the hill of Montcallier, frora whence
he beheld his towns taken, and his palace of Rivoli
destroyed. Duke Schoraberg 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 veheraently 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 raarch for that place with a
° 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 Swit-
zers, and governor of Champagne and Brie : his mother was the celebrated Olym
pia de Mancini, niece of Carmnal Mazarine. Prince 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 accompHshed gentleman, leamed, liberal, mild, and courteous ;
an unshaken IViond ; a generous enemy ; an invincible captain ; a consummate
politician.

108 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
c^AP. convoy guarded by two-and-twenty hundred horse : at
Magliano, he was reinforced by five thousand militia ;

1691. Bulonde, who commanded at the siege, no sooner heard
of his approach than he retired with the utmost preci
pitation, leaving behind some pieces of cannon, mortars,
bombs, arms, ammunition, tents, provisions, utensUs, 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.
Election of ijiig raiscarriagc of the French before Coni affected
a newpope. j^p^.pQjg^ ^^^ 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 com
posure, that he was spoiled by good fortune. But the
retreat of the French frora Piedraont had a still greater
influence over the resolutions of the conclave at Rorae,
then sitting for the election of a new pope, in the room
of Alexander VIII., who died in the beginning of Fe
bruary. 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 narae 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 comraand 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 reinforceraent. Then
Prince Eugene invested Carmagnola, and carried on
the siege with such vigour, that in eleven days the gar
rison capitulated. Meanwhile the Marquis de Hoquin-
court undertook the conquest of MontmeUan, and re
duced 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 De
cember, when it surrendered on honourable conditions.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 109
This summer produced nothing of importance on the ^^^^'
Rhine. The French endeavoured to surprise Mentz, ,

by maintaining a correspondence with one of the em- i69i.
peror's coraraissioners ; but this being discovered, their
design was frustrated. The imperial army, under the "^^f ^™P^-
Elector of Saxony, passed the Rhine in the neighbour- against the
hood of Manheim ; and the French crossing the same '^"'^''^•
river at Philipsburgh, reduced the town of Portzheim
in the raarquisate of Baden-Dourlach. The execution
of the scheme, projected by the emperor for this cam
paign, 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 de
feated by Prince Louis of Baden on the banks of the
Danube. The Imperialists afterwards undertook the
siege of Great Waradin'in Transylvania ; but this was
turned into a blockade, and the place was not sur
rendered till the following spring. The Turks were so
dispirited by the defeat by which they had lost the
grand visir, that the emperor might have made peace
upon very advantageous terms ; but his pride and am
bition 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 hurable the French power,
though he himself should not co-operate with heretics,
whora he abhorred; and that in the raean tirae he should
not only make an entire conquest of Transylvania,
but also carry his victorious- arms to the gates of
Constantinople, according to sorae ridiculous prophecy
by which his vanity had been flattered. The Spanish
governraent was becorae so feeble, that the rainistry,
rather than be at the expense of defending the Nether
lands, offered to deUver the whole country to King
William, either as monarch of England, or Stadtholder
of the United Provinces. He declined this offer, be
cause he knew the people would never be reconciled to
a protestant governraent; but he proposed that the
Spaniards should confer the adrainistration of Flanders
upon the Elector of Bavaria, who was ambitious of sig
nalizing his courage, and able to defend the country

110 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, -yyitii iiig QTjfjx troops and treasure. This proposal was
" relished by the court of Spain : the eraperor imparted
1691. it to the elector, who accepted the office without he
sitation ; and he was iraraediately declared Governor of
the Low Countries by the Council of State at Madrid.
King WiUiara, after his return frora the army, con
tinued sorae tirae at the Hague, settling the operations
of the ensuing carapaign. That affair being discussed,
he embarked in the Maese, and landed in England on
the nineteenth day of October.
Affairs of 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, accorapanied by a
great number of French officers furnished with com
missions from King James, though St. Ruth 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, in
deed, could these supplies prevent them frora forming
separate and independent bands of Rapparees, who
plundered the country, and committed the raost shock
ing barbarities. The lords justices, in conjunction
with General Ginckel, had taken every step their pru
dence could suggest, to quiet the disturbances of the
country, and prevent such violence and rapine, of which
the soldiers in King Williara's army were not entirely
innocent. The justices had issued proclamations de
nouncing severe penalties against those who should
countenance or conceal such acts of cruelty and oppres
sion ; they promised to protect aU 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.

WILLIAM AND MARY. Ill
St. Ruth and Tyrconnel were joined by the Rap- ^?j|^"
parees, and General Ginckel was reinforced by Mackay,

with those troops which had reduced the Highlanders 1691.
in Scotland. Thus strengthened, he, in the beginning q?"®^,^.
of June, raarched frora MulUngar to Ballymore, which duces Ath-
was garrisoned by a thousand men under Colonel ^°"^-
Bourke, who, when suraraoned to surrender, retumed
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 augraented, the general left a gar
rison for its defence, and advanced to Athlone, situated
on the other side of the Shannon, and, supported by the
Irish array, encamped almost under its walls. The
English town, on the hither side of the river, was taken
sword in hand, and the eneray 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 de
fended 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 bottora foul and stony, and
the pass guarded by a ravelin, erected for that purpose.
The forlorn hope consisted of sixty grenadiers in ar
mour, 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 per
formed with raore valour and intrepidity. They passed
twenty abreast, in the face of the eneray, 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 sarae time, that the troops might pass in different
places. The Irish were amazed, confounded, and aban
doned 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 the attack. Mackay,
Tetteau, and Ptolemache, exhibited proofs of the most
undaunted courage in passing the river ; and General

112 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- Ginckel, for his conduct, intrepidity, and success, on
.. this occasion, was created Earl of Athlone. When St.
1691. Ruth was informed, by express, that the EngUsh 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 they would
attempt to force a passage. Sarsfield insisted upon the
truth of the intelligence, and pressed him to send suc
cours 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 irapracticable,
and that very night their army decamped. St. Ruth,
after a raarch of ten miles, took post at Aghrim, and
having, by draughts from garrisons, augmented his
army to five-and-twenty thousand men, resolved to
hazard a decisive engagement.
Defeats the Giiickcl haviug put Athlouc in a posture of defence,
Aghrim passed the Shannon, and marched up to the enemy, de
termined 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 irapassable. His
right was fortified with entrenchments, and his left se
cured by the castle of Aghrim. He harangued his
army in the raost pathetic strain, conjuring thera to
exert their courage in defence of their holy reUgion,
in the extirpation of heresy, in recovering their ancient
honours and estates, and in restoring a pious king to
the throne, frora whence he had been expelled by an
unnatural usurper. He eraployed the priests to en
force 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 113
not desert their colours, and to have received an order ^fif^'
that no quarter should be given to the French heretics  '——
in the array of the Prince of Orange. Ginckel had ^691.
encamped on the Roscommon side of the river Suck,
within three miles of the enemy ; after having recon
noitred 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 means of some field
pieces. The day was now so far advanced, that the
general determined to postpone the battle till next
raorning ; but, perceiving sorae disorder araong the
eneray, 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
whora they met with such a warm and obstinate recep
tion, 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
frora his centre and left wing. Mackay no sooner
perceived thera weakened by these detachments, than
he ordered three battalions to skirt the bog, and attack
thera 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 musqueteers, supported at proper intervals
with squadrons of cavalry. They made such a despe
rate 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
VOL. I. I

114 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, critical conjuncture Ptolemache came up with a fresh
' body to sustain them, rallied the broken troops, and
1691. 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 the 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 Eng
lish. 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. Ruth 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 Kir-
commodon-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 vari
ance with St. Ruth since the affair at Athlone, and was
ignorant of the plan he had concerted. Rouvigny, hav
ing passed the hollow way without opposition, charged
the enemy in flank, and bore down all before him with
surprising impetuosity: the centre redoubled their ef
forts, and pushed the Irish to the top of the hill ; aud
then the whole line giving way at once from right to
left, threw down their arms. The foot fled towai'ds 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 then-
baggage, tents, provision, ammunition, and artUlery,
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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 115
enable them to retrieve their affairs, or obtain good ^?jf^"
terms from the court of England. There Tyrconnel .
died of a broken heart, after having survived his 1691.
authority and reputation. He had incurred the con
tempt of the French, as well as the hatred of the Irish,
whom he had advised to submit to the new govern
ment, rather than totally ruin themselves and their
farailies. Iraraediately after the battle, detachraents were sent Undertakes
to reduce Portumny, Bonnachar, and Moor-castle, con- Limerick.
siderable passes on the Shannon, which were accord
ingly secured. Then Ginckel advanced to Galway,
which he summoned to surrender ; but he received a
defiance from Lord Dillon and General D'Ussone,
who coraraanded the garrison. The trenches were
iraraediately opened ; a fort which coraraanded the ap
proaches to the town was taken by assault; six regiraents
of foot, and four squadrons of horse, passed the river on
pontoons ; and the place being wholly invested, the go
vernor thought proper to capitulate. The garrison
raarched out with the honours of war, and was allowed
safe conduct to Liraerick. Ginckel directed his march
to the same town, which was the only post of conse
quence 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 coraraander, that if any
person should be put to death for such a proposal,
he would raake retaliation on the Irish prisoners. On
the twenty-fifth day of August the enemy were driven
frora all their advanced posts: Captain Cole, with a
squadron of ships, sailed up the Shannon, and his fri
gates anchored in sight of the town. On the twenty-
sixth day of the raonth the batteries were opened, and
a line of contravallation was formed : the Irish array
lay encaraped 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 Sep
tember, after the town had been almost laid in ruins
by the borabs, and large breaches raade in the walls
i2

116 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, -^y the battering cannon, the guns were dismounted,
" the out-forts evacuated, and such other motions made

1691. 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 be
siegers 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 «nemy, who were seized with such con
sternation 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 iraraediately reraoved 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 can
non. About four in the afternoon the grenadiers at
tacked the forts that commanded Thoraond-bridge, and
carried thera sword in hand, after an obstinate resist
ance. The garrison had raade a sally from the town
to support thera ; and this detachment was driven back
with such precipitation that the French officer on com-
raa,nd 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 victo
rious enemy. Six hundred were killed, two hundred
taken prisoners, including many officers, and a great
number were drowned in the Shannon.
TheFrench Then the English raade a lod^eraent -within ten
and Irish /¦ ji i • i c i i t • ,
obtain an paccs 01 the bridgc-toot ; and the Irish, seeing them-
^Tuktion ®®^'^®^ surrounded on all sides, determined to capitulate.
' General Sarsfield and Colonel Wahop signified their
resolution to Scravenmore and Rou-vigny: hostages
were exchanged ; a negotiation was imraediately be
gun, 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. '117
in the exercise of religion as was consistent with the ^^j4^
laws of Ireland, and conformable with that which they ' 
possessed in the reign of Charles II. All persons i69i.
whatever were entitled to the protection of these laws,
and restored to the possession of their estates, privi
leges, and immunities, upon their submitting to the
present government, and taking the oath of allegiance
to their majesties King William and Queen Mary, ex
cepting, 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
arras since the declaration in the first year of the pre
sent reign, provided they should return within the terra
of eight months. All the persons coraprised in this
and the foregoing article were indulged -with a general
pardon of all attainders, outlawries, treasons, raispri-
sions of treason, premunires, felonies, trespasses, and
other crimes and misdemeanours whatsoever, committed
since the beginning of the reign of James IL, and the
lords justices promised to use their best endeavours
towards the reversal of such attainders and outlawries
as had passed against any of thera in Parliaraent. In
order to allay the violence of party, and extinguish pri
vate aniraosities, it was agreed, that no person should
be sued or irapleaded on either side for any trespass, or
made accountable for the rents, teneraents, lands, or
houses he had received or enjoyed since the beginning
of the war. Every nobleraan and gentleraan 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 premised to use their best endeavours, that all
persons comprehended in this capitulation should for
eight months be protected from all arrests and execu
tions 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 confirraed in Parliament. The
subsequent article was calculated to indemnify Colonel

118 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. John Brown, whose estate and effects had been seized
. for the use of the Irish army by Tyrconnel and Sars-

1691. field, which last had been created Lord Lucan by King
James, and was now mentioned by that title. All per
sons were indulged with free leave to remove with their
families and effects to any other country except Eng
land and Scotland. All officers and soldiers in the
service of King James, comprehending even the Rap
parees, willing to go beyond sea, were at liberty to
raarch 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 Ginckel
engaged to provide seventy ships, if necessary, for their
transportation, with two raen of war for the accommo
dation 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 in
demnification, as well as for the return of the ships :
that all the garrisons should march out of their re
spective 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 is the substance of
the faraous treaty of Liraerick, which the Irish Roman
Catholics considered as the great charter of their civil
and religious liberties. The town of Liraerick was sur
rendered to Ginckel ; but both sides agreed, that the
two armies should entrench themselves till the Irish
could embark, that no disorders might arise from a
communication. The protestant subjects of Ireland were extremely
disgusted at these concessions made in favour of van-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 119
quished rebels, who had exercised such acts of cruelty ^^jj ^'
and rapine. They complained, that they themselves.

who had suffered for their loyalty to King William, i69i-
were neglected, and obUged to sit down with their losses, thousand
while their enemies, who had shed so much blood in op- WshCatho-
lies SLfS
posing his government, were indemnified by the articles transported
of the capitulation, and even favoured with particular to France.
indulgences. They were dismissed with the honours
of war : they were transported, at the government's ex
pense, to fight against the English in foreign countries :
an honourable pro vision was made for the Rapparees, who
were professed banditti : the Roman Catholic interest
in Ireland obtained the sanction of regal authority : at
tainders were overlooked, forfeitures annulled, pardons
extended, and laws set aside, in order to effect a pa
cifications. 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 con
tinent. 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 regiraents refrising to quit the kingdora, de
livered up their arms, and dispersed to their former
habitations. Those who remained at Limerick embarked
on the seventh day of Noveraber, in French transports ;
and sailed iraraediately to France, under the convoy of
a French squadron, which had arrived in the bay of
Dingle imraediately after the capitulation was signed.
Twelve thousand men chose to undergo exile from their
native country, rather than submit to the governraent
of King WiUiara. When they arrived in France, they
were welcomed by a letter from James, who thanked
them for their loyalty ; assured thera they should still
serve under his commission and comraand ; and that the
King of France had already given orders for their being
new clothed, and put into quarters of refreshment.
The reduction of Ireland beins: thus completed, Meetingof
T-> /->! ¦ 1 1 1 -n 1 1 1 1 *"e English
Baron Ginckel returned to England, where he was so- parUament.
lemnly thanked by the House of Coramons for his great
services, after he had been created Earl of Athlone bv

120 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, hig majesty. When the Parliament raet on the twenty-
' second day of October, the king, in his speech, insisted
1691. upon the necessity of sending a strong fleet to sea early
in the season, and of raaintaining a considerable army,
to annoy the enemy abroad, as well as to protect the
kingdom frora insult and invasion ; for which purposes,
he said, sixty-five thousand raen would be barely suf
ficient. Each House presented an address of con
gratulation upon his majesty's safe retum 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 ad
dresses to the queen, acknowledging her prudent ad
ministration during his majesty's absence. Not-with
standing this appearance of cordiality and complaisance,
a spirit of discontent had insinuated itself into both
Houses of Parliaraent, and even infected great part of
the nation.
Discontent A great uurabcr of individuals, who wished well to
tion.^ °^" their country, could not, without anxiety and resent
ment, behold the interests 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 nuraber 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 formi
dable 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
sUence, his imperious disposition, and his base ingra
titude, 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 disgraceof this nobleman was partly ascribed to the

WILLIAM AND MARY. 121
freedom with which he had coraplained of the king's ^f,^^-
undervaluing his services, and partly to the intrigues of.

his -wife, who had gained an ascendancy over the Prin- I69i.
cess Anne of Denraark, and is said to have eraployed
her influence in fomenting a jealousy between the two
sisters. The malecontents of the whiggish faction, en
raged to find their credit declining at court, joined in
the cry which the Jacobites had raised against the go
vernment. They scrupled not to say, that the arts of
corruption were shamefully practised, to secure a raa^
jority in Parliaraent ; that the king was as tender of the
prerogative as any of his predecessors had ever been ;
and that he even ventured to adrait Jacobites into his
council, because they were the known tools of arbitrary
power. These reflections alluded to the Earls of Ro
chester and Ranelagh, who, with Sir Edward Seyraour,
had been lately created privy-counsellors. Rochester
entertained very high notions of regal authority; he
proposed severity as one of the best supports of govern
raent ; 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 trans
acting the most important and intricate affairs in the
midst of riot and debauchery. He had raanaged the
revenue of Ireland in the reign of Charles II. He en
joyed the office of paymaster in the army of King
James ; and now raaintained the sarae footing under the
government of William and Mary. Sir Edward Sey
mour was the proudest comraoner 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 indi-vidual raeraber 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, cen
sured his conduct, and reflected upon his character.
Nevertheless, he now becarae a proselyte, and was brought
into the treasury.
The Comraons voted three millions, four hundred and Trans-
eleven thousand, six hundred and seventy-five pounds, paJuament.
for the use of the ensuing year : but the establishment

122 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, of funds for raising these supplies was retarded, partly
" by the ill-humour of the opposition, and partly by in-
1691. tervening affairs, that diverted the attention of the Com
mons. 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 companj^ and the affair
referred to the examination of a committee appointed
for that purjiose. After a minute inquiry into the na
ture of the complaints, the Commons voted certain re
gulations 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 in
corporated by charter. The committee was ordered
to bring in a bill for this establishment : but divers pe
titions 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 com
pany. 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 tirae return a positive answer.
The Parliament was likewise amused by a pretended
conspiracy of the Papists in Lancashire, to raise a re
beUion, and restore James to the throne. Several per
sons 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 ob
tained 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 Delaval, and James
Hayes, were the witnesses for whom he had procured
the pass and the protection. Search w^as 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 re
quest of the Comraons, prosecuted by the attorney-
general, and sentenced to stand in the pUlory; a
disgrace which he accordingly underwent.
A bill for regulating trials in cases of high treason

WILLIAM AND MARY. 123
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 '^91.
to secure the subject from the rigours to which he had Disputes
been exposed in the late reigns : it provided, that the the MiTfor
prisoner should be furnished with a copy of his indict- regulating
ment, as also of the panel, ten days before his trial ; cases of
and, that his witnesses should be examined upon oath, ^'s^ ^''^-
as well as those of the crown. The Lords, in their o-wn
behalf, added a clause, enacting, that upon the trial
of any peer or peeress, for treason or raisprision of trea
son, all the peers who have a right to sit and vote in
Parliaraent should be duly suraraoned to assist at the
trial : that this notice should be given twenty days be
fore the trial ; and, that every peer so summoned, and
appearing, should vote upon the occasion. The Cora
mons 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 raore tenacious of their own
opinion. After three conferences that produced no
thing but animosity, the bill was dropped ; for the
Coraraons resolved to bear the hardships of which they
coraplained, rather than be relieved at the expense of
purchasing a new pri-vilege to the Lords ; and without
this advantage, the peers would not contribute to their
relief. The next object that engrossed the attention of the Jfsh^lfd ^"
Lower House, was the miscarriage of the fleet during Dutch fleets
the summer's expedition. Admiral Russel, who com- ^""^p^gnch
manded at sea, having been joined by a Dutch squadron, in an en-
sailed in quest of the enemy ; but as the French king f^Beachy-
had received undoubted intelligence that the combined head.
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 wdth 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 Smjrrna fleet, in which the English

124 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, and Dutch had a joint concern, amounting to four
' ¦ millions sterling. Having scoured the channel, and

1691. 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 tirae of the
equinox. He therefore sailed back to soundings, where
he continued cruising tiU the second day of September,
when he was overtaken by a violent tempest, which
drove him into the channel, and obliged him to raake
for the port of Plymouth. The weather being hazy,
he reached the Sound with great difficulty : the Co
ronation, 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 daraage : 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 h'e had adhered to them with great punc
tuality, and thought proper to drop the prosecution,
out of tenderness to the rainistry. 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 raentioned in thera as agents
and abettors in the design, warrants were iraraediately
issued against thera ; Crew absconded, but Lord Dart
mouth was comraitted to the Tower. Lord Preston
was examined touching some ciphers which they could
not explain, and pretending ignorance, was imprisoned
in Newgate, frora whence, however, he soon obtained
his release. The funds for the supplies of the ensuing
year being established, and several acts" passed relating
° The laws enacted in this session were these : 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 steal-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 125
to domestic regulations, the king, on the twenty-fourth chap.
day of February, closed the session with a short speech,

thanking the Parliaraent for their deraonstrations of i69l.
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 theraselves to the twelfth day of April, and
the Parliaraent was afterwards prorogued to the twenty-
ninth of May by proclamation^.
The king had suffered so much in his reputation by The king
his complaisance to the Presbyterians of Scotland, and the^Presby-
was so displeased with the conduct of that stubborn terfans of
sect of religionists, that he thought proper to admit
some prelatists into the adrainistration. Johnston,
who had been sent envoy to the Elector of Branden
burgh, was recalled, and, -with the Master of Stair, raade
joint secretary of Scotland : Mel-vil, who had declined
in his iraportance, was made lord privy-seal of that
kingdom : Tweedale was constituted lord chancellor :
Crawftird retained the office of president ofthe 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 com
pliant enough to be assembled with safety ; and the
episcopal clergy were admitted to a share of the church-
government. These raeasures, instead of healing the
divisions, served only to inflarae the aniraosity of the
two parties. The episcopalians triuraphed in the king's
favour, and began to treat their antagonists with in
solence and scorn : the Presbyterians were incensed to

ing ; 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 ascer
taining the tithes of hemp and flax.
¦¦ In the course of this session. Dr. Welwood, a Scottish physician, was taken into
custody, and reprimanded at the bar of the House of Commons, for having reflected
upon that House in a weekly paper entitled Mercurius Reformatus ; but, as it was
written in defence of the government, the king appointed him one of his physicians
in ordinary. At this period, Charles Montagu, afterwaids Earl of Halifax, dis
tinguished himself in the House of Commons by his fine talents and eloquence.
The privy seal was committed to the Earl of Pembroke ; Lord Viscount Sidney
was created lord lieutenant of Ireland ; Sir John Somers appointed attomey .
feneral ; and the see of Lincoln, vacant by the death of Barlow, conferred upon
)r. Thomas Tennison, who had been recommended to the king as a divine re
markable for his piety and moderation.

126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, gee their friends disgraced, and their enemies distin-

IIL

"b

. guished by the royal indulgence. They insisted upon
1691. 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 circurastance of discipline ; and
the assembly was dissolved, without any time or place
assigned for the next raeeting. The Presbyterians
pretended an independent right of assembling annually,
even without a call frora his majesty ; they therefore
adjourned themselves, after having protested against
the dissolution. The king resented this measm-e, 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 governraent.
The Earl of j^g the Highlanders were not yet totally reduced,
bane under- the Earl of Breadalbane undertook to bring them over,
takes for the |jy distributing sums of mone-v amona: their chiefs ; and
subinission »/ cd
ofthe High- fifteen thousand pounds were remitted from England
landers. fQj, ^]jjg purposo. The claus being informed of this
remittance, suspected that the earl's design was to ap
propriate to himself the best part of the money, and
when he began to treat with them made such extrava
gant 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 which regarded the public weal.
Macdonald had plundered the lands of Breadalbane
during the course of hostilities ; and this nobleman in
sisted 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 ac
quiesce in these terms, but, by his influence araong the
clans, defeated the whole scherae, and the earl in re
venge devoted hira to destruction. King WiUiara had
by proclamation offered an indemnity to all those who
had been in arms against him, provided they would

WILLIAM AND MARY. 127
submit, and take the oaths by a certain day ; and this chap.
was prolonged to the close of the present year, with a ,

denunciation of military execution against those who i69i.
should hold out after the end of December. Mac
donald, intimidated by this declaration, repaired on the
very last day ofthe raonth to Fort William, and desired
that the oaths raight be tendered to him by Colonel
Hill, governor of that fortress. As this officer was not
vested with the power of a civil raagistrate, he refused
to administer thera; and Macdonald set out immediately
for Inverary, the county-town of Argyle. Though the
ground was covered with snow, and the weather in
tensely cold, he travelled with such diligence, that the
term prescribed by the proclaraation was but one day
elapsed when he reached the place, and addressed him
self 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 ha
bitations in the valley of Glencoe, in full confidence of
being protected by the governraent, to which they had
so soleranly submitted.
Breadalbane had represented Macdonald at court Massacre of
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 pro
claraation, and proposed that the governraent should
sacrifice hira to the quiet of the kingdora, in extiriiating
hira, with his family and dependents, by military exe
cution. His advice was supported by the suggestions
of the other Scottish rainisters ; and the king, whose
chief virtue was not huraanity, 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 counter
signed 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.

128 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. In the month of February, Captain Campbell, of Glen-
lyon. by virtue of an order from Major Duncanson,
1691. 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 deraanded whether they carae as
friends or eneraies, he answered, as friends, and pro
mised, 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 vrith the
men of the valley, in all the appearance of the most
unreserved friendship. At length the fatal period ap
proached. 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 sin
cerity ; nevertheless, the two young men went forth
privately, to make further observations. They over
heard the common soldiers say they liked not the work;
that though they w^ould have -willingly fought the Mac
donalds of the Glen fairly in the field, they held it base
to murder them in cold blood, but that their officers
were answerable for the treachery. When the youths
hasted back to apprise 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 imraediate flight. The savage mi
nisters of vengeance had entered the old man's chamber
and shot hira through the head. He fell do-wn 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 raercy,
and offering to serve him for life, was stabbed to the

WILLIAM AND MARY. 129
heart by one Drummond, a subaltern officer. Eight- ^f.f^-
and-thirty persons suffered in this manner, the greater

part of whom were surprised in their beds, and hurried 1691.
into eternity before they had tirae to iraplore 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 brutal 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 imraediate death frora 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, per
formed under the sanction of King Williara's authority,
answered the iraraediate purpose of the court, by strik
ing terror into the hearts of the Jacobite Highlanders :
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 upon every circumstance, in domestic libels
and private conversation. The king, alarmed at the Bumet.
outcry which was raised upon this occasion, ordered an Remet.
inquiry to be set on foot, and dismissed the Master of Life of k.
Stair fi-om his employraent of secretary : he likewise Nav.' Hist.
pretended that he had subscribed the order amidst a Kaiph.
heap of other papers, without knowing the purport of
it ; but as he did not severely punish those who had
VOL. 1. K

130

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

1692.

CHAP, made Uis authority subservient to their own cruel re
venge, the imputation stuck fast to his character ; and
the Highlanders, though terrified into sUence and sub
mission, were inspired with the most implacable re
sentraent against his person and administration.
A great number in both kingdoms waited impatiently
for an opportunity to declare in behalf of their exiled

land.

Prepara
tions for a
descent
upon Eng- mouarch, who was punctually informed of all these
lanri ' ¦*¦ -' 11-1
transactions, and endeavoured to make his advantage
of the growing discontent. King William having set
tled 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 bythe States-General with expressions
of the most cordial regard. While he was here employed
in promoting the raeasures 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 Lan
cashire despatched him to the court of St. Germain's,
with an assurance that they were in a condition to re
ceive their old sovereign. He returned with advice
that King James Avould 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 preparations, that they
might be in readiness to take arms, and co-operate in
effecting his restoration. This officer, and one Johnson,

WILLIAM AND MARY. 131
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. 1692.
Meanwhile, James addressed a letter to several lords Declaration
who had been formerly members of his council, as james"^
well as to divers ladies of quality and distinction, in
timating 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 affirraed that the queen was incapable of child-bear
ing, 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'. This invitation, however, no person
would venture to accept. He afterwards employed his
emissaries in circulating a printed declaration, import
ing 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 de
prive thera of their share in the glory of restoring their
lawful king and their ancient government. He ex
horted 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
Mere offered to him by his Most Christian Majesty; that
when he was ready to oppose force with force, he ne
vertheless offered to give all reasonable satisfaction to
^ The letter vvas directed not only to privy-counselloi's, 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 Fitz-
harding and Fretchville, those of Sir John Trevor, speaker of the House of Com
mons, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Christopher Musgrave, the wives of Sir Thomas
Stamford, lord-mayor of London, Sir William Ashhurst, and Sir Richard Levett,
the sherifls, and, lastly, to Dr. Chamberlain, the famous practitioner in midwifery.
k2

132 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^^j^P- his subjects who had been misled, and endeavoured to
' open their eyes, with respect to the vain pretences of
1692. 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 frora his own palace by a guard
of insolent foreigners, he had, for his personal safety,
taken refuge in France ; that his retreat frora 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 ]iower 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 usurpa
tion should continue during his life, an indisputable
title would survive in his issue, and expose the king
dom to all the miseries of a civil war. He not only
solicited but commanded his good subjects to join him,
according to their duty aud 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 enu
merated. He declared that all soldiers who should quit
the service of the usurper, and inlist under his banners,
' Those excepted were the Duke of Ormond, the Marquis of Winchester, the
Earlsof Sunderiand, Bath, Danby, and Nottingham, the Lords Newport, Delamere,
Wiltshire, Colchester, Cornbury, 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, Richai-d Levison, John Trenchard,
Charles Duncomb, citizens of London ; Edwards, Stapleton, and Hunt, fishermen;
and all others who had offered personal indignities to him at Feversham ; or had
been concerned in the barbarous murder of John Ashton Cross, or any othei-s who
had suffered death for their loyalty ; and all spies, or such as had betrayed his
council during his late absence from England.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 133
might depend upon receiving their pardon and arrears ; *^^j^^"
and that the foreign troops, upon laying down their arms,

should be paid and transported to their respective coun- 1692.
tries. 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 ofthe 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 raercy and appear in arms
against him, would be answerable to Alraighty God for
all the blood that should be spilt, and all the raiseries
in which these kingdoras might be involved by their
desperate and unreasonable opposition.
While this declaration operated variously on the hiffiSnds
minds of the people. Colonel Parker, with some other in England.
officers, inlisted men privately for the service of James,
in the counties of York, Lancaster, and in the bishopric
of Durham : at the sarae time, Fountaine and Holman
were employed in raising two regiments of horse at
London, that they raight join their master immediately
after his landing. His partisans sent Captain Lloyd
with an express to Lord Melfort, 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 de
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 Tour
ville to fall upon the English fleet, even without wait
ing for the Toulon squadron, commanded by the

134 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Marquis D'Etrees. By this time James had repaired
' to La Hogue, and was ready to embark with his
1692. army, consisting of a body of French troops, together
with some English and Scotch refugees, and the re
giraents which had been transported frora Ireland by
virtue of the capitulation of Limerick.
Precautions The ministry of England was informed of all these
the™ueen particulars, partly by some agents of James, who be-
for the de- traycd his cause, and partly by Admiral Carter, who gave
nation. the queeii to understand he had been tampered with ;
and was instructed to amuse the J acobites with a nego
tiation. 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 ex
pected ; 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 remailiing in Eng
land, were ordered to encarap in the neighbourhood
of Portsmouth. The queen issued a proclamation, com
manding all Papists to depart from London and West
minster : 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 with
drawing themselves from their respective places of
abode, a proclamation was published for discovering and
bringing them to justice. The Earls of Scarsdale, Lich
field, and Newburgh; the Lords Griffin, Forbes, Sir
John Fenwick, Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe, and others,
found means to elude the search. The Earls of Hun
tingdon and Marlborough were sent to the Tower:
Edward Ridley, Knevitt, Hastings, and Robert Fer
guson, were imprisoned in Newgate. The Bishop of
Rochester was confined to his own house : the Lords
Brudenel and Fanshaw were secured: the Earls of
Dunmore, Middleton, and Sir Andrew Forrester, were
discovered in a quaker's house, and comraitted to
prison, with several other persons of distinction. The
train-bands of London and Westminster were armed
by the queen's direction, and she reviewed them in

WILLIAM AND MARY. IS.*}
]ierson : Admiral Russel was ordered to put to sea with '"f^j^'^'
all possible expedition; and Carter, with a squadron of  '. 
eighteen sail, continued to cruise along the French 1692.
coast to observe the motions of the enemy.
On the eleventh day of May, Russel sailed from Rye ^^^i*' '
to St. Helen's, where he was joined by the squadrons puts to sea,
under Delaval and Carter. There he received a letter
from the Earl of Nottingham, intimating that a report
having been spread ofthe queen's suspecting the fidelity
of the sea-officers, her majesty had ordered him to de
clare in her name, that she reposed the raost entire
confidence in their attachraent; and believed the reijort
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 squa
drons, comfhanded by AUemonde, Calleraberg, 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 Tourville, and threw out
the signal for the line of battle, wliich by eight o'clock
was formed in good order, the Dutch in the van, the
blue squadron 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 despatched 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 engageraent.
Tour-ville, therefore, in obedience to the first raan- He obtains
date, bore down alongside of Russel's own ship, which victOTy^over
he engaged at a very small distance. He fought with '''^ F^nch
great fury till one o'clock, when his rigging and sails HogiTe.
being considerably damaged, his ship, the Rising Sun,
which carried one hundred and four cannon, was towed

136 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, out of the Une in great disorder. Nevertheless, the en-
" gageraent continued till three, when the fleets were
1692. 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 eneray about eight in the evening,
and engaged them half an hour, during which Admiral
Carter was mortally wounded. Finding himself fti ex
tremity, 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 Conquest-Road,
ha-ring lost four ships in this day's action. Next day,
about eight in the morning, they were discovered
crowding away to the westward, amd the combined
fleets chased with all the sail they could carry, untU
Russel's fore-topmast 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 sorae dri-ving
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 burnt 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 am
munition, 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 atterapt, without exposing their ships
to the most imminent hazard. This was a very mor
tifying 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
overwhelraed his friends in England with grief and

WILLIAM AND MARY. 137
despair. Sorae historians allege, that Russel did not ira- chap.
prove his victory with all advantages that might have

been obtained, before the enemy recovered their con- 1692.
sternation. They say his affection to the service was in
a good raeasure cooled by the disgrace of his friend, the
Earl of Marlborough ; that he hated the Earl of Not
tingham, by whose channel he received his orders ; and,
that Be 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 adrairal. 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 ofthe 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 j^Xd^at™"
Dutch Admiral Calleraberg, to steer towards Ha-vre de st. Helen's
Grace, and endeavour to destroy the remainder of the ^p'o^n ^^*'^°*
French fleet, sailed back to St. Helen's, that the France.
damaged ships might be refitted, and the fleet fur
nished with fresh supplies of pro-vision and ammunition:
but his principal motive was, to take on board a nuraber
of troops provided for a descent upon France, which
had been projected by England and Holland, with a
view to alarra and distract the enemy in their own do
minions. The queen was so pleased with the victory,
that she ordered thirty thousand pounds to be distri
buted among the sailors. She caused medals to be
struck in honour of the action ; and the bodies of Ad
miral Carter and Captain Hastings, who had been
killed in the battle, to be interred with gi-eat 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 san-

138 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- guine hopes of this expedition. A council of war,
" consisting of land and sea officers, being held on board
1692. the Breda, to deliberate upon the scheme of the mi
nistry, the members unanimously agreed, that the season
was too far advanced to put it- in execution. Never
theless, 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, he was obliged to
return to St. Helen's.
The design The quceii immediately despatched the Marquis of
TheTroops Caermarthen, the Earls of Devonshire, Dorset, Not-
landed at -tingham, and Rochester, together with the Lords
Sidney and Cornwallis, to consult with the admiral,
who demonstrated the impracticability of making au
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 arma
ment, 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 j^lundered and abused ; that immense
sums were extorted from them by the most grievous
impositions ; that, by the infamous expedient of bor
rowing upon established funds, their taxes were per
petuated; 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 farther to apprehend from the English ai-ma-
ment, 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 arch-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 139
bishop of Paris, the keeper of the seals, and other ^ ^'^^^
persons of distinction.

Louis had taken the field in the latter end of May. 1692.
On the twentieth day of that month he arrived at his ^ng^kes''
carap in Flanders, with all the effeminate pomp of an Namur hi
Asiatic emperor, attended by his women and parasites, ^^Jjg Vi-
his band of music, his dancers, his opera, and, in a word, Uam.
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
Sarabre, with about one half of his army, while the other
covered the siege, under the coraraand of Luxerabourg.
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 con
trived by the famous engineer Coehorn, who now
defended it in person. The Prince de Barbason com
manded the garrison, consisting of iiine thousand men.
The place was Avell 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 ad
vantages, the assaUants carried on their attacks with
such vigour, that in seven days after the trenches were
opened the toM'u 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 ef
fective men, and encamped within cannon shot of Lux
embourg's array, which lay on the other side of the
river. That general, however, had taken such pre
cautions, that the King of England could not interrupt
the siege, nor attack the French lines without great
disadvantage. The besiegers, encouraged by the pre
sence of their monarch, and assisted by the superior
abilities of Vauban, their engineer, repeated their attacks
with such impetuosity, that the fort of Coehorn was
surrendered after a very obstinate defence, in which he
hiraself had been dangerously wounded. The citadel
being thus left exposed to the approaches ofthe eneray,
could not long withstand the violence of their opera-

140 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, tions. The two covered ways were taken by assault :
" on the twentieth of May the governor capitulated, to
1692. 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 VersaiUes, 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 in
curred the suspicion of treachery or misconduct.
The allies Luxembourg having placed a strong garrison in
^^steen-^ Naiuur, detached Boufflers with a body of troops to La
kerke. Bassiere, and with the rest of his army encaraped 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 op
portunity of retrieving his honour by attacking the
enemy. Having received intelligence that the French
general was in motion, and intended to take post be
tween Steenkerke and Enghien, he passed the river
Sonne, in order to anticipate his purpose : but, in spite
of all his diligence, Luxerabourg gained his point ; and
WiUiara encamped at Lembeck, 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, im
porting that he need not be alarmed at the motions of
the allies, who intended the next day to raake 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 adrait of their marching in an ex
tended front. The Prince of Wirtemberg began the
attack on the right of the enemy, at the head of ten
battaUons of English, Danish, and Dutch infantry : he
was supported by a considerable body of British horse
and foot, coraraanded by Lieutenant-General Mackay.
Though the ground was intersected by hedges, ditches,
and narrow defiles, the prince marched with such dili-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 141
gence, that he was in a condition to begin the battle ^^j:^^'
about two in the afternoon, when he charged the French  '. 
with such impetuosity that they were driven from 1692.
their posts, and their whole camp becarae a scene of
tumult and confusion. Luxembourg, trusting to the
intelligence he had received, allowed himself to be sur
prised ; and it required the full exertion of his superior
talents to remedy the consequences of his neglect.
He forth-with 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
theraselves at the head of the household troops, and
fell with great fury upon the English, who were very
ill supported by Count Solraes, the officer who cora
raanded the centre of the allies. The Prince of Wir-
teraberg had taken one of the eneray's batteries, and
actually penetrated into their lines ; but finding himself
in danger of being overpowered by numbers, he sent an
aide-du-camp twice, to demand succours from Solraes,
who derided his distress, saying, " Let us see what
sport tliese English bull-dogs will make." At length,
when the king sent an express order, commanding him
to sustain the left -wing, he raade 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 con
tinued doubtful, until Boufflers joined the French array
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 J-ohn Lanier, Sir Robert Douglas,
and many other gallant officers, together with about
three thousand men left dead on the spot, the same

142 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, number wounded or taken, a great many colours and
" standards, and several pieces of cannon.
1692. The French, however, reaped no solid advantage from
Extrava- this victory, which cost thera about three thousand men,
£ in-'"'" including the Prince of Turenne, the Marquis de Belle-
France on fond, Tilladet, and Fernacon, with many officers of
this^vietoy. distiuctiou : 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, not
withstanding 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 occasion of this unimport
ant 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 Steenkerke : every individual who had
been personaUy 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 The Frcuch ministry did not entirely depend upon
hfe'of'King ^^^ fortuue of the war for the execution of their revenge
William, against King William. They likewise employed as-
thf French sassins to deprive him of life, in the most treacherous
ministry, 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 Grand val, 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 un
dertaking, and assured them of his protection; but
that unfortunate monarch was unjustly charged with

WILLIAM AND MARY. 143
the guilt of countenancing the intended murder, as ^^j|^'
they communicated nothing to him but an attempt to ,

seize the person of the Prince of Orange. Dumont 1692.
actually inlisted in the confederate army, that he might
have the better opportunity to shoot the King of Eng
land when he should ride out to visit the lines, 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 carap of the
allies, he retired to Hanover ; but still corresponded
with Grandval and Barbesieux. This last adraitted
one Leefdale, a Dutch baron, into the secret, and like
wise imparted it to Monsieur Chanlais, quarter-master-
general of the French army, who aniraated Grandval
and Leefdale with the proraise of a considerable reward,
and promised to co-operate with Parker for bringing
off Dumont, for this assassin still persisted in his un
dertaking. Leefdale had been sent frora 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 in
sinuated 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 Miscarriage
Ostend, with the troops which had been embarked at "pon'^D^.
St. Helen's. He Mas furnished with cannon sent down kirk.
tlic Meuse from jNIaestricht ; and reinforced by a large
detachment frora the King's camp at Gramont, under
the comraand of General Ptolemachp. He took pos
session 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.

144 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the enterprise was thought very dangerous, and there-
" fore laid aside. Furnes and Dixmuyde, lately reduced
1692. iby 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 raight have passed the Scheldt higher up,
and not only laid the eneray's conquests under con
tribution, but even marched into the bowels of France ;
aud they complained that Furnes and Dixmuyde were
not worth the sums expended in maintaining their
garrisons. On the twenty-sixth day of Septeraber,
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 broken up ; the infantry marched to Marienkerke,
and the horse to Caure. On the sixteenth day of Oc
tober, the king receiving intelligence that Bouf&ers had
invested Charleroy, and Luxembourg taken post in the
neighbourhood of Conde, ordered the troops to be in
stantly re-assembled 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 Bouffiers abandoned the siege, and
moved towards Philipville. The elector having rein
forced the place and thrown supplies into Aeth, dis
tributed his forces into winter-quarters. Then Luxem
bourg, who had cantoned his army between Conde,
Leuse, and Tournay, returned to Paris, leaving Bouf
flers to command in his absence.
^gnirin- The allies had been unsuccessful in Flanders, and
active on they Were not fortunate in Germany. The Landgrave
andhi*""^ of Hesse Cassel undertook the siege of Eberemburg,
Hungary.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 145
which, however, he was obliged to abandon. The ^9,4^-
Duke de Lorges, who commanded the French forces '

on the Rhine, surprised, defeated, and took the Duke 1692.
of Wirtemberg, who had posted himself with four thou
sand horse near Eidelsheim, to check the progress of
the eneray. Count Tallard having invested Rhinefeld,
the landgrave raarched to its relief with such expedi
tion, that the French were 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 carapaign in Hungary.
A jealousy and raisunderstanding ensued : Schoening,
the Saxon general, in his way to the hot-baths at Da-
blitz, in Bohemia, was seized by the emperor's order,
on suspicion of having maintained a private correspond
ence with the enemy, and very warm expostulations
on this subject passed between the courts of Vienna
and Dresden. Schoening 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 visir was deposed; and in the midst of this con
fusion, the garrison of Great Waradin, which had
been blocked up by the iraperialists during the whole
winter, surrendered on capitulation. Lord Paget, the
English arabassador at Vienna, was sent to Constanti
nople, with powers to raediate a peace : but the terms
offered by the emperor were rejected at the Porte : the
Turkish array lay upon the defensive, and the season
was spent in a fruitless negotiation.
The prospect of affairs in Piedmont was favourable The Duke
for the allies ; but the court of France had brought "nvades^
the pope to an accommodation, and began to tamper Dauphine.
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
VOL. I. L

146 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, entitled to better terras, considering that the allied
" army in Piedmont amounted to fifty thousand effective
1692. 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 Guil-
lestre; then passing the river Darance, he invested
Ambrun, which, after a siege of nine days, surrendered
on capitulation : he afterwards laid all the neighbouring
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 forraer authority, and the people to their just
privileges. He even offered his protection to the
clergy, and promised to use his endeavours for revi-ring
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 coun
try, in revenge for the cruelties which the French had
committed in the Palatinate.^ The alUed army ad
vanced frora Ambrun to Gap, on the frontiers of Pro
vence, and this place submitted without opposition.
The inhabitants of Grenoble, the capital of Dauphine,
and even of Lyons, were overwhelmed with conster
nation ; and a fairer opportunity of humbling France
could never occur, as that part of the kingdora 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 indis
position 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 sus
pected. He is said to have raaintained a constant cor
respondence with the court of Versailles, in com
plaisance to which he retarded the operations of the
confederates. Certain it is, he evacuated all his con
quests, and about the middle of September quitted the

WILLIAM AND MARY. 147
French territories, after having pillaged and laid waste chap.
the country through which he had penetrated". In

Catalonia the French atterapted nothing of iraportance 1692.
during this campaign, and the Spaniards were wholly
inactive in that province.
The protestant interest in Germany acquired an ac- The Duku
cession of strength, by the creation of a ninth electo- created°an
rate in favour of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Hanover. f,'''<=*°'' °^
TT 1 1 1 1 • • 1 11 1 • • ™e empire.
He had, by this time, renounced all his connexions
with France, and engaged to enter heartily into the
interests 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 eraj^ror 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, whora he durst not disoblige. Leopold
was blindly bigoted to the religion of Rome, and con
sequently averse to a new creation that would weaken
the catholic interest in the electoral college. He,
therefore, eraployed his emissaries to thwart the duke's
measures. Sorae 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 em
peror suggested that another popish electorate should
be created, to balance the advantage which the Luthe
rans would reap from that of Hanover; and he pro
posed that Austria should be raised to the sarae dignity :
but violent opposition was raade to this expedient,
which would have vested the emperor vrith a double
vote in the electoral college. At length, after a tedious
negotiation, the Duke of Hanover, on the nineteenth
day of Deceraber, was honoured with the investiture, as
Elector of Brunswick ; created great marshal of the
* 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 l2

148 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, empire, and did homage to the emperor : nevertheless,
 1_ he was not yet admitted into the college, because he
1692. 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 Nether
lands. 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 an earthquake ; the place was so suddenly overflowed, that about fifteen
hundred persons perished.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 149

CHAPTER IV.
False Information against the Earl of Marlborough, the Bishop of
Rochester, and others. — Sources of national Discontent. — Dis
sension between the Queen and the Princess 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.
— Dispute between the Lords and Commons concerning Admiral
Russel. — The Commons address the Kiilg. — 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 Parhaments. — The Com
mons petition his Majesty that he would dissolve the East
India Company. — Trial of Lord Mohun for Murder. — Alterations
in the Ministry. — The King repairs to the Continent, and assem
bles 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 de
feated by 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 Com
pany obtain a new Charter. — Bill for a general Naturalization
dropped. — Sir Francis Wheeler perishes in a Storm. — The Eng
lish attempt to make a Descent in Camaret-bay, hut are repulsed
with Loss. — They bombard Dieppe, Havre-de-Grace, Dunkirk,
and Calais. — Admiral Russel sails fpr 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. — Pro
gress of the French in Catalonia. — State of the War in Piedmont.
— The King returns to England. — The Parliament meets. — The

150 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Bill for triennial Parhaments receives the royal Assent. — Deatli
1^- of Archbishop Tillotson and of Queen Mary. — ReconciHation be
tween the King and the Princess of Denmark.

1692.
False in- "While King WUliam seemed wholly engrossed by
agaTnst"the the affairs of the continent, England was distracted by
^'\^^ domestic dissension, and overspread with vice, corrup-
rough, the tiou, aud profaneuess. Over and above the Jacobites,
Rochester t^ere was a set of malecontents, whose number daily
and others', 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 heav)'
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 Mbellers. The Earl of Marl
borough had been committed to the Tower, on the in
formation of one Robert Young, a prisoner in Newgate,
who had forged that nobleman's hand-writing, and con
trived the scheme of an association in favour of King
James, to which he affixed the naraes of the Earls of
Marlborough and Salisbury, Sprat, bishop of Rochester,
the Lord Cornbury, and Sir Basil Firebrace. One of
his eraissaries had found raeans 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 se
cured the prelate in consequence of Young's informa
tion. 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.
fXmidis- ®° ™^^Y P®^^^"^ of character and distinction had
content. ' becu imprisoned during this reign, upon the shghtest
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 mis-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 151
used. They expatiated upon the loss of ships, which ^^^^•
had lately fallen a prey to the enemy; the consumption

of seamen; the neglect ofthe fisheries; the interruption 1692.
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 fo
reign 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 mis
chiefs 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 ma
jesties possessed the throne; that the structure of Par
liaments 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 governraent. They
exclairaed 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
enuraerated araong their grievances the violation of
property, by pressing transport ships into the service,
without settling any fund of payraent for the owners ;
the condition of the militia, which was equally bur
densome and useless ; the flagrant partiality in favour
of allies, who carried on an open comraerce with France,
and supplied the eneray 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
Avas become the object of ridicule, and the whole king
dom was overspread with immorality and corruption ;
towards the increase of which, many concurring cir-

152 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, cumstances happened to contribute. The people were
divided into three parties, namely, the WilUamites, the

1692. 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 patriotisra was laughed out of doors, as an hy
pocritical 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 in
fluence 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 de
fray the expenses of governraent threw large preraiums
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 ca
reer, they ran iuto the most absurd and illiberal extra
vagancies. They laid aside all decorum ; became lewd,
insolent, intemperate, and riotous. Their example was
caught by the vulgar. All principle, and even decency,
Avas gradually banished ; talent lay uncultivated, and
the land was deluged with a tide of ignorance and pro
fligacy.
Dissension Kiiig WUUam liaviug ascertained the winter quar-
queen^nd^ tcrs of the army, and concerted the operations of the
the Princess ensuiug Campaign with the States-General, and the
Denmark, 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 congra
tulatory address from the lord-raayor and alderraen,
with whora he dined in public by invitation. A day
of thanksgiving was appointed for the victory obtained
at sea. The lutestring company was established by
patent, and the Parliament met on the fourth day of
November. The House of Lofds was deeply infected

WILLIAM AND MARY. 153
with discontent, which in some measure proceeded from ^^^ ''•
the dissension between the queen and her sister, the ^ 
Princess of Denmark, which last underwent every 1692.
raortification that 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 some
times 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 forraer contest with the king, about an
independent settleraent; and these were now reinforced
by all the friends of the Earl of Marlborough, united
by a double tie ; for they resented the disgrace and
confineraent 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 Shrews
bury 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 opportu
nity to display his talents, and acquire that consideration
which he thought due to his merit. Devonshire, Mon
tague, and Bradford, joined in the sarae cause frora
principle : the same pretence was used by the Earls of
Stamford, Monmouth, Warrington, and other whigs,
though in effect they werfe actuated by jealousy and
resentment against those by whom they had been sup
planted. As for the Jacobites, they gladly contributed
their assistance to promote any scheme that had a tend
ency to embroil the administration.
The king, in his speech to Parliament, thanked them The House
for their last supplies, congratulated thera upon the vindicate
victory obtained at sea, condoled thera on the bad f"^'"" P"y'-
¦ l6Qf6S in DC—
success ofthe campaign by land, magnified the power half of their
of France, represented the necessity of raaintaining a ™P'-isoned
mciiiDcrs.
great force to oppose it, and deraanded subsidies equal
to the occasion. He expressed his reluctance t6 load
thera with additional burdens, which, he said, could
not be avoided, without exposing his kingdom to in
evitable destruction. He desired their advice towards
lessening the inconvenience of exporting money for

154 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the payment of the forces. He intimated a design of
 L_ making a descent upon France ; declared he had no
1692. aim but to make his subjects a happy people ; and that
he would again cheerfully expose his Ufe 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 dis
cussed in a violent debate, the Plouse ordered Lord
Lucas, constable of the Tower, to produce the warrants
of commitraent, 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
Sraith was exarained, touching the evidence against
the coramitted lords. The committee reported their
general resolution, which produced a veheraent 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 cora
mitted for high treason, unless it be made appear, upon
oath, that there are two witnesses against the said pri
soner, 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 re
manded, there raust 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-raera-
bers. 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 155
to be afraid, and proposed an expedient, which was put ^^y ^¦
in practice. The House adjourned to the seventeenth  '. —
day of the month, and at its next meeting was given i692.
to understand, that the king had discharged the im
prisoned 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 considera
tion. The Coramons having voted an address of thanks, '^^^ ^°'"'
11. • , 1. • IT mons pre-
and another, praying that his majesty s foreign alliances sent ad-
should be laid before them, deterrained on a bill for Jf ^^^ '°
regulating trials in cases of high treason. They passed and queen.
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 raade; and
why the trade had not been better protected frora the
enemy's cruisers. The admiral having justified his
own conduct, they commanded the lords of the Ad
miralty to produce copies of all the letters and orders
which had been sent to the adrairal : they ordered
Russel to lay before thera his answers ; and the cora
missioners of the transports, victuallers, and office of
ordnance, to deliver in an account of their proceedings.
Then they presented addresses to the king and queen,
acknowledging the favour of God in restoring him to
his people; congratulating him upon his deliverance
frora the snares of his open and secret enemies ; and
assuring him they would, according to his majesty's
desire in his raost gracious speech, be always ready to
advise and assist hira in the support of his govemment.
The queen was thanked for her gracious and prudent
adrainistration during his majesty's absence : they con
gratulated her on their signal deliverance from a bold
and cruel design forraed for their destruction, as well
as on the glorious victory which her fleet had gained ;
and they assured her, that the gi-ateful sense they
had of their happiness under her governraent should

156 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, always be manifested in constant returns of duty and
" obedience.

1692. After this formal compliraent, the House, instead
They acquit Qf proceeding to the supplies, insisted upon perusing
Russel, and the treaties, public accounts, and estimates, that they
resolve to miofjit be ill a condition to ad-vise, as well as to assist
majesty, 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 Steen
kerke. After some warm altercation, the House re
solved one article of their advice should be, that his
majesty would be pleased to fill up the vacancies that
shoidd 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 Eng
lishman. Their next resolution implied, that many
of the great affairs of the government having been for
some tirae 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 estabUshment could not be expected to
support it with zeal. The Earl of Nottingham was
raentioned by narae, and the House resolved that his
majesty should be advised to employ in his couucils
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 lord
ship's answer. The earl's friends, of whom there was

WILLIAM AND MARY. 1S7
a great number in the House, espoused his cause with chap.
great vigour, and even recriminated upon Russel ; so ^'
that a very violent debate ensued. Both parties agreed 1692.
that there had been mismanagement in the scheme of a
descent. It was raoved, that one cause of the mis
carriage was the want of giving timely and necessary
orders, by those to whom the manageraent of the affair
was committed. The House divided, and it was car
ried in the affirmative by one voice only. At the next
sitting of the coramittee. Sir Richard Temple proposed
they should consider how to pay the forces abroad, by
means of English manufactures, without exporting
money. They resolved that the House should be
moved to appoint a coramittee to take this expedient
into consideration. Sir Francis Winnington was ira
raediately 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 raade ; and the coraraittee
was dissolved. The House, however, revived it, and
appointed a day for its sitting ; but before it could re
surae its deliberations. Admiral Russel raoved for its
being adjourned, and all its purposes were defeated.
The court agents had by this tirae interposed, and ^^^^ij^j,"^)"
secured a raajority by the infamous arts of corruption, the de-
The Commons no longer insisted upon their points of ^^"^^j^°^
advice. Their whole attention was now centred in the try.
article of assistance. They granted about two millions
for the maintenance of three-and-thirty thousand sea
men, 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 dis
putes. The ministry deraanded fifty-four thousand
men, twenty thousand of whom should be kept at horae
for the defence of the nation, while the rest should
serve abroad in the allied array. Many raerabers de
clared their aversion to a foreign war, in which the
nation had no imraediate 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,

158 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, not as a principal, and pay no more than what the peo-
" pie would cheerfully contribute to the general expense.
1692. These reflections, however, produced no other effect
than that of prolonging the debate. Ministerial in
fluence had surmounted all opposition. The House
voted the number of men demanded. Such was their
servile complaisance, that when they exarained the
treaties by which the English and Dutch contracted
equally with the German princes, and found that, not
withstanding these treaties, Britain bore two-thirds of
the expense, they overlooked this flagi-ant instance of
partiality, and enabled tha king to pay the proportion.
Nay, their maxiras were so rauch altered, that instead
of prosecuting their resentment against foreign gene
rals, they assented to a motion that the Prince of Wir
temberg, 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 addi
tion to their appointments as would make up the differ
ence between the pay of England and that of Holland.
Finally, they voted above two millions for the subsist
ence of the land-forces, and for defraying extraordi
nary expenses attending the war upon the continent,
including subsidies to the Electors of Saxony and
Hanover.
The Lords The House of Lords, meanwhile, was not free from
address of auimosity and contention. The Marlborough faction
jrfvice to exerted theraselves with gi-eat -vivacity. They affirraed,
'"^' it was the province of their House to advise the sove
reign : like the Coraraons, they insisted upon the king's
having asked their advice, because he had raentioned
that word in his speech, though he never drearaed that
they would catch at it with such eagerness. They
raoved, that the task of digesting the articles of advice
should be undertaken by a joint coramittee of both
houses : but all the dependants of the court, including
the whole bench of Bishops, except Watson of St. Da
vid'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. Not
withstanding this defeat, they prosecuted their scheme
of giving advice ; and after much wrangling and decla-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 159
mation, the House agreed in an address or remonstrance, '^"^''¦
advising and beseeching his majesty that the command

ing officer of the British forces should be an English- 1692.
man : that English officers might take rank of those in
the confederate arraies who did not belong to crowned
heads : that the twenty thousand raen 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 miscar- Dispute
riage of the purposed descent, and called for all the Lor^^and*'
papers relating to that affair ; but the aim of the ma- Commons
jority was not so much to rectify the errors of the AdmM"
government, as to screen Nottingham, and censure i^"^^«i-
Russel. That nobleman produced his own book of
entries, together with the whole correspondence be-
' tween hira and the admiral, whom he verbally charged
with having contributed to the miscarriage of the ex
pedition. This affair was referred to a committee. Sir
John Ashby was examined. The House direeted the
earl to draw up the substance of his charge ; and these
papers were afterwards delivered to a coraraittee of the
Comraons, 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 raight be
inforraed more fully of the particulars they contained.
At another conference, which the Coraraons 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 expe
dition, had behaved with fidelity, courage, and conduct.
The Lords, irritated at this declaration, and disappointed
in their resentment against Russel, desired a free con-

160 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
ciiAP. ference between the committees of both Houses. The
" Earl of Rochester told the Commons, he was cora-

1692. manded by the House of Lords to inform them, that
their lordships looked upon the late vote and proceed
ings of the Lower House, in returning their papers, to
be irregular and unparliamentary, as they had not com
municated to their lordships the lights they had re
ceived, and the reasons 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 Com- The Lower House seemed to be as much exaspe-
dl-e"s\hi' rated against the Earl of Nottingham as the Lords
king. They were iiiceused at Russel. A motion was made that
k^d-tax' ^'lis majesty should be advised to appoint such commis-
and other siouors of the board of Admiralty as were of kno-wn
imposi ions, gxperieuce in maritime affairs. Although this was
overruled, they voted an address to the king, praying
that, for the future, all orders for the management of
the fleet might pass through the hands of the said com
missioners ; 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 shil
lings in the pound, for one year, should be charged
upon all lands, according to their yearly value ; as also
upou all personal estates, and upon all offices and em
ployments of profit other than military offices in the
army or 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 rene^-ed the last quar
terly poll, providing, that in case it should not produce
three hundred thousand pounds, the deficiencies might
be made up by borrowing ou 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 161
East India company, estimated at seven hundred and ^^^^•
forty-four thousand pounds ; of one per cent, on the

man.

African ; of five pounds on every share. of the stock be- 1692.
longing to the Hudson's Bay corapany ; and they era-
powered his majesty to borrow five hundred thousand
pounds on these funds, which were expressly esta
blished for maintaining the war with vigour".
The money-bills were retarded in the Upper House Bumet's
by the arts of Halifax, Mulgrave, and other raalecon- feTbumed'
tents. They grafted a clause on the land-tax bill, ''yt^hehang-
iraporting, 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 noto
rious encroachment upon the right the Commons pos
sessed of regulating all matters relating to suppUes
granted by Parliament. When this report was debated
in the House of Lords, the Earl of Mulgrave displayed
uncommon powers of eloquence and arguraent, in per
suading the House, that by yielding to this claira of
the Commons, they would divest themselves of their
true greatness, and nothing would reraain but the
name and shadow of a peer, which was but a pageant.
Notwithstanding all his oratory, the Lords relin
quished 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 Coraraons against the pamphlet
entitled " King WilUam and Queen Mary Conquerors,"
as containing assertions of dangerous consequence to
their majesties, to the liberty of the subject, and the
peace of the kingdora, the licenser and printer were
taken into custody. The book being examined, they
resolved that it should be burned by the hands of the
common hangman ; and, that the king should be raoved
" 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."
VOL. I. M

162 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, to dismiss the licenser from his eraployraent. The
" same sentence they pronounced upon a pastoral letter
1692. of Bishop Burnet, in which this notion of conquest had
been at first asserted. The Lords, in order to raani-
fest their sentiments on the same subject, resolved, that
such an assertion was highly injurious to their majes
ties, inconsistent with the principles on which the
government was founded, and tending to the subver
sion of the rights of the people. Bohun, the licenser,
w^as brought to the bar of the House, and discharged
upon his own petition, after having been reprimanded
on his knees by the speaker.
Proceed- Several members having complained that their ser-
Lower vauts had been kidnapped, and sent to serve as soldiers
House iu Flanders, the House appointed a committee to in-
practice of quire into the abuses committed by press-masters ; and
kidnapping j^ suitable remonstrauce was presented to the king, who
men for the ,,..,. . ^ , . . i
service. oxpressod his ludignatiou at this practice, and assured
the House that the delinquents should be brought to
exemplary punishraent. 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 dis
charged by order of the House ; and Captain Winter,
the chief undertaker of this method of recruiting the
army, was carried by the Serjeant before the lord chief
justice, that he might be prosecuted according to law.
The two Before the heats occasioned by this unpopular ex-
JlOUSSS 3.(1— * ^ ± L
dress the podieut Were allayed, the discontent of the nation was
king on the further inflamed by complaints from Ireland, where
grievances tio-i -ii i
of Ireland. Lord Sidney was said to rule with despotic authority.
These complaints were exhibited by Sir Francis Brew
ster, Sir William Gore, Sir John Macgill, Lieutenant
Stafford, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Kerne. They were exa
rained at the bar of the House, and delivered an ac
count 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

WILLIAM AND MARY. 163
granted to the Irish not included in the articles of chap.
Limerick ; so that Protestants were deprived of the '
benefit of the law against them ; that the quarters of 1692.
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, con
trary to the ancient privileges and charter : that se
veral persons accused of raurder had been executed
¦without proof; and one Sweetman, the most guilty,
discharged without prosecution. The Coramons spoke
more freely in their address : they roundly explained
the abuses and misraanageraent 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 CathoUcs, 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 an under value, to the prejudice of
his majesty's revenue ; by embezzling the stores left in
the towns and garrisons by the late King Jaraes, as
well as the effects belonging to the forfeited estates,
which raight have been employed for the better pre
servation of the kingdom ; and, finally, by making ad
ditions to the articles of Limerick, after the capitulation
was signed, and the place surrendered. They most
humbly besought his raajesty to redress these abuses,
which had greatly encouraged the Papists, and weak
ened the protestant' interest in Ireland. The king
graciously received both addresses, and promised to pay
a particular regard to all reraonstrances that should
come from either House of ParUament : but no raate
rial 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 CulUford^ who had been guilty of
the most grievous acts of oppression, escaped with
impunity. The old whig principle was not yet wholly expelled ^V'^'?'""'
from the Lower House. The undue influence of the bin, and
court was exerted in such an open, scandalous manner, ^^^^p*^'"
M Z liaments.

164 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, as gave offence to the majority of the Commons. In
' the midst of all their condescension. Sir Edward Hus-
1692. sey, member for Lincoln, brought in a bill touching
free and impartial proceedings in Parliaraent. It was
intended to disable all raerabers of Parliaraent frora en
joying places of trust and profit, and particularly levelled
against the officers of the army and navy, who had in
sinuated themselves into the House in such nurabers,
that this was coramonly called the Officers' Parliament.
The bill passed the House of Comraons, and was sent
up to the Lords, by whom it was read a second time,
and coramitted : 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 recollected theraselves frora the consternation
produced by such a vigorous opposition, when the Earl
of Shrewsbury produced another bill for triennial Par-
liaraents, 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 comraissioner of the great
seal, should issue thera ew officio, and by authority of
this act, under severe penalties. The immediate object
of this bill was the dissolution ofthe present Parliament,
which had already sat three sessions, and began to be
forraidable to the people from its concessions to. the
ministry. The benefits that would accrue to the con
stitution from the estabUshment of triennial Parhaments
were very well understood, as these points had been
frequently discussed in former, reigns. The courtiers
now objected, that frequent elections would render the-
freeholders proud and insolent, encourage faction among
the electors,, and entail a continual expense upon the
member, as he would find himself obliged, during tho
whole tirae of his sitting, to behave like a candidate,
conscious how soon the time of election would revolve.
In spite of the ministerialinterest in the Upper House,

WILLIAM AND MARY. 165
the bill passed, and contained a proviso, that the pre- chap.
sent Parliament should not continue any longer than . '^'

the month of January next ensuing. The court re- 1692.
newed its efforts against it in the House of Comraons,
where, nevertheless, it was carried, with some little
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 "^1^^°^'
Commons brought in a bill for continuing and explain- tion his ma-
ing certain teraporary laws then expiring, or expired. l^o^i^dL''^
Among these was an act for restraining the liberty of solve the
the press, which owed its original to the reign of^^'^^y*
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 opposi
tion 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 mer
cenary, and, perhaps, ignorant licenser, destroyed the
properties of authors, and extended the evil of mono
polies. The bill for regulating trials was dropped, and,
iu lieu of it, another produced for the preservation of
their majesties' sacred persons and governraent : but
this too was rejected by the raajority, in consequence
of the ministry's secret manageraent. The East India An. 1693.
company narrowly escaped dissolution. Petitions and
counter-petitions were deUvered into the House of Com
mons: 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 warra in de
tecting their abuses suddenly cooled ; and the prosecu
tion of the affair began to languish. Not but that the
House presented an address to his majesty, praying

166 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, that he would dissolve the corapany upon three years'
. warning, according to the condition of their charter.
1693. 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 re
jected; 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 kingdora : 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 floiirishing nation''.
J"^l °^ During the course of this session. Lord Mohun was
Lord Mo- . o . i , i . ttt
hun for ludicted aud tried by his peers, in Westramster-hall, as
AUerations ^^ accompUco iu the murder of one Montford, a cele-
jn the minis- brated comedian, the Marquis of Caermarthen acting
''^' as lord-steward upon this occasion. The judges having
been consulted, the Peers proceeded to give their judg
ments 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 be
tween the whigs and tories, by mingUng them to
gether in his ministry, made sorae alterations at this
period that savoured of the same policy. The great
seal, with the title of lord-keeper, was bestowed upon
i" The other laws made in this session were those that follow : — An Act for pre
venting suits gainst such as had acted for their majesties' service in defence of this
kingdom — An Act for raising the militia in the yeai- 1 693 — An Act authorizing the
judges to empower such persons, other than common attorneys and solicitors, as they
should think fit, to take special bail, except in London, Westminster, and ten miles
round— An Act to encourage the apprehending of highwaymen— -An Act for pre
venting clandestine marriages— An Act for the regaining, encouraging, and settling
the Greenland trade— An Act to prevent malicious informations in the court of
King's Bench, and for the more easy reversal of outlawries in that court— An Act
for the better discovery of judgments in the courts of law— An Act for delivering
declarations to prisoners for debt— An Act for regulating proceedings in the Crown-
office— An Act for the more easy discovery and conviction of such as should destroy
the game of this kingdom— And an Act for continuing the Acts for prohibiting all
trade and commerce with France, and for the encouragement of privateers.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 167
Sir John Soraers, who was well skiUed in the law, as in chap.
many other branches of polite and useful literature. He "
possessed a remarkable talent for business, in which he 1693.
exerted great patience and assiduity ; was gentle, can
did, and equitable ; a whig in principles, yet raoderate,
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 raan in his party.
These two are said to have been proraoted at the re
coramendation of the Earl of Sunderland, who had by
this time insinuated hiraself into the king's favour and
confidence ; though his success confirraed the opinion
which many entertained, of his having betrayed his old
master. The leaders of the opposition were Sir Ed
ward Seyraour, again become a malecontent, and Sir
Christopher Musgrave, a gentleraan 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 deportraent,
who had rejected many offers of the ministry, which he
opposed -with great violence : yet on some critical occa- Bumet.
sions, his patriotism gave way to his avarice, and he kI^-wJ °
yielded up sorae important points, in consideration of Burchet.
large sums which he received from the court in secret, the Admi-
Others declared war against the administration, because ™|'s- ,
they thought their own talents were not sufficiently Nar.
considered. Of these the chief were Paul Foley and Fe"q"'-
Robert Harley. The first was a lawyer of good capa- Voitaire.
city, extensive learning, and virtuous principles, but |?|^p^
peevish, obstinate, and morose. He entertained a very state
despicable opinion of the court ; and this he propa- '^''^'^'•
gated with equal assiduity and success. Harley pos
sessed a good fund of learning ; was capable of un
common application, particularly turned to politics. He
knew the forms of parliament, had a particular dexterity
at protracting and perplexing debates ; and cherished
the most aspiring ambition. Admiral Russel was cre
ated treasurer of the household ; but the command of
the fleet was vested in the hands of Killigrew, Delaval,

168 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, and Shovel. Sir George Rooke was declared vice-ad--
" miral of the red, and Lord John Berkeley, ofthe blue
1693. division ; their rear-admirals were Matthew Aylmer
and David Mitchel.
The king The king having visited the fleet and fortifications at
thrcont^- Portsmouth, given instructions for annoying the enemy
nent, and jjy sea, aud left the administration in the hands of the
the.confede- queen, embarked on the last day of March, near
'ij's^'^^y™ 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
raaking preparations for the campaign, the French king
actually took the field, attended by Madame de Main-
tenon, and all the court ladies. His design was sup
posed to be upon sorae town in Brabant : his array
amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand men,
completely armed, and abundantly supplied with aU
necessaries for every sort of military operation. King
William immediately took possession ofthe strong camp
at Parke, near Louvain, a situation which enabled him
to cover the places that were most exposed. Under
standing that the French eraissaries had sown the seeds
of dissension between the bishop and chapter of Liege,
he sent the Duke of Wirtemberg thither, to reconcUe
the different parties, and concert measures for the fur
ther 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
like-wise threw reinforcements into Maestricht, Huy,
and Charleroy ; and he himself resolved to reraain on
the defensive, at the head of sixty thousand men, with
a numerous train of artillery.
"^Jr""^ Louis having reviewed his army at Gemblours, and
Huy. seen his designs upon Brabant defeated by the diligence
of his antagonist, detached Boufflers with twenty thou
sand men to the Upper Rhine, to join the dauphin,
who commanded in that quarter ; then leaving the con
duct of his forces in the Netherlands to the Duke of
Luxembourg, he returned with his court to VersaiUes.
Immediately after his departure, Luxembourg fixed his
head-quarters at Mildert ; and King William strength
ened his camp on that side with ten battaUons, and

WILLIAM AND MARY. 169
eight-and-twenty pieces of cannon. The enemy's con- ^^^^•
voys were frequently surprised by detachraents from  '. —
the garrison of Charleroy ; and a large body of horse, 1693.
foot, and dragoons, being drafted out of Liege and
Maestricht, took post at Huy, under the comraand of
the Count de Tilly, so as to straiten the French in their
quarters. These, however, were dislodged by Luxem
bourg in person, who obUged 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 frora
the allies by lines of contravallation. Before the bat
teries began to play, the town capitulated. On the
twenty-third day of the month, the garrison mutinied ;
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 retumed to Neer-Hespen.
Luxembourg raade a raotion towards Liege, as if he Luxem-
had intended to besiege the place; and encamped at goiyefto'at.
Hellecheira, about seven leagues frora the confederates. *^ck the
Knowing how much they were weakened by the dif
ferent detachments which had been made frora their
army, he resolved to attack them in their carap, 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 the
whole army was in full raarch to attack him in his camp.

]70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, he resolved to keep his ground ; and imraediately drew
up his forces in order of battle. His general officers

1693. advised hira to repass the Geete ; but he chose to risk
a battle, rather than expose the rear of his army in re
passing 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 entrenchment, 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 sorae hedges and hollow ways on the farther side
of the village of Lare. Six battaUons 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 re
raaining infantry was drawn up in one line behind the
entrenchment. The dragoons upon the left guarded the
village of Dormal upon the brook of Beck ; and from
thence the left wing of horse extended to Neer-Landen,
where it was covered by this rivulet.
Who are The king having visited all the posts on horseback,
defeated at i . ?i i ii- ir-i.
Landen. and givcu 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 sunrising the eneray appeared drawn up
in order of battle ; and the allies began to play their
cannon with good success. About eight in the raorning
they attacked the villages of Lare and Neer-Winden
with great fury ; and twice raade theraselves raasters
of these posts, frora 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 raade 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, howeveT, renewed the charge with the flower

WILLIAM AND MARY. 171
of the French infantry; and the confederates being '^^^^•
overpowered, retreated frora the village, leaving the '
carap in that part exposed. Villeroy raarching this way 1693.
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 im
petuosity as surmounted all resistance. The camp of
the confederates was iraraediately filled with French
troops : the villages of Lare and Neer-Winden were
taken, after a long and desperate dispute. The Hano
verian and Dutch horse being broken, the king in person
brought the English cavalry to their assistance. They
fought with great gallantry ; and for sorae tirae retarded
the fate of the day. The infantry were rallied, and stood
firra until all their aramunition was expended. In a
word, they were scarce able to sustain the weight of
such a superiority in point of number, when the Mar
quis D' Harcourt joined the enemy frora Huy, with
two-and-twenty fresh squadrons, which iraraediately
turned the scale in their favour. The Elector of Ba
varia, 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 con
fusion, retired with the infantry to Dorraal on the brook
of Beck, where the dragoons of the left wing were
posted, and then ordered the regiraents of Wyndhara,
Lumley, and Galway, 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 ofthe brave Earl of Athlone:
the Duke of Ormond was wounded in several places,
and taken prisoner by the eneray ; and the Count de
Solraes was raortally wounded. Ptoleraache brought off
the greater part of the English infantry with great gal
lantry and conduct : as for the baggage, it had been

172 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, sent to Liege before the engageraent : but the confe-
" derates lost sixty pieces of cannon, and nine mortars,
1693. a great nuraber of standards and colours", with about
seven thousand raen killed and wounded in the action.
It raust be owned that the allies fought with great
valour and perseverance ; and that King WiUiara 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 irarainent. 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 nuraber of soldiers fall on every side of
hira. 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 pos
session 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 engage
raent, 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 frora the battle. He
reraained fifteen days inactive at Waren, while King
WiUiara, recalling the Duke of Wirtemberg, and
drafting troops from Liege and other garrisons, was in
a few days able to hazard another engagement.
Charleroy Nothing remarkable happened during the remaining
'andTakfn part of the campaign, until Luxembourg being rejoined
by the foy Boufflers with a strong reinforcement from the Rhine,
enemy. juyestod 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
° The Duke of Luxembourg sent such a numbei- of standards and.engigns to
Paris, during the course of this war, that the Prince of Conti called him the Up
holsterer of Notre Dame, a church in which those trophies were displayed.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 173
of Bavaria and the Duke of Wirtemberg, with thirty chap.
battalions and forty squadrons, to make a diversion in

Flanders ; but they returned in a few days, without 1693.
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 honour
able conditions : the reduction of the place was cele
brated with a Te Deum, and other rejoicings at Paris.
Louis, however, in the midst of all his glory, was ex
tremely mortified when he reflected upon the little
advantage he had reaped from all his late victories.
The allies had been defeated successively at Fleurus,
Steenkerke, and Landen ; yet in a fortnight after each
of those battles, William was always in a conditiou to
risk another engagement. Formerly, Louis had con
quered half of Holland, Flanders, and Franche-Comte,
without a battle ; whereas, now he could not with his
utmost efforts, and after the raost signal victories, pass
the frontiers of the United Provinces. The conquest
of Charleroy concluded the campaign in the Nether
lands, and both armies went into winter quarters.
The French army on the Rhine, under De Lorges, Campaign
passed that river in the month of May at Philipsburgh, Rhine. The
and invested the city of Heidelberg, which they took, ^"''^ ?^
plundered, and reduced to ashes. This general com- feated by
mitted numberless barbarities in the Palatinate, which ,?'''"^*t'°„
• 1 1^11™® plain ot
he ravaged without even sparing the tombs of the dead. Marsaglia.
The French soldiers, on this occasion, seera to have
been actuated by the most brutal inhumanity. They
butchered the inhabitants, -violated the woraen, plun
dered 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,

174 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, tortured between the horrors of their fate and the ter-
^^" rors of a borabardraent. When they were set at liberty,
1693. 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 enor
mous 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 that river ; but in atterapting 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, re
passed the river, he secured Stutgard with a garrison,
sent detachments into Flanders and Piedmont, and
returned in August to Versailles. In Piedraont the
allies were still more unfortunate. The Duke of Savoy
and his confederates seemed bent upon driving the
French frora 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 borabarded. 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 raarched in quest of the enemy to the plain of
Marsaglia, 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 irapetuosity, that
the NeapoUtan 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 sus-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 175
tained the charge without flinching, until they were ^^y^-
exposed in flank by the defeat df the cavalry ; then the  '.  ,
whole front gave way. In vain the second line was 1693.
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 precipita
tion, 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 gal
lantry under the eye of their coraraander. When the
left wing was defeated, the Count de los Torres desired
he woidd take upon him the command, and retreat with
the infantry and the right wing ; but he refused to act
without the order of his highness, and said, things were
come to such a pass, that they raust either conquer or die.
He continued to aniraate his raen with his voice and ex
araple, 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 in
stant, was afterwards dismissed upon his parole, and in
a few days died at Turin, universally lamented on ac
count 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 confede
rates made an obstinate defence, and yielded solely to
superior numbers. 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, re
inforcing the garrisons of Casal, Pignerol, and Susa,
and making preparations for repassing the mountains.
The news of the victory no sooner reached Paris, than
Louis despatched M. de Chanlais to Turin, Avith pro
posals for detaching the Duke of Savoy from the ijj-

176 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, terest of the allies; and the pope, who was now becorae
" a partisan of France, supported the negotiation with his
1693. whole influence: but the French king had not yet
touched upon the right string. The duke continued
deaf to all his addresses.
Transac- France had been alike successful in her intrigues at
Hungary the courts of Rorao and Constantinople. The visir at
and Cata^ 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 hira
so odious to the people, that the grand signor deposed
hira, in order to appease their clamours. The English
and Dutch ambassadors at Constantinople forth-with
renewed their raediation for a peace with the emperor;
but the terms they proposed were still rejected with
disdain. In the mean time. General Heusler, who
commanded the imperialists in Transylvania, reduced
the fortresses of Jeno and Villaguswar. In the be
ginning of July the Due 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 visir, 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 raaintained a formidable
navy at sea, and four great arraies in different parts of
Europe. Exclusive of the operations in Flanders, Ger
many, and Piedmont, the Count de Noailles invested
Roses in Catalonia, about the latter end of May, while
at the same time it was blocked up by the French fleet,
under the comraand 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 inter
ruption, had not he been obliged to detach part of his
army to reinforce Catinat in Piedmont.
Naval Nothing could be more inglorious for the English
than their operations by sea in the course of this sum-
njer. The king had ordered the admirals to use all

WILLIAM AND MARY. I77
possible despatch in equipping the fleets, that they chap.
might block up the eneray in their own ports, and ^'
protect the comraerce, which had suffered severely 1693.
frora the French privateers. They were, however, so
dilatory in their proceedings, that the squadrons of
the enemy sailed from their harbours before the Eng
lish fleet could put to sea. About the middle of May
it was asserabled at St. Helen's, and took on board five
regiraents, 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 nu
merous 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
Delaval did not escape the suspicion of being disaffected
to the service ; and France was said to have maintained
a secret correspondence with the malecontents in Eng
land. Louis had made surprising efforts to repair the
damage which his na-vy had sustained. He had pur
chased several large vessels, and converted them into
ships of war ; he had laid an embargo on all the ship
ping of his kingdom, until his squadrons were manned ;
he had made a gTand naval proraotion, to encourage the
officers and searaen ; and this expedient produced a
wonderful spirit of activity and eraulation. 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 A fleet of
fleets sailed down the" channel. On the sixth. Sir ^i'psj'under
George Rooke was detached to the Straits with a convoy of
squadron of three-and-twenty ships, as convoy to the Rookeratu^
Mediterranean trade. The grand fleet returned to tacked, and
Torbay, while he pursued his voyage, having under stroyed by
his protection about four hundred merchant ships be- *^c French
longing 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, Avhile the vice-admiral of the
VOL. I. N

178 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, -vvliite stood off to sea, to intercept the ships under con-
" voy. Sir George Rooke, by the advice of the Dutch
1693. vice-admiral Vandergoes, resolved, if possible, to avoid
an engagement, which could only tend to their abso
lute ruin. He forthwith sent orders to the small
ships that were near the land, to put into the neigh
bouring 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, com
manded 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 raade
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 Coet-
legon, 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, includ
ing 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 Dutcli 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.
Wheeler's The Freuch admirals, instead of pursuing Rooke to
to''?he'-vvcst Madeira, made an unsuccessful attempt upon Cadiz,
Indies. and bombarded Gibraltar, where the merchants sunk

WILLIAM AND MARY. 179
their ships, that they raight not fall into the hands of ch^p-
the enemy. Then they sailed along the coast of Spain,

destroyed some English and Dutch vessels at Malaga, 1693.
Alicant, and other places ; and returned in triumph to
Toulon. About this period. Sir Francis Wheeler re
turned to England with his squadron, from an unfor
tunate 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 iraprac
ticable. He afterwards steered for Placentia in New
foundland, which he would have attacked without
hesitation ; but the design was rejected by a raajority
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
ha-ring died in the course of this voyage.
In Noveraber another effort was made to annoy the Benbow
enemy. Coraraodore Benbow sailed with a squadron st^Rfeioes.
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 bora
barded it for three days successively. Then his raen
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 burn
ing 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 round. 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 overwhelraed
with consternation : so that a sraall nuraber of troops
might have taken possession without resistance; but
N 2

180 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, there was not a soldier on board. Nevertheless, the
" sailors took and demolished Quince-fort, and did con-

1693. siderable damage to the town of St. Maloes, which had
been a nest of privateers that infested the English cora
merce. Though this attempt was executed with great
spirit, and some success, the claraours 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 ac
quainted with all the motions of the English, and took
their raeasures 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
frora 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 Caermar
then, 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.
TheFrench But if the EugUsh wcro discontented, the French
coOTse^V^' were miserable, in spite of all their victories. That
the media- kingdom laboured under a dreadful famine, occasioned
mark. ^"' 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 rainistry, in bringing supplies of
corn frora Sweden and Denmark, their care in regu
lating the price, and furnishing the markets, their
Uberal contributions for the reUef 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 ex
hausted 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 memo-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 181
rial 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 1693.
with some considerable concessions : but the terms
were rejected by the king of England, whose ambition
and revenge were not yet gratified ; and whose sub
jects, though heavily laden, could still bear additional
burdens. The Jacobites had been very attentive to the progress Severity of
of dissatisfaction in England, which they fomented with men^°^^™"
their usual assiduity. The late declaration of King ag^i^st the
T JcLCobitcs*
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 con
cession that a British subject could demand of his
sovereign. About the latter end of May, two raen,
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 com
posing a false and seditious libel, sentenced to pay five
hundred raarks apiece, to stand three times in the
pillory, and find sureties for their good behaviour. But
no circurastance 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 Mere
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 affirraed was appointed, not to try,
but to convict him ; and petitioning heaven to forgive
his penitent jury. The severity of the government
was likewise exeraplified in the case of some adven
turers, who, having equipped privateei's to cruise upon

182 HISTORY OP ENGLAND.
CHAP, the EngUsh, under joint coramissions from the late
' King James and Louis XIV., happened to be taken
1693. 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 coramence
the prosecution : and gave his opinion in writing, that
they were neither traitors nor pirates. He supported
this opinion by arguments before the council : these
were answered by Dr. Littleton, who succeeded him in
the office frora which he was dismissed ; and the pri
soners 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 adrainistration, and taxed it -with encouraging
informers and false witnesses — a charge for which there
was too much foundation.
Compiai- The friends of James in Scotland still continued to
sance ot the ; i • . , . „ i , . i . i
Scottish concert designs m his favour ; but their correspondence
Parliament, ^as 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
comraissioner. On the eighteenth day of April the
session was opened, and the king's letter, replete with
the raost cajoling expressions, being read, the Parha
raent proceeded to exhibit undeniable specimens of their
good humour. They drew up a very affectionate an
swer to his raajesty's letter: they voted an addition of
six new regiments to the standing forces of the king
dom : they granted a supply of above one hundred and
fifty thousand pounds steriing 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 commis
sioners who refused to take the oath of assurance, which
was equivalent to an abjuration of King James : they

WILLIAM AND MARY. 183
set on foot an inquiry about an intended invasion : they chap.
published some intercepted letters, supposed to be -writ

ten to King James by NevUle Payne, whom they com- 1693.
mitted 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 raade their peace
with the government : they passed an act for the com
prehension 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 acknow
ledge presbytery as the only government ofthe 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. Never
theless, they continued in possession, and even received
private assurances of the king's protection. It was one
of William's political raaxims, to court his domestic
enemies ; but it was never attended with any good
effect. This indulgence gave offence to the Presby
terians, and forraer distractions began to revive.
The king having prevailed upon the States-General '•'^e king
" . returns to
to augment their land forces and navy for the service England,
of the ensuing campaign, embarked for England, and "^'''^^ ^"."^
arrived at Kensington on the thirtieth day of October, the minis-
Finding the people clamorous and discontented, the ^¦'^^ ^^'J^^
trade of the nation decayed, the affairs of state mis- session of
managed, and the ministers recriminating upon one p^"-'"™^"'-
another, he perceived the necessity of changing hands,
and resolved to take his measures accordingly. Sun
derland, 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 terrors of invasion and
popery, partly from the ambition of being courted by
the crown, and partly frora 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 whiggish institution. The king revolved
these observations iu his own mind ; and, in the raean

184 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, time, the Parliament met on the seventh day of No-
' vember, pursuant to the last prorogation. In his
1693. 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 Notting
ham, 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 lieu
tenancy for the city of London, and all other commis
sions 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 Com
raons to be exasperated, and therefore a good number
of them were retained in office.
Both On the sixth day of the session, the Commons una-
qdre^nto"' niiiiously rcsolved to support their majesties and their
the miscar- government; to inquire into miscarriages ; and to con-
s'^^^ ^ sider of means for preserving the trade of the nation.
The Turkey company were 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 coraraission. It appeared, in the course
of this inquiry, that the miscarriage of Rooke's fleet
was in a great measure o\ring to the misconduct ofthe
adrairals, and neglect of the victualling-office ; but they
were screened by a majority. Mr. Harley, one of the
commissioners for taking and statmg the public ac
counts, 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

M^LLIAM AND MARY. 185
was charged in the accounts ; and, in particular, that chap.
he had paid four thousand pounds to Lord Falkland, "
by his majesty's order. This lord had acknowledged 1693.
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
stUl in his hands. Rainsford owned he had the ori
ginal letter which he received from Falkland, demand
ing the money ; and this nobleman desiring to see it,
detained the voucher ; a circumstance that incensed
the Coramons to such a degree, that a motion was made
for comraitting him to the Tower, aud debated -with
great warmth, but was at last overruled by the raajority.
Nevertheless, they agreed to make him sensible of their
displeasure, and he was repriraanded in his place. The
House of Lords having also inquired into the causes of
the raiscarriages at sea, very violent debates arose, and
at length the raajority resolved, that the adrairals had
done well in the execution of the orders they had re
ceived. 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 seeraed to lie
with hira, 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 coraraittee of the council,
and particularly iraparted to SecretaryTrenchard, whose
province it was to transmit instructions to the admirals.
Two conferences passed on this subject between the
Lords and Coramons. Trenchard" delivered in his
defence in writing ; and was in his turn screened by
the whole efforts of the rainistry, 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 de
linquents, was stifled by the arts of the court, because
it was Ukely to affect one of its creatures ; for, though

186 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, there was no preraeditated treachery in the case, the
. interest of the public was certainly sacriflced to the
1693. rautual aniraosity of the rainisters. The charge of
Lord Falkland being resumed in the House of Cora
mons, he appeared to have begged and received of the
king the remaining two thousand pounds of the money
which had been paid by Rainsford : he was therefore
declared guilty of a high misdemeanour and breach of
trust, and comraitted to the Tower ; from whence, how
ever, he was in two days discharged upon his petition.
The Com- Harley, Foley, and Harcourt, presented to the House
ITrast^um a state of the receipts and issues of the revenue, toge-
for the ser- ther with two rcports from the coramissioners of accounts
vices 01 the'
ensuing couceruiug sums issued for secret services, and to mem-
year. |jgj,g Qf 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, equiva
lents, and additional salaries. The malecontents, there
fore, 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 Coraraons took into considera
tion the estimates and supplies of the ensuing year, the
king deraanded forty thousand men for the navy, and
above one hundred thousand for the pui-poses of the
land service. Before the House considered these enor
mous 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 re
tained some regard for their country. They caUed 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 con
sidered the intended augraentations, and fixed the
establishment of the year at fourscore and three thou
sand one hundred and twenty-one men, including

WILLIAM AND MARY. 187
officers. For the maintenance of these they allotted ^^y^-
the sum of two millions five hundred and thirty thou

sand five hundred and ninety pounds. They granted 1693.
two millions for the na-vy, and about five hundred thou
sand pounds to make good the deficiencies of the an
nuity and poU-bUls ; so that th« 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 raalecontents in Parliament could not J^^^l^^
-withstand this torrent of profusion, they endeavoured bin against
to distress the court-interest, by reviving the popular partial 1™."
bills of the preceding session ; such as that for regulat- ceedjngs in
ing trials in cases of high treason, the other for the a„^^ ij,™*^"''
raore frequent calling and meeting of Parliaments, and Lower
that concerning free and impartial proceedings in Par- monstrate's
liament. The first was neglected in the House of ?" t^iis sub-
. iect
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 Comraons
would not agree : a conference ensued ; the Peers re
ceded 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 re
cover sorae credit with the people, determined to disap
prove of his majesty's conduct. The House formed
itself into a coraraittee, to take the state of the kingdom
into consideration. They resolved that whoever ad
vised the king to refuse the royal assent to that bUl
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 raajesty to hearken for the future to
the advice of his Parliaraent, rather than to the counsels
of particular persons, who raight have private interests
of their own, separate frora those of his majesty and his
people. The king thanked thera for their zeal, pro
fessed a warm regard for their constitution, and assured
them he would look upon all parties as enemies, who

188 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, should endeavour to lessen the confidence subsisting
' between the sovereign and people. The merabers in
1693. the ojjposition were not at all satisfied with this general
reply. A day being appointed to take it into con
sideration, a warm debate was maintained with equal
eloquence and acrimoHy. At length the question being
put, that an address should be raade for a raore expUcit
answer, it was passed in the negative by a great
majority.
^^nf^f fl' • ^® ^^^y °^ London petitioned that a parliamentary
bankof provision might be made for the orphans, whose for-
Engiand. tunes they had scandalously squandered away. Such
an appUcation 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, extejiding 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 recom
mending despatch, as the season of the year was far ad
vanced, and the eneray diligently eraployed in making
preparations for an early campaign. The scherae of a
national bank, like those of Amsterdam and Genoa,
had been recoraraended to the rainistry as an excellent
institution, as well for the credit and security of the
government, as for the increase of trade and circula
tion. One project was invented by Dr. Hugh Cham
berlain, proposing the circulation of tickets on land
security; but WiUiara 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 notion 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 Par-

WILLIAM AND MARY. 189
liament secured for its reception, the undertakers for chap.
the court introduced it into the House of Commons,

and expatiated upon the national advantages that would 1693.
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, conse
quently improve comraerce, facilitate the annual sup
plies, and connect the people the more closely with the
governraent. The project was violently opposed by a
strong party, who affirmed that it would become a
monopoly, and engross the whole money of the king
dom ; that, as it must infallibly be subservient to go
vernment views, it raight 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 frirther corrupt the
morals of the nation. Notwithstanding these objec
tions, the bill made its way through the two Houses,
establishing the funds for the security and advantage
of the subscribers ; empowering their raajesties to in
corporate them by the name of The Governor and
Company of the Bank of England, under a pro-viso,
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 repayraent of the twelve hundred
thousand pounds, the said corporation should cease
and deterraine. The bUl likewise contained clauses
bf appropriation for the service of the public. The
whole subscription was filled in ten days after its being
opened ; and the court of directors completed the pay
ment 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 raoney
subscribed. All these funds proving inadequate to the
estimates, the Coramons 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

190 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, year with another grievous tax upon carriages, under
" the narae of a bill for licensing and regulating hackney
1693. and stage-coaches.
The East The Commous, in a clause of the bill for taxing
pany oTtSii Several joint-stocks, provided, that in case of a default
a new char- jn the payment of that tax, within the tirae liraited by
the act, the charter of the corapany so failing should
be deemed void and forfeited. The East India com
pany actually neglected their payment, and the public
imagined the ministry would seize this opportunity of
dissolving a monopoly against which so many com
plaints had been made ; but the directors understood
their own strength ; and instead of being broken, ob
tained the promise of a new charter. This was no
sooner known, than the controversy between thera and
their adversaries was revived with such aniraosity, that
the council thought proper to indulge both parties -with
a hearing. As this produced no resolution, the mer
chants who opposed the corapany petitioned, that, in
the raean while, the new charter raight be suspended.
Addresses of the sarae kind were presented by a great
number of clothiers, linen-drapers, and other dealers.
To these a written answer was published by the com
pany : 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 laM's, the oppression of the people, and
the ruin of trade. They observed, that two private
ships had exported in one year three tiraes as raany
cloths as the company had exported in three years.
They offered to send more cloth and English merchan
dise 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 corapany
could neither lade the ships they petitioned for in Eng
land, nor relade thera in the East Indies. In spite of
all these reraonstrances, 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 corapany to

WILLIAM AND MARY. 191
such alterations, restrictions, and quaUfications, as the ^^.^^•
king should direct before the twenty-ninth day of Sep

teraber. This indulgence, and other favours granted 1693.
to the company, were privately purchased of the minis
try, and became productive of a loud outcry against
the government. The merchants published a journal
of the whole transaction, and petitioned the House of
Comraons that their Uberty of trading to the East
Indies raight be confirraed by Parliaraent. Another
petition was presented by the corapany, praying that
their charter might receive a parliaraentary sanction.
Both parties eraployed 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 com
pany, resolved that all the subjects of England had an
equal right to trade to the East Indies, unless pro
hibited by act of Parliament.
But nothina: engrossed the attention of the public B'" ^"^ ^
firenero.! ns.—
more than a bill which was brought into the House turaiization
for a general naturalization of all foreign Protestants, dipped.
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 inha
bitants ; that the people were thinned by the war and
foreign voyages, and required an extraordinary supply ;
that a great nuraber 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 intro
duced several new branches of manufacture, promoted
industry, and lowered the price of labour ; a circum
stance of the utmost importance to trade, oppressed as
it was with taxes, and exposed to uncommon hazard
from the enemy. The opponents of the biU 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 ad
mitted into the privileges of the British trade, would
grow wealthy at the expense of their benefactors, and

192 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, transfer the fortunes they had gained into their native
^ ' . country ; that the reduction in the price of labour would

1693. be a national grievance, while many thousands of Eng
lish manufacturers were starving for want of employ
ment, and the price of provisions continued so high,
that even those who were employed could scarce supply
their famiUes 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 merabers. Sir John Knight,
a raember of the House, in a speech upon this subject,
exaggerated the bad consequences that would attend
such a bUl, with all the -wit and virulence of satire : it
was printed and dispersed through the kingdora, and
raised such a flame among the people as had not ap
peared since the Revolution. They exclaimed, that all
offices would be conferred upon Dutchmen, who would
become lord-danes, and prescribe the modes of re
ligion 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;
Burnet. and Sir John was threatened with expulsion and im-
Life^'ofT^ prisonment. He, therefore, thought proper to disown
William, the paper, which was burned by the hands of the com-
sJ^jg'^ ¦ mon hangman. This sacrifice served only to increase
Tracts. the popular disturbance, which rose to such a height of
Voltaire, violcuce, that the court-party began to tremble ; and
the bill was dropped for the present.
Sir Francis Lord Coniugsby and Mr. Porter had comraitted the
perishes in most flagrant acts of oppression in Ireland. These had
a storm, hecu explained during the last session, by the gentle
men 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 Comraons, of which he and they were
raerabers. After an examination of the articles ex
hibited against them, the Commons, who were by this
time at the devotion of the court, declared that, con
sidering the state of affairs in Ireland, they did not think

WILLIAM AND MARY. 193
them fit grounds for an impeachraent. In the course chap.
of this session, the nation sustained another raisfortune "
in the fate of Sir Francis Wheeler, who had been ap- 1693.
pointed coraraander-in-chief of the Mediterranean squa
dron. He received instructions to take under his
convoy the raerchant 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 con
voy 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 thera back to England. About the latter end
of October he set sail frora St. 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 nuraber 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 ofthe fleet were so rauch 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 coraraand of Chateau-Renaud and Gabaret. On
the twenty-fifth day of April the king closed the session
with a speech in the usual style, and the Parliaraent
was prorogued to the eighteenth day of Septeraber*.
^ Besides the bills already mentioned, the Parliament in this session passed
an act for taking and stating the public accounts — another to encourage ship-build
ing — a third for the better disciphning the navy — the usual militia act — and an
act enabhng his raajesty to make grants and leases in the duchy of Cornwall. One
was also passed for renewing a clause in an old statute, limiting the number of
justices of the peace in the principality of Wales. The Duke of Norfolk brought
an action in the court of King's Bench against Mr. Germaine for criminal con
versation with his duchess. The cause was tried, and the jury brought in their ver
dict for one hundred marks, and costs of suit, in favour of the plaintiff.
Before the king embarked, he gratified a good number of hit friends with pro '
VOL. I. O

104 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Louis of France being tired of the war, which had
'^' impoverished his country, continued to tamper with the
1693. Duke of Savoy, and, by the channel of the pope, made
The Eng- somo offors to the King of Spain, which were rejected.
tem tto Meanwhile he resolved to stand upon the defensive
mSiea°de- during the ensuing carapaign, in every part but Ca-
c^maiet- talouia, where his whole naval force might co-operate
bay, but are with the Coiuit dc NoaiUcs, who commanded the land
wfthbss. army. King William having received intelligence of
the design upon Barcelona, endeavoured to prevent the
junction of the Brest and Toulon squadrons, by send
ing Russel to sea as early as the fleet could be in a con
dition to saU ; but before he arrived at Portsraouth, 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 HoUand,
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 Sir Cloudesley Shovel with a squa
dron, to take on board a body of land forces, intended
for a descent upon the coast of France. These being
embarked, under the comraand 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 ofthe 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 coraraanded this squadron,
parted with the grand fleet, and on the seventh an
chored between the bays of Camaret and Bertaume.
motions. Lord Charles Butler, brother to the Duke of Ormond, was created Lord
Butler, of Weston in England, and Earl of Arran in Ireland. The Earl of Shrews
bury was honoured with Sie title of duke. The Earl of Mulgrave, being reconciled
to the court measures, was gratified with a pension of three thousand pounds, and
the title of Marquis of Normanby. Henry Herbert was ennobled by the title of
Baron Herbert, of Cherbury. The Earls of Bedford, Devonshire, and Clare, were
promoted to the rank of dukes. The Maiquis of Caermarthen was made Duke of
Leeds ; Lord Viscount Sidney, created Earl of Romney ; and Viscount Nevpport,
Earl of Bedford. Russel was advanced to the head of the AdmirEdty-board. Sir
George Rooke and Sir John Houblon were appointed joint commissioners, in the
room of Killegrew and Delaval. Charles Montague was made chancellor of the
exchequer ; and Sir William Trumbal and John Smith, commissioners of tfie
treasury, in the room of Sir Edward Seymour and Mr. Hambden.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 195
Next day the Marquis of Caermarthen, afterwards Duke chap.
of Leeds, who served under Berkeley, as rear-admiral " 
of the blue, entered Camaret-bay with two large ships 1694.
and six frigates, to cover the troops in landing. The
French had received inteUigence of the design, and
taken such precautions, under the conduct of the cele
brated engineer, Vauban, that the English were ex
posed 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 nuraber 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 They bom-
the advice of a council of war, sailed back for England, Dieppe,
and at St. Helen's received orders from the queen to Havre-de-
call a council, and deliberate in what manner the ships Dunkh-k,
and forces might be best eraployed. 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 raarched 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 they not been de
tained by miUtary force. On the twenty-sixth day of
July, Lord Berkeley returned to St. Helen's, where he
quitted the fleet, and the comraand devolved upon Sir
Cloudesley Shovel. This officer having received in
structions to raake an atterapt 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
o 2

1D6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^^ly^- next day sent in the Charles galley, with two bomb-
 ketches, and as many of the machines called infernals.
1694, 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 During tlicse transactions, Admiral Russel, with the
for the Me! grand fieet, sailed to the MediteiTanean ; and being
diterranean, joined by Rear-Admiral Neville from Cadiz, together
Barcelona, witli Callembergh and Evertzen, he steered towards
^" p"!""'""^ Barcelona, which was besieged by the French fleet and
army. At his approach, Tourville retired with pre
cipitation 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 sum
mer, 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 pre
venting Tourville from passing the Straits, that he did
not think proper to risk the passage.
iu^Fianefers ^* ^^^^ ^^^ ^® uoccssary to describe the operations
¦ on the continent. In the raiddle of May King WiUiam
arrived in Holland, where he consulted with the States-
General. On the third day of June he repaired to
Bethlem-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 seeraed
to promise an active campaign. On the third day of
June the Dauphin assumed the command of the French
forces, Mdth which Luxembourg had taken post between
Mons and Maubeuge ; aud passing the Sambre, en
camped at Fleurus ; but on the eighteenth, he removed
from thence, and took up his quarters between St. Tron
and Wanheim ; while the confederates lay at Roos-
beck. On the eleventh of July, the dauphin marched in

WILLIAM AND MARY. 197
four colurans to Oerle upon the Jaar, where he pitched chap.
his carap. On the twenty-second, the confederates—-
marched to Bomale ; then the dauphin took the route 1694.
to Vignaraont, where he secured his army by intrench-
ments, as his forces were inferior in number "to those of
the allies ; and 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 decamjied ;
and having raarched all night, posted themselves be
tween Temploux and Masy, within a league and a half
of the confederates. The King of England resolved to
pass the Scheldt ; and with this view raarched, by the
way of Nivelle and Soignies, to Chievres : frora thence
he detached the Duke of Wirteraberg, with a strong
body of horse and foot, to pass the river at Oudenarde,
while the Elector of Bavaria advanced with another de-
tachraent to pass it at Pont de Espieres. Notwith
standing 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 coraraanded that part of
the French line. These were sustained by a choice
body of raen, who travelled with great expedition,
without observing the formalities of a march. Mare
schal 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 array was
brought up by the dauphin in person. They marched
with such incredible diUgence, that the Elector of Ba
varia could scarce believe his own eyes, when he arrived
in sight ofthe Scheldt, and saw them intrenching them
selves on the other side of the river. King William
having reconnoitred their disposition, thought it ira
practicable to pass at that place ; and therefore raarched
down the river to Oudenarde, where a passage had been
already effected by the Duke of Wirtemberg. Here
the confederates passed the Scheldt on the twenty-
seventh day of the month ; and the king fixed his

198 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, head-quarters at Wanneghem. His intention was to
" have taken possession of Courtray, and established
1694. winter-quarters for a considerable part of his army in
that district ; but Luxembourg having posted himself be
tween 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 expense of the Castellany of Courtray,
during the reraainder of the carapaign. This sur
prising raarch was of such importance to the French
king, that he wrote with his own hand a letter of thanks
to his array ; and ordered that it should be read to every
particular squadron and battalion.
The allies The King of England, though disappointed in his
Huy?^ scherae upon Courtray, found means to make some
advantage of his superiority in number. He drafted
troops from the garrisons of Liege and Maestricht ; and
on the third day of Septeraber reinforced this body with
a large detachment from his own camp, conferring the
coramand 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 part of the
army, marched to Roselaer : this diversion obliged the
dauphin to make considerable detachments, for the
security of Ypres and Menin on 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 araraunition waggons in the allied army,
confessed he had been employed for this purpose by
sorae 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 carried on the
siege with such vigour, that in ten days the gan-ison
capitulated. The king ordered Dixmuyde, Deynese,
Ninove, and Tirlemont, to be secured for winter-quar
ters to part of the array : the dauphin retmned to
Versailles : William quitted the camp on the last day of
September ; and both arraies broke up about the middle
of October.
The operations on the Rhine were preconcerted be
tween King William and the Prince of Baden, who had

WILLIAM AND MARY. 199
visited London iii the winter. The dispute between chap.
the emperor and the Elector of Saxony was com- ^'

promised ; and this young prince dying during the 1694.
negotiation, the treaty was perfected by his brother and '^^ p™<=«
successor, who engaged to furnish twelve thousand raen pL^sthe
yearly^ in consideration of a subsidy from the court of ?'''"?'''"'
Vienna. In the beginning of June, Mareschal de repast aat°
Lorges passed the Rhine at Philipsburg, in order to o^'^erations
give battle to the imperialists, encaraped at Hailbron. in Hunga"ry.
The Prince of Baden who was not yet joined by the
Saxons, Hessians, nor by the troops of Munster and
Paderborn, despatched 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 raeet
thera in order of battle. De Lorges concluded that
this was a desperate effort, and iraraediately halted to
make the necessary preparations for an engagement.
This pause enabled Prince Louis to take possession of
a strong pass near Sintzheim, frora 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 ge
neral being apprised of his design, retreated at raid
night with the utraost precipitation. Having posted
himself at Ruth, he sent his hea-vy baggage to Philips
burg ; then he moved to Gonsbergh, in the neighbour
hood of Manheim, repassed the Rhine, and encamped
between Spiers 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 Septeraber;
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 eneray's temerity. He forthwith ad
vanced agaiust the imperialists, foreseeing that, should
they be worsted in battle, their whole array would be
ruined. Prince Louis, inforraed of his intention, im
mediately passed the Rhine ; and this retreat was no

200 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, sooner effected, than the river swelled to such a degree,
" that the island in the middle, and great part of the
1694. camp he had occupied, was overfiowed. Soon after this
incident both arraies retired into winter quarters. The
carapaign in Hungary produced no event of iraportance.
It was opened by the new visir, who arrived at Bel
grade in the raiddle of August ; and about the same
time Caprara assembled the imperial array in the neigh
bourhood of Peterwaradin. The Tm-ks passed the
Saave, in order to attack their carap, and can-ied on
their approaches with five hundred pieces of cannon ;
but raade very little progress. The imperialists re
ceived reinforcements ; the season wasted away ; a feud
arose between the visir and the chara 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 iraperial general raade himself master of
Giula. In the course of this sumraer, the Venetians,
who were also at war with the Turks, reduced Cyclut, a
place of iraportance on the river Naranta, and made a
conquest of the island of Scio in the Archipelago.
Progress of We havo already observed, that the French king had
in Cata- determined to act vigorously in Catalonia. In the
state of beginning of May, the Duke de Noailles advanced at
the war in the head of eight-and-twenty thousand men to the river
Ter, on the opposite bank of which the viceroy of Ca
talonia was encamped with sixteen thousand Spaniards.
The French general passed the river in the face of this
army, and attacked their intrenchraents Avith such im
petuosity, that in less than an hour they were totally
defeated. Then he raarched to Palamos, and under
took the siege of that place, while at the sarae time it
was blocked up by the combined squadrons of Brest
and Toulon. Though the besieged raade an obstinate
defence, the town was taken by storra, the houses were
piUaged, and the people put to the sword, without dis
tinction of age, sex, or condition. Then he invested
Gironne, which in a few days capitulated. Ostalric raet
with the sarae fate, and Noailles was created viceroy of
Catalonia by the French king. In the beginning of

Piedmont.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 201
August he distributed his forces into quarters of re- chap.
freshment, along the river Terdore, resolving to under

take the siege of Barcelona, which was saved by the 1694,
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 ; notwith
standing 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 Ragelas ; but no design
of iraportance was executed".
England had reraained very quiet under the queen's The king
administration, if we except some little comraotions E^giand?
occasioned by the practices, or pretended practices, of The Par-
the Jacobites. Prosecutions were revived against cer- mee™
tain gentlemen of Lancashire and Cheshire, for having The bin for
been concerned in the conspiracy formed in favour of Pariia'ments
the late king's projected invasion from Norraand-v. '¦^''^!''''^ *«
rm_ i. •,,! • r, • f royal assent.
ihese steps were owing to the suggestions or infamous
informers, whom the rainistry countenanced. Colonel
Parker and one Crosby were iraprisoned, and bills of
treason found against thera; but Parker made his escape
from the Tower, and was never retaken, though a re
ward of four hundred pounds was set upon liis 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
« 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.

202 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, was already secured ; and in all probability he bargained
' for their condescension, by agreeing to the bill for
1694. 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 hun
dred sixty-four thousand seven hundred and twelve
pounds for the service of the ai-my 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 comraodities'.
The triennial bill enacted, that a Parliament should be
held once in three years at least : that within three years
at farthest after the dissolution of the Parliament then
subsisting, and so from tirae 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 uo 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 Weyraouth and Aylesbury, pro
tested against this bill, because it tended to the con
tinuance of the present Parliament longer than, as
they apprehended, was agreeable to the constitution
of England.
Archbishop ^^}^^ *hi^ bil^ ^'^« depending. Dr. John Tillotson,
Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury, was seized with a fit of the
Queen ^^^^ P^^^^' "^ ^^^^ chapcl of Whitehall, and died on the
Mary. tweuty-secoud day of November, deeply regretted by
the king and queen, who shed tears of sorrow at his
decease ; and sincerely laraented by the public, as a
pattern of elegance, ingenuity, raeekness, charity, and
moderation. These qualities he must be allowed to
have possessed, notwithstanding the invectives of his
* They imposed certain rates and duties npon 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.

WILLIAM AND MARY. 203
enemies, who accused him of puritanism, flattery, and chap.
ambition ; and charged him with having conduced to .

a dangerous schism in the church, by accepting the 1694.
archbishopric during the life of the deprived Sancroft.
He was succeeded in the metropolitan see by Dr. Ten
nison, 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 raonth after his decease, she was taken UI of
the sraall-pox, and the symptoms proving dangerous,
she prepared herself for death with great composure.
She spent some time in exercises of devotion, and pri
vate conversation with the new archbishop; she re
ceived 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 meraory 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 emo
tions of natural affection; for she ascended, without
compunction, the throne frora which her father had
been deposed, and treated her sister as an alien to her
blood. In a word, Mary seeras to have imbibed the
cold disposition and apathy of her husband ; and to
have centred all her ambition in deserving the epithet
of a hurable and obedient wife *.
' Her obsequies were performed with great magnificence. The body was attended
from Whitehall to Westminster-abbey by all the judges, Serjeants at law, the lord
mayor, and aldermen of the city of London, and both Houses of Parliament ; and
the funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Tennison, archbishop of Canterbury ; Dr.
Kenn, the deprived bishop of Bath and Wells, reproached him in a letter, for not
having called upon her majesty on her deathbed to repent of the share she had in
the Revolution. This was answered by another pamphlet. One of the Jacobite
clergy insulted the queen's memory by preaching on the following text : " Go
now, see this cursed woman, and bury her, for she is a king's daughter. " On the
other hand, the lord mayor, aldermen, and common-council of London, came to a
resolution to erect her statue, with that of the king, in the Royal Exchange.

204 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. The Princess Anne being . informed of the queen's
dangerous indisposition, sent a lady of her bedchamber

1694. to desire she raight be admitted to her raajesty; but
ReconciUa- tliis requost was not granted. She was thanked for her
tweenthe exprcssiou of concem ; and given to understand that
kingandthe the physicians had directed that the queen should be
Denmark!^ kept as quict as possible. Before her death, however,
she sent a forgiving raessage to her sister ; and after
her decease, the Earl of Sunderland effected a recon
ciliation between the king and the princess, who visited
him at Kensington, where she was received vrith un
comraon 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 jea
lousy 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, whe
ther the Parliament was not dissolved by the queen's death ; but this dangerous
motion met with no countenance.

WILLIAM. 205

CHAPTER V.
Account of the Lancashire Plot. — The Commons inquire into the
Ahuses 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 Parlia
ment 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. — Pro
gress 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 bombards St. Ma
loes and other Places on the Coast of France. — Wilmot's Expedi
tion to the West Indies. — A new Parliament. — They pass a Bill
for regulating Trials in Cases of High Treason. — Resolutions with
Respect to a 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 De
fence of his Majesty. — Establishment of a Land-Bank. — Trial of
the Conspirators. — The Allies burn the Magazine at Givet. —
Louis the Fourteenth makes Advances towards a Peace with Hol
land. — 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 Fenwick is appre
hended.— 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 Tovi^er. — 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.
The kingdora now resounded with the coraplaints of
the Papists and raalecontents, who taxed the ministry

206 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ^ith subornation of perjury, in the case of the Lanca-
. shire gentleraen who had been prosecuted for the con-

1694. spiracy. One Lunt, an Irishraan, had informed Sir
Account of John Trenchard, secretary of state, that he had been
the Lanca- ggj^^ from Ireland, with coraraissions frora King Jaraes
to divers gentleraen in Lancashire and Cheshire ; that
he had assisted in buying arras and inlisting raen 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 raoney by Sir John
Friend to defray the expense of their expeditions. His
testiraony was confirraed by other infaraous emissaries,
who received but too much countenance from the go
vernment. Blank warrants were issued, and filled up
occasionally with such naraes as the informers suggested.
These were delivered to Aaron Sraith, solicitor to the
treasury, who, with raessengers, accorapanied 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 comraitted many acts of
violence and oppression. The persons against whom
these measures were taken being apprised of the im
pending danger, generally retired frora their own ha
bitations. Sorae, however, were taken and iraprisoned ;
a few arras were secured ; and, in the house of Mr.
Standish, at Standish-hall, they found the draft of a
declaration to be published by King Jaraes at his land
ing. As this prosecution seemed calculated to revive
the horror of a stale conspiracy, and the evidences were
persons of abandoned characters, the friends of those
who were persecuted found no great difficulty in ren
dering 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 house
keeper to the excise-office, thought himself poorly re
compensed for the part he had acted in the Revolution,

WILLIAM. 207

became dissatisfied, and, upon this occasion, published chap.
a letter to Sir John Trenchard on the abuse of power.

It was replete with the most bitter invectives against I694.
the ministry, and contained a great number of flagrant
instances in which the court had countenanced the
vUest corruption, perfidy, and oppression. This pro
duction 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 pre
vented by the interposition of those who were friends
to 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 disap
pointed 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, comraitted such a raistake 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 abet
tors of knavish contrivances to ensnare 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 gen
tlemen who had been accused ; and at last the affair
was brought into the House of Commons. The Jacob
ites triumphed in their victory. They even turned
the battery of corruption upon the evidence for the
crown, not without making a considerable irapression.
But the cause was now debated before judges, who were
not at all propitious to their views. The Comraons
having set on foot an inquiry, and exarained all the
papers and circurastances 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

208

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. v.
1694.

The Com
mons in
quire into
the abuses
which bad
crept into
the army.

Mr. Standish Into custody ; and the messenger report
ing that he was not to be found, they presented an
address to the king, desiring a proclaraation might
be published, offering a reward for apprehending his
person. The Peers concurred with the Comraons in
their sentiraents of this affair ; for coraplaints having
been laid before their House also, by the persons who
thought themselves aggrieved, the question was put,
whether the governraent had cause to prosecute thera ;
and carried in the affirraative ; though a protest was
entered against this vote by the Earls of Rochester and
Nottinghara. 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 imraediately
indicted by the crown for a conspiracy against the lives
and liberties of the persons they had accused. The in
tention of the ministry in laying this indictment was
to seize the opportunity of punishing some of the wit
nesses for the gentlemen, who had prevaricated in
giving their testiraony; but the design being disco
vered, the Lancashire men refused to produce their
evidence against the informers; the prosecution dropped
of consequence, and the prisoners were discharged.
When the Commons were employed in examining the
state of the revenue, and taking measures for raising
the necessary supplies, the inhabitants of Royston pre
sented 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 flarae by this informa
tion. The officers, and Pauncefort, agent for the re
giment, were exarained : then it was unaniraously re
solved, 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 serjeant,
for having neglected to pay the subsistence-money they
had received for the officers and soldiers. He was af
terwards sent to the Tower, together with Henry Guy,
a member of the House, and secretary to the treasury.

WILLIAM. 209

the one for giving, and the other for receiving, a bribe chap.
to obtain the king's bounty. Pauncefort's brother was .

likewise committed, for being concerned in the same 1695.
coramerce. Guy had been employed, together with
Trevor, the speaker, as the court-agent for securing a
majority in the House of Commous : 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 in
quiry, drew up an address to the king, enuraerating the
abuses which had crept into the array, and deraanding
iraraediate redress. He promised to consider the re
monstrance, and redress the grievances of which they
complained. Accordingly, he cashiered Colonel Hast
ings ; appointed a council of officers to sit weekly and
exaraine all coraplaints against any officer and soldier ;
and published a declaration for the maintenance of strict
discipline, and the due payment of quarters. Notwith- g"'"^^'
standing these concessions, the Commons prosecuted oidmixon.
their examinations : they committed Mr. James Craggs, ^^^^^
one of the contractors for clothing the army, because Tindai.
he refused to answer upon oath to such questions as l? p^ ^f
raight be put to him by the commissioners of accounts, the Admi-
They brought in a bill for obliging him and Mr. Daniel.
Richard Harnage, the other contractor, together with voitaire.
the two Pauuceforts, to discover how they had disposed
of the suras 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 comraissioners for licensing hack
ney-coaches. Three of them, by raeans of an address
to the king, were removed with disgrace, for having
acted arbitrarily, corruptly, and contrary to the trust re
posed in them by act of Parliaraent.
Those who encouraged this spirit of reformation in- They expel
. . 1 1 1 5 1 -ll !_¦ 1, and prose-
troduced another inquiry about the orphans bill, wnicn cute some
was said to have passed into an act, ijy virtue of undue ^^ ^^^^^^J^"
influence. A committee being appointed to inspect the for cormp-
charaberiain's books, discovered that Uribes had been !;^^;;"„f*^g
given to Sir John Trevor, speaker of the House, and East India
VOL. I. P '='""P'"^-

210 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Mr. Hungerford, chairman of the grand committee.
^" The first being voted guilty of a high crime and misde-
1695. meaner, abdicated the chair, and Paul Foley was ap
pointed 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 Coraraons, in pretending he was
engaged to give great suras to several members, and
denying this circumstance on his examination. The
reformers in the House naturally concluded that the
sarae arts had been practised in obtaining the new
charter of the East India company, which had been
granted so rauch against the sense of the nation. Their
books were subjected to the same committee that car
ried on the former inquiry, and a surprising scene of
venaUty and corruption was soon disclosed. It ap
peared that the company, in the course ofthe preceding
year, had paid near ninety thousand pounds in secret
services ; and that Sir Thomas Cooke, one of the direct
ors, and a member of the House, had been the chief
manager of this infamous comraerce. 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 being, agreeably to his
own petition, brought to the bar of the House of Lords,
declared he was ready and willing to make a full dis
covery, in case he might be favoured with an indem
nifying vote, to secure hira against all actions and suits,
except those of the East India company, which he
had never injured. The Lords complied with his re
quest, and passed a bill for this purpose, to which the
Commons added a penal clause ; and the forraer was
laid aside.
Examina- When the king went to the House, to give the royal
Cooke, Ac- assent to the money bills, he endeavoured to discourage
otherT'' ^^^^ inquiry, by telling the Parliaraent that the season
of the year was far advanced, and the circurastances of

WILLIAM. 211
affairs extreraely pressing : he therefore desired they chap.
would despatch such business as they should think of _____
most importance to the public, as he should put an end 1695.
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 fil-st examination, con
fessed, 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 prevent
ing 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 gui
neas to Colonel Fitzpatrick, five hundred to Charles
Bates, and three hundred and ten to Mr. MoUneux, a
merchant, for the same purposes ; 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 araong sorae 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 araong persons ^^ho had interest with
raerabers 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 north
ern merabers. 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 nobleraan
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
p2

212 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, on his second examination, that the Duke of Leeds
" was not free from corruption, and that Sir John Tre-
1695. vor was a hireling prostitute.
The Cora- The report of the committee produced violent alter-
™each't'he catious, aud the raost severe strictures upon the conduct
Letds"^ 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 ac
tually 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 Comraons. He con
cluded 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 Coramons 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 crirae laid to his charge. He com
plained that this was the effect of a design which had
been long formed against hira. He expressed a deep
sense of his being under the displeasure ofthe Parliament
and nation, and demanded speedy justice. They forth
with 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 tirae, 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

WILLIAM. 213
inquiry was dropped ; but the scandal stuck fast to the ch^p.
duke's character. "

In the midst of these deliberations, the king went 1695.
to the House on the third day of May, when he thanked ^^^t^*''^
the Parliament for the supplies they had granted; sig-ro^edT°
nified 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 raerabers
of both Houses would be more than ordinarily vigilant
in preserving the public peace. The Parliaraent was
then prorogued to the eighteenth of June''. The king
iraraediately appointed a regency to govern the king
dora in his absence ; but neither the Princess of Den
mark nor her husband were intrusted with any share iu
the administration ; a circumstance that evinced the
king's jealousy, and gave offence to a great part of the
nation''. A session of Parliaraent was deemed necessary in ?^^^i™ °.^,
Scotland, to provide new subsidies for the raaintenance Parliament.
of the troops of that kingdom, which had been so ser
viceable in the prosecution of the war. But, as a great
outcry had been raised against the government, on ac-
" In the course of this session, the Lords had inquired into the particulars of the
Mediterranean expedition, and presented an address to the king, declaring, that
the fleet in those seas had conduced to the honour and advantage ofthe nation. On
the other hand, the Commons, in an address, besought his majesty to take care
that the kingdom might be put on an equal footing and proportion with the allies,
in defraying the expense ofthe war.
The coin of the kingdom being greatly diminished and adulterated, the Earls of
Rochester and Nottingham expatiated upon this national evil in the House of Lords;
and an act was passed, containing severer penalties against clippers ; but this pro
duced no good effect. The value of money sunk in the exchange to such a degree,
that a guinea was reckoned adequate to thirty shillings ; and this public disgrace
lowered the credit of the funds of the government. The nation was alarmed by the
circulation of fictitious- wealth, instead of gold and silver, such as bank-bills, ex
chequer-tallies, and government securities. The malecon tents took this opportunity
to exclaim against the bank, and even attempted to shake the credit of it in Parlia
ment ; but their endeavours proved abortive : the monied-interest preponderated
in both Houses.
' The regency was composed of the Archbishop of Canterbury ; Somers, lord-
keeper of the great seal ; the Earl of Pembroke, lord privy-seal ; the Duke of De
vonshire, lord-steward of the household ; the Duke of Shrewsbury, secretary of state;
the Earl of Dorset, lord-chamberlain ; and the Lord Godolphin, first commissioner
of the treasuiy. Su: John Trenchard dying, his place of secretary was filled with
Sir William Trumbal, an eminent civilian, learned, diligent, and virtuous, who had
been envoy at Paris and Constantinople. William Nassau de Zuylestein, son of
the king's natural uncle, was created Baron of Enfield, Viscount Tunbridge, and
Earl of Rochford. Ford, Lord Grey of Werke, wasmade Viscount Glendale, and
Earl of Taiikerville. The month of April of this year was distinguished by the
death of the famous George Saville, Marquis of Halifax, who had survived in a
good measure his talents and reputation.

214 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, count of the massacre of Glencoe, and the Scots were
^'  tired of contributing towards the expense of a war from

1695. which they could derive no advantage, the ministry
thought proper to cajole them with the proraise of some
national indulgence. In the mean time, a commission
passed the great seal, for taking a precognition of the
raassacre, as a previous step to the trial of the persons
concerned in that perfidious transaction. On the ninth
of May, the session was opened by the Marquis of
Tweeddale, 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 esta
blishing 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 Uke cases to
the subjects of his other dominions. FinaUy, he ex
horted 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 coraraerce. The Parliament imme
diately voted an address of condolence to his majesty
on the death of the queen ; and they granted one hun
dred and twenty thousand pounds sterling for the ser
vice of the ensuing year, to be raised by a general
poll-tax, a land-tax, and an additional excise.
They in- Their uoxt Step was to desire the commissioner
?he'm^-° would transmit their humble thanks to the king, for
sacre of his caro 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
raotion was afterwards made that the coramissioners
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 coraraittee, was laid
before the Parliaraent. The raotion is said to have
been privately influenced by Secretary Johnston, for
the disgrace of Dalryraple, who was his rival in power

WILLIAM. 215
and interest. The written opinion of the coraraission- chap.
ers, who were creatures of the court, imported, that '
Macdonald of Glencoe had been perfidiously murdered ; 1695.
that the king's instructions contained nothing to war
rant the massacre ; and that Secretary Dalrymple had
exceeded his orders. The ParUament concurred with
this report. They resolved, that Livingston was not to
blame, for having given the orders contained in his let
ters 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, Lieute
nant Lindsey, Ensign Lundy, and Serjeant 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 blarae of the raassacre upon the excess in the
Master of Stair's letters concerning that transaction.
They begged that his raajesty would give such orders
about hira, as he should think fit for the vindication of
his governraent ; that the actors in that barbarous
slaughter might be prosecuted by the king's advocate,
according to law ; and that some reparation might be
raade to the raen of Glencoe who escaped the raas acre,
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 jioverty.
Notwithstanding this address of the Scottish Parlia
ment, 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 in the tragedy, far
from being punished, were preferred in the service.
While the coramissioners were eraployed in the in
quiry, they raade such discoveries concerning the con
duct of the Earl of Breadalbane, as amounted to a
charge of high treason ; and he was committed prisoner

216

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. v.
1695.

They pass
an act for
erecting a
trading companyto Africa
and the
Indies.

Proceed
ings in the
Parliament
of Ireland.

to the castle of Edinburgh ; but it seems he had dis-
. sembled with the Highlanders, by the king's permission,
aud now sheltered himself under the shadow of a royal
pardon. The coramittee 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 Ukewise confirmed by letters-patent under the
great seal, directed by the Parliament, without any far
ther warrant from the crown. Patterson, the projector,
had contrived the scheme of a settlement upon the isth
mus 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 engageraents 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 rai
nisters of that persuasion took the benefit of this in
dulgence. 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. Ireland began to be infected with the same factions
which had broken out in England since the Revolution:
Lord Oapel, the lord-deputy, governed in a very par
tial 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 cora
ply with all the demands of the ministry ; and he suc
ceeded in his endeavours, by making such arbitrary

WILLIAM. 217
changes in offices as best suited his purpose. These "^"^P-
precautions being taken, he convoked a Parliaraent for  '. —
the twenty-seventh day of August, when he opened the 1695.
session with a speech, expatiating upon their obligations
to King WilUam, and exhorting them to raake 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 raajesty had sent over a bill for an addi
tional excise, and expected they would find ways and
raeans 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 Pa
pists : and a fifth for settling the estates ef intestates.
Then they resolved, that a sum not exceeding one hun
dred and sixty-three thousand three hundred and
twenty-five pounds should be granted to his raajesty,
to be raised by a poll-bill, additional custoras, and
a continuation of the additional excise. Sir Charles
Porter, the chancellor, finding his importance dimi
nished, if not entii-ely destroyed, by the assuming dis
position and power of the lord-deputy, began to court
popularity, by espousing the cause of the Irish, against
the severity of the adrainistration ; and actually forraed
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 divi
sion among his majesty's subjects ; but being indulged
with a hearing by the House of Commons, he justi
fied himself so much to their satisfaction, that he was
voted clear of all iraputation by a great raajority. Ne
vertheless, they, at the end ofthe session, sent over an
address, in which they bore testiraony to the mild and
just adrainistration of their lord-deputy.
King WiUiara having taken such steps as weredeemed

218 HISTORY OF ENGLAND."
CHAP- necessary for preserving the peace of England in his
 '.  absence, crossed the sea to Holland in the middle of

1695. May, fully deterrained to raake some great effort in the
Disposition Netherlands, that might aggrandise his military charac-
mies in ter, aud humble the power of France, which was already
Flanders, qjj ^jjg (JecUue. 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 triuraph with uninter
rupted 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 Montmo
rency, 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 sepa
rate army, though subject to the other's orders. As
the French king took it for granted that the confede
rates 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 be
tween the Lys and the Scheldt : he caused a disposition
to be raade 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, en
caraped at Aerseele, Caneghem, and Woutel-ghera, be
tween Thieldt and Deynse, to be coramanded by the
king in person, assisted by the old Prince of Vaude
mont. The other army, composed of sixteen battalions
of foot, and one hundred and thirty squadrons of horse,
encamped at Zellech and Hamme, on the road from
Brussels to Dendermonde, under the coramand of the
Elector of Bavaria, seconded by the Duke of Holstein-

WILLIAM. 219

Ploen. Major-General EUemberg was posted near Dix- chap.
muyde with twenty battaUons and ten squadrons, and . ^'

another body of Brandenburgh and Dutch troops, with 1695.
a reinforceraent frora Liege, lay encaraped on the Me
haigne, under the conduct of the Baron de Heyden,
lieutenant-general of Brandenburgh, and the Count de
Berlo, general of the Liege cavalry. King WiUiara
arrived in the carap on the fifth day of July ; and re
mained eight days at Aerseele. Then he marched to
Bekelar, while Villeroy retired behind his Unes 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 Scheldt, and took post at
Kirkhoven : at the same time the body under Heyden
advanced towards Namur.
The King of England having by his motions drawn King Wii-
the forces of the enemy on the side of Flanders, directed tate the
the Baron de Heyden and the Earl of Athlone, who siege of
commanded forty squadrons from the camp ofthe Elec
tor of Bavaria, to invest Namur ; and this service was
perforraed on the third day of July ; but, as the place
was not entirely surrounded, Mareschal Boufflers threw
hiraself into it, with such a reinforcement of dragoons
as augmented the garrison to the number of fifteen
thousand chosen raen. King WUUam and the elector
brought up the rest of the forces, which encamped on
both sides of the Sarabre and the Maese ; and the lines
of circumvallation were begun on the sixth day of July,
under the direction of the celebrated engineer. General
Coehorn. This place was forraerly very strong, both
by situation and art ; but the French, since its last re
duction, 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, coramanded by a mareschal of France, dis
tinguished by his valour and conduct, the enterprise
was deeraed an undeniable proof of WUliara's teraerity.
On the eleventh the trenches were opened, and next
day the batteries began to play with incredible fury.
The king receiving inteUigence of a motion made by a

220 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, hody of French troops, with a view to intercept the
' convoys, detached twenty squadrons of horse and dra-
1695. goons to observe the enemy.
Famous Princo Vaudemont, who was left at Roselaer with
retreat of ^f^ battalious, aud the like number of squadrons, un-
PnnceVau- J ' i i t • i
demont. derstaudiug that Villeroy had passed the Lys in order
SimbaJded *» attack him, took post with his left near Grammen,
by Villeroy. his right by Aerseele and Caneghem, and began to for
tify 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, how
ever, perceiving Villeroy's design was to surround him,
by means of another body of troops commanded by M.
Montal, who had already passed the Thieldt for that
purpose, he resolved to avoid an engagement, and ef
fected a retreat to Ghent, which is celebrated as one of
the most capital efforts of military conduct. He forth
with 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 EUemberg, who, in six-
and-thirty hours after the trenches were opened, sur
rendered himself and his soldiers prisoners of war. This
scandalous example was followed by Colonel Ofarrel,
who yielded up Deynse on the same shameful condi
tions, even before a battery was opened by the besiegers.
In the sequel they were both tried for their misbeha
viour : EUemberg suffered death, and Ofarrel was broken
with infamy. The Prince of Vaudemont sent a mes
sage 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 Bergliem, governor of that city, importing
that the king his raaster had ordered hira to bombard
the town, by way of making reprisals for the damage

WILLIAM. 221

done by the EngUsh fleet to the maritime towns of chap.

V.

France : he likewise desired to know in what part the
Electress of Bavaria resided, that he raight not fire into i695.
that quarter. After this declaration, which vvas no
more than an unmeaning compliment, he began to bom
bard and cannonade the place with red-hot bullets,
which produced conflagrations in many different parts
of the city, and frightened the electress into a mis
carriage. On the fifteenth, the French discontinued
their firing, and retired to Enghein.
During these transactions the siege of Namur was f^°f^^^^ °f
prosecuted with great ardour, under the eye of the King Nan^ur!
of England ; while the garrison defended the place with
equal spirit and perseverance. On the eighteenth day
of July, Major-General Ramsay, and Lord Cutts, at the
head of five battalions, English, Scots, and Dutch, at
tacked the enemy's advanced works, on the right of the
counterscarp. They were sustained by six English
battalions, coramanded by Brigadier-General Fitzpa
trick ; while eight foreign regiments, with nine thousand
pioneers, advanced on the left, under Major-General
Salisch. 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 raen 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 ex
claimed with emotion, " See my brave English !" On
the twenty-seventh, the English and Scots, under Ram
say 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. Se
veral persons were kiUed in the trenches at the side of

222 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the king, and among these Mr. Godfrey, deputy-go-
" vernor of the bank of England, who had come to the
1695. 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 attaked 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 through
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, at
tacked the saillant-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, capitu
lated 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 con
federate camp with his cavalry. This, however, was
prevented by the extreme vigilance of King William.
Villeroy at- After the bombardment of Brussels, Villeroy, being
reUere it! I'einforccd with all the troops that could be drafted
The be- from garrisous, advanced towards Namur, with an army
makTade- of ninety thousand men; and Prince Vaudemont being
sperate as- 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 besieg
ing army. The king, understanding that the eneray
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 coraraand
of the covering army, in order to oppose Villeroy, who.

WILLIAM. 223
being further reinforced by a detachment from Ger- chap.
many, declared, that he would hazard a battle for the ^'
relief of Namur. But, when he viewed the posture of 1695.
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 sur
render, by Count Home, who, in a parley with the
Count de Lamont, general of the French infantry,
gave hira 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 broken
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 com
mand, though it was not in 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 EngUsh grenadiers were repulsed, even after they
had mounted the breach. Lord Cutts being for some
tirae disabled by a shot in the head. Marselly was
defeated, taken, and afterwards killed by a cannon-ball
frora 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 offlcers, were slain : nevertheless, they
fixed themselves on the outward intrenchment, on the
point of the Coehorn next to the Sambre, and main
tained their ground with amazing fortitude. Lord
Cutts, when his wound was dressed, returned to the
scene of action, and ordered two hundred chosen raen
of Mackay's regiraent, coraraanded by Lieutenant
Cockle, to attack the face of the saillant-angle next
to the breach, sword in hand, while the ensigns of the
sarae regiment should advance, and plant their colours
on the palisadoes. Cockle and his detachment exe-

224 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, cuted the comraand he had received with adrairable
' intrepidity. They broke through the palisadoes, drove
1695. 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 ac
tion, the Elector of Bavaria signalized 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 emer
gency of circumstances, animating the officers with
praise and promise of preferment, and distributing
handfuls of gold among the private soldiers.
The place Ou the first day of September, the besieged having
Bouffle^rs'^is obtained a cessation of arms, that their dead might be
arrested by buried, the Couut de Guiscard appearing on the breach.
King Wil- desired to speak with the Elector of Bavaria. His
liam. highness immediately mounting the breach, the French
governor offered to surrender the fort of Coehorn ; but
was given to understand, that if he intended to capitu
late, 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 tiie
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 Mous. 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. Bouf
flers, in marching out, was arrested in the name of his
Britannic majesty, by way of reprisal for the garrisons

WILLIAM. 225
of Dixmuyde and Deynse, which the French king had chap.
detained, contrary to the cartel subsisting between the "
two nations. The mareschal was not a little discora- 1695.
posed at this unexpected incident, and expostulated
warmly with Mr. Dyckvelt, who assured him the King
of Great Britain entertained a profound respect for his
person and character. WiUiara even offered to set hira
at liberty, provided he would pass his word that the
garrisons of Dixrauyde and Deynse should be sent
back, or that he himself would return in a fortnight.
He said, that he could not enter into any such en
gagement, as he did not know his raaster's reasons for
detaining the garrisons in question. He was, therefore,
reconveyed to Namur ; from thence reraoved to Maes
tricht, 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 iraraediately released, and conducted in safety to
Dinant. When he repaired to Versailles, Louis re
ceived him with very extraordinary marks of esteem
and affection. He embraced hira in public with the
warraest expressions of regard ; declared hiraself per
fectly well satisfied with his conduct ; created hira a
duke and peer of France ; and presented hira with a very
large sura, in acknowledgraent of his signal services.
After the reduction of Namur, which greatly en- Campaign
hanced the military character of King WilUam, he g'jji^ne and
retired to his house at Loo, which was his favourite in Hun-
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 Unes. A good number of the allied troops
were distributed in different garrisons ; and a strong
detachment marched towards Newport, under the com
raand of the Prince of Wirtemberg, for the security of
that place. Thus ended the campaign in the Nether
lands. On the Rhine nothing of raoraent was atterapted
by either army. The Mareschal de Lorges, in the
beginning of June, passed the Rhine at Philipsburg ;
and posting himself at Brucksal, sent out parties to ra-
VOL. I. Q ¦

226 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, vage the country. On the eleventh of the same raonth,
' the Prince of Baden joined the German army at Step-
1695. pach, and on the eighth of July was reinforced by the
troops of the other German confederates, in the neigh
bourhood 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 iraperial general : then he sent off a large
detachraent 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 con
ferred upon the Elector of Saxony ; but the court of
Vienna was so dilatory in its 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 per
son. The warlike genius of this new emperor afforded
but an uncorafortable prospect to his people, considering
that Peter, the Czar of Muscovy, had taken the oppor
tunity 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
visir took the field before the iraperialists could com
mence the operations of the carapaign, passed the
Danube, took Lippa and Titul by assault, stormed the
carap of General Veterani, who was posted at Lugos
with seven thousand raen, and who lost his life in the
action. The infantry were cut to pieces, after having
raade a desperate defence ; but the horse retreated to
Carousebes, 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 recpvered that island, which the Venetians thought
proper to abandon ; but, in order to balance this rais
fortune, these last obtained a coraplete victory over the
Bashaw of Negropont in the Morea.

WILLIAM. 227
The French king still maintained a secret negotiation chap.
with the Duke of Savoy, whose conduct had been for ^-
some tirae mysterious and equivocal. Contrary to the 1695.
opinion of his allies, he undertook the siege of Casal, '^^ ^uke
which was counted one of the strongest fortifications in tLkescLi.
Europe, defended by a numerous garrison, abundantly
suppUed with araraunition and provision. The siege
was begun about the raiddle of May ; and the place
was surrendered by capitulation in about fourteen days,
to the astonishraent of the confederates, who did not
know that this was a sacrifice by which the French
court obtained the duke's forbearance during the re
maining part of the campaign. The capitulation im
ported, 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 corapleted : and hostages were
exchanged for the perforraance of these conditions.
The duke understood the art of procrastination so well,
that Septeraber was far advanced before the place was
wholly dismantled ; and then he was seized with an
ague, which obliged hira to quit the array.
In Catalonia the French could hardly raaintain the T''™!^<=-
footing they had gained. Admiral Russel, who win- Catalonia.
tered at Cadiz, was created adrairal, chief-coramander,
and captain-general of all his raajesty's ships eraployed,
or to be eraployed, in the narrow seas, and in the Me
diterranean. He was reinforced by four thousand five
hundred soldiers, under the coramand 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, de
tached 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-FolUt : Noailles had
been recalled, and the comraand devolved upon the
Duke de Vendome, who no sooner understood that the
forces from Italy were landed, than he disraantled Os
talric and Castel-FolUt, and retired to Palaraos. The
q2

228 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Viceroy of Catalonia and the English admiral having
.  resolved to give battle to the enemy, and reduce Pa-
1695. lamos, 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 vice
roy declined an engagement. Far frora attacking the
enemy, he withdrew his forces, and the town was bom
barded by the admiral. The miscarriage of this ex
pedition was in a great measure owing to a misunder
standing between Russel and the court of Spain. The
adrairal coraplained that his catholic majesty had made
no preparations for the campaign : that he had neg
lected 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 towards the latter end of September arrived in the
bay of Cadiz. There he left a number of ships under
the comraand 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 com
bined squadrons.
h^^fle^t^' While Admiral Russel asserted the British dominion
bombards IU the Mediterranean, the French coasts were again
and Sr^' iusultod in the Channel by a separate fleet under the
places on comraand of Lord Berkeley of Stratton, assisted by the
FranT' °^ ^^^^^ adrairal AUemonde. On the fourth day of July
- ' they anchored before St. Maloes, which they bombarded
frora nine ketches covered by some frigates, which sus
tained raore damage than was done to the enemy. On
the sixth, Granville underwent the sarae 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 at
terapt upon Dunkirk, under the direction of Meesters,
the famous Dutch engineer, who had prepared his in
fernals, and other machines, for the service. On the
first day of August the experiraent was tried without
success. The borabs did sorae execution ; but two

WILLIAM. 229
smoke ships miscarried. The French had secured the chap.
Risbank and wooden forts with piles, bombs, chains.

and floating batteries, in such a manner, that the ma- 1695.
chine-vessels could not approach near enough to pro
duce 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 thera with disrespect. He re
tired with his raachines in the night, and refused to
co-operate with Lord Berkeleyin 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 scherae abortive.
A squadron had been sent to the West Indies under Wiimot-s
the joint coramand of Captain Robert Wilmot and to?he West
Colonel Lilingston, with twelve hundred land-forces, '"dies.
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 Fran9ois,
and plundered the countryfor 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 Spa
niards, who soon renounced all connexion with them
and their designs. In the beginning of Septeraber the
coramodore set sail for England, and lost one of his
ships in the gulf 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. Notwith
standing the great efforts the nation had raade to
maintain such a nuraber of dift'erent squadrons for
the protection of coramerce, as well as to annoy the
eneray, the trade suffered severely from the French pri-

230 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, vateers, which swarraed in both channels, and raade
" prize of raany rich vessels. The Marquis of Caermar-
1695. then, being stationed with a squadron off the ScUly
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 mer
chants renewed their clamour against the coramissioners
of the Admiralty, who produced their orders and in
structions 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 trans
mitted to France, frora time to time, by the malecon
tents of England ; for they were actuated by a scan
dalous principle, which they still retain, namely, that of
rejoicing in the distress of their country.
A new King WiUiara, after having conferred with the States
' of Holland, and the Elector of Brandenburgh, who met
him at the Hague, embarked for England on the nine
teenth day of October, and arrived in safety at Mar
gate, 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 merabers only as were well affected
to the governraent; whereas the present Parliaraent
raight 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
Parharaent was, therefore, dissolved by proclaraation,
and a new one summoned to meet at Westrainster
on the twenty-second day of Noveraber. While the
whole nation was occupied in the elections, WilUam,
by the advice of his chief confidents, laid his ovm dis
position under restraint, in another effort to acquire
popularity. He honoured the diversions of Newraar
ket with his presence, and there received a corapliraent
of congratulation from the university of Cambridge.

WILLIAM. 231
Then he visited the Earls of Sunderland, Northarapton, chap.
and Montague, at their different houses in the country ; ^"
and proceeded with a splendid retinue to Lincoln, 1695.
from whence he repaired to Welbeck, a seat belonging
to the Duke of Newcastle in Nottinghamshire, Mdiere
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 Eyefort, and by the way of Woodstock, raade a
solemn entry into Oxford, having been met at sorae
distance frora the city by the Duke of Orraond, 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 Cora-
raon-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, iraporting that there
was a design to poison his raajesty, WiUiara refused to
eat or drink in Oxford, and retired iraraediately to
Windsor. Notwithstanding this abrupt departure,
which did not savour rauch of magnanimity, the univer
sity chose Sir WiUiara Trurabal, secretary of state, as
one of their representatives in Parliaraent.
The whig interest generally prevaUed in the elec- j^jj^yp^^^^
tions, though many even of that party were malecontents; guiating "
and when the Parliaraent raet, Foley was again chosen '"^^ '"
speaker of the Coraraons. The king, in his first high trea-
speech, extolled the valour of the English forces ; ex- ^°"-
pressed his concern at being obliged to deraand such
large supplies frora his people ; observed that the funds
had proved very deficient, and the civil list was in a
precarious condition; recommended to their compas
sion the raiserable situation of the French Protestants ;
took notice of the bad state of the coin ; desired they
would forra a good bill for the encouragement and in
crease of seamen ; and contrive laws for the advance
raent of commerce. He raentioned the great prepara
tions which the French were making for taking the field

232 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^^^P- early ; entreated thera to use despatch ; expressed his
 ' satisfaction at the choice which his people had made of
1695. their representatives in the House of Commons ; and
exhorted them to proceed with teraper and unaniraity.
Though the two Houses presented addresses of con
gratulation to the king upon his late success, and pro
mised 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 king
dom. All the king's endeavours to cover the disgust
ing side of his character had proved ineffectual : he
was still dry, reserved, and forbidding ; and the raale
contents inveighed bitterly against his behaviour to the
Princess Anne of Denraark. When the news of
Namur 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 maxiras, either from prin
ciple 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 con
tested bill for regulating trials in cases of- high treason
and raisprision of treason ; and, considering the critical
juncture of affairs, the courtiers were afraid of obstruct
ing such a popular measure. The Lords inserted a
clause, enacting, that the peer should be tried by the
whole peerage ; and the Comraons at once assented to
this araendraent. The bill provided, that persons in
dicted for high treason, or misprision of treason, should
be furnished with a copy of the indictment five days
before the trial ; and indulged with counsel 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 indictraent, one
witness to one, and another witness to another, should
not be deemed two witnesses : that no person should be

WILLIAM. f233
prosecuted for any such crime, unless the indictment chap.
be found within three years after the offence coramitted.

except in case of a design or attempt to assassinate or 1695.
poison the king, where this Umitation should not take
place : that persons indicted for treason, or raisprision
of treason, should be supplied with copies of the pannel
of the jurors, two days at least before the trial, and
have process to compel their witnesses to appear : that
no evidence should be adraitted of any overt-act not
expressly laid in the indictraent : that this act should
not extend to any impeachment, or other proceedings
in Parliament ; nor to any indictment, for counterfeit
ing his majesty's coin, his great seal, privy seal, sign
manual, or signet.
This important affair being discussed, the Coramons Resolutions
proceeded to exaraine the accounts and estimates, and™ a new
voted above five millions for the service of the ensuing coinage.
year. The state of the coin was by this time becorae
such a national grievance as could not escape the atten
tion of ParUament. The Lords prepared an address
to the throne, for a proclamation to put a stop to the
currency of dirainished 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 re
commended and supported by Mr. Montague, who
acted on this occasion by the advice of the great mathe
matician Sir Isaac Newton. The enemies of this ex
pedient argued, that should the silver coin be called in,
it would be impossible to maintain the war abroad, or
prosecute foreign trade, in as much as the raerchant
could not pay his bills of exchange, nor the soldier re
ceive his subsistence : that a stop would be put to all
mutual payraent; and this would produce universal
confusion and despair. Such a reforraation could not
be effected without some danger and difficulty ; but it
was become absolutely necessary, as the evil daily in
creased, and in a little time must have terminated in
national anarchy. After long and veheraent debates.

234 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the majority resolved to proceed with all possible ex-
, pedition to a new coinage. Another question arose.

1695. whether the new coin in its different denominations
should retain the original weight andpurity of the old; or
the estabUshed standard be raised in value. The faraous
Locke engaged in this dispute against Mr. Lowndes,
who proposed that the standard should be raised : the
arguraents 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 re
solved, 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 payraent into the
exchequer : that, after another day to be appointed, no
clipped raoney 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 raoney to be re-
coined, after which they should have no allowance upon
what they might offer. They addressed the king to
issue a proclamation agreeable to these resolutions;
and on the nineteenth day of December it was pub
Ushed accordingly. Such were the fears of the people,
augmented and inflamed by the eneraies of the govern
raent, that all payraent immediately ceased, and a face
of distraction appeared through the whole coraraunity.
The adversaries of the bill seized this opportunity to
aggravate the apprehensions of the public. They in
veighed against the rainistry as the authors of this
national grievance ; they levelled their satire particu
larly at Montague ; and it required uncommon fortitude
and address to avert the most dangerous consequences
of popular discontent. The House of Comraons agreed
to the foUowing resolutions, that twelve hundred thou
sand pounds should be raised by a duty on glass win
dows, to make up the loss on the clipped money : that
the recompense for supplying the deficiency of clipped
money should extend to all silver coin, though of a
coarser alloy than the standard : that the collectors and
receivers of his majesty's aids and revenues should be

WILLIAM. 235
enjoined to receive all such monies : that a reward of chap.
five per cent, should be given to all such persons as  ! 
should bring in either raiUed or broad undipped raoney, 1695.
to be applied in exchange of the clipped money
throughout the kingdom : that a reward of threepence
per ounce should be given to all persons who should
bring in wrought plate to the mint to be coined : that
persons might pay in their whole next year's land-tax in
clipped money, at one convenient time to be appointed
for that purpose: that commissioners should be ap
pointed in every county, to pay and distribute the raiUed
and broad undipped money, and the new coined
money in lieu of that which was dirainished. A bill
being prepared agreeably to these deterrainations, was
sent up to the House of Lords, who raade sorae araend
ments, which the Coraraons rejected ; but, in order to
avoid cavils and conferences, they dropped the bill, and
brought in another, without the clauses which the Lords
had inserted. They were again proposed in the Upper
House, and overruled by the raajority: and, on the
twenty-first day of January, the bill received the royal
assent, as did another bill, enlarging the tirae for pur
chasing annuities, and continuing the duties on low
wines. At the sarae tirae, the king passed the bill of
trials for high treason, and an act to prevent mercenary
elections. Divers merchants and traders petitioned
the House of Commons, that the losses m their trade
and payments, occasioned by the rise of guineas, might
be taken into consideration. A bill was iraraediately
brought in for taking off the obligation and encou
ragement for coining guineas for a certain time ; and
then the Coramons proceeded to lower the value of this
coin ; a task in which they met with great opposition
from some members, who alleged that it would foment
the popular disturbances. At length, however, the
majority agreed, that a guinea should be lowered frora
thirty to eight-and-twenty shillings, and afterwards to
six-and-twenty : at length a clause was inserted in the
bill for encouraging people to bring plate to the mint,
settling the price of a guinea at two-and-twenty shillings,
and it naturally sunk to its original value of twenty
shillings and sixpence. Many persons, however, sup-

236 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, posing that the price of gold would be raised the next
" session, hoarded up their guineas ; and, upon the same
1695. supposition; encouraged by the raalecontents, the new
coined silver money was reserved to the great detriment
of commerce. The king ordered mints to be erected
in York, Bristol, Exeter, and Chester, for the purpose
of the recoinage, which was executed with unexpected
success ; so that in less than a year the currency of
England, which had been the worst, becarae the best
coin in Europe.
The Com- At this period the attention of the Comraons was
dress the" diverted to an object of a raore private nature. The
king, to re- gari of Portland, who enjoyed the greatest share of the
he hacT™ kiug's favour, had obtained a grant of some lordships in
madetothe Dephyshire. While the warrant was depending, the
Portland, gentlemen of that county resolved to oppose it with all
their power. In consequence of a petition, they were
indulged with a hearing by the lords of the treasury.
Sir William Williaras, in the name of the rest, alleged,
that the lordships in question were the ancient demesnes
of the Prince of Wales, absolutely unalienable ; that the
revenues of those lordships supported the governraent
of Wales, in paying the judges' and other salaries : that
the grant was of too large an extent for any foreign sub
ject ; and that the people of the county were too great to
be subject to any foreigner. Sundry other substantial rea
sons were used against the grant, which, notwithstanding
all their remonstrances, would have passed through the
offices, had not the Welsh gentleraen addressed them
selves by petition to the House of Comraons. Upon
this occassion, Mr. Price, a meraber of the House, ha
rangued with great severity against the Dutch in gene
ral, and did not even abstain frora sarcasms upon the
king's person, title, and government. The objections
started by the petitioners being duly considered, were
found so reasonable, that the Comraons presented an
address to the king, representing, that those raanors
had been usually annexed to the principality of Wales,
and settled on the Princes of Wales for their support:
that raany persons in those parts held their estates by
royal tenure, under great and valuable compositions,
rents, royal payments, and services to the crown and

WILLIAM. 237

Princes of Wales ; and enjoyed great privUeges and chap.
advantages under such tenure. They, therefore, be

sought his majesty to recall the grant, which was in 1695.
diminution of the honour and interest of the crown ;
and prayed, that the said manors and lands might not be
alienated without the consent of Parliament. This ad
dress met with a cold reception from the king, who
promised to recall the grant which had given such offence
to the Commons ; and said he would find sorae other
way of showing his favour to the Earl of Portland.
The people in general entertained a national aversion Another
to this nobleraan : the malecontents inculcated a notion ^"slot-
that he made use of his interest and intelligence to in- tishcom-
jure the trade of England, that the coraraerce of his ^'^^^'
own country raight flourish without corapetition. To
his suggestions they iraputed the act and patent in
favour ofthe Scottish corapany, which was supposed to
have been thrown in as a bone of contention between
the two kingdoms. The subject was first started in the
House of Lords, who invited the Coraraons to a con
ference : a coramittee was appointed to examine into
the particulars of the act for erecting the Scottish cora
pany ; and the two Houses presented a joint address
against it, as a scherae that would prejudice all the
subjects concerned in the wealth and trade of the Eng
lish nation. They represented, that, in consequence
of the exemption frora taxes, and other advantages
granted to the Scottish corapany, that kingdom would
become a free port for all East and West India com
modities : that the Scots would be enabled to supply all
Europe at a cheaper rate than the English could afford
to sell their merchandize for ; therefore, England would
lose the benefit of its foreign trade : besides, they ob
served that the Scots would smuggle their comraodities
into England, to the great detriraent of his raajesty and
his custoras. To this reraonstrance the king replied,
that he had been ill served in Scotland ; but that he
hoped some remedies would be found to prevent the
inconveniences of which they were apprehensive. In
all probability he had been iraposed upon by the
ministry of that, kingdom ; for, in a little time, he dis
carded the Marquis of Tweeddale, and dismissed both

238 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- the Scottish secretaries of state, in lieu of whom he
, appointed Lord Murray, son to the Marquis of Athol.

1695. Notwithstanding the king's answer, the committee pro
ceeded on the inquiry, and in consequence of their
report, confirming a petition from the East India com
pany, the House resolved, that the directors of the
Scottish company were guilty of a high crime and mis
deraeanour, in administering and taking an oath defideli
in this kingdom ; and that they should be impeached
for the same. Meanwhile, Roderick Mackenzie, from
whom they had received their chief information, began
to retract his evidence, and was ordered into custody ;
but he made his escape and could not be retaken, al
though the king, at their request, issued a proclamation
for that purpose. The Scots were extreraely incensed
against the king, when they understood he had dis
owned their company, from which they had proraised
themselves such wealth and advantage. The settlement
of Darien was already planned, and afterwards put in
execution, though it miscarried in the sequel, and had
like to have produced abundance of raischief.
thf ji"^b°^ The complaints of the English merchants who had
ites. suffered by the war were so loud at this juncture, that
the Coraraons resolved to take their case into con
sideration. The House resolved itself into a coraraittee
to consider the state of the nation with regard to com
raerce, and having duly weighed all circumstances,
agreed to the following resolutions : that a council of
trade should be established by act of Parliament, with
powers to take measures for the more effectual pre
servation of commerce : that the coraraissioners should
be noraiuated by Parliament, but none of them have
seats in the House: that they should take an oath
acknowledging the title of King William as rightful
and lawfiil ; and abjuring the pretensions of James, or
any other person. The king considered these re
solutions as an open attack upon his prerogative, and
signified his displeasure to the Earl of Sunderiand, who
patronized this measure : but it was so popular in the
House, that in all probability it would have been put in
execution, had not the attention of the Comraons been
diverted frora it at this period by the detection of a new

WILLIAM. 239

conspiracy. The friends of King Jaraes had, upon the '^^^''•
death of Queen Mary, renewed their practices for

effecting a restoration of that raonarch, on the sup- ^695.
position that the interest of William was considerably
weakened by the decease of his consort. Certain in
dividuals, whose zeal for James overshot their discretion,
formed a design to seize the person of King William,
and convey him to France, or put hira to death in case
of resistance. They had sent eraissaries to the court
of St. Gerraain's, to demand a commission for this
purpose, which was refused. The Earl of Aylesbury,
Lord Montgomery, son to the Marquis of Powis, Sir
John Fenwick, Sir John Friend, Captain Charnock,
Captain Porter, and one Mr. Goodman, were the first
contrivers of this project. Charnock was detached with
a proposal to Jaraes, that he should procure a body of
horse and foot from France, to make a descent in Eng
land, and they would engage not only to join him at
his landing, but even to replace him on the throne of
England. These offers being declined by James, on
pretence that the French king could not spare such a
number of troops at that juncture, the Earl of Ayles-
bm-y went over in person, and was admitted to a
conference with Louis, in which the scherae of an
invasion was actually concerted. In the beginning of
February, the Duke of Berwick repaired privately to
England, where he conferred with the conspirators,
assured them that King James was ready to raake a
descent with a considerable nuraber of French forces,
distributed coraraissions, and gave directions for pro
viding men, arms, and horses, to join hira at his arrival.
When he returned to France, he found every thing
prepared for the expedition. The troops were drawn
down to the sea-side : a great nuraber of transports
were assembled at Dunkirk: Monsieur Gabaret had
advanced as far as Calais with a squadron of ships, which,
when joined by that of Du Bart at Dunkirk, was judged
a sufficient convoy; and James had corae as far as Calais
in his way to embark. Meanwhile, the Jacobites in
England were assiduously employed in making pre
parations for a revolt. Sir John Friend had very neariy
completed a regiment of horse. Considerable progress

240 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, was made in levying another by Sir William Perkins.
" Sir John Fenwick had inlisted four troops. Colonel
1695. Tempest had undertaken for one regiraent of dragoons:
Colonel Parker was preferred to the command of an
other : Mr. Curzon was commissioned for a third ; and
the malecontents intended to raise a fourth in Suffolk,
where their interest chiefly prevailed.
Conspiracy While oue part of the Jacobites proceeded against
life of Wil- William in the usual way of exciting an insurrection,
ham. another, consisting of the most desperate conspirators,
had formed a scherae of assassination. Sir George
Barclay, a native of Scotland, who had served as an
officer in the array of Jaraes, a raan of undaunted
courage, a furious bigot in the religion of Rorae, yet
close, circuraspect, and deterrained, was landed, with
other officers, in Romney-marsh, by one Captain GUI,
about the beginning of January, and is said to have
undertaken the task of seizing or assassinating King
William. He imparted his design to Harrison, alias
Johnston, a priest, Charnock, Porter, and Sir William
Perkins, by whom it was approved ; and he pretended
to have a particular commission for this service. After
various consultations, they resolved to attack the king
on his return frora Richraond, where he comraonly
hunted on Saturdays ; and the scene of their intended
ambuscade was a lane between Brentford and Turn-
hara-green. As it would be necessary to charge and
disperse the guards that attended the coach, they agreed
that their nuraber should be increased to forty horse-
raen, and each conspirator began to engage proper
persons for the enterprise. When their complement
was full, they determined to execute their purpose on
the fifteenth day of February. They concerted the
raanner in which they should meet in small parties with
out suspicion, and waited with impatience for the hour
of action. In this interval, some of the underUng
actors, seized with horror at the reflection of what they
had undertaken, or captivated with the prospect of
reward, resolved to prevent the execution of the design
by a timely discovery. On the eleventh day of Fe
bruary, one Fisher informed the Earl of Portland of the
scheme, and named some of the conspirators ; but his

WILLIAM. ' 241
account was imperfect. On the thirteenth, however, chap.
he returned with a circumstantial detail of all the par-  1__
ticulars. Next day the earl was accosted by one 1695.
Pendergrass, an Irish officer, who told his lordship
he had just corae frora Harapshire, at the request of a
particular friend, and understood that he had been
called up to town with a view of engaging him in a
design to assassinate King William. He said he had
promised to erabark in the undertaking, though he
detested it in his own mind, and took this first op
portunity of revealing the secret, which was of such
consequence to his majesty's life. He owned himself
a Roman Catholic, but declared, that he did not think
any religion could justify such a treacherous purpose.
At the same time he observed, that as he lay under
obligations to some of the conspirators, his honour and
gratitude would not permit hira to accuse thera by
name ; and that he would upon no consideration appear
as an evidence. The king had been so much used to
fictitious plots and false discoveries, that he paid little
regard to these informations, until they were confirmed
by the testimony of another conspirator called La Rue,
a Frenchman, who comraunicated the same particulars
to Brigadier Levison, without knowing the least cir
cumstance of the other discoveries. Then the king
believed there was soraething real in the conspiracy ;
and Pendergrass and La Rue were severally exarained
in his presence. He thanked Pendergrass in particular
for this instance of his probity ; but observed that it
must prove ineffectual, unless he would discover the
names of the conspirators ; for, without knowing who
they were, he should not be able to secure his Ufe
against their attempts. At length Pendergrass was
prevailed upon to give a list of those he knew, yet not
before the king had soleranly promised that he should
not be used as an evidence against thera, except with
his own consent. As the king did not go to Richraond
on the day appointed, the conspirators postponed the
execution of their design tiU the Saturday following.
They accordingly raet at different houses ou the Friday,
when every man received his instructions. There they
agreed, that after the perpetration of the parricide, they
VOL. I. ^

242 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, should ride in a body as far as Hammersmith, and then
^' dispersing, enter London by different avenues. But

1695. on the morning, when they understood that the guards
were returned to their quarters, and the king's coaches
sent back to the Mews, they were seized with a sudden
damp, on the suspicion that their plot was discovered.
Sir George Barclay withdrew himself, and every one
began to think of providing for his OAvn safety. Next
night, however, a great number of them were ap
prehended, and then the whole discovery was com
municated to the privy council. A proclamation was
issued against those that absconded; and great diligence
was used to find Sir George Barclay, who was supposed
to have a particular commission from James for as
sassinating the Prince of Orange ; but he made good
his retreat, and it was never proved that any such com
mission had been granted.
Design of This dcsigu and the projected invasion proved equally
defea\?d°" abortivc. James had scarce reached Calais, when the
Duke of Wirtemberg despatched his aid-de-camp from
Flanders to King William, with an account of the pur
posed descent. Expresses with the same tidings arrived
from the Elector of Bavaria and the Prince de Vaude
mont. Two considerable squadrons being ready for
sea. Admiral Russel embarked at Spithead, and stood
over to the French coast with about fifty sail of the
line. The enemy were confounded at his appearance,
and hauled in their vessels under the shore, in such
shallow water that he could not follow and destroy
them : but he absolutely ruined their design, by cooping
them up in their harbours. King James, after having
tarried some weeks at Calais, returned to St. Germain's.
The forces were sent back to the garrisons from which
they had been drafted : the people of France exclaimed,
that the malignant star which ruled the destiny of
James had blasted this and every other project formed
for his restoration. By raeans of the reward offered in
the proclaraation, the greater part of the conspirators
were betrayed or taken. George Harris, who had been
sent frora France, with orders to obey Sir George
Barclay, surrendered himself to Sir William Trumball,
and confessed the scheme of assassination in which he

WILLIAM. 243
had been engaged. Porter and Pendergrass were appre- chap.
hended together. The last insisted upon the king's "
promise, that he should not be compelled to give evi- 1695.
dence; but when Porter owned himself guilty, the
other observed, he was no longer bound to be silent, as
his friend had made a confession ; and they were both
admitted as evidences for the crown.
After their exaraination, the king, in a speech to The two
both Houses, comraunicated the nature of the conspi- ga^l^Tn an'
racy against his life, as well as the advices he had association
received touching the invasion : he explained the steps fence of hL
he had taken to defeat the double design, and pro- ™=^iesty-
fessed his confidence in their readiness and zeal to con
cur with him in every thing that should appear necessary
for their comraon safety. That same evening the two
Houses waited upon him at Kensington, in a body,
with an affectionate address, by which they expressed
their abhorrence of the villanous and barbarous design
which had been formed against his sacred person, of
which they besought him to take more than ordinary
care. They assured hira they would to the utraost de
fend his life, and support his governraent against the
late King James, and all other enemies ; and declared
that, in case his majesty should come to a violent death,
they would revenge it upon his adversaries and their
adherents. He was extremely well pleased with this
warra address, and assured thera, in his turn, he would
take all opportunities of recoraraending hiraself to the
continuance of their loyalty and affection. The Cora
raons forthwith erapowered hira, by bill, to secure all
persons suspected of conspiring against his person and
governraent. They brought in another, providing that,
in case of his majesty's death, the Parliament then in
being should continue until dissolved by the next heir
in succession to the crown, established by act of Parlia
raent : that if his majesty should chance to die between
two Parliaments, that which had been last dissolved
should imraediately reassemble, and sit for the despatch
of national affairs. They voted an address, to desire
that his majesty would banish, by proclamation, all
Papists to the distance of ten miles from the cities of
London and Westrainster ; and give instructions to the
r2

244 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
c^P- judges going on the circuits, to put the laws in execu-
. tion against Roman Catholics and nonjurors. They

1695. drew up an association, binding themselves to assist
each other in support of the king and his government,
and to revenge any violence that should be committed
on his person. This was signed by all the members
then present ; but, as some had absented themselves on
frivolous pretences, the House ordered, that in sixteen
days the absentees should either subscribe or declare
their refusal. Several members neglecting to comply
with this injunction within the liraited tirae, the speaker
was ordered to write to those who were in the country,
and deraand a peremptory answer ; and the clerk of the
House attended such as pretended to be ill in town.
The absentees, finding themselves pressed in this man
ner, thought proper to sail with the stream, and sign
the association, which was presented to the king by the
Commons in a body, with a request that it might be
lodged among the records in the Tower, as a perpetual
memorial of their loyalty and affection. The king re
ceived them with uncommon complacency ; declared
that he heartily entered into the same association; that
he should be always ready to venture his life with his
good subjects, against all who should endeavour to sub
vert the religion, laws, and liberties of England ; and
he promised that this, and all other associations, should
be lodged among the records in the Tower of London.
Next day the Commons resolved, that whoever should
affirm an association was illegal, should be deemed a
promoter of the designs of the late King Jaraes, and an
enemy to the laws and liberties of the kingdom. The
Lords followed the example of the Lower House in
drawing up an association ; but the Earl of Nottingham,
Sir Edward Seymour, and Mr. Finch, objected to the
words rightful and lawful, as applied to his majesty.
They said, as the crown and its prerogatives were vested
in him, they would yield obedience, though they could
not acknowledge him as their rightful and lawful king.
Nothing could be more absurd than this distinction,
started by men who had actually constituted part of the
adrainistration ; unless they supposed that the right of
King WiUiara expired with Queen Mary. The Earl

WILLIAM. 245

of Rochester proposed an expedient in favour of such chap.
tender consciences, by altering the words that gave .

offence ; and this was adopted accordingly. Fifteen of 1695.
the peers, and ninety-two comraoners, signed the asso
ciation with reluctance. It was, however, subscribed
by all sorts of people in different parts of the kingdora ;
and the bishops drew up a form for the clergy, which
was signed by a great majority. The Commons brought S"^®;^ „
in a bill declaring all men incapable of public trust, or Boyer.
of sitting in Parliament, who would not engage in this R^'^h
association. At the sarae tirae, the council issued an Lives of the
order for renewing all the commissions in England, that Admirals.
those who had not signed it voluntarily should be dis
missed frora the service as disaffected persons.
After these warm demonstrations of loyalty, the Com- EstabUsh-
mPTlt Or fL
mons proceeded upon ways and means for raising the land-bank.
supplies. A new bank was constituted as a fund, upon
which the sum of two millions five hundred and sixty-
four thousand pounds should be raised ; and itwas called
the land-bank, because established on land securities.
This scheme, said to have been projected by the famous An- 1696.
Dr. Chamberlain, was patronised by the Earl of Sun
derland, and raanaged by Foley and Harley ; so that it
seemed to be a tory plan, which Sunderland supported,
in order to reconcile himself to that party". The bank
' The Commons resolved, that a fund, redeemable by Parliament, be settled in
a national land-bank, to be raised by new subscriptions ; that no persons be con
cerned in both banks at the same time ; that the duties upon coal, culm, and ton
nage of ships be taken off, from the seventeenth day of March ; that the sum of two
millions five hundred and sixty-four thousand pounds be raised on this perpetual
fund, redeemable by Parliament ; that the new bank should be restrained from lend
ing money but upon land securities, or to the government in the exchequer ; thatfor
making up the fund of interest for the capital stock, certain duties upon glass-
wsu-es, stone, and earthen bottles, granted before to the king for a term of years, be
continued f o his majesty, his heirs and successors ; that a further duty be laid upon
stone, and earthenware, and another upon tobacco-pipes. This bank was to lend
out five hundred thousand pounds a year upon land securities, at three pounds ten
shillings per cent, per annum, and to cease and determine, unless the subscription
should be full, by the firet day of August next ensuing.
The most remarkable laws enacted in this session were these : an act for voiding
all the elections of Parliaments men, at which the elected had been at any expense
in meat, drink, or money, to procure votes. Another against unlawful and double
returns. A third, for the more easy recovery of small tithes. A fourth, to prevent
marriages, without licence or banns. A fifth, for enabling the inhabitants of Wales
to dispose of all their personal estates as they should think fit : this law was in bar
of a custom that had prevailed in that country : the widows and younger children
claimed a share of the effects, called the reasonable part, although the effects
had otherwise been disposed of by will or deed. The Parliament likewise passed
an act for preventing the exportation of wool, and encouraging the importation
thereof from Ireland. An act for encouraging the Unen manufactures of Ireland.

246 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, of England petitioned against this bill, and were heard
, by their counsel ; but their representations produced no

1696. effect, and the bill having passed through both Houses,
received the royal assent. On the twenty-seventh day
of April the king closed the session with a short but
gTacious speech ; and the Parliament was prorogued to
the sixteenth day of June.
Trial of the Before this period some of the conspirators had been
torT^"^^' brought to trial. The first who suffered was Robert
Charnock, one of the two fellows of Magdalen-college,
who, in the reign of James, had renounced the protest
ant religion : the next were Lieutenant King and
Thomas Keys, which last had been formerly a trum
peter, but of late servant to Captain Porter. They were
found guilty of high treason, and executed at Tyburn.
They delivered papers to the sheriff, in which they so
lemnly declared, that they had never seen or heard of
any commission from King Jaraes for assassinating the
Prince of Orange : Charnock, in particular, observed,
that he had received frequent assurances of the king's
having rejected such proposals when they had been of
fered ; and that there was no other commission but that
for levying war in the usual form. Sir John Friend and
Sir William Perkins were tried in AprU. The first,
from mean beginnings, had acquired great wealth and
credit, and always firmly adhered to the interest of King
James. The other was likewise a man of fortune, vio
lently attached to the same principles, though he had
taken the oaths to the present government, as one of
the six clerks in Chancery. Porter, and Blair, another
evidence, deposed that Sir John Friend had been con
cerned in levying men under a commission from King
Jaraes ; and that he knew of the assassination plot,
though not engaged in it as a personal actor. He en
deavoured to invalidate the testimony of Blair, by prov
ing him guilty of the raost shocking ingratitude. He
observed, that both the evidences were reputed Papists.
An act for regulating juries. An act for encouraging the Greenland trade. An act
of indulgence to the quakers, that their solemn affirmation should be accepted in
stead of an oath. And an act for continuing certain other acts thatwereneai- expir
ing. Another bill had passed forthe better regulating elections for membersof Par
liament ; but the royal assent was denied. The question was put in the House of
Commons, that whosoever advised his majesty not to give his assent to that bill
wa.s an enemy to his country ; but it was rejected by a great majority.

WILLIAM. 247
The curate of Hackney, who officiated as chaplain in the chap.
prisoner's house, declared upon oath, that after the Re- "
volution he used to pray for King William, and that he 1696.
had often heard Sir John Friend say, that though he
could not comply with the present governraent, he would
live peaceably under it, and never engage in any con
spiracy. Mr. Hoadly, father of the present Bishop of
Winchester, added, that the prisoner was a good Pro
testant, and frequently expressed his detestation of king-
killing principles. Friend hiraself owned he had been
with some of the conspirators at a meeting in Leaden-
hall-street, but heard nothing of raising men, or any
design against the government. He likewise affirmed,
that a consultation to levy war was uot treason ; and that
his being at a treasonable consult could amount to no more
than a misprision of treason. Lord Chief Justice Holt
declared, that although a bare conspiracy, or design to
levy war, was not treason within the statute of Ed
ward IIL, yet if the design or conspiracy be to kill, or
depose, or imprison the king, by the raeans of levying
war, then the consultation and conspiracy to levy war
becoraes high treason, though no war be actually levied.
The sarae inference raight have been drawn against the
authors and instruraents of the Revolution. The judge's
explanation influenced the jury, who, after some de-
liberatioi^, found the prisoner guilty. Next day Sir
William Perkins was brought to the bar, and upon the
testiraony of Porter, Ewebank, his own groom, and
Haywood, a notorious informer, was convicted of having
been concerned not only in the invasion, but also in
the design against the king's life. The evidence was
scanty, and the prisoner having been bred to the law,
made an artful and vigorous defence : but the judge
acted as counsel for the crown ; and the jury decided
by the hints they received from the bench. He and Sir
John Friend underwent the sentence of death, and suf
fered at Tyburn on the third day of April. Friend
protested before God, that he knew of no iraraediate
descent purposed by King Jaraes, and therefore had
raade no preparations : that he was utterly ignorant of
the assassination scherae : that he died in the coramu
nion of the church of England, aud laid down his life

248 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. cheerftiUy in the cause for which he suffered. Perkins
' declared, upon the word of a dying man, that the tenor
1696. of the king's commission, which he saw, was general,
directed to all his loving subjects, to raise and levy war
against the Prince of Orange and his adherents, and to
seize all forts, castles, &c., but that he neither saw nor
heard of any commission particularly levelled against
the person of the Prince of Orange. He owned, how
ever, that he was privy to the design ; but believed it
was known to few or none but the immediate under
takers. These two criminals were in their last moments
attended by Collier, Snatt, and Cook, three nonjuring
clergymen, who absolved thera in the view of the popu
lace with an imposition of hands ; a public insult on the
governraent, which did not pass unnoticed. Those three
clergyraen were presented by the grand jury, for having
countenanced the treason by absolving the traitors, and
thereby encouraged other persons to disturb the peace
of the kingdom. An indictment being preferred against
them. Cook and Snatt were coramitted to Newgate;
but Collier absconded, and published a vindication of
their conduct, in which he affirmed, that the imposition
of hands was the general practice of the primitive church.
On the other hand, the two metropolitans and twelve
other bishops subscribed a declaration, condemning the
administration of absolution without a previous confes
sion made, and abhorrence expressed, by the prisoners
of the heinous crimes for which they suffered.
In the course of the same month, Rookwood, Cran-
borne, and Lowick, were tried as conspirators, by a
special commission, in the King's Bench; and con
victed on the joint testimony of Porter, Harris, La Rue,
Bertram, Fisher, and Pendergrass. Some favourable
circumstances appeared in the case of Lowick. The
proof of his having been concerned in the design against
the king's life was very defective ; many persons of re
putation declared he was an honest, good-natured, in
offensive raan ; and he himself concluded his defence
with the most solemn protestation of his own innocence.
Great intercession was made for his pardon by some
noblemen; but all their interest proved ineffectual.
Cranborne died in a transport of indignation, leaving a

WILLIAM. 249
paper, which the governraent thought proper to sup- chap.
press. Lowick and Rookwood likewise deUvered de-  '- —
clara,tions to the sheriff, the contents of which, as being 1696.
less inflammatory, were allowed to be published. Both
solemnly denied any knowledge of a commission from
King James to assassinate the Prince of Orange ; the
one affirming, that he was incapable of granting such
an order; and the other asserting, that he, the best of
kings, had often rejected proposals of that nature. Lo
wick owned that he would have joined the king at his
landing ; but declared, he had never been concerned in
any bloody affair during the whole course of his life.
On the contrary, he said he had endeavoured to pre
vent bloodshed as much as lay in his power ; and that
he would not kill the most miserable creature in the
world, even though such an act would save his life, re
store his sovereign, and make hira one of the greatest
men in England. Rookwood alleged, he was engaged
by his iraraediate coraraander, whora he thought it was
his duty to obey, though the service was rauch against
his judgment and inclination. He professed his abhor
rence of treachery even to an enemy. He forgave all
mankind, even the Prince of Orange, who as a soldier,
he said, ought to have considered his case before he
signed his death-warrant : he prayed God would open
his eyes, and render hira sensible of the blood that was
from all parts crying against hira, so that he might avert
a heavier execution than that which he now ordered to
be inflicted. The next person brought to trial was Mr.
Cooke, son of Sir Miles Cooke, one of the six clerks
in Chancery. Porter and Goodman deposed, that he had
been present at two meetings at the King's-head tavern
in Leadenhall-street, with the Lords Aylesbury aud
Montgoraery, Sir WiUiara Perkins, Sir John Fenwick,
Sir John Friend, Charnock, and Porter. The evidence
of Goodraan was invalidated by the testimony of the
landlord and two drawers belonging to the tavern, who
swore that Goodman was not there while the noblemen
were present. The prisoner himself solemnly protested,
that he was ever averse to the introduction of foreign
forces ; that he did not so much as hear of the intended

250 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, invasion, untU it becarae the common topic of conver-
^' sation ; and that he had never seen Goodman at the
1696. King's-head. He declared his intention of receiving
the blessed sacrament, and wished he raight perish in
the instant, if he now spoke untruth. No respect was
paid to these asseverations. The Solicitor-General
Hawles, and Lord Chief Justice Treby, treated him
with great severity in the prosecution and charge to the
jury, by whom he was capitally convicted. After his
condemnation, the court-agents tampered with him to
raake further discoveries : and after his fate had been
protracted by divers short reprieves, he was sent into
banishment. From the whole tenor of these disco
veries and [proceedings, it appears that James had ac
tually meditated an invasion ; that his partisans in Eng
land had made preparations for joining him on his
arrival ; that a few desperadoes of that faction had con
certed a scheme against the life of King WiUiam ; that
in prosecuting the conspirators, the court had counte
nanced informers ; that the judges had strained the
law, wrested circumstances, and even deviated from the
function of their office, to convict the prisoners : in a
word, that the adrainistration had used the same arbi
trary and unfair practices against those unhappy people,
which they themselves had in the late reigns numbered
among the grievances of the kingdom.
The allies The Warmth, however, manifested on this occasion
magazine at ™^y have been owing to national resentment ofthe
Givet. purposed invasion. Certain it is, the two Houses of
Parliaraent, and the people in general, were aniraated
with extraordinary indignation against France at this
juncture. The Lords besought his raajesty in a solemn
address, to appoint a day of thanksgiving to Almighty
God, for having defeated the barbarous purpose of his
enemies; and this was observed with uncoramon zeal and
devotion. Admiral Russel, leaving a squadron for ob
servation on the French coast, returned to the Downs ;
but Sir Cloudesley Shovel, being properly prepared for
the expedition, subjected Calais to another borabard
raent, by which the town was set on fire in different
parts, and the inhabitants were overwhelmed with con-

WILLIAM. 251
sternation. The generals of the aUied army in Flan- chap.
ders resolved to make sorae imraediate retaliation upon  '. —
the French for their unraanly design upon the life of 1696.
King WilUam, as they took it for granted that Louis
was accessory to the scherae of assassination. That
monarch, on the supposition that a powerful diversion
would be made by the descent on England, had esta
blished a vast magazine at Givet, designing, when the
allies should be enfeebled by the absence of the British
troops, to strike some stroke of importance early in the
campaign. On this the confederates now determined
to wreak their vengeance. In the beginning of March
the Earl of Athlone and Monsieur de Coehorn, with
the concurrence of the Duke of Holstein-Ploen, who
coraraanded the allies, sent a strong detachment of
horse, drafted from Brussels and the neighbouring gar
risons, to amuse the enemy on the side of Charleroy ;
while they asserabled forty squadrons, thirty battalions,
with fifteen pieces of cannon, and six raortars, in the
territory of Naraur. Athlone with part of this body
invested Dinant, while Coehorn, with the remainder,
advanced to Givet. He forthwith began to batter
and bombard the place, which in three hours was on
fire, and by four in the afternoon wholly destroyed,
with the great magazine it contained. Then the two
generals joining their forces, returned to Naraur with
out interruption. Hitherto the republic of Venice had
deferred acknowledging King WiUiara ; but now they
sent an extraordinary erabassy for that purpose, consist
ing of Signiors Soranzo and Venier, who arrived iu
London, and on the first day of May had a public
audience. The king, on this occasion, knighted So
ranzo as the senior ambassador, and presented him Math
the sword according to custora. On that day, too,
William declared in council, that he had appointed the
same regency which had governed the kingdom during
his last absence; and embarking on the seventh at
Margate, arrived at Orange-Polder in the evening,
under convoy of Vice-Admiral Aylmer. This officer
had been ordered to attend with a squadron, as the
faraous Du Bart still continued at Dunkirk, and some

252 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, attempt of iraportance was apprehended from his enter
prising genius*

1696. The French had taken the field before the allied
Louis the army could be assembled ; but no transaction of con-
makes^ad-'' sequeuco distinguished this campaign,. either upon the
vances to- Rhiuo or in Flanders. The scheme of Louis was still
pe^cewith defensive on the side of the Netherlands, while the
Holland, activo plans of King William were defeated for want of
money. All the funds for this year proved defective :
the land-bank failed, and the national-bank sustained
a rude shock in its credit. The loss of the nation upon
the recoinage amounted to two raillions two hundred
thousand pounds ; and though the different raints were
employed without interruption, they could not for some
months supply the circulation, especially as great part
of the new raoney was kept up by those who received
it in payment, or disposed of it at an unreasonable ad
vantage. The French king having exhausted the wealth
and patience of his subjects, and greatly diminished their
nuraber in the course of this war, began to be diffident
of his arras, and employed all the arts of private nego
tiation. While his minister D'Avaux pressed the King
of Sweden to offer his mediation, he sent Callieres to
Holland, with proposals for settling the prelirainaries
of a treaty. He took it for granted, that as the Dutch
were a trading people, whose commerce had greatly suf
fered in the war, they could not be averse to a pacifi
cation ; and he instructed his emissaries to tamper with
the malecontents of the republic, especially with the
remains of the Louvestein faction, which had always
opposed the schemes of the stadtholder. Callieres met
with a favourable reception from the states, which
began to treat with hira about the prelirainaries, though
not without the consent and concurrence of King Wil
liam and the rest of the allies. Louis, with a view to
quicken the effect of this negotiation, pursued offensive
¦' Some promotions were made before the king left England. George Hamilton,
third son of the duke of that name, was, for his military services in Ireland and
Flanders, created Earl of Orkney. Sir John Lowther was ennobled by the title of
Baron Lowther and Viscount Lonsdale ; Sir John Thompson made Baron of
Haversham ; and the celebrated John Locke appointed one of the commissioners
of trade and plantation.

WILLIAM. 253
measures in Catalonia, where his general, the Duke de chap.
Vendome, attacked and worsted the Spaniards in their  '. 
carap near Ostalrick, though the action was not deci- 1696.
sive; for that general was obliged to retreat, after
having made vigorous efforts against their intrench
ments. On the twentieth day of June, Mareschal de
Lorges passed the Rhine at Philipsburgh, and encamped
within a league of Eppingen, where the iraperial troops
were obliged to intrench themselves, under the com
mand ofthe Prince of Baden, as they were not yet joined
by the auxiliary forces. The French general, after
having faced him about a month, thought proper to re
pass the river. Then he detached a body of horse to
Flanders, and cantoned the rest of his troops at Spires,
Franckendahl, Worms, and Ostofen. On the last day
of August, the Prince of Baden retaliated the insult,
by passing the Rhine at Mentz and Cocsheira. On
the tenth he was joined by General Thungen, who
commanded a separate body, together vrith the militia of
Suabia and Franconia, and advanced to the camp of the
enemy, who had reassembled ; but they were posted in
such a manner, that he would not hazard an attack.
Having, therefore, cannonaded them for sorae days,
scoured the adjacent country by detached parties, and
taken the little castle of Wiezengen, he repassed the
river at Worms, on the seventh day of October : the
French likewise crossed at Philipsburgh, in hopes of
surprising General Thungen, who had taken post in
the neighbourhood of Strasburgh ; but he retired to
Eppingen before their arrival, and in a little time both
arraies were distributed in winter quarters. Peter, the
Czar of Muscovy, carried on the siege of Azoph with
such vigour, that the garrison was obliged to capitulate,
after the Russians had defeated a great convoy sent to
its relief. The court of Vienna forthwith engaged in
an alliance with the Muscovite emperor ; but they did
not exert themselves in taking advantage ofthe disaster
which the Turks had undergone. The imperial array,
coramanded by the Elector of Saxony, continued inac
tive on the river Marosch till the nineteenth day of July,
then they made a feint of attacking Teraiswaer ; but
they marched towards Betzkerch, in their route to Bel-

254 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, grade, on receiving advice that the grand signor in
tended to besiege Titul. On the twenty-first day of

1696. August the two armies were in sight of each other.
The Turkish horse attacked the imperialists in a plain
near the river Begue, but were repulsed. The Ger
mans next day made a show of retreating, in hopes of
drawing the enemy from their intrenchments. The
stratagem succeeded. On the twenty-sixth, the Turkish
army was in motion. A detachment of the imperialists
attacked them in flank, as they marched through a
wood. A very desperate action ensued, in which the
Generals Heusler and Poland, with many other gallant
officers, lost their lives. At length the Ottoman horse
were routed; but the Germans were so roughly handled,
that on the second day after the engagement they re
treated at midnight, and the Turks remained quiet in
their intrenchments.
He detaches In Piediuont the face of affairs underwent a strange
Savoy'from alteration. The Duke of Savoy, who had for some
the confe- time been engaged in a secret negotiation with France,
^'^''^' at length embraced the offers of that crown, and pri
vately signed a separate treaty of peace at Loretto, to
which place he repaired on a pretended pilgrimage.
The French king engaged to present him with four
raillions of livres, by way of reparation for the damage
he had sustained ; to assist him with a certain number
of auxiliaries against all his enemies ; and to effect a
marriage between the Duke of Burgundy and the Prin
cess of Piedmont, as soon as the parties should be mar
riageable. The treaty was guaranteed by the pope and
the Venetians, who were extremely desirous of seeing
the Germans driven out of Italy. King William being
apprised of this negotiation, communicated the intelli
gence to the Earl of Galway, his ambassador at Turin,
who expostulated with the duke upon this defection ;
but he persisted in denying any such correspondence,
until the advance of the French army enabled hira to
avow it, without fearing the resentment of the allies
whom he had abandoned. Catinat marched into the
plains of Turin, at the head of fifty thousand men ; an
army greatly superior to that of the confederates. Then
the duke imparted to the ministers of the allies the

WILLIAM. 255
proposals which France had made ; represented the su- chap.
perior strength of her array ; the dangers to which '
he was exposed ; and finally his inclination to erabrace 1696.
her offers. On the twelfth of July a truce was con
cluded for a month, and afterwards prolonged till the
fifteenth of September. He wrote to all the powers
engaged in the confederacy, except King William,
expatiating on the same topics, and soliciting their con
sent. Though each in particular refused to concur, he
on the twenty-third day of August signed the treaty
in public, which he had before concluded in private.
The emperor was no sooner informed of his design,
than he took every step which he thought could divert
hira frora his purpose. He sent the Count Mansfelt to
Turin, with proposals for a match between the King of
the Roraans and the Princess of Savoy, as well as with
offers to augment his forces and his subsidy ; but the
duke had already settled his terms with France, frora
which he would not recede. Prince Eugene, though
his kinsman, expressed great indignation at his conduct.
The young Prince de Commercy was so provoked at
his defection, that he challenged him to single combat,
and the duke accepted his diallenge ; but the quarrel
was compromised by the intervention of friends, and
they parted in an amicable manner. He had concealed
the treaty until he should receive the reraaining part of
the subsidies due to hira frora the confederates. A
considerable sum had been remitted frora England to
Genoa for his use : but Lord Galway no sooner re
ceived intiraation of his new engageraent, than he put
a stop to the payraent of this money, which he employed
in the Milanese, for the subsistence of those troops that
were in the British service. King William was en
caraped at Gemblours when the duke's envoy notified
the separate peace which his master had concluded
with the King of France. Though he was extremely
chagrined at the information, he dissembled his anger,
and listened to the minister without the least emotion.
One of the conditions of this treaty was, that within a
limited time the allies should evacuate the duke's do
minions, otherwise they should be expelled by the joint
forces of France and Savoy. A neutrality was offered

256 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, to the confederates : and this being rejected, the con
tracting powers resolved to attack the Milanese. Ac-

1696. cordingly, when the truce expired, the duke, as gene
ralissimo of the French king, entered that duchy, and
undertook the siege of Valentia, so that, in one cam
paign, he commanded two contending armies. The
garrison of Valentia, consisting of seven thousand raen,
Germans, Spaniards, and French Protestants, made an
obstinate defence ; and the Duke of Savoy prosecuted
the siege with uncoramon impetuosity. But after the
trenches had been open for thirteen days, a courier
arrived frora Madrid, with an account of his Catholic
Majesty's having agreed to the neutrality for Italy.
The agreement imported, that there should be a suspen
sion of arms until a general peace could be effected ; and
that the imperial and French troops should return to
their respective countries. Christendom had well nigh
been embroiled anew by the death of John Sobieski,
King of Poland, who died at the age of seventy, in the
course of this sumraer, after having survived his facul
ties and reputation. As the crown was elective, a com
petition arose for the succession. The kingdom was
divided by factions ; and the different powers of Europe
interested themselves warmly in the contention.
Naval Nothing of consequence had been lately achieved by
' the naval force of England. When the conspiracy was
first discovered. Sir George Rooke had received orders
to return from Cadiz ; and he arrived in the latter end of
April. While betook his place at the board of Admiralty,
Lord Berkeley succeeded to the coramand of the fleet ;
and in themonthof June set sail towards Ushant, in order
to insult the coast of France. He pillaged and burned the
vUlages on the islands Grouais, Houat, and Hey die ; raade
prize of about twenty vessels; borabarded St. Martin's on
the isle of Rhe, and the town of Olonne, which was set
on fire in fifteen different places with the shells and car
casses. Though these appear to have been enterprises
of small import, they certainly kept the whole coast
of France in perpetual alarm. The ministry of that
kingdom were so much afraid of invasion, that between
Brest and Goulet they ordered above one hundred bat
teries to be erected, and above sixty thousand men were

transactions,

WILLIAM. 257
continually in arms for the defence of the maritime chap.
places. In the month of May, Rear-Admiral Benbow

sailed with a small squadron, in order to block up Du 1696.
Bart in the harbour of Dunkirk ; but that famous ad
venturer found means to escape in a fog, and steering
to the eastward, attacked the Dutch fleet in the Baltic,
under a convoy of five frigates. These last he took,
together with half the number of the trading ships ; but
falling in with the outward-bound fleet, convoyed by
thirteen ships of the line, he was obliged to burn four of
the frigates, turn the fifth adrift, and part with all his
prizes, except fifteen, which he carried into Dunkirk.
The Parliament of Scotland met on the eighth day Proceed-
of Septeraber; and Lord Murray, secretary of state, now pSi'am'ents
Earl of TulUbardine, presided as king's coramissioner. of Scotland
Though that kingdom was exhausted by the war, and *"
two successive bad harvests, which had driven a great
number of the inhabitants into Ireland, there was no
opposition to the court measures. The members of
Parliament signed an association like that of England.
They granted a supply of one hundred and twenty
thousand pounds for maintaining their forces by sea and
land. They passed an act for securing their religion,
lives, and properties, in case his majesty should come to
an untimely death. By another, they obliged all per
sons in public trust to sign the association ; and then the
Parliament was adjourned to the eighth day of De
cember. The disturbances of Ireland seemed now to^
be entirely appeased. Lord Capel dying in May, the
councU, by virtue of an act passed in the reign of Henry
VIII., elected the chancellor. Sir Charles'-Porter, to be
lord justice and chief governor of that kingdom, until
his majesty's pleasure should be known. The ParUament
met in June : the Comraons expelled Mr. Sanderson,
the only raeraber of that House who had refused to sign
the association ; and adjourned to the fourth day of
August. By that tirae Sir Charles Porter, and the
Earls of Montrath and Drogheda, were appointed
lords justices, aud signified the king's pleasure that they
should adjourn. In the beginning of Deceraber the
chancellor died of an apoplexy.
King WiUiara being tired of an inactive campaign, left
VOL. I. s

258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the army under the command of the Elector of Bavaria,
and about the latter end of August repaired to his palace

1696. at Loo, where he enjoyed his favourite exercise of stag-
Zeai of the hunting. He visited the court of Brandenburgh at
Commons Clovcs ; Conferred with the States of Holland at the
in their af- Hague ; and embarking for England, landed at Margate
the k^g? ^^ *he sixth day of October. The doraestic economy
ofthe nation was extremely perplexed at this juncture,
from the sinking of public credit, and the stagnation
that necessarily attended a recoinage. These grievances
were with difficulty removed by the clear apprehension,
the enterprising genius, the unshaken fortitude of Mr.
Montague, chancellor of the exchequer, operating upon
a national spirit of adventure, which the monied in
terest had produced. The king opened the session of
Parliament on the twentieth day of October with a
speech, importing, that overtures had been made for a
negotiation ; but that the best way of treating with
France would be sword in hand. He, therefore, desired
they would be expeditious in raising the supplies for the
service of the ensuing year, as well as for making good
the funds already granted. He declared that the civil
list could not be supported without their assistance.
He recommended the miserable condition of the French
Protestants to their compassion. He desired they would
contrive the best expedients for the recovery of the
national credit. He observed, that unanimity and de
spatch were now more than ever necessary for the
honour, safety, and advantage of England. The Com
mons having taken this speech into consideration, re
solved that they would support his majesty and his
government, and assist him in the prosecution of the
war : that the standard of gold and sUver should not be
altered : and, that they would raake good aU parlia
raentary ftinds. Then they presented an address, in a
very spirited strain, declaring, that notwithstanding the
blood and treasure of which the nation had been drained,
the Coramons of England would not be diverted from
their firra resolutions of obtaining by war a safe and
honourable peace. They, therefore, renewed their as
surances, that they would support his majesty against
all his enemies at home and abroad. The House of

WILLIAM. 259
Lords delivered another to the same purpose, declaring, chap.
that they would never be wanting or backward, on their .

parts, in what might be necessary to his raajesty's 1696.
honour, the good of his kingdoms, and the quiet of
Christendom. The Coraraons, in the first transports
of their zeal, ordered two seditious pamphlets to be
burned by the hands of the comraon hangraan. They
deliberated upon the estimates, and granted above six
millions for the service of the ensuing year. They re
solved that a supply should be granted for making good
the deficiency of parliaraentary funds ; and appropriated
several duties for this purpose.
With respect to the coin, they brought in a bill. Resolutions
repealing an act for taking off the obligation and en- thecoinfand
couragement of coining guineas for a certain time, and *'' support
J, . ° . ,.°° . J1.1I-- of public
tor importing and coining guineas and half guineas, as credit.
the extravagant price of those coins, which occasioned
this act, was now fallen. They passed a second bill for
remedying the ill state of the coin ; and a third, ex
plaining an act in the preceding session, for laying duties
on low wines and spirits of the first extraction. In
order to raise the supplies of the year, they resolved to
tax all persons according to the true value of their real
and personal estates, their stock upon land and in trade,
their income by offices, pensions, and professions. A
duty of one penny per week, for one year, was laid upon
all persons not receiving alms. A further imposition
of one farthing in the pound per week was fixed upon
all servants receiving four pounds per annum, as wages,
and upwards, to eight pounds a year, inclusive. Those
who received frora eight to sixteen pounds were taxed
at one halfpenny per pound. An aid of three shil
lings in the pound, for one year, was laid upon all
lands, tenements, and hereditaments, according to their
true value. Without specifying the particulars of those
irapositions, we shall only observe, that in the general
charge, the Coraraons did not exempt one raeraber of
the coraraonwealth that could be supposed able to bear
any part of the burden. Provision was raade, that
haramered money should be received in payraent of these
duties, at the rate of five shillings and eight-pence per
ounce. All the deficiencies on annuities, and monies
s2

2fi0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, borrowed on the credit of the exchequer, were trans-
" ferred to this aid. The treasury was enabled to borrow
1696. a million and a half at eight per cent., and to circulate
exchequer bills to the amount of as much more. To
cancel these debts, the surplus of all the supplies, ex
cept the three shilling aid, was appropriated. The
Commons voted one hundred and twenty-five thousand
pounds for making good the deficiency in recoining the
hammered money, and the recompense for bringing in
plate to the mint. This sum was raised by a tax or
duty upon wrought plate, paper, jDasteboard, vellum,
and parchment, made or iraported. Taking into con
sideration the services, and the present languishing state
of the bank, whose notes were at twenty per cent, dis
count, they resolved, that it should be enlarged by new
subscriptions, raade by four-fifths in tallies struck on
parliamentary funds, and one-fifth in bank bills or notes:
that effectual provision should be made by Parliament
for paying the principal of all such tallies as should be
subscribed into the bank, out of the funds agreed to be
continued : that an interest of eight per cent, should be
allov^ed on all such tallies : and, that the continuance
of the bank should be prolonged to the first day of
August, in the year one thousand seven hundred and
ten. That all assignments of orders on tallies subscribed
iuto the bank should be registered in the exchequer :
that, before the day should be fixed for the beginning
of the new subscriptions, the old should be made one
hundred per cent., and what might exceed that value
should be divided among the old merabers : that all the
interest due on those tallies which raight be subscribed
into the bank stock, at the tirae appointed for sub
scriptions, to the end of the last preceding quarter on
each tally, should be allowed as principal : that liberty
should be given by Parliaraent to enlarge the nuraber
of bank bills, to the value of the sura that should be so
subscribed, over and above the twelve hundred thousand
pounds; provided they should be obliged to answer such
bills on deraand ; and in default thereof, be answered
by the exchequer out of the first money due to them :
that no other bank should be erected or allowed by act of
Parliaraent, during the continuance ofthe bank of Eng-

WILLIAM. 261
land: that this should be exempted from all tax or chap.
imposition : that no act of the corporation should forfeit " 
the particular interest of any person concerned therein : 1696.
that provision should be made to prevent the officers of
the exchequer, and all other officers and receivers of
the revenue, from diverting, delaying, or obstructing
the course of payments to the bank : that care should
be taken to prevent the altering, counterfeiting, or
forging any bank bills or notes : that the estate and in
terest of each member in the stock of the corporation
should be made a personal estate : that no contract made
for any bank stock to be bought or sold should be valid
in law or equity, unless actually registered in the bank
books within seven days, and actually transferred within
fourteen days after the contract should be made. A
bill upon these resolutions was brought in, under the
direction of the chancellor of the exchequer : it related
to the continuation of tonnage and poundage upon wine,
vinegar, and tobacco ; and comprehended a clause for
laying an additional duty upon salt, for two years and
three quarters. All the several branches constituted a
general fund, since known by the name of the general
raortgage, without prejudice to their forraer appro
priations. The bill also provided, that the tallies should
bear eight per cent, interest : that frora the tenth of
June, for five years, they should bear no more than six
per cent, interest ; and, that no premiura or discount
upon thera should be taken. In case of the general
funds proving insufficient to pay the whole interest, it
was provided, that every proprietor should receive his
proportion of the product, and the deficiency be made
good from the next aid ; but should the fund produce
more than the interest, the surplus was destined to ope
rate as a sinking fund for the discharge of the principal.
In order to make up a deficiency of above eight hun
dred thousand pounds, occasioned by the failure of the
land-bank, additional duties were laid upon leather : the
time was enlarged for persons to corae in and purchase
the annuities payable by several former acts, and to
obtain more certain interest in such annuities.
Never were more vigorous measures taken to support Enormous
, T n 1 .1 il impositions,
the credit of the government; and never was the govern-

262 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ment served by such a set of enterprising undertakers.
' The Commons having received a message from the king,
1696. touching the condition of the civil list, resolved, that a
sum not exceeding five hundred and fifteen thousand
pounds should be granted for the support ofthe civil list
for the ensuing year, to be raised by a malt-tax, and ad
ditional duties upon mura, sweets, cyder, and perry.
They likewise resolved, that an additional aid of one shil
ling in the pound should be laid upon land, as an equiva
lent for the duty of ten per cent, upon raixed goods.
Provision was made for raising one million four hundred
thousand pounds by a lottery. The treasury was em
powered to issue an additional number of exchequer
bills, to the amount of twelve hundred thousand pounds,
every hundred pounds bearing interest at the rate of
five-pence a day, and ten per cent, for circulation :
finally, in order to liquidate the transport debt, which
the funds established for that purpose had not been suf
ficient to defray, a money bill was brought in, to obUge
pedlars and hawkers to take out licences, and pay for
them at certain stated prices. One cannot without asto
nishment reflect upon the prodigious efforts that were
made upon this occasion, or consider without indigna
tion the enormous fortunes that were raised up by
usurers and extortioners, from the distresses of their
country. The nation did not seem to know its own
strength, until it was put to this extraordinary trial ;
and the experiment of mortgaging funds succeeded so
well, that later ministers have proceeded in the same
system, imposing burden upon burden, as if they
thought the sinews of the nation could never be over
strained.
Fenwick is "^^^^ pubUc Credit being thus bolstered up by the sin-
appT™ '' gular address of Mr. Montague, and the bills passed for
hended. the Supplies of the ensuing year, the attention of the
Coramons was transferred to the case of Sir John Fen
wick, who had been apprehended in the month of
June at New Romney, iu his way to France. He
had, when taken, written a letter to his lady by one
Webber, who accompanied him ; but this man being
seized, the letter was found, containing such a con
fession as plainly evinced him guilty. He then entered

WILLIAM. 263
into a treaty with the court for turning evidence, and chap.
delivered a long inforraation in writing, which was sent  L_
abroad to his raajesty. He made no discoveries that 1696.
could injure any of the Jacobites, who, by his account,
and other concurring testimonies, appeared to be divided
into two parties, known by the names of compounders
and noncompounders. The first, headed by the Earl
of Middleton, insisted upon receiving security frora
King Jaraes, that the religion and liberties of England
should be preserved : whereas the other party, at the
head of which was the Earl of Melfort, resolved to bring
hira in without conditions, relying upon his own honour
and generosity. King WiUiara having sent over an
order for bringing Fenwick to trial, unless he should
make raore material discoveries, the prisoner, with a
view to amuse the ministry, until he could take other
raeasures for his own safety, accused the Earls of Shrews
bury, Marlborough, and Bath, the Lord Godolphin,
and Adrairal Russel, of having made their peace with
King James, and engaged to act for his interest. Mean
while his lady and relations tampered with the two
witnesses, Porter and Goodman. The first of these
discovered those practices to the government ; and one
Clancey, who acted as agent for Lady Fenwick, was
tried, convicted of subornation, fined, and set in the
pillory : but they had succeeded better in their attempts
upon Goodman, who disappeared ; so that one witness
only reraained, and Fenwick began to think his life was
out of danger. Admiral Russel acquainted the House
of Comraons, that he and several persons of quality had
been reflected upon in sorae informations of Sir John
Fenwick ; he therefore desired that he raight have an
opportunity to justify his own character. Mr. Secretary
Trumball produced the papers, which having been read,
the 1I!oraraons ordered that Sir John Fenwick should
be brought to the bar of the House. There he was ex
horted bythe speaker to make an ample discovery ;
which, however, he declined, except with the proviso
that he should first receive some security that what he
might say should not prejudice himself. He was ordered
to withdraw, until they should have deliberated on his
request. Then he was called in again, and the speaker

264 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, told him, he might deserve the favour of the House by
' making a full discovery. He desired he raight be in-
1696. dulged with a little tirae to recollect himself, and pro
mised to obey the command of the House. This favour
being denied, he again insisted upon having security ;
which they refusing to grant, he chose to be silent, and
was dismissed from the bar. The House voted, that
his inforraations, reflecting upon the fidelity of several
noblemen, members of the House, and others, upon
hearsay, were false and scandalous, contrived to under
mine the government, and create jealousies between the
king and his subjects, in order to stifle the conspiracy.
A bill of at- A motion being made for leave to bring in a bill to
ing brought attaint him of high treason, a warm debate ensued, and
into the ^he questiou being put, was carried in the affirmative
against him, by a great raa,jority. He was furnished Avith a copy of
vbienrde ^ ^^'^' ^^^^ allowed the use of pen, ink, paper, and coun-
bates. sel. When he presented a petition, praying that his coun
sel might be heard against passing the bill, theymade an
order, that his counsel should be allowed to make his
defence at the bar of the House : so that he was sur
prised into an irregular trial, instead of being indulged
with an opportunity of offering objections to their pass
ing the bill of attainder. He was accordingly brought
to the bar of the House ; and the bill being read in his
hearing, the speaker called upon the king's counsel to
open the evidence. The prisoner's counsel objected to
their proceeding to trial, alleging, that their client had
not received the least notice of their purpose, and there
fore could not be prepared for his defence; but that they
came to offer their reasons against the bill. The House,
after a long debate, resolved, that he should be allowed
further time to produce witnesses in his defence ; that
the counsel for the king should likeMase be allowed to
produce evidence to prove the treasons of which he
stood indicted ; and an order was made for his being
brought to the bar again in three days. In pursuance
of this order he appeared, when the indictment which
had been found against him by the grand jury was pro
duced ; and Porter Avas exarained as an evidence. Then
the record of Clancey's conviction was read ; and one
Roe testified, that Digliton, the prisoner's solicitor, had

WILLIAM. 265
offered hira an annuity of one hundred pounds, to dis- chap.
credit the testimony of Goodman. The king's counsel ^'
raoved, that Goodman's examination, as taken by Mr. 1696.
Vernon, clerk of the council, might be read. Sir J.
Powis, and Sir Bartholoraew Shower, the prisoner's
counsel, warmly opposed this proposal : they affirmed,
that a deposition, taken when the party affected by it
was not present to cross-examine the deposer, could not
be admitted in a case of five shillings value: that though
the House was not bound by the rules of inferior courts,
it was nevertheless bound by the eternal and unalter
able rules of justice : that no evidence, according to the
rules of law, could be admitted in such a case, but that
of living witnesses ; and that the examination of a per
son who is absent was never read to supply his testi
mony. The dispute between the lawyers on this sub
ject gave rise to averyviolentdebate among theraerabers
of theHouse. SirEdward Seyraour, Sir Richard Temple,
Mr. Harley, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Manly, Sir Christopher
Musgrave, and all the leaders of the tory party, argued
against the hardship and injustice of admitting this in
formation as an evidence. They demonstrated, that it
would be a step contrary to the practice of all courts of
judicature, repugnant to the comraon notions of justice
and humanity, diametrically opposite to the last act for
regulating trials in cases of high treason, and of danger
ous consequences to the Uves and liberties ofthe people.
On the other hand. Lord Cutts, Sir Thomas Lyttelton,
Mr. Montague, Mr. Smith, of the treasury, and Trevor,
the attorney-general, affirmed, that the House was not
bound by any form of law \A'hatsoever : that this was an
extraordinary case, in which the safety of the govern
raent was deeply concerned : that though the coraraon
law raight require two evidences in cases of treason, the
House had a power of deviating frora those rules in ex
traordinary cases: that there was no reasontodoubt of Sir
John Fen wick's being concerned in the conspiracy: that
he or his friends had tarapered with Porter : and that
there were strong presuraptions tobelieve the sarae prac
tices had induced Goodman to abscond. In a word,
the tories, either frora party or patriotisra, strenuously
asserted the cause of liberty and humanity, by those very

266 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
ci^P- arguraents which had been used against them in the
" former reigns ; while the whigs, with equal violence and
1696. more success, espoused the dictates of arbitrary power
and oppression, in the face of their former principles,
with which they were now upbraided. At length the
question was put, whether or not the inforraation of
Goodraan should be read? and was carried in the affirra
ative by a majority of seventy-three voices. Then two
of the grand jury who had found the indictraent, re
cited the evidence which had been given to thera by
Porter and Goodman: lastly, the king's counsel insisted
upon producing the record of Cooke's conviction, as he
had been tried for the same conspiracy. The prisoner's
counsel objected, that, if such evidence was adraitted,
the trial of one person in the sarae company would be
the trial of all ; and it could not be expected that they
who came to defend Sir John Fenwick only, sliould be
prepared to answer the charge against Cooke. This
article produced another vehement debate araong the
raerabers ; and the whigs obtained a second victory.
The record was read, and the king's counsel proceeded
to call sorae of tlie jury who served on Cooke's trial, to
affirm that he had been convicted on Goodman's evi
dence. Sir Bartholomew Shower said, he would sub
mit it to the consideration of the House, whether it
was just that the evidence against one person should
conclude against another, standing at a different bar, in
defence of his life ? The parties were again ordered to
withdraw; and from this point arose a third debate,
which ended as the two forraer, to the disadvantage of
the prisoner. The jury being examined, Mr. Seijeant
Gould moved, that Mr. Vernon might be desired to
produce the intercepted letter frora Sir John Fenwick
to his lady. The prisoner's counsel warmly opposed
this motion, insisting upon their proving it to be his
hand-writing before it could be used against him ; and
no further stress was laid on this evidence. When they
were called upon to enter on his defence, they pleaded
incapacity to deUver matters of such importance after
they had been fatigued with twelve hours' attendance.
Hisdefence. The House rcsolvod to hear such evidence as the
prisoner had to produce that night. His counsel de-

WILLIAM. 267

CHAP. v.

clared, that they had nothing then to produce but the
copy of a record ; and the second resolution was, that
he should be brought up again next day at noon. He 1696.
accordingly appeared at the bar, and Sir J. Powis pro
ceeded on his defence. He observed, that the bill under
consideration affected the lives of the subjects; and such
precedents were dangerous : that Sir John Fenwick was
forthcoming, in order to be tried by the ordinary rae-
thods of justice : that he was actually under process, had
pleaded, and was ready to stand trial : that if there was
sufficient clear evidence against him, as the king's Ser
jeant had declared, there was no reason for his being
deprived of the benefit of such a trial as was the birth
right of every British subject ; and if there was a defi
ciency of legal evidence, he thought this was a very odd
reason for the bill. He took notice that even the regi
cides had the benefit of such a trial : that the last act
for regulating trials in cases of treason proved the great
tenderness of the laws which affected the life of the
subject ; and he expressed his surprise that the very Par
liaraent which had passed that law should enact an
other for putting a person to death without any trial at
all. He admitted that there had been many bills of at
tainder, but they were generally levelled at outlaws and
fugitives ; and some of thera had been reversed in the
sequel, as arbitrary and unjust. He urged, that this
bill of attainder did not allege or say, that Sir John
Fenwick was guilty ofthe treason for which he had been
indicted; a circurastance which prevented him from pro
ducing witnesses to that and several raatters upon which
the king's counsel had expatiated. He said they had
introduced evidence to prove circurastances not alleged
in the bill, and defective evidence of those that were :
that Porter was not exarained upon oath : that nothing
could be raore severe than to pass sentence of death
upon a raan, corrupt his blood, and confiscate his estate,
upon parole evidence ; especiaUy of such a wretch, who,
by his own confession, had been engaged in a crirae of
the blackest nature, not a convert to the dictates of con
science, but a coward, shrinking frora the danger by
which he had been environed, and even now drudging
for a pardon. He invalidated the evidence of Good-

268 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, man's examination. He observed, that the indictment
. mentioned a conspiracy to call in a foreign power ; but.

1696. as this conspiracy had not been put in practice, such an
agreement was not a sufficient overt-act of treason, ac
cording to the opinion of Hawles, the solicitor-general,
concerned in this very prosecution. So saying, he pro
duced a book of remarks, which that lawyer had pub
lished on the cases of Lord Russel, Colonel Sidney, and
others, who had suffered death in the reign of Charles II.
This author (said he) takes notice, that a conspiracy or
agreement to levy war is not treason without actually
levying war ; a sentiment in which he concurred with
Lord Coke, and Lord Chief Justice Hales. He con
cluded vrith saying, " We know at present on what
ground we stand; bythe statute of Edward III. we know
what treason is ; by the two statutes of Edward VI. and
the late act, we know what is proof; by the Magna
Charta we know we are to be tried per legem terrcB et
per judicium parium, by the law of the land and the
judgment of our peers ; but, if bills of attainder come
into fashion, we shall neither know what is treason, what
is evidence, nor how nor where we are to be tried." —
He was seconded by Sir Bartholoraew Shower, who
spoke with equal energy and elocution ; and their argu
raents were answered by the king's counsel. The argu
ments in favour of the bill imported, that the Parliament
would not interpose, except in extraordinary cases; that
here the evidence necessary in inferior courts being de
fective, the Parliament, which was not tied down by
legal evidence, had a right to exert their extraordinary
power in punishing an offender, who would otherwise
escape with impunity ; that as the law stood, he was
but a sorry politician that could not ruin the govern
ment, and yet elude the statute of treason ; that if a
plot, after being discovered, should not be thoroughly
prosecuted, it would strengthen and grow upon the ad
ministration, and probably at length subvert the govern
ment : that it was notorious that parties were forming
for King James ; persons were plotting in every part of
the kingdom, and au open invasion was threatened ;
therefore this was a proper time for the Parliament to
exert their extraordinary power ; that the English dif-

WILLIAM. 269

fered from all other nations, in bringing the witnesses chap.
and the prisoner face to face, and requiring two wit

nesses in cases of treason : nor did the English law 1696.
itself require the same proof in some cases as in others ;
for one witness was sufficient in felony, as well as for
the treason of coining : that Fenwick was notoriously
guilty,and deserved to feel the resentment ofthe nation:
that he would have been brought to exemplary punish
ment in the ordinary courts of justice, had he not eluded
it by corrupting evidence, and withdrawing a witness.
If this reasoning be just, the House of Comraons has a
right to act in diametrical opposition to the laws in being;
and is vested with a despotic power over the lives and
fortunes of their constituents, for whose protection they
are constituted. Let us, therefore, reflect upon the pos
sibUity of a Parliament debauched by the arts of corrup
tion into servile compliance with the designs of an arbi
trary prince, and tremble for the consequence. The
debate being finished, the prisoner was, at the desire of
Admiral Russel, questioned with regard to the imputa
tions he had fixed upon that gentleman and others frora
hearsay; but he desired to be excused, on account ofthe
risk he ran while under a double prosecution, if any thing
which should escape hira might be turned to his pre
judice. After he was reraoved from the bar, Mr. Vernon, at The bin
the desire of the House, recapitulated the arts and prac
tices of Sir John Fenwick and his friends, to procras
tinate the trial. The bill was read a second time ; and
the speaker asking, if the question should be put for its
being committed ? the House was immediately kindled
into a new flame of contention. Hawles, the solicitor-
general, affirmed, that the House, in the present case,
should act both as judge and jury. Mr. Harcourt said,
he knew no trial for treason but what was confirmed by
Magna Charta, by a jury, the birthright and darling
privilege of an Englishraan, or per legem terrce, which
includes impeachments in Parliament : that it was a
strange trial where the person accused had a chance to
be hanged, but none to be saved : that he never heard
of a juryraan who was not on his oath, nor of a judge
who had not power to exaraine witnesses upon oath, and

270 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, who was not empowered to save the innocent as well as
' to condemn the guilty. Sir Thomas Lyttelton was of
1696. opinion, that the Parliament ought not to stand upon
little niceties and forras of other courts, when the go
vernment was at stake. Mr. Howe asserted, that to do
a thing of this nature, because the Parliaraent had power
to do it, was a strange way of reasoning: that what was
justice and equity at Westminster-hall, was justice and
equity everywhere : that one bad precedent in Parlia
ment was of worse consequence than a hundred in
Westminster-hall, because personal or private injuries
did not foreclose the claims of original right ; whereas
the Parliament could ruin the nation beyond redemp
tion, because it could establish tyranny by law. Sir
Richard Teraple, in arguing against the bill, observed,
that the power of Parliaraent is to make any law, but
the jurisdiction of Parliament is to govern itself by the
law : to make a law, therefore, against all the laws of
England, was the ultimum remedium et pessimum, never
to be used but in case of absolute necessity. He affirmed
that, by this precedent, the House overthrew all the laws
of England ; first, in condemning a man by one wit
ness ; secondly, in passing an act without any trial. The
Commons never did nor can assume a jurisdiction of
trying any person : they may, for their own information,
hear what can be offered ; but it is not a trial where wit
nesses are not upon oath. All bills of attainder have
passed against persons that were dead or fled, or with
out the compass of the law : some have been brought in
after trials in Westminster-hall ; but none of those have
been called trials, and they were generally reversed.
He denied that the Parliament had power to declare
any thing treason which was not treason before. When
inferior courts were dubious, the case might be brought
before the Parliament, to judge whether it was treason
or felony ; but then they must judge by the laws in
being ; and this judgment was not in the Parliament by
bill, but only in the House of Lords. Lord Digby,
Mr. Harley, and Colonel Granville, spoke to the same
purpose. But their arguments and remonstrances had
no effect upon the raajority, by whom^the prisoner was
devoted to destruction. The bill was coramitted, passed.

WILLIAM. 271
and sent up to the House of Lords, where it produced chap.
the longest and warmest debates which had been known "
since the Restoration. Bishop Burnet signalized his zeal 1696.
for the government by a long speech in favour of the
bill, contradicting some of the fundamental maxiras
which he had formerly avowed in behalf of the liberties
of the people. At length it was carried by a majority
of seven voices ; and one-and-forty lords, including eight
prelates, entered a protest, couched in the strongest
terms, against the decision.
When the bill received the royal assent, another act Sir John
of the like nature passed against Barclay, Holmes, and beSed!^
nine other conspirators who had fled from justice, in
case they should not surrender themselves on or before
the twenty-fifth day of March next ensuing. Sir John
Fenwick solicited the raediation of the Lords in his be
half, while his friends iraplored the royal raercy. The
Peers gave him to understand, that the success of his
suit would depend upon the fulness of his discoveries.
He would have previously stipulated for a pardon ; and
they insisted upon his depending on their favour. He
hesitated sorae tirae between the fears of infamy and
the terrors of death, which last he at length chose to
undergo, rather than incur the disgraceful character of
an informer. He was complimented with the axe, in
consideration of his rank and alliance with the house of
Howard, and suffered on Tower-hill with great com
posure. In the paper which he delivered to the sheriff,
he took God to witness, that he knew not of the in
tended invasion, until it was the comraon subject of
discourse; nor was he engaged in any shape for the
service of King Jaraes. He thanked those noble and
worthy persons who had opposed his attainder in Par
liament ; protested before God, that the information he
gave to the ministry he had received in letters and mes
sages frora France ; and observed that he raight have
expected mercy from the Prince of Orange, as he had
been instrumental in saving his life, by preventing the
execution of a design which had been formed against
it ; a circumstance which in all probability induced the
late conspirators to conceal their purpose of assassina
tion frora his knowledge. He professed his loyalty to

272 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. King James, and prayed Heaven for his speedy re-
' storation.

1697. While Fenwick's affair was in agitation, the Earl of
The Earl of Moumouth had set on foot some practices against the
s'^ntTthe Duke of Shrewsbury. One Matthew Smith, nephew
Tower. to Sir WUUam Perkins, had been entertained as a spy
by this nobleman, who, finding his inteUigence of very
little use or importance, dismissed him as a troublesome
dependant. Then he had recourse to the Earl of
Monmouth, into whom he infused unfavourable senti
ments of the duke ; insinuating, that he had made great
discoveries, which, from sinister motives, Avere sup
pressed. Monmouth communicated those impressions
to the Earl of Portland, who inlisted Smith as one of
his intelligencers. Copies of the letters he had sent to
the Duke of Shrewsbury were delivered to Secretary
Trumball, sealed up for the perusal of his majesty at
his return from Flanders. When Fenwick mentioned
the Duke of Shrewsbury in his discoveries, the Earl
of Monmouth resolved to seize the opportunity of
ruining that nobleman. He, by the channel of the
Duchess of Norfolk, exhorted Lady Fenwick to prevail
upon her husband to persist in his accusation, and even
dictated a paper of directions. Fenwick rejected the
proposal with disdain, as a scandalous contrivance ; and
Monmouth was so incensed at his refusal, that when
the bill of attainder appeared in the House of Lords,
he spoke in favour of it with peculiar vehemence. Lady
Fenwick, provoked at this cruel outrage, prevailed upon
her nephew, the Earl of Carlisle, to move the House
that Sir John might be examined touching any advices
that had been sent to him, with relation to his disco
veries. Fenwick being interrogated accordingly, gave
an account of all the particulars of Monmouth's scherae,
which was calculated to ruin the Duke of Shrewsbury,
by bringing Smith's letters on the carpet. The Duchess
of Norfolk and a confidant were examined, and con
firmed the detection. The House called for Smith's
letters, which were produced by Sir William Trumball.
The Earl of Monmouth was committed to the Tower,
and dismissed from all his employraents. He was re
leased, however, at the end of the session; and the

WILLIAM. 273
court made up all his losses in private, lest he should chap.
be tempted to join the opposition. ^'

The whigs, before they were glutted with the sacri- I697.
fice of Fenwick, had deterrained to let loose their ven- inquiry into
geance upon Sir George Rooke, who was a leader in the ™y's^"*^^
opposite interest. Sir Cloudesley Shovel had been sent
with a squadron to look into Brest, where, according to
the intelligence which the governraent had received, the
French were employed in preparing for a descent upon
England : but this information was false. They were
busy in equipping an armament for the West Indies,
under the command of M.Pointis, who actually sailed to
the coast of New Spain, and took the city of Carthagena.
Rooke had been ordered to intercept the Toulon squa
dron in its way to Brest ; but his endeavours miscarried.
The Commons, in a committee of the whole House, re
solved to inquire why this fleet was not intercepted ;
Rooke underwent a long examination, and was obliged
to produce his journal, orders, and letters. Shovel and
Mitchel were likewise examined ; but nothing appear
ing to the prejudice of the admiral, the House thought
proper to desist from their prosecution. After they
had determined on the fate of Fenwick, they proceeded
to enact several laws for regulating the domestic eco
nomy of the nation : among others they passed an act Bumet.
for the more effectual relief of creditors, in cases of oidmLon.
escape, and for preventing abuses in prisons and pre- state Trials.
tended privileged places. Ever since the Reformation, Ralph.
certain places in and about the city of London, which ^^J^^. °[*^
had been sanctuaries during the prevalence of the
popish religion, afforded asylums to debtors, and were
becorae receptacles of desperate persons, who presumed
to set the law at defiance. One of these places, called
Whitefriars, was filled with a crew of ruffians, who every
day committed acts of violence and outrage ; but this
law was so vigorously put in execution, that they were
obliged to abandon the district, which was soon filled
with raore creditable inhabitants. On tlie sixteenth
day of April, the king closed the session with a short
speech, thanking the Parliament for the great supplies
they had so cheerfully granted, and expressing his sa
tisfaction at the measures they had taken for retrieving
VOL. I. T

274

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. V.
1697.

Negotia
tions at
Ryswick.

the public credit. Before he quitted the kingdom, he
ventured to produce upon the scene the Earl of Sun
derland, who had hitherto prompted his councils behind
the curtain. That politician was now sworn of the
privy-council, and gratified with the office of lord-cham
berlain, which had been resigned by the Earl of Dorset,
a nobleman of elegant talents and invincible indolence;
severe and poignant in his writings and remarks upon
mankind in general, but humane, good-natured, and
generous to excess, in his commerce with individuals.
William having made some promotions", and ap
pointed a regency, embarked on tlie twenty-sixth day
of April for Holland, that he might be at hand to
manage the negotiation for a general peace. By this
time the preliminaries were settled between CalUeres,
the French minister, and Mr. Dykveldt, in behalf
of the States-General, who resolved, in consequence
of the concessions made by France, that, in concert
with their allies, the mediation of Sweden might be ac
cepted. The emperor and the court of Spain, however,
were not satisfied with those concessions ; yet his im
perial majesty declared he would embrace the proffered
mediation, provided the treaty of Westphalia should be
re-established; and provided the King of Sweden would
engage to join his troops vath those of the allies, in
case France should break through this stipulation.
This proposal being delivered, the ministers of England
and Holland at Vienna presented a joint memorial,
pressing his imperial majesty to accept the mediation
without reserve, and name a place at which the congress
raight be opened. The emperor complied with reluct
ance. On the fourteenth day of February, all the
ministers of the allies, except the ambassador of Spain,
agreed to the proposal ; and next day signified their as
sent in form to M. Lillienroot, the Swedish plenipoten
tiary. Spain demanded, as a preliminary, that France
should agree to restore aU the places mentioned in a
long list, which the minister of that crown presented to
= Somers was created a baron, and appointed Lord Chancellor of Eno-land:
Admiral Russel was dignified with the title of Earl of Orford. In Februm-y the
Earl of Aylesbury, who had been committed on account ofthe conspiracy, was re
leased upon bail ; but this privilege was denied to Lord Montgomery, who had
been imprisoned in Newgate on the same account.

WILLIAM. 275
the assembly. The eraperor proposed, that the congress chap.
should be held at Aix-la-ChapeUe, or Franckfort, or  '. —
sorae other town in Gerraany. The other allies v,"ere 1697.
more disposed to negotiate in Holland. At length,
the French king suggested, that no place would be
more proper than a palace belonging to King William,
called Newbourg-house, situated between the Hague
and Delft, close to the viUage of Ryswick ; and to this
proposition the rainisters agreed. Those of England
were the Earl of Pembroke, a virtuous, learned, and
popular nobleman, the Lord VUliers, and Sir Joseph
Williamson : France sent Harley and Crecy to the as
sistance of Callieres. Louis was not only tired of the
war, on account of the misery in which it had involved
his kingdom ; but, in desiring a peace, he was actuated
by another raotive. The King of Spain had been for
some time in a very ill state of health, aud the French
monarch had an eye to the succession. This aim could
not be accomplished while the confederacy subsisted ;
therefore he eagerly sought a peace, that he might at
once turn his whole power against Spain, as soon as
Charles should expire. The emperor harboured the
same design upon the Spanish crown, and for that
reason interested himself in the continuance of the
grand alliance. Besides, he foresaw he should in a
little time be able to act against France with an aug
mented force. The Czar of Muscovy had engaged
to find employment for the Turks and Tartars. He
intended to raise the elector of Saxony to the throne
of Poland ; and he had raade some progress in a nego
tiation with the circles of the Rhine for a considerable
body of auxiliary troops. The Dutch had no other
view but that of securing a barrier in the Netherlands.
King William insisted upon the French king's acknow
ledging his title ; and the EngUsh nation wished for
nothing so much as the end of a ruinous war. On the
tenth day of February, Callieres, in the name of his
master, agreed to the following preliminaries : that the
treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen .should be the
basis of this negotiation ; that Strasbourg should be re
stored to the empire, and Luxembourg to the Spaniards,
together with Mons, Charleroy, and all places taken by
T 2

276 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the French in Catalonia since the treaty of Nimeguen;
. that Dinant should be ceded to the Bishop of Liege,

1697. and all reunion since the treaty of Nimeguen be raade
void ; that the French king should make restitution of
Lorraine, and upon conclusion of the peace, acknow
ledge the Prince of Orange as King of Great Britain,
without condition or reserve. The conferences were
interrupted by the death of Charles XI. King of Swe
den, who was succeeded by his son Charles, then a
minor : but the queen and five senators, whom the late
king had by will appointed administrators of the go
vernment, resolved to pursue the mediation, and sent a
new commission to LiUienroot for that p)urpose. The
ceremonials being regulated with the consent of all
parties, the plenipotentiaries of the emperor delivered
their master's demands to the mediator, on the twenty-
second day of May, and several German ministers gave
in the pretensions of the respective princes whom they
represented.
The French MeaiiwhUe, theFreucli king, in the hope of procuring
lona. ^"^'^" more favourable terms, resolved to make his last effort
against the Spaniards in Catalonia and in the Nether
lands, and to elevate the Prince of Conti to the throne
of Poland ; an event which would have greatly improved
the interest of France in Europe. Louis had got the
start of the confederates in Flanders, and sent thither a
very numerous army, commanded by Catinat, Villeroy,
and Boufflers. The campaign was opened with the siege
of Aeth, which was no sooner invested, than King
William, having recovered of an indisposition, took the
field, and had au interview with the Duke of Bavaria,
who commanded a separate body. He did not think
proper to interrupt the enemy in their operations before
Aeth, which surrendered in a few days after the trenches
were opened ; but contented himself ^vith taking pos
session of au advantageous camp, where he covered
Brussels, which VUleroy and Boufflers had deterrained
to besiege. In Catalonia, the Duke of Vendome in
vested Barcelona, in which there was a garrison of
ten thousand regular soldiers, besides five thousand
burghers, who had voluntarily taken ai-ms ou this
occasion. The governor of the place was the Prince

WILLIAM. 277
of Hesse d'Armstadt, who had served in Ireland, and chap.
been vested with the coramand of the iraperial troops ^'
which were sent into Spain. The French general i697.
being reinforced frora Provence and Languedoc, car
ried on his approaches with surprising impetuosity;
and was repulsed in several attacks by the valour of
the defendants. At length the enemy surprised and
routed the viceroy of Catalonia; and, flushed with
this victory, stormed the outworks, which had been
long battered with their cannon. The dispute was
very bloody and obstinate; but the French, by dint
of numbers, made themselves raasters of the covered
way and two bastions. There they erected batteries
of cannon and mortars, and fired furiously on the
town, which, however, the Prince of Hesse resolved
to defend to the last extremity. The court of Ma
drid, however, unwilling to see the place entirely
ruined, as in all probability it would be restored at the
peace, despatched an order to the prince to capitulate ;
and he obtained very honourable terms, after having
made a glorious defence for nine weeks ; in considera
tion of which he was appointed viceroy of the province.
France was no sooner in possession of this important
place, than the Spaniards became as eager for peace as
they had been before averse to a negotiation.
Their impatience was not a little inflamed by the Fruitless
success of Pointis in America, where he took Cartha- of Admiral
gena, in which he found a booty amounting to eight Nevii to
millions of crowns. Having ruined the fortifications indies.^^
of the place, and received advice that an English squa
dron under Admiral Nevil had arrived in the West In
dies, with a design to attack hira in his return, he bore
away for the straits of Baharaa. On the twenty-second
day of May he fell in with the English fleet, and one
of his fly-boats was taken ; but such was his dexterity,
or good fortune, that he escaped, after having been
pursued five days, during which the English and Dutch
rear-admirals sprang their fore-topmasts, and received
other daraage,. so that they could not proceed. Then
Nevil steered to Cai-thagena, which he found quite
abandoned by the inhabitants, who, after the departure
of Pointis, had been rifled a second time bv the buc-

278 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, cancers, on pretence that they had been defrauded of
" their share of the plunder. This was really the case ;
1697. they had in a great measure contributed to the success
of Pointis, and were very ill rewarded. In a few days
the English admiral discovered eight sail of their
ships, two of which were forced on shore and destroyed,
two taken, and the rest escaped. Then he directed
his course to Jamaica, and, by the advice of the go
vernor, Sir William Beeston, detached Rear-Admiral
Meeze with some ships and forces to attack Petit-
Guavas, which he accordingly surprised, burned, and
reduced to ashes. After this small expedition, Nevil
proceeded to the Havannah, on purpose to take the
galleons under his convoy for Europe, according to the
instructions he had received from the king ; but the
governor of the place, and the general of the plate-fleet,
suspecting such an offer, would neither suiier him to
enter the harbour, nor put the galleons under his pro
tection. He now sailed through the gulf of Florida
to Virginia, Avhere he died of chagrin, and the com
mand of the fleet devolved on Captain Dilkes, who ar
rived in England on the twenty-fourth day of October,
"\rith a shattered squadron, half manned, to the unspeak
able mortification of the people, who flattered them
selves with the hopes of wealth and glory from this
expedition. Pointis, steering to the banks of New
foundland, entered the bay of Conceptione, at a time
when a stout English squadron, commanded by Com
modore Norris, lay at anchor in the bay of St. John.
This officer being informed of the arrival of a French
fleet, at first concluded that it was the squadron of M.
Nesmond come to attack him, and exerted his utmost
endeavours to put the place in a posture of defence ;
but, afterwards, understanding that it was Pointis re
turning with the spoil of Carthagena, he called a council
of war, and proposed to go imraediately in quest of the
enemy. He was, however, overruled by a majority,
who gave it as their opinion that they should remain
where they were, without running unnecessary hazard.
By virtue of this scandalous determination, Pointis was
permitted to proceed on his voyage to Europe ; but he
had not yet escaped every danger. On the fourteenth

WILLIAM. 279
day of August he fell in with a squadron under the chap.
command of Captain Harlow, by whora he was boldly "
engaged till night parted the combatants. He was 1697.
pursued next day ; but his ships sailing better than
those of Harlow, he accomplished his escape, and on
the morrow entered the harbour of Brest. That his
ships, which were foul, should outsail the English squa
dron, which had just put to sea, was a mystery which
the people of England could not explain. They cora
plained of having been betrayed through the whole
course of the West Indian expedition. The king
owned he did not understand marine affairs, the entire
conduct of which he abandoned to Russel, who became
proud, arbitrary, and unpopular, and was supposed to
be betrayed by his dependants. Certain it is, the
service was greatly obstructed by faction among the
officers, which with respect to the nation had all the
effects of treachery and misconduct.
The success of the French in Catalonia, Flanders, The Elector
and the West Indies, was balanced by their disappoint- is chosen^
ment in Poland. Louis, encouraged by the remon- p'"s of
strances of the Ablje de Polignac, who managed the
affairs of France in that kingdom, resolved to support
the Prince of Conti as a candidate for the crown, and
remitted great sums of money, which were distributed
among the Polish nobility. The emperor had at first
declared for the son of the late king ; but finding the
French party too strong for this competitor, he entered
into a negotiation ^ith the Elector of Saxony, avIio
agreed to change his religion, to distribute eight mil
lions of florins among the Poles, to confirm their privi
leges, and advance with his troops to the frontiers of
that kingdom. Having performed these articles, he
declared himself a candidate, and was publicly espoused
by the imperialists. The Duke of Lorraine, the Prince
of Baden, and Don Livio Odeschalchi, nephew to Pope
Innocent, were likewise competitors ; but finding their
interest insufficient, they united their influence with
that ofthe elector, who was proclaimed King of Poland.
He forthwith took the oath required, procured an at
testation frora the imperial court of his having changed
his religion, and marched with his army to Cracow,

280 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, where he was crowned with the usual soleranity. Louis
 1  persisted in maintaining the pretensions of the Prince
1697. of Conti, and equipped a fleet at Dunkirk for his con
voy to Dantzick in his way to Poland. But the ma
gistrates of that city, who had declared for the new
king, would not suffer his raen to land, though they
offered to admit hiraself with a small retinue. He,
therefore, went on shore at Marienburgh, where he was
met by some chiefs of his own party ; but the new king-
Augustus acted with such vigilance, that he found it
impracticable to form an army; besides, he suspected
the fidelity of his own Polish partisans ; he, therefore,
refused to part with the treasure he had brought, and in
the beginning of winter returned to Dunkirk.
Peter the ^]^q establishment of Augustus on the throne of Po-
Czar ot , . ¦=. T /. T-.
Muscovy land was in some raeasure owing to the conduct oi Peter
dirulse™ *^^ Czar of Muscovy, who, having formed great designs
with his against the Ottoraan Porte, was very unwilling to see
b^adors. ^^*^ crowu of Polaud possessed by a partisan of France,
which was in alliance with the grand signor. He,
therefore, interested himself warmly in the dispute, and
ordered his general to assemble an army on the frontiers
of Lithuania, which, by overawing the Poles that were
in the interest of the Prince of Conti, considerably in
fluenced the election. This extraordinary legislator,
who was a strange corapound of heroisra and barbarity,
conscious of the defects in his education, and of the
gross ignorance that overspread his dominions, resolved
to extend his ideas, and improve his judgment, by
travelling ; and, that he might be the less restricted by
forms, or interrupted by officious curiosity, he deter
mined to travel in disguise. He was extremely ambi
tious of becoming a maritime power, and in particular
of maintaining a fleet in the Black Sea ; and his imrae
diate aim was to learn the principles of ship-building.
He appointed an embassy for Holland, to regulate some
points of commerce with the States-General. Having
intrusted the care of his dominions to persons in whora
he could confide, he now disguised hiraself, and tra
velled as one of their retinue. He first disclosed hira
self to the Elector of Brandenburgh in Prussia, and
afterwards to King WiUiam, with whom he conferred

WILLIAM. 281

in private at Utrecht. He engaged himself as a com- chap.
mon labourer with a ship-carpenter in Holland, whom

he served for sorae months with wonderful patience and 1697.
assiduity. He afterwards visited England, where he
amused himself chiefly with the same kind of occupa
tion. From thence he set out for Vienna, where re
ceiving advices from his dominions that his sister was
concerned in managing intrigues against his govern
ment, he returned suddenly to Moscow, and found the
machinations of the conspirators were already baffled
by the vigilance and fidelity of the foreigners to whom
he had left the care of the administration. His savage
nature, however, broke out upon this occasion : he or
dered sorae hundreds to be hanged all round his capital ;
and a good nuraber were beheaded, he himself with his
own hand performing the office of executioner.
The negotiations at Ryswick proceeded very slowly Proceed-
f • mi ¦ ¦ 1 ¦ • 1 1 T 1 i"gs in the
lor some time, ihe imperial rainister deraanded, that congress at
France should make restitution of all the places and Kyswick.
dominions she had wrested from the empire since the
peace of Munster, whether by force of arms or pretence
of right. The Spaniards claimed all they could demand
by virtue of the peace of Nimeguen and the treaty of
the Pyrenees. The French affirmed, that if the pre
liminaries offered by Callieres were accepted, these pro
positions could not be taken into consideration. The
iraperialists persisted in deraanding a circurastantial
answer, article by article. The Spaniards insisted upon
the sarae manner of proceeding, and called upon the
mediator and Dutch ministers to support their preten
sions. The plenipotentiaries of France declared they
would not admit any demand or proposition contrai-y
to the preliminary articles ; but were willing to deliver
in a project of peace, in order to shorten the negotia
tions, and the Spanish ambassadors consented to this
expedient. During these transactions, the Earl of
Portland held a conference with Mareschal Boufflers,
near Halle, in sight of the two opposite arraies, which
was continued in five successive meetings. On the
second day of August they retired together to a house
in the suburbs of Halle, and rautually signed a paper,
in which the principal articles of the peace between

282 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Trance and England were adjusted. Next day King
" William quitted the camp, and retired to his house at
1697. Loo, confident of having taken such measures for a
pacification as could not be disappointed. The subject
of this field negotiation is said to have turned upon the
interest of King James, which the French raonarch
promised to abandon : others, however, suppose that
the first foundation of the partition treaty was laid in
this conference. But, in all probability, William's sole
aim was to put an end to an expensive and unsuccessful
war, which had rendered him very unpopular in his
own dominions, and to obtain from the court of France
an acknowledgraent of his title, which had since the
queen's death becorae the subject of dispute. He per
ceived the emperor's backwardness towards a pacifica
tion, and foresaw numberless difficulties in discussing
such a complication of interests by the common method
of treating; he, therefore, chos'e such a step as he
thought would alarra the jealousy of the allies, and
quicken the negotiation at Ryswick. Before the con
gress was opened. King James had pubUshed two mani
festoes, addressed to the catholic and protestant princes
of the confederacy, representing his wrongs, and craving
redress ; but his reraonstrances being altogether dis
regarded, he afterwards issued a third declaration, so
lemnly protesting against all that might or should be
negotiated, regulated, or stipulated with the usurper of
his realms, as being void of all rightful and lawful au
thority. On the twentieth day of July the French am
bassadors produced their project of a general peace,
declaring at the sarae tirae, that, should it not be ac
cepted before the last day of August, France would not
hold herself bound for the conditions she now offered ;
but Caunitz, the emperor's plenipotentiary, protested
he would pay no regard to this limitation. On the
thirtieth of August, however, he delivered to the me
diators an ultimatum, importing, that he adhered to the
treaties of Westphalia and Nimeguen, and accepted of
Strasbourg with its appurtenances; that he insisted
upon the restitution of Lorraine to the prince of that
name ; and demanded that the church and chapter of
Liege should be re-established in the i>ossession of their

WILLIAM. 283

incontestable rights. Next day the French plenipoten- ch^p.
tiaries declared, that the month of August being now

expired, all their offers were vacated : that, therefore, 1697.
the King of France would reserve Strasbourg, and unite
it, with its dependencies, to his crown for ever; that in
other respects he would adhere to the jiroject, and re
store Barcelona to the crown of Spain ; but that these
terras must be accepted in twenty days, otherwise he
should think himself at liberty to recede. The minis
ters of the electors and princes of the empire joined in
a written reraonstrance to the Spanish plenipotentiaries,
representing the inconveniences and dangers that would
accrue to the Gerraanic body frora France's being
in possession of Luxerabourg, and exhorting them in
the strongest terms to reject all offers of an equivalent
for that province. They likewise presented another to
the States-General, requiring them to continue the war,
according to their engagements, until France should
have complied with the preliminaries. No regard,
however, was paid to either of these addresses. Then
the imperial ambassadors demanded the good offices of
the mediator on certain articles : but all that he could
obtain of France was, that the term for adjusting the
peace between her and the emperor should be prolonged
till the first day of Noveraber, and in the mean time an
armistice be punctually observed. Yet even these con
cessions were made, on condition that the treaty with
England, Spain, and Holland, should be signed on that
day, even though the emperor and empire should not
concur. Accordingly, on the twentieth day of September, The ambas-
the articles were subscril>ed by the Dutch, English, England,
Spanish, and French ambassadors, while the imperial Spam, and
ministers protested against the transaction, observing, sign the'
this was the second time that a separate peace had been '¦'^'''y-
concluded with France, and that the states of the em
pire, who had been imposed upon through their own
credulity, would not for the future be so easily per
suaded to engage in confederacies. In certain pre
paratory articles settled between England and France,
King WilUam promised to pay a yearly pension to
Queen Mary D'Este of fifty thousand pounds, or such

284 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
'^^P- sum as should be established for that purpose by act of
 1__ Parliaraent. The treaty itself consisted of seventeen
1697. articles. The French king engaged that he would not
disturb or disquiet the King of Great Britain in the
possession of his realms or government ; nor assist his
enemies, nor favour conspiracies against his person.
This obligation was reciprocal. A free commerce was
restored. Commissaries were appointed to meet at
London, and settle the pretensions of each crown to
Hudson's Bay, taken by the French during the late
peace, and retaken by the English in the course of the
war; and to regulate the limits ofthe places to be re
stored, as well as the exchanges to be made. It was
likewise stipulated, that, in case of a rupture, six months
should be allowed to the subjects of each power for re
moving their effects : that the separate articles of the
treaty of Nimeguen, relating to the principality of
Orange, should be entirely executed, and, that the ra
tifications should be exchanged in three weeks from
the day of signing. The treaty between France and
HoUand imported a general armistice, a perpetual amity,
a mutual restitution, a reciprocal renunciation of all
pretensions upon each other, a confirmation of the peace
with Savoy, a re-establishment of the treaty concluded
between France and Brandenburgh, in the year one
thousand six hundred and seventy-nine, a comprehen
sion of Sweden, and all those powers that should be
naraed before the ratification, or in six months after
the conclusion of the treaty. Besides, the Dutch mi
nisters concluded a treaty of commerce with France,
which was immediately put in execution. Spain had
great reason to be satisfied with the pacification, by
which she recovered Gironne, Roses, Barcelona, Lux
embourg, Charleroy, Mons, Courtrai, and all the
towns, fortresses, and territories taken by the French
in the province of Luxembourg, Namur, Brabant,
Flanders, and Hainault, except eighty-two towns and
villages claimed by the French : this dispute was left
to the decision of commissaries; or, in case they
should not agree, to the determination of the States-
General. A remonstrance in favour of the French
protestant refugees in England, Holland, and Ger-

WILLIAM. 285
many, was delivered by the Earl of Pembroke to the chap.
mediators, in the name of the protestant allies, on the

day that preceded the conclusion of the treaty ; but the 1697.
French plenipotentiaries declared, in the name of their
master, that as he did not pretend to prescribe rules to
King William about the English subjects, he expected
the sarae liberty with respect to his own. No other
effort was made in behalf of those conscientious exiles :
the treaties were ratified, and the peace proclaimed at
Paris and London.
The emperor stUl held out, and perhaps was en- A general
couraged to persevere in his obstinacy by the success of
his arms in Hungary, where his general, Prince Eugene
of Savoy, obtained a complete victory at Zenta over
the forces of the grand signor, who commanded his
army in person. In this battle, which was fought on
the eleventh day of Septeraber, the grand visir, the
aga of the janissaries, seven-and-twenty bashaws, and
about thirty thousand raen, were killed or drowned in
the river Theysse; six thousand were wounded or taken,
together with all their artillery, tents, baggage, pro
vision, and araraunition, the grand signor himself
escaping with difficulty : a victory the more glorious and
acceptable, as the Turks had a great superiority in point
of number, and as the imperialists did not lose a thou
sand men during the whole action. The emperor, per
ceiving that the event of this battle had no effect in
retarding the treaty, thought proper to make use of the
armistice, and continue the negotiation after the fore-
mentioned treaties had been signed. This was likewise
the case with the princes of the empire ; though those
of the protestant persuasion complained that their
interest was neglected. In one of the articles of the
treaty, it was stipulated, that in the places to be re
stored by France, the Roman Catholic religion should
continue as it had been re-established. The ambassa
dors of the protestant princes joined in a remonstrance,
demanding, that the Lutheran religion should be re
stored in those places where it had formerly prevailed ;
but this demand was rejected, as being equaUy dis
agreeable to France and the emperor. Then they

286 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, refused to sign the treaty, which was now concluded
" between France, the emperor, and the catholic princes
1697. of the empire. By this pacification. Tires, the Pala
tinate, and Lorraine, were restored to their respective
owners. The countries of Spanheim and Veldentz,
together with the duchy of Deux Pouts, were ceded
to the King of Sweden. Francis Louis Palatine was
confirmed in the electorate of Cologn ; and Cardinal
Furstemberg restored to all his rights and benefices.
The claims of the Duchess of Orleans upon the Pala
tinate were referred to the arbitration of France and
the emperor ; and in the mean tirae the Elector Pala
tine agreed to supply her highness with an annuity of
one hundred thousand florins. The ministers of the
protestant princes published a formal declaration against
the clause relating to religion, and afterwards solemnly
protested against the manner in which the negotiation
had been conducted. Such was the issue of a long and
bloody war, which had drained England of her wealth
and people, almost entirely ruined her commerce, de
bauched her morals, by encouraging venality and cor
ruption, and entailed upon her the curse of foreign
connexions, as well as a national debt, which was gra
dually increased to an intolerable burden. After all
the blood and treasure which had been expended,
William's ambition and revenge remained unsatisfied.
Nevertheless, he reaped the solid advantage of seeing
himself firmly established on the English throne ; and
the confederacy, though not successful in every instance,
accoraplished their great aim of putting a stop to the
encroachments of the French raonarch. They mortified
his vanity, they humbled his pride and arrogance, and
compelled him to disgorge the acquisitions which, like
a robber, he had made in violation of public faith, jus
tice, and humanity. Had the allies been true to one
another ; had they acted from genuine zeal for the com
raon interest of mankind ; and prosecuted with vigour
the plan which was originally concerted, Louis would
in a few campaigns have been reduced to the raost ab
ject state of disgrace, despondence, and submission ; for
he was destitute of true courage and raagnaniraity.

WILLIAM. 287
King William having finished this important trans- chap.
action, returned to England about the raiddle of No- "
vember, and was received in London amidst the accla- 1697.
raations of the people, who now again hailed hira as
their deliverer from a war, by the'continuance of which
they must have been infallibly beggared.

288 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAPTER VI.

State of Parties. — Characters of the Ministers. — The Commons re
duce the Numher of standing Forces to Ten Thousand. — They
establish the Civil List ; and assign Funds for paying the national
Debts. — They take Cognizance of fraudulent Endorsements of Ex
chequer Bills. — A new East India Company constituted by Act
of Parliament. — Proceedings against a Book written by William
Molineux of Dublin. — And against certain Smugglers of Alamodes
and Lustrings from France.— Society for the Reformation of Man
ners. — The Earl of Portland resigns his Employments. — The King
disowns the Scottish trading Company. — He embarks for Hol
land. — First Treaty of Partition. — Intrigues of France at the Court
of Madrid. — King William is thwarted by his new Parliament. —
He is obliged to send away his Dutch Guards. — The Commons
address the King against the Papists. — The Parliament prorogued.
— The Scottish Company make a Settlement on the Isthmus of
Darien — Which, however, they are compelled to abandon. — Re
monstrances of the Spanish Court against the Treaty of Partition.
— The Commons persist in their Resolutions to mortify the King.
— Inquiry into the Expedition of Captain Kidd. — A Motion made
against Burnet, Bishop of Sarum. — Inquiry into the Irish For
feitures. — The Commons pass a Bill of Resumption — And a severe
Bill against Papists. — The old East India Company re-established.
—Dangerous Ferment in Scotland. — Lord Somers dismissed from
his Employments. — Second Treaty of Partition. — Death ofthe Duke
of Gloucester. — The King sends a Fleet into the Baltic, to the As
sistance of the Swedes. — The second Treaty of Partition generally
disagreeable to the European Powers. — The French Interest pre
vails at the Court of Spain.— King William finds Means to allay
the Heats in Scotland. — The King of Spain dies, after having be-
queathedhisDominionsbyWill totheDuke of Anjou. — TheFrench
King's Apology for accepting the Will. — The States-General own
Philip as King of Spain. — A new Ministry and a new Parliament.
• — The Commons unpropltious to the Court. — The Lords are more
condescending. — An intercepted Letter from the Earl of Milfort
to his Brother. — Succession of the Crown settled upon the Princess
Sophia, Electress-Dowager of Hanover, and the protestant Heirs
of her Body. — The Duchess of Savoy protests against this Act. —
Ineffectual Negotiation with France. — Severe Addresses from both
Houses in Relation to the Partition Treaty. — WilHam is obliged to
acknowledge the King of Spain. — The two Houses seem to enter
into the King's Measures. — The Commons resolve to wreak their
Vengeance on the old Ministry. — The Earls of Portland and Ox
ford, the Lords Somers and Halifax, are impeached. — Disputes
between the two Houses. — The House of Peers acquits the im
peached Lords. — Petition of Kent. — Favourable End of the Session.

WILLIAM. 289
— Progress of Prince Eugene in Italy. — Sketch of the Situation
of Affairs in Europe. — Treaty of Alliance between the Emperor
and the maritime Powers. — Death of King James. — The French
King owns the pretended Prince of Wales as King of England.
¦ — Addresses to King William on that Subject. — New Parliament.
— The King's last Speech to both Houses received with great Ap
plause. — Great Harmony between the King and Parliament. —
The two Houses pass the Bill for Abjuration. — The Lower House
justifies the Proceedings of the Commons in the preceding Par
liament. — Affairs of Ireland. — The King recommends an Union
of the two Kingdoms. — He falls from his Horse. — His Death —
And Character.

When the king opened the session of Parliament on chap.
the third day of December, he told them the war was ^''
brought to the end they all proposed, namely, an ho- 1697.
nourable peace. He gave them to understand there stateof
was a considerable debt on account of the fleet and '"^
army : that the revenues of the crown had been an
ticipated : he expressed his hope that they would pro
vide for him during his life, in such a manner as M^ould
conduce to his own honour and that of the government.
He recommended the maintenance of a considerable
navy ; and gave it as his opinion, that for the present
England could not be safe without a standing army.
He proraised to rectify such corruptions and abuses as
raight have crept into any part of the adrainistration
during the war ; and effectually to discourage profane
ness and imraorality. Finally, he assured them, that
as he had rescued their religion, laws, and liberties,
when they were in the extremest danger, so he should
place the glory of his reign in preserving and leaving
thera entire to latest posterity. To this speech the
Coramons replied in an address by a compliment of
congratulation upon the peace, and an assurance, that
they would be ever ready to assist and support his ma
jesty, who had confirraed thera in the quiet possession
of their rights and liberties, and, by putting an end to
the war, fully corapleted the work of their deliverance.
Notvrithstanding these appearances of good humour,
the majority of the House, and indeed of the vriiole
nation, Avere equally alarmed and exasperated at a pro
ject for maintaining a standing army, which was coun
tenanced at court, aud even recommended by the king,
VOL. I. u

290 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, in liis speech to the ParUament. WiUiam's genius was
^^' altogether mUitary. He could not bear the thoughts

1697. of being a king without power. He could not without
reluctance dismiss those officers who had given so many
proofs of their courage and fidelity. He did not think
himself safe upon the naked throne, in a kingdom that
swarraed with malecontents, who had so often conspired
against his person and government. He dreaded the
arabition and known perfidy of the French king, who
still retained a powerful army. He foresaw that a re
duction of the forces would lessen his iraportance both
at home and abroad ; diminish the dependence upon
his government ; and disperse those foreigners in whose
attachment he chiefly confided. He coraraunicated his
sentiments on this subject to his confidant, the Earl of
Sunderland, who knew by experience the aversion of
the people to a standing army ; nevertheless, he en
couraged him with hope of success, on the supposition
that the Comraons would see the difference between an
army raised by the king's private authority, and a body
of veteran troops, maintained by consent of Parliament
for the security ofthe kingdom. This was a distinction
to which the people paid no regard. All the jealousy
of former Parliaments seeraed to be roused by the bare
proposal ; and this was inflaraed by a national prejudice
against the refugees, in whose favour the king had be
trayed repeated raarks of partial indulgence. They
were submissive, tractable, and wholly dependent upon
his will and generosity. The Jacobites failed not to che
rish the seeds of dissatisfaction, and reproach the whigs
who countenanced this measure. They branded that
party with apostasy frora their forraer principles. They
observed, that the very persons M'ho in the late reigns
endeavoured to abridge the prerogative, and deprive
the king of that share of power which Avas absolutely
necessary to actuate the machine of government, were
now become advocates for maintaining a standing army
in tirae of peace ; nay, and impudently avowed, that
their complaisance to the court in this particular was
owing to their desire of excluding frora all share in the
administration a faction disaffected to his majesty, which
raight raislead him into more pernicious measures. The

WILLIAM. 291
majority of those whq really entertained revolution ^"|i'-
principles opposed the court, from apprehensions that "
a standing army once established would take root, and 1697.
growinto an habitual maxim of government: that should
the people be disarraed, and the sword left in the hands
of mercenaries, the liberties of the nation must be en
tirely at the mercy of him by whom those mercenaries
should be coraraanded. They might overawe elections,
dictate to Parliaments, and establish a tyranny, before
the people could take any measures for their own pro
tection. They could not help thinking it was possible
to form a militia, that, Avith the concurrence of a fleet,
might effectually protect the kingdom from the dangers
of an invasion. They firraly believed, that a railitia
might be regularly trained to arras, so as to acquire the
dexterity of professed soldiers ; and they did not doubt
they would surpass those hirelings in courage, con
sidering that they would be aniraated by every con
curring raotive of interest, sentiment, and affection.
Nay, they argued, that Britain, surrounded as it was
by a boisterous sea, secured by floating bulwarks,
abounding with stout and hardy inhabitants, did not
deserve to be free, if her sons could not protect their
liberties without the assistance of mercenaries, who were
indeed the only slaves of the kingdom. Yet, among
the genuine friends of their country, some individuals
espoused the opposite maxims. They observed, that
the military system of every government in Europe was
now altered : that Avar was become a trade, and dis
cipline a science not to be learned but by those who
made it their sole profession : that, therefore, while
France kept up a large standing array of veterans, ready
to erabark on the opposite coast, it would be absolutely
necessary, for the safety of the nation, to maintain a
sraall standing force, which should be voted in Par
liaraent frora year to year. They raight have suggested
another expedient, which in a few years would have
produced a railitia of disciplined raen. Had the sol
diers of this small standing army been inlisted for a
term of years, at the expiration of which they might
have claimed their discharge, volunteers would have
offered themselves from all parts of the kingdom, even
u 2

292 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, from the desire of learning the use and exercise of

VI.

arms, the ambition of being concerned in scenes of ac-
1697. tual service, and the chagrin of little disappointments
or temporary disgusts, Avhich yet Avould not have im
pelled them to inlist as soldiers on the common terms
of perpetual slavery. In consequence of such a suc
cession, the whole kingdom would soon have been
stocked with members of a disciplined militia, equal,
if not superior, to any army of professed soldiers. But
this scheme Avould have defeated the purpose of the
government, which Avas more afraid of domestic foes
than of foreign enemies ; aud industriously aA'oided
every plan of this nature, which could contribute to
render the malecontents of the nation more formidable.
Characters Bcforc Avo procced to the transactions of Parliament
nisters.™'" in this scssion, it may not be amiss to sketch the outlines
of the ministry, as it stood at this juncture. The king's
affection for the Earl of Portland had begun to abate,
in proportion as his esteem for Sunderland increased,
together with his consideration for Mrs. ViUiers, who
had been distinguished by some particular marks of his
majesty's favour. These two favourites are said to have
supplanted Portland, whose place in the king's bosom
was now filled by Van Keppel, a gentleraan of Guel-
derland, who had first served his majesty as a page, and
afterwards acted as private secretary. The Earl of
Portland growing troublesome, from his jealousy of this
rival, the king resolved to send him into honourable
exile, in quality of an ambassador extraordinary to the
court of France ; and Trumball, his friend and creature,
was dismissed from theoffice of secretary, which the king
conferred upon Vernon, a plodding man of business,
who had acted as under-secretary to the Duke of
Shrewsbury. This nobleman rivalled the Earl of Sun
derland in his credit at the council-board, and was
supported by Somers, lord chanceUor of England, by
Russel, noAv Earl of Orford, first lord of the Admiralty,
and Montague, chancellor of the exchequer. Somers
was an upright judge, a plausible statesraan, a consum
mate courtier, affable, mild, and insinuating. Orford ap
pears to have been rough, turbulent, factious, and shallow.
Montaguehad distinguished himself early by his poetical

WILLIAM. 293
genius ; but he soon converted his attention to the cul- ^y^^'
ti vation of more solid talents. He rendered himself

reraarkable for his eloquence, discernment, and know- 1697.
ledge of the English constitution. To a delicate taste,
he united an eager appetite for political studies. The
first catered for the enjoyments of fancy; the other was
subservient to his arabition. He, at the same tirae, was
the distinguished encourager of the liberal arts, and the
professed patron of projectors. In his private deport
ment, he Avas liberal, easy, and entertaining: as a states
man, bold, dogmatical, and aspiring.
The terrors of a standing army had produced such The Com-
aii universal ferment in the nation, that the dependents duce the'
of the court in the House of Commons durst not openly """l?'"^ °^
oppose the reduction of the forces ; but they shifted the forces to ten
battery, and employed all their address in persuading *°"s*n<i-
the House to agree, that a very small number should be
retained. When the Commons voted, that all the
forces raised since the year one thousand six hundred
and eighty should be disbanded, the courtiers desired the
vote might be re-committed, on pretence that it re
strained the king to the old tory regiments, on whose
fidelity he could not rely. This motion, however, was
overruled by a considerable majority. Then they pro
posed an amendment, which was rejected, and after
wards moved, that the sum of five hundred thousand
pounds per annum should be granted for the main
tenance of guards and garrisons. This provision would
have maintained a very considerable number ; but they
Avere again disappointed, and fain to embrace a com-
l)Osition with the other party, by AAhich three hundred
and fifty thousand pounds Avere allotted for the main
tenance of ten thousand raen ; and they afterAvards
obtained an addition of three thousand marines. The
king Avas extremely mortified at these resolutions of the
Comraons ; aud even declared to his particular friends,
that he would never have intermeddled with the affairs
of the nation, had he foreseen they would make such
returns of ingratitude and distrust. His displeasure AAas
aggravated bythe resentment expressed against Sunder
land, AA'ho AA'as supposed to have advised the unpopular
measure of retaining a standing army. This nobleman.

294 CHAP. VI.
1697.

They es
tablish the
civil list ;
and assign
funds for
paying the
nationaldebts.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
dreading the vengeance of the Coramons, resolved to
avert the fury of the impending storm, by resigning his
office, and retiring from court, contrary to the entreaties
of his friends, and the earnest desire of his majesty.
The House of Commons, in order to sweeten the un
palatable cup they had presented to the king, voted the
sum of seven hundred thousand pounds per annum for
the support of the civil list, distinct frora all other ser
vices. Then they passed an act prohibiting the currency
of silver hamraered coin, including a clause for making
out new exchequer-bills, in lieu of those which were or
might be filled up with endorsements: they framed
another to open the correspondence with France, under
a variety of provisos : a third for continuing the im
prisonment of certain persons who had been concemed
in the late conspiracy ; a fourth granting further time
for administering oaths with respect to tallies and orders
in the exchequer and bank of England. These bills
having received the royal assent, they resolved to grant
a supply, which, together with the funds already set
tled for that purpose, should be sufficient to answer
and cancel all exchequer-bills, to the amount of two mil
lions seven hundred thousand pounds. Another sup
ply was voted for the payment and reduction of the
army, including half-pay to such commission-officers
as were natural-born subjects of England. They
granted one million four hundred thousand pounds
to make good deficiencies. They resolved, that the
sum of two millions three hundred and forty-eight
thousand one hundred and two pounds was necessary
to pay off arrears, subsistence, contingencies, general-
officers, guards, and garrisons; of Avhich sum eight
hundred and fifty-five thousand five hundred and two
pounds remained in the hands of the payraaster. Then
they took into consideration the subsidies due to foreign
powers, and the sums OAving to contractors for bread
and forage. Examining further the debts of the nation,
they found the general debt of the navy araounted to
one raiUion three hundred and ninety-two thousand
seven hundred and forty-two pounds. That of the
ordnance was equal to two hundred and four thousand
one hundred and fifty-seven pounds. The transport

WILLIAM. 295
debt contracted for the reduction of Ireland, and other ^^^^¦
services, did not fall short of four hundred and sixty-

six thousand four hundred and ninety-three pounds ; 1697.
and they owed nine-and-forty thousand nine hundred
and twenty-nine pounds for quartering and clothing the
army, which had been raised by one act of Parliament
in the year 1677, and disbanded by another in the year
1679. As this enorraous load of debt could not be dis
charged at once, the Coraraons passed a nuraber of
votes for raising suras of raoney, by which it was con
siderably lightened ; and settled the funds for those
purposes by the continuation of the land-tax, and other
irapositions. With respect to the civil list, it was raised
by a new subsidy of tonnage and poundage, the here
ditary and temporary excise, a weekly portion from
the revenue of the post-office, the first-fruits and tenths
of the clergy, the fines in the alienation office, and post-
fines, the revenue of the Arine-licence, raoney arising by
sheriffs, proffers, and corapositions in the exchequer, and
seizures, the incorae of the Duchy of Cornwall, the
rents of all other crown-lands in England or Wales, and
the duty of four and a half per cent, upon specie frora
Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands. The bill imported,
that the overplus arising from these funds should be
accounted for to Parliaraent. Six hundred thousand
pounds of this money was allotted for the purposes of
the civil list : the rest was granted for the jointure of
fifty thousand pounds per annum, to be paid to Queen
Mary d'Este, according to the stipulation at Ryswick,
and to raaintain a court for the Duke of Gloucester, son
of the Princess Anne of Denraark, now in the ninth
year of his age ; but the jointure was never paid ; nor
would the king allow above fifteen thousand pounds per
annura for the use of the Duke of Gloucester, to whora
Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, Avas appointed preceptor.
The Comraons having discussed the ways and means Jg^l^^^^
for raising the supplies of the ensuing year, which rose of fraudu-
alinost to five millions, took cognizance of sorae fraudu- ^ °^e^e„ts
lent endorseraents of exchequer-bills, a species of forgery of ex-
which had been practised by a confederacy, consisting but^"*"^'
of Charles Duncorab, receiver-general of the excise,
Bartholomew Burton, who possessed a place in that

296 CHAP. VI.
1697.

Burnet. Kennet. State
Tracts.
Burchet. Lives ofthe great
Admirals.Tindai. Ealph. Voltau'e.

An. 1698.
A new
"East India
companyconstituted
by act of
Parliament.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
branch of the revenue, John Knight, treasurer of the
customs, and Reginald Marriot, a deputy-teller of the
exchequer. This last became evidence, aud the proof
turning out veiy strong and full, the House resolved to
make examples of the delinquents. Duncomb and
Knight, both members of Parliament, were expelled and
committed to the Tower ; Burton was sent to Newgate ;
and bills of pains and penalties were ordered to be
brought in against them. The first, levelled at Dun
comb, passed the Lower House, though not without
opposition ; but Avas rejected in the House of
Lords by the majority of one voice. Duncomb, who
was extremely rich, is said to haA'e paid dear for his
escape. The other two bills met Arith the same fate.
The Peers discharged Duncomb from his confinement ;
but he AATiS recommitted by the Commons, and remained
in custody till the end of the session. While the Com
mons were employed on ways and means, some of the
members in the opposition proposed, that one-fourth
part of tlie money arising fi-om improper grants of the
croAvn should be appropriated to tbe service of the public;
but this Avas a very unpalatable expedient, as it affected
not only the whigs of King William's reign, but also
the tories, who had been gTatified by Charles II. and
his brother. A gTeat number of petitions were pre
sented against this measure, and so many difficulties
raised, that both parties agi-eed to lay it aside. In the
course of this inquiry, they discovered that one Railton
held a gTant in trust for ]\Ir. [Montague, chanceUor of
the exchequer. A motion vAas immediately made that
he should withdraAv ; but passed in the negative by a
gTeat majority. Far from prosecuting this minister, the
House voted it was their opinion, that ^Ir. Montague,
for his good services to the government, did deserve his
majesty's faA-our.
This extraordinary vote -.Aas a sure presage of success
in the execution of a scheme which ]\Ioiitague had con
certed against the Elast India company. They had been
sounded about r.dvaucing a sum of money for the public
sei-A-ice, by way of loau, in consideration of a parlia
mentary settlement ; and tliey offered to raise seven
hundred thousand pounds on that condition ; but be-

WILLIAM. 297

CHAP. VI.

fore they forraed this resolution, another body of
merchants, under the auspices of Montague, offered to
lend two millions at eight per cent, provided they might 1698.
be gratified vrith an exclusive privilege of trading to the
East Indies. This proposal was very Avell received by
the raajority in the House of Coramons. A bill for
this purpose was brought in, with additional clauses of
regulation. A petition was presented by the old cora
pany, representing their rights and claims under so
many royal charters ; the regard due to the property of
above a thousand families interested in the stock ; as
also to the company's property in India, amounting to
forty-four thousand pounds of yearly revenue. They
alleged they had expended a million in fortifications :
that during the war they had lost twelve great ships,
Avorth fifteen hundred thousand pounds : that since the
last subscription they had contributed tAvo hundred
and ninety-five thousand pounds to the customs, Avith
above eighty-five thousand pounds in taxes : that they
had furnished six thousand barrels of gunpowder on a
very pressing occasion ; and eighty thousand pounds
for the circulation of exchequer-bills, at a very critical
juncture, by desire of the lords of the treasury, who
owned that their compliance was a very important ser
vice to the government. No regard being paid to their
remonstrances, tliey undertook to raise the loan of two
millions, aud immediately subscribed two hundred
thousand pounds as the fii-st payment. The tAvo pro
posals being compared and considered by the House,
the majority declared for the bill, Avhich was passed, and
sent up to the House of Lords. There the old com
pany delivered another petition, and was heard by
counsel ; ncA-ertheless, the bill made its Avay, though not
Avithout opposition, aud a formal protestation by one-
and-twenty lords, v/Iio thought it Avas a hardship upon
the present company; and doubteil whether the separate
trade allowed in the bill, concun-ent AAith a joint stock,
might not prove such an inconsistency as Avould dis
courage the subscription. This act, by which the old
company was dissolved, in a great raeasure blasted the
reputation of the Avhigs, Avhicli had for some time been
on the decline Avith the peojile. They had stood up as

298

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. VI.
1698.

Proceed
ings against
a boot
written by
William Molineux
of Dublin.

advocates for a standing army ; they now unjustly su
perseded the East India corapany ; they were accused
of having robbed the public by embezzling the national
treasure, and amassing Avealth by usurious contracts, at
the expense of their fellow-subjects, groaning under the
most oppressive burdens. Certain it is, they were at this
period the most mercenary and corrupt undertakers that
ever had been eraployed by any king or administration
since the first establishment of the English monarchy.
The Commons now transferred their attention to
certain objects in which the people of Ireland were in
terested. Colonel Michelborne, who had been joint
governor of Londonderry with Dr. Walker, during the
siege of that place, petitioned the House in behalf of
himself, his officers, and soldiers, to whom a consider
able sum of money was due for subsistence ; and the
city itself implored the raediation of the Commons Avith
his majesty, that its services and sufferings might be
taken into consideration. The House having examined
the allegations contained in both petitions, presented an
address to the king, recommending the citizens of
Londonderry to his majesty's favour, that they raight
no longer remain a ruinous spectacle to all, a scorn to
their enemies, and a discourageraent to weU-affected
subjects ; they likewise declared, that the governor and
garrison did deserve sorae special marks of royal favour,
for a lasting monument to posterity. To this address
the king replied, that he would consider them accord
ing to the desire of the Commons. William Molineux,
a gentleman of Dublin, having published a book to
prove that the kingdom of Ireland was independent of
the Parliament of England, the House appointed a com
mittee to inquire into the cause and nature of this
performance. An address was voted to the king,
desiring he would give directions for the discovery aud
punishment of the author. Upon the report of the
coramittee, the Commons in a body presented an address
to his majesty, representing the dangerous attempts
which had been lately made by some of his subjects in
Ireland, to shake off their subjection and dependence
upon England ; attempts which appeared not only from
the bold and pernicious assertions contained in a book

WILLIAM. 299

lately published, but raore fully and authentically by ^y^^-
sorae votes and proceedings of the Coramons in Ireland.

These had, during their last session, transmitted an act 1698.
for the better security of his majesty's person and go
vernraent, whereby an EngUsh act of Parliament was
pretended to be re-enacted, with alterations obligatory
on the courts of justice and the great seal of England.
The EngUsh Comraons, therefore, besought his raajesty
to give effectual orders for preventing any such en
croacbraents for the future, and the pernicious conse
quences of what was past, by punishing those who had
been guilty thereof : that he would take care to see the
laws which direct and restrain the Parliament of Ireland
punctually observed, and discourage every thing which
raight have a tendency to lessen the dependence of Ire
land upon England. This remonstrance was graciously
received, and the king promised to comply with their
request. The jealousy which the Comraons entertained of And against
the governraent in Ireland animated them to take smug'giers
other raeasures, that ascertained the subjection of that of alamodes
kingdom. Understanding that the Irish had esta- trings from
blished divers woollen manufactories, they, in another France.
address, entreated his majesty to take raeasures for dis
couraging the woollen manufactures in Ireland, as
they interfered with those of England, and promote the
linen manufacture, Avhich would be profitable to both
nations. At the same time, receiving information that
the French had seduced sorae English manufacturers,
and set up a great work for cloth-making in Picardy,
they brought in a bill for explaining and better exe
cuting former acts for preventing the exportation of
wool, fuUer's-earth, and scouring clay ; and this was
imraediately passed into a law. A petition being pre
sented to the House, by the lustring company, against
certain merchants who had smuggled alamodes and
lustrings from France, even during the war, the com
mittee of trade was directed to inquire into the allega
tions ; and all the secrets of this traffic were detected.
Upon the report, the House resolved, that the raanu
facture of alaraodes and lustrings set up in England
had been beneficial to the kingdom ; that there had

300 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, been a destructive and illegal trade carried on during
the war for importing these commodities, by which the

1698. king had been defrauded of his custoras, and the Eng
lish manufacturers greatly discouraged : that, by the
smuggling vessels employed in this trade, intelligence
had been carried into France during the war, and the
enemies of the government conveyed from justice.
Stephen Seignoret, Rhone Baudoin, John Goodet,
Nicholas Santini, Peter de Hearse, John Pierce, John
Dumaitre, and David Barreau, were impeached at the
bar of the House of Lords ; and pleading guUty, the
Lords imposed fines upon them, according to their re
spective circurastances. They were, in the mean time,
committed to Newgate, until those fines should be paid;
and the Commons addressed the king, that the money
might be appropriated to the maintenance of Green
wich hospital. The House having taken cognizance of
this affair, and made some new regulations in the prose
cution of the African trade, presented a solemn address
to the king, representing the general" degeneracy and
corruption of the age, and beseeching his majesty to
command all his judges, justices, and magistrates, to
put the laws in execution against profaneness aud im
morality. The king professed himself extremely Avell
I^leased with this remonstrance, promised to give im
mediate directions for a reformation, and expressed his
desire that some more effectual provision raight be raade
for suppressing impious books, containing doctrines
against the Trinity ; doctrines Avhich abounded at this
period, and took their origin frora the licentiousness
and profligacy of the times.
Society for In the uiidst of such immorality, Dr. Thomas Bray,
ationot""' ^11 active divine, fornied a plan for propagating the
manners, gospel in foreign countries. Missionaries, catechisms,
liturgies, and other books for the instruction of ignorant
people, Avere sent to the English colonies in America.
This laudable design was supported by A'oluntary con
tribution ; aud the bill having been brought into the
House of Commons, for the better discovery of estates
given to superstitious uses, Dr. Bray presented a peti
tion, praying, that some part of tlicse estates might be
set apart for the i)ropagation of the reformed religion

WILLIAM. 301
in Maryland, Virginia, and the Leeward Islands. About chap.
this period, a society for the reformation of manners '
was formed under the king's countenance and eucou- 1698.
ragement. Considerable coUectious were made for
maintaining clergymen to read pra3'ers at certain hours
in places of public worship, and administer the sacra
ment eA-ery Sunday. The members of this society re
solved to inform the magistrates of all vice and immo
rality that should fall under their cognizance ; and Avith
that part of the fines allowed by laAV to the informer,
constitute a fund of charity. The business ofthe session
being terminated, the king, on the third day of July,
prorogued the Parliament, after having thanked them,
in a short speecli, for the raany testimonies of their af
fection he had received ; and in tAvo days after the pro
rogation it was dissolved".
In the month of January, the Earl of Portland had The Eari of
set out on his embassy to France, Avhere he Avas re-sigisWseml
ceived with very particular marks of distinction. He pioyments.
raade a public entry into Paris with such magnificence,
as is said to have astonished the French nation. He
interceded for the Protestants in that kingdom, against
whora the persecution had been renoAA-ed AAith redoubled
violence ; he proposed that King James should be re
moved to Avignon, in Avhich case his master would
supply him Avith an honourable pension ; but his re
monstrances on both subjects proved ineffectual. Louis,
however, in a private conference Avith hira at Marli, is
supposed to have communicated his project of the par
tition treaty. The Earl of Portland, at his return to
England, finding himself totally eclipsed in the king's
favour, by Keppel, now created Earl of Albemarle, re
signed his eraployraents in disgust ; nor could the king's
solicitations prevail upon him to resume any office in
the household ; though he promised to serve his raa
jesty in any other shape, and was soon employed to ne
gotiate the treaty of partition. If this nobleman mis
carried in the purposes of his last embassy at the court
' On the fitlh day of January, a fire breaking out at AVhitehall, through the
cai'elessness of a laundress, the whole body of the palace, together with the new
gallery, council-chamber, and several adjoining apartments, were entirely con
sumed ; but the banqueting-house was not affected.

302 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, of Versailles, the agents of France were equally unsuc-
^ ' cessful in their endeavours to retrieve their commerce
1698. Avith England, which the war had interrupted. Their
commissary, sent over to London with powers to regu
late the trade between the two nations, met with insu
perable difficulties. The Parliament had burthened the
French commodities with heavy duties, which were
already appropriated to different uses ; and the channel
of trade was, in many respects, entirely altered. The
English merchants supplied the nation with wines from
Italy, Spain, and Portugal; with linen from Holland
and Silesia; and manufactures of paper, hats, stuffs, and
silks, had been set up and successfully carried on in
England by the French refugees.
The king By this time a ferment had been raised in Scotland,
Scotch* ^ by the opposition and discourageraents their new corn-
trading pany had sustained. They had eraployed agents in
company, j^^giainj^ HoUaud, and Hamburgh, to receive subscrip
tions. The adventurers in England were intimidated
by the raeasures which had been taken in Parliament
against the Scottish corapany. The Dutch East India
company took the alarm, and exerted all their interest
to prevent their countrymen from subscribing ; and the
king perraitted his resident at Haraburgh to present a
raeraorial against the Scottish corapany to the senate of
that city. The Parliament of Scotland being assem
bled by the Earl of Marchmont as king's commissioner,
the company presented it with a reraonstrance, contain
ing a detail of their grievances, arising frora the con
duct of the English House of Coramons, as well as from
the meraorial presented by the king's rainister at Ham
burgh, in which he actually disowned the act of Par
liament and letters patent Avhich had passed in their
favour, aud threatened the inhabitants of that city with
his raajesty's resentment, in case they should join the
Scots in their undertaking. They represented, that
such instances of interposition had put a stop to the
subscriptions in England and Hamburgh, hurt the
credit of the company, discouraged the adventurers,
and threatened the entire ruin of a design, in which
all the most considerable families of the nation were
deeply engaged. The Parliament having taken their

WILLIAM. 303
case into consideration, sent an address to his majesty, chap.
representing the hardships to which the company had ^ '
been exposed, explaining how far the nation in general 1698.
was concerned in the design, and entreating that he
would take such measures as might effectually vin
dicate the undoubted rights and privileges of the
company. This address was seconded by a petition
frora the corapany itself, praying that his majesty
would give some intiraation to the senate of Haraburgh,
permitting the inhabitants of that city to renew the
subscriptions they had withdrawn : that, as a gracious
mark of his royal favour to the company, he would be
stow upon them two small frigates, then lying useless in
the harbour of Burnt-island ; and that, in consideration
of the obstructions they had encountered, he would
continue their privileges and immunities for such longer
time as should seera reasonable to his majesty. Though
the commissioner was wholly devoted to the king, who
had actually resolved to ruin this company, he could
not appease the resentment of the nation; and the
heats in Parliament became so violent, that he was
obliged to adjourn it to the fifth day of November. In
this interval, the directors of the company, understand
ing from their agent at Hamburgh that the address of
the Parliament, and their own petition, had produced
no effect in their favour ; they Avrote a letter of com
plaint to the Lord Seafield, secretary of state, observ
ing, that they had received repeated assurances of the
king's having given orders to his resident at Haraburgh
touching their raeraorial ; and entreating the interposi
tion of his lordship, that justice raight be done to the
corapany. The secretary, in his answer, promised to
take the first convenient opportunity of representing
the affair to his majesty ; but he said this could not be
immediately expected, as the king was much engaged
in the affairs of the English Parliament. This declara
tion the directors considered, as it really was, a mere
evasion, which helped to alienate the minds of that
people from the king's person and governraent.
King WiUiara at this tirae revolved in his own raind He embarks
, p f. , i. xi • i i. r for Holland.
a project of far greater consequence to the interests oi
Europe ; naraely, that of settling the succession to the

304 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, throne of Spain, which in a little time would be vacated
^^" by the death of Charles II., Avhose constitution AA^as
1698. already exhausted. He had been lately reduced to
extremity, and his situation was no sooner knoAvn in
France, than Louis detached a squadron towards Cadiz,
with orders to intercept the plate-fleet, in case the
King of Spain should die before its arrival. WilUam
sent another fleet to protect the galleons ; but it an-ived
too late for that service, and the nation loudly ex
claimed against the tardiness of the equipment. His
catholic majesty recovered from his disorder, contrary
to the expectation of his people ; but continued in such
an enfeebled and precarious state of health, that a re
lapse Avas every moment apprehended. In the latter
end of July, King William embarked for Holland, on
pretence of enjoying a recess from business, which was
necessary to his constitution. He was glad of an op
portunity to withdraAV himself for some time from a
kingdom in which he had been exposed to such oppo
sition and chagrin. But the real motive of his voyage
was a design of treating with the French king, remote
from the observation of those who might have pene
trated into the nature of his negotiation. He had ap
pointed a regency to govern the kingdom in his ab
sence, and, as one of the number, nominated the Earl
of Marlborough, who had regained his favour, and been
constituted governor of the Duke of Gloucester. At
his majesty's departure, sealed orders were left with
the ministry, directing, that sixteen thousand men
should be retained in the service, notwithstanding the
vote of the Commons, by which the standing army was
limited to ten thousand. He alleged, that the appre
hension of troubles Avhich might arise at the death of
King Charles induced him to transgress this limitation ;
and he hoped that the noAV Parliament would be more
favourable. His enemies, hoAvever, made a fresh handle
of this step, to depreciate his character in the eyes of
the people.
First treaty Haviug assisted at the assembly of the States-Gene-
o partition, ^.^^j^ ^^^ givcu audionco to divers ambassadors at the
Hague, he repaired to his house at Loo, attended by
the Earls of Essex, Portland, and Selkirk. There he

WILLIAM. 305
was visited by Count Tallard, the French rainister, who ^^f^-
had instruction to negotiate the treaty concerning the

Spanish succession. The. Earl of Portland, by his raa- 1698.
jesty's order, had communicated to Secretary Vernon
the principal conditions which the French king pro
posed : he himself wrote a letter to Lord Chancellor
Somers, desiring his advice with regard to the proposi
tions, and full powers under the great seal, with blanks
to be filled up occasionally, that he raight imraediately
begin the treaty with Count Tallard. At the same
time, he strictly enjoined secrecy. The purport of
Portland's letter was imparted to the Duke of Shrews
bury and Mr. Montague, who consulted with the chan
cellor and Vernon upon the subject ; and the chancellor
wrote an answer to the king, as the issue of their joint
deliberation ; but, before it reached his raajesty, the
first treaty of partition was signed by the Earl of Port
land and Sir Joseph WiUiarason. The contracting
powers agreed, that, in case the King of Spain should
die without issue, the kingdora of Naples and Sicily,
with the places depending on the Spanish raonarchy,
and situated on the coast of Tuscany, or the adjacent
islands, the raarquisate of Final, the province of Guipus-
coa, all places on the French side of the Pyrenees, or
the other mountains of Navarre, Alva, or Biscay, on
the other side of the province of Guipuscoa, Avith all
the ships, vessels, and stores, should devolve upon the
dauphin, in consideration of his right to the crown of
Spain, Avhich, with all its other dependencies, should
descend to the Electoral Prince of Bavaria, under the
guardianship of his father : that the duchy of Milan
should be settled on the emperor's second son, the
Archduke Charles : that this treaty should be commu
nicated to the emperor and the Elector of Bavaria by
the King of England and the States-General : that if
either should refuse to agree to this partition, his pro
portion should remain in sequestration, until the dis
pute could be accommodated: that in case the Electoral
Prince of Bavaria should die before his father, then the
elector and his other heirs should succeed him in those
dorainions ; and, should the archduke reject the duchy
of Milan, they agreed that it should be sequestered, and
VOL. I. X

306 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, governed by the Prince of Vaudemont. It may be
^^" necessary to observe, that Philip IV., father to the pre-
1698. sent King of Spain, had settled his crown by will on the
emperor's children : that the dauphin was son to Maria-
Theresa, daughter of the same raonarch, whose right to
the succession Louis had renounced in the raost solemn
manner: as for the Electoral Prince of Bavaria, he
was grandson to a daughter of Spain. This treaty of
partition was one of the raost irapudent schemes of en
croachment that tyranny and injustice ever planned.
Louis, who had made a practice of sacrificing all ties
of honour and good faith to the interest of his pride,
vanity, and ambition, foresaw that he should never be
able to accomplish his designs upon the crown of Spain,
while William was left at liberty to form another con
federacy against them. He therefore resolved to amuse
him Avith a treaty, in which he should seem to act as
umpire in the concerns of Europe. He knew that Wil
liam was too much of a politician to be restricted by
notions of private justice ; and that he would make no
scruple to infringe the laws of particular countries, or
even the rights of a single nation, when the balance of
power was at stake. He judged right in this particular.
The King of England lent a willing ear to his pro
posals, and engaged in a plan for dismeraberiug a king
dom, in despite of the natives, and in violation of every
law human or divine.
Intrigues of While the French kinar caioled William vrith this
Fra.iic6 at • • <~j o
the court of negotiation, the Marquis d'Harcourt, his arabassador to
Madrid. Spain, Avas engaged in a game of a different nature at
Madrid. The Queen of Spain, suspecting the designs
of France, exerted all her interest in behalf of the
King of the Romans, to whom she was nearly related.
She new-modelled the council, bestowed the govern
ment of Milan on Prince Vaudemont, and established
the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt as Viceroy of Cata
lonia. Notwithstanding all her efforts, she could not
prevent the French minister frora acquiring sorae in
fluence in the Spanish councils. He was instructed to
procure the succession of the crown for one of the
dauphin's sons, or at least to hinder it from devolving
upon the emperor's children. With a view to give

WILLIAM. 307
weight to his negotiations, the French king ordered an chap.
array of sixty thousand men to advance towards the "
frontiers of Catalonia and Navarre, while a great nura- 1698.
ber of ships and galleys cruised along the coast and en
tered the harbours of Spain. Harcourt immediately
began to form his party ; he represented that Philip
IV. had no power to dispose of his crown against the
laws of nature and the constitution of the realra : that,
by the order of succession, the crown ought to descend
to the children of his daughter, in preference to raore
distant relations : that, if the Spaniards would declare
in favour of the dauphin's second son, the Duke of
Anjou, they might train hira up in the raanners and
custoras of their country. When he found thera averse
to this proposal, he assured thera his master would ap
prove of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria, rather than
consent to the succession's devolving upon a son of the
emperor. Nay, he hinted, that if they would choose a
sovereign among themselves, they might depend upon
the protection of his Most Christian Majesty, who had
no other view than that of preventing the house of
Austria fi-ora becoraing too forraidable to the liberties
of Europe. The Queen of Spain, having discovered
the intrigues of this minister, conveyed the king to
Toledo, on pretence that the air of Madrid was pre
judicial to his health. Harcourt imraediately took the
alarm. He supposed her intention was to prevail upon
her husband, in his solitude, to confirm the last will
of his father ; and his doubts were all removed, when
he understood that the Count de Harrach, the imperial
arabassador, had privately repaired to Toledo. He
forthAvith took the same road, pretending to have re
ceived a meraorial from his raaster, with a positive order
to deliver it into the king's own hand. He was given to
understand, that the management of foreign affairs had
been left to the care of Cardinal Corduba at Madrid, and
that the king's health would not permit him to attend
to business. The purport of the meraorial was, an offer
of French forces to assist in raising the siege of Ceuta
in Barbary, which the Moors had lately undertaken ;
but this offer was civilly declined. Harcourt, not yet
discouraged, redoubled his efforts at Madrid, and found
x2

308 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, means to engage Cardinal Portocarrero in the interests
^^- of his master. In the mean time Louis concluded an
1698. alUance with Sweden, under the pretext of preserv
ing and securing the coraraon peace, by such raeans
as should be adjudged most proper and convenient.
During these transactions. King William was not want
ing in his endeavours to terminate the war in Hungary,
wliich had raged fifteen years without intermission.
About the middle of August, Lord Paget and Mr.
Collier, ambassadors from England and Holland,
arrived in the Turkish camp near Belgrade; and a
conference being opened under their mediation, the
peace of Carlo Avitz was signed on the twenty-sixth day
of January. By this treaty, the emperor remained in
possession of all his conquests : Caminieck was restored
to the Poles : all the Morea, with several fortresses in
Dalmatia, were ceded to the Venetians ; and the Czar
of Muscovy retained Azoph during a truce of two
years ; so that the Turks, by this pacification, lost great
part of their European dominions. The Cardinal Pri
mate of Poland, who had strenuously adhered to the
Prince of Conti, was prevailed upon to acknowledge
Augustus ; and the commotions in Lithuania being ap
peased, peace was established through all Christendom.
King Wil- In the beginning of December the king arrived in
thwarted by England, AA'liere a new Parliament had been chosen, and
his new prorogued on account of his majesty's absence, Avhich
Par lament. ^^^^ prolonged by contrary winds and terapestuous
weather. His rainistry had been at very little pains to
influence the elections, which generally fell upon men
of revolution principles, though they do not seem to
have been rauch devoted to the person of their so
vereign : yet their choice of Sir Thomas Lyttelton for
speaker seemed to presage a session favourable to the
ministry. The two Houses being conA^ened on the
sixth day of December, the king in his speech observed,
that the safety, honour, and happiness of the kingdom
would in a great measure depend upon the strength
which they should think proper to maintain by sea and
land. He desired theyvA-ould make sorae further pro
gress in discharging the national debt; contrive ef
fectual expedients for employing the poor ; pass good

WILLIAM. 309
bills for the advancement of trade, and the discourage- *^!J^P-
raent of profaneness; and act with unanimity and
despatch. The Comraons of this new Parliament were 1698.
so irritated at the king's presuraing to maintain a greater
number of troops than their predecessors had voted, that
they resolved he should feel the weight of their dis
pleasure. They oraitted the common compliment of an
address : they resolved that all the forces of England, in
English pay, exceeding seven thousand men, should be
forthwith disbanded; and also those in Ireland exceeding
twelve thousand ; and that those retained should be
his majesty's natural born subjects. A. bill was brought
in on these resolutions, and prosecuted Avith peculiar
eagerness, to the unspeakable mortification of King
William, who was not only extreraely sensible of the
affront, but also particularly chagrined to see himself
disabled from raaintaining his Dutch guards, and the
regiraents of French refugees, to vA^hich he Avas uncom
monly attached. Before the meeting of the Parliament,
the rainistry gave hira to understand, that they should
be able to procure a vote for ten or twelve thousand ;
but they would not undertake for a greater nuraber. He
professed hiraself dissatisfied with the proposal, observ
ing that they raight as well disband the whole as leave
so few. The rainisters would not run the risk of losing
all their credit, by proposing a gi-eater nuraber ; and,
having received no directions on this subject, sat silent
when it was debated in the House of Coraraons.
Such was the indignation of WiUiara, kindled by He is
this conduct of his ministry and his Parliament, that send away
he threatened to abandon the government ; and had ^"'^ '^"'<^'>
111 guards.
actually penned a speech to be pronounced to both
Houses on that occasion ; but he was diverted from this
purpose by his rainistry and confidants, and resolved
to pass the bill by which he had been so much offended.
Accordingly, when it was ready for the royal assent,
he went to the House of Peers, where, having sent for
the Commons, he told them, that though he raight
think himself unkindly used, in being deprived of his
guards, which had constantly attended him in all his
actions ; yet, as he believed nothing could be more
fatal to the nation than any distrust or jealousy between

310 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, iiiin and his Parharaent, he was come to pass the bill
^ " according to their desire. At the same time, for his
1698. own justification, and in discharge of the trust reposed
in him, he declared, that in his own judgraent the
nation was left too rauch exposed ; and that it was in
cumbent on them to provide such a strength as might
be necessary for the safety of the kingdom. They
thanked hira, in an address, for this undeniable proof
of his readiness to comply with the desires of his Par
liament. They assured hira, he should never have
reason to think the Comraons were undutiful or un
kind ; for they would, on all occasions, stand by, and
assist hira in the preservation of his sacred person, and
in the support of his govemment, against all his ene
mies whatsoever. The Lords presented an address to
the same effect ; and the king assured both Houses he
entertained no doubts of their loyalty and affection. He
forthwith issued orders for reducing the army to the
number of seven thousand men, to be raaintained in
England under the name of guards and garrisons ; and,
hoping the hearts of the Commons were now mollified,
he made another effort in favour of his Dutch guards,
whom he could not dismiss without the most sensible
regret. Lord Ranelagh was sent with a written message
to the Commons, giving them to understand, that the
necessary preparations were made for transporting the
guards who came with hira into England, and that
they should embark immediately, unless out of con
sideration to him, the House should be disposed to find
a Avay for continuing them longer in the service ; a
favour which his majesty would take very kindly. The
Commons, instead of complying AA-ith his inclination,
presented an address, in which they professed unspeak
able grief that he should propose any thing to which
they could, not consent Avith due regard to the consti
tution, which he had corae over to restore, and so often
hazarded his royal person to preserve. They rerainded
him of the declaration, in which he had proraised that
all the foreign forces should be sent out of the kingdom.
They observed, that nothing conduced more to the
happiness and welfare of the nation than an entire
confidence between the king and people, which could

WILLIAM. 311
no way be so firmly established as by intrusting his sa- chap.
ered person with his own subjects, who had so eminently ,

signalized theraselves during the late long and expensive 1698.
war. They received a soothing answer to this address,
but reraained firra to their purpose, in which the king
was fain to acquiesce; and the Dutch guards were
transported to Holland. At a tirae when they declared
themselves so well pleased with their deliverer, such an
opposition, in an affair of very little consequence, sa
voured more of clownish obstinacy than of patriotism.
In the raidst of all their professions of regard, they en
tertained a national prejudice against himself, and all
the foreigners in his service. Even in the House of
Commons his person was treated with great disrespect
in virulent insinuations. They suggested that he neither
loved nor trusted the English nation ; that he treated
the natives with the most disagreeable reserve ; and
chose his confidants from the number of strangers that
surrounded him ; that, after every session of Parliament,
he retired frora the kingdora, to enjoy an indolent and
inglorious privacy with a few favourites. These sug
gestions were certainly true. He was extreraely dis
gusted with the English, whom he considered as ma
licious, ignorant, and ungrateful, and he took no pains
to disguise his sentiments.
The Coraraons having effected a dissolution of the The Com-
array, voted fifteen thousand seamen, and a proportion- diess^he'
able fleet, for the security of the kingdom: they granted ^t^^^f^
one million four hundred and eighty-four thousand fif- ^ *^'^ ^'
teen pounds for the services of the year, to be raised
by a tax of three shiUings in the pound upon lands,
personal estates, pensions, and offices. A great number
of priests and Roman CathoUcs, who had been frighted
away by the Revolution, were now encouraged, by the
treaty of Ryswick, to return, and appeared in all public
places of London and Westminster, with remarkable ef
frontery. The enemies of the government AA'hispered
about, that the treaty contained a secret article in favour
of those who professed that religion ; and some did not
even scruple to insinuate, that WUliam was a Papist in
his heart. The Commons, alarraed at the nuraber and
insolence of those religionists, desired the king, in an

312 chap.
VI.

Burnet. Kennet.
Lamberty. State
Tracts. Tindai. Ralph.

The Parlia.
ment pro
rogued.

An. 1699.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
address, to remove by proclaraation all Papists and non
jurors from the city of London and parts adjacent, and
put the laws in execution against them, that the wicked
designs they were always hatching might be effectually
disappointed. The king gratified them in their request
of a proclamation, which was not much regarded ; but a
reraarkable law was enacted against Papists in the course
of the ensuing session. The old East India company
about this period petitioned the Lower House to make
some provision that their corporation might subsist for
the residue of the terra of twenty-one years, granted by
his majesty's charter: that the payment of the five pounds
per cent, by the late act for settling the trade to the East
Indies, raight be settled and adjusted in such a manner
as not to remain a burden on the petitioners ; and that
such further considerations might be had for their re
lief, and for the preservation of the East India trade, as
should be thought reasonable. A bill was brought in
upon the subject of this petition ; but rejected at the
second reading. Discontents had risen to such a height,
that some members began to assert, they were not bound
to maintain the votes and credit of the former Parlia
ment ; and upon this maxim would have contributed
their interest towards a repeal of the act raade in favour
of the new corapany; but such a scherae was of too dan
gerous consequence to the public credit to be carried
into execution.
That spirit of peevishness which could not be grati
fied with this sacrifice, produced an inquiry into the
raanagement of naval affairs, which was aimed at the
Earl of Orford, a nobleman whose power gave umbrage,
and whose wealth excited envy. He officiated both as
treasurer of the navy and lord commissioner of the Ad
miralty, and seemed to have forgot the sphere from
which he had risen to title and office. The Coraraons
drew up an address, coraplaining of some unimportant
articles of misraanageraent in the conduct of the navy;
and the earl was wise enough to avoid further prosecu
tion, by resigning his employments. On the fourth day
of May the king closed the session, Avith a short speech,
hinting dissatisfaction at their having neglected to con
sider some points which he had recommended to their

WILLIAM. 313

attention ; and the Parliament was prorogued to the first ^^^^•
of June ''. In a little time after this prorogation, his

majesty appointed a regency " ; and on the second day of 1699.
June erabarked for Holland.
In Ireland nothing of raoraent was transacted. The T^ s=°'-
Parliaraent of that kingdora passed an act for raising pany make
one hundred and twenty thousand pounds on lands, a^settiement
tenements, and hereditaments, to defray the expense of isthmus of
raaintaining twelve thousand raen, who had been voted Darien.
by the Coramons of England, when the asserably was
prorogued. A new coraraission afterwards arrived at
Dublin, constituting the Duke of Bolton, the Earls of
Berkeley and Galway, lords justices of Ireland. The
claraour in Scotland increased against the rainistry, who
had disowned their company, and, in a great raeasure,
defeated the design frora which they had proraised thera
selves such heaps of treasure. Notwithstanding the dis
courageraents to which their corapany had been exposed,
they fitted out two of four large ships which had been
built at Haraburgh for their service. These were laden
with a cargo for traffic, with sorae artillery and railitary
stores ; and the adventurers embarking, to the number
of twelve hundred, they sailed frora the Frith of Edin
burgh, with some tenders, on the seventeenth day of
July in the preceding year. At Madeira they took in
a supply of wine, and then steered to Crab Island, in
the neighbourhood of St. Thomas, lying between Santa-
Cruz and Porto-Rico. Their design was to take pos
session of this little island; but, when they entered the
road, they saw a large tent pitched upon the strand,
and the Danish colours flying. Finding themselves an
ticipated in this quarter, they directed their course to
the coast of Darien, where they treated with the natives
"¦ About the latter end of March, the Earl of Warwick, and Lord Mohun, were
tried by their Peers in Westminster-hall forthe murder of Captain Richard Coote,
who had been killed in a midnight combat of three on each side. Warwick was
found guilty of manslaughter, and Mohun acquitted.
Villiers, Earl of Jersey, who had been sent arabassador to France, was appointed
secretary of state, in the room of the Duke of Shrewsbury ; this nobleman was
created lord chamberlain ; the Earl of Manchester was sent ambassador extraordi
nary to France ; the Earl of Pembroke was declared lord president of the council ;
and Lord Viscount Lonsdale keeper of the privy seal.
' Consisting of the lord chancellor, the lord president, the lord privy seal, the
lord steward of the household, the Earl of Bridgewater, first commissioner of the
Admiralty, the Earl of Marlborough, the Earl of Jersey, and Mr. Montague.

314 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, for the establishment of their colony, and taking pos-
" session of the ground, to which they gave the name of
1699. Caledonia, began to execute their plan of erecting a town
under the appellation of New Edinburgh, by the direction
of their council, consisting of Paterson the projector,
and six other directors. They had no sooner completed
their settlement, than they wrote a letter to the king,
containing a detail of their proceedings. They pre
tended they had received undoubted intelUgence that
the French intended to make a settlement on that coast ;
and that their colony would be the raeans of preventing
the evil consequences which raight arise to his raajesty's
kingdom and dominions from the execution of such a
scherae. They acknowledged his goodness in granting
those privUeges by which their comjDany was established ;
theyimploredthe continuance of his royalfavour and pro
tection, as they had punctually adhered to the conditions
of theactof Parliaraent, andthepatent theyhad obtained.
Which, By this time, however, the king was resolved to crush
ttiT^arT them effectually. He understood that the greater part
compelled of their provisious had been consumed before they set
to abandon, g^^jj ^^^ Scotland, and foresaw that they must be re
duced to a starving condition, if not supplied from the
English colonies. That they might be debarred of all
such assistance, he sent orders to the governors of Ja
maica, and the other English settlements in America,
to issue proclamations, prohibiting, under the severest
penalties, all his raajesty's subjects from holding any
correspondence with the Scottish colony, or assisting it,
in any shape, with arms, ammunition, or provisions, on
pretence that they had not comraunicated their design
to his raajesty, but had peopled Darien, in violation of
the peace subsisting betAveen hira and his allies. Their
colony was, doubtless, a very dangerous encroachment
upon the Spaniards, as it would have commanded the
passage between Porto-Bello and Panama, and divided
the Spanish erapire in America. The French king cora
plained of the invasion, and offered to supply the court
of Madrid with a fleet to dislodge the interlopers. Co-
lonna. Marquis de Canales, the Spanish ambassador at
the court of London, presented a memorial to King
WUUam, reraonstrating against the settleraent of this

WILLIAM. 315
colony, as a mark of disregard, and a breach of the alii- chap.
ance between the two crowns ; and declaring, that his '
master would take proper raeasures against such hos- 1699.
tilities. The Scots affirraed, that the natives of Darien
were a free people, whom the Spaniards had in vain at
tempted to subdue ; that, therefore, they had an original
and incontrovertible right to dispose of their own lands,
part of which the company had purchased for a valuable
consideration. But there was another cause more power
ful than the reraonstrances of the Spanish court, to which
this colony fell a sacrifice ; and that was, the jealousy of
the EngUsh traders and planters. Darien was said to
be a country abounding with gold, which would in a
little tirae enrich the adventurers. The Scots were
known to be an enterprising and pertinacious people ;
and their harbour near Golden Island was already de
clared a free port. The English apprehended that their
planters would be allured into this new colony, by the
double prospect of finding gold, and plundering the
Spaniards : that the buccaneers in particular would
choose it as their chief residence : that the plantations of
England would be deserted : that Darien would becorae
another Algiers ; and that the settleraent would pro
duce a rupture with Spain, in consequence of which the
English effects in that kingdom would be confiscated.
The Dutch, too, are said to have been jealous of a com
pany, which in time raight have proved their corapetitors
in the illicit coraraerce to the Spanish main ; and to have
hardened the king's heart against the new settlers, whom
he abandoned to their fate, notwithstanding the repeated
petitions and reraonstrances of their constituents. Fa
mine compelled the first adventurers to quit the coast :
a second recruit of men and provisions was sent thither
from Scotland ; but one of their ships, laden with pro
visions, being burnt by accident, they likewise deserted
the place : another reinforceraent arrived, and being
better provided than the two forraer, might have main
tained their footing ; but they were soon divided into
factions that rendered all their scheraes abortive. The
Spaniards advanced against them ; when, finding them
selves incapable of withstanding the enemy, they soli
cited a capitulation, by virtue of which they were per-

316 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, mitted to retire. Thus vanished all the golden drearas
^^' . of the Scottish nation, which had engaged in this design

1699. with incredible eagerness, and even erabarked a greater
sura of money than ever they had advanced upon any
other occasion. They were now not only disappointed
in their expectations of wealth and affluence, but a great
number of families were absolutely ruined by the rais-
carriage of the design, which they imputed solely to the
conduct of King William. The whole kingdora of Scot
land seeraed to join in the clamour that was raised
against their sovereign, taxed him with double dealing,
inhumanity, and base ingratitude, to a people who had
lavished their treasure and best blood in support of his
government, and in the gratification of his ambition ;
and, had their power been equal to their animosity, in
all probability a rebellion would have ensued.
Remon- William, meanwhile, enjoyed himself at Loo, where
thT'spanish ^e was visitcd by the Duke of Zell, with whora he had
court loner cultivated an intiraacy of friendship. During his
against the . ± o
treaty of resideuco in this place, the Earl of Portland and the
partition. Grand Pensionary of Holland frequently conferred with
the French ambassador. Count Tallard, upon the sub
ject of the Spanish succession. The first plan of the
partition being defeated bythe death of the young Prince
of Bavaria, they found it necessary to concert another,
and began a private negotiation for that purpose. The
court of Spain, apprised of their intention, sent a written
remonstrance to Mr. Stanhope, the English minister at
Madrid, expressing their resentraent at this unprece
dented method of proceeding, and desiring that a stop
might be put to those intrigues, seeing the King of Spain
would of hiraself take the necessary steps for preserving
the public tranquiUity, in case he should die without
heirs of his body. A representation of the same kind
was made to the ministers of France and Holland : the
Marquis de Canales, the Spanish arabassador at London,
delivered a raeraorial to the lords justices, couched in
the raost virulent terras, against this transaction, and
even appealing frora the king to the Parliaraent. This
Spaniard was pleased Avith an opportunity to insult King
William, who hated his person, and had forbid him the
court, on account of his appearing covered in his ma-

WILLIAM. 317

jesty's presence. The regency had no sooner comrau- ^hap.
nicated this paper to the king, than he ordered the .

arabassador to quit the kingdom in eighteen days, and 1699.
to remain within his own house till the time of his
departure. He was likewise given to understand, that
no writing would be received from him or any of his
domestics. Mr. Stanhope was directed to complain at
Madrid of the affront offered to his raaster, which he
styled an insolent and saucy atterapt to stir up sedition
in the kingdom, by appealing to the people and ParUa
ment of England against his majesty. The court of
Spain justified what their rainister had done, and in their
turn ordered Mr. Stanhope to leave their dorainions.
Don Bernardo de Quires, the Spanish ambassador in
Holland, prepared a raeraorial on the sarae subject to
the States-General ; which, hoAvever, they refused to
accept. These remonstrances did not interrupt the ne
gotiation, in which Louis was so eager, that he cora
plained of WiUiara, as if he had not employed his whole
influence in prevailing upon the Dutch to signify their
accession to the articles agreed upon by France and Eng
land ; but his Britannic majesty found raeans to remove
this jealousy.
About the middle of October, William returned to '^^ *"°'""
' mons per-
England, and conferred upon the Duke of Shrewsbury sist in their
the office of chamberlain, vacant since the resignation of [^^^"[{"ty'
Sunderland. Mr. Montague, at the same period, re- the king.
signed his seat at the treasury-board, together with the
chancellorship of the exchequer ; either foreseeing un
common difficulty in managing a House of Commons,
after they had been dismissed in ill-humour, or dread
ing the interest of his enemies, who might procure a vote
that his two places were inconsistent. The king opened
the session of Parliament, on the sixteenth day of No
vember, with a long speech, advising a further provision
for the safety of the kingdora by sea and land, as well as
the repairs of ships and fortifications ; exhorting the
Coramons to make good the deficiencies of the funds,
discharge the debts of the nation, and provide the ne
cessary supplies. He recommended some good bill for
the more effectual preventing and punishing unlawful
and clandestine trading ; and expressed a desire, that

318 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, some method should be taken for employing the poor,
^'- which were become a burden to the kingdom. He as-
1699. sured them, his resolutions were to countenance virtue
and discourage vice ; and that he would decline no dif
ficulties and dangers, where the welfare and prosperity
of the nation raight be concerned. He concluded with
these words : " Since, then, our aims are only for the
general good, let us act with confidence in one another ;
which will not fail, with God's blessing, to make rae a
happy king, and you a great and flourishing people." — ¦
The Comraons were now becorae wanton in their dis
gust. Though they had received no real provocation,
they resolved to mortify hira with their proceedings.
They affected to put odious interpretations on the very
harmless expression of, " let us act with confidence in
one another." Instead of an address of thanks, accord
ing to the usual custom, they presented a sullen remon
strance, complaining that a jealousy and disgust had
been raised of their duty and affection ; and desiring he
would show marks of his high displeasure towards all
persons who had presumed to misrepresent their pro
ceedings to his majesty. He declared, in his answer,
that no person had ever dared to misrepresent their
proceedings, and, that if any should presume to impose
upon hira by such caluranies, he would treat thera as
his worst eneraies.
Inquiry into The House was uot iu a humour to be appeased with
tionof'c^'- soothing promises and protestations : they determined
tain Kidd. to distross hiui, by prosecuting his rainisters. During
the war, the colonies of North America had grown rich
by piracy. One Kidd, the master of a sloop, undertook
to suppress the pirates, provided the governraent would
furnish hira with a ship of thirty guns, well manned.
The board of Admiralty declaring that such a number
of seamen could- not be spared from the public service,
Kidd was equipped by the private subscription of the
lord chancellor, the Duke of Shrewsbury, the Earls
of Romney, Orford, and Bellamont, Sir Edward Har
rison, and Colonel Livingstone, of New York. The
king proraised to contribute one half of the expense,
and reserved to himself one-tenth of the profits ; but he
never advanced the money. Kidd, being thus equipped.

WILLIAM. 319
and provided with a commission to act against the ^y^^-
French, as well as to make war on certain pirates therein  '. —
mentioned by narae, set sail frora Plymouth ; but, in- 1699.
stead of cruising on the coast of America, he directed
his course to the East Indies, where he hiraself turned
pirate, and took a rich ship belonging to the Moors.
Having divided his booty with his crew, ninety of whom
left him, in order to join other adventurers, he burned
his own ship, and sailed with his prize to the West In
dies. There he purchased a sloop, in which he steered
for North America, leaving part of his men in the
prize, to reraain in one of the Leeward Islands, until
they should receive further instructions. Arriving on
the coast of New York, he sent one Emmet to raake his
peace with the Earl of Bellaraont, the governor of that
province, who inveigled hira into a negotiation, in the
course of which he was apprehended. Then his lord
ship sent an account of his proceedings to the secretary
of state, desiring that he would send for the prisoners
to England, as there was no law in that colony for
punishing piracy with death, and the raajority of the
people favoured that practice. The Adrairalty, by order
of the lords justices, despatched the ship Rochester to
bring home the prisoners and their effects ; but, after
having been tossed for sorae tirae with terapestuous
weather, this vessel was obliged to return to Plyraouth
in a shattered condition. This incident ftirnished the
raalecontents with a colour to paint the ministry as the
authors and abettors of a piratical expedition, which
they wanted to screen from the cognizance ofthe public.
The old East India company had complained to the
regency of the capture raade by Kidd in the East In
dies, apprehending, as the vessel belonged to the Moors,
they should be exposed to the resentraent of the mogul.
In the beginning of Deceraber, this subject being
brought abruptly into the House of Coraraons, a rao
tion was raade, that the letters-patent granted to the
Earl of Bellamont and others, of pirates' goods, were
dishonourable to the king, against the laws of nations,
contrary to the laws and statutes of the land, invasive
of property, and destructive of trade and comraerce.
A warra -debate ensued, in the course of which sorae

320

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. VL
1669.

A motion
madeagainst Burnet,
Bishop of
Sarum,

Inquiry
into the
Irish for
feitures.

raerabers declairaed with great bitterness against the
chancellor and the Duke of Shrewsbury, as partners in
a piratical scheme ; but these imputations were refuted,
and the raotion was rejected by a great raajority. Not
but they raight have justly stigraatized the expedition
as a little mean adventure, in which those noblemen had
erabarked with a view to their own private advantage.
While this affair was in agitation among the Com
mons, the attention of the Upper House was employed
upon the case of Dr. Watson, Bishop of St. David's. This
prelate was supposed to have paid a valuable considera
tion for his bishopric; and, after his elevation, had
sold the preferments in his gift, with a view of being
reimbursed. He was accused of siraony ; and, after a
solemn hearing before the Archbishop of Canterbury
and six suffragans, convicted and deprived. Then he
pleaded his privilege ; so that the affair was brought
into the Ho~use of Lords, who refused to own him as a
peer after he had ceased to be a bishop. Thus disap
pointed, he had recourse to the court of delegates, by
whom the archbishop's sentence was confirmed. The
next effort that the Coraraons made, with a view of
mortifying King William, was to raise a claraour against
Dr. Burnet, Bishop of Sarura. He was represented
in the House as a very unfit preceptor for the Duke of
Gloucester, both as a Scottish raan, and author of that
pastoral letter, which had been burned by order of the
Parliament, for asserting that William had a right to
the crown from conquest. A motion was raade for ad
dressing his majesty that this prelate might be disraissed
from his employment, but rejected by a great majority.
Burnet had acted with uncoramon integrity in accept
ing the trust. He had declined the office which he was
in a manner forced to accept. He had offered to resign'
his bishopric, thinking the employment of a tutor
would interfere with the duty of a pastor. He insisted
upon the duke's residence all the summer at Windsor,
which is in the diocese of Sarum ; and added to his
private charities the whole income of his new office.
The circumstance on which the anti-courtiers built
their chief hope of distressing or disgracing the govern
ment, was the inquiry into the Irish forfeitures which

WILLIAM. 321
the king had distributed among his own dependents, chap.
The comraissioners appointed by ParUament to exaraine ^^'

these particulars were Annesley, Trenchard, Hamilton, 1699.
Langford, the Earl of Drogheda, Sir Francis Brewster,
and Sir Richard Leving. The first four were actuated
by all the virulence of faction : the other three were se
cretly guided by ministerial influence. They began their
inquiry in Ireland, and proceeded with such severity as
seeraed to flowrather frora resentraent to the court, than
frora a love of justice and abhorrence of corruption.
They in particular scrutinized the grant of an estate
which the king had made to Mrs. Villiers, now Countess
of Orkney, so as to expose his majesty's partiality for
that favourite, and subject him to an additional load of
popular odium. In the course of their examination, the
Earl of Drogheda, Leving, and Brewster, opposed the
rest of the coramissioners in divers articles of the report
which they refused to sign, and sent over a meraorial
to the House of Comraons, explaining their reasons for
dissenting from their colleagues. By this tirae, how
ever, they were considered as hirelings of the court,
and no regard was paid to their representations. The
others delivered their report, declaring that a raiUion
and a half of raoney might be raised from the sale of the
confiscated estates ; and a bill was brought in for ap
plying them to the use of the public. A raotion being
made to reserve a third part for the king's disposal, it
was overruled : then the Comraons passed an extraor
dinary vote, iraporting, that they would not receive any
petition from any person whatsoever concerning the
grants ; and that they would consider the great services
perforraed by the coramissioners appointed to inquire
into the forfeited estates. They resolved, that the four
comraissioners who had signed the report had acquitted
themselves with understanding, courage, and integrity ;
and that Sir Richard Leving, as author of groundless
and scandalous aspersions cast upon his four colleagues,
should be committed prisoner to the Tower. They
afterwards came to the following resolution, which was
presented to the king in forra of an address : that the
procuring and passing those grants had occasioned great
debts upon the nation, and heavy taxes upon the peo-
VOL. I. Y

322 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, pie, and highly reflected upon the king's honour ; and
^^'^ that the officers and instruments concerned in the same

1699. had highly failed in the performance of their trust and
duty. The king answered, that he was not only led
by inclination, but thought himself obliged in justice
to reward those who had served well in the reduction
of Ireland, out of the estates forfeited to hira by the
rebellion in that kingdom. He observed, that as the
long war had left the nation much in debt, their taking
just and effectual ways for lessening that debt, and sup
porting public credit, was what, in his opinion, would
best contribute to the honour, interest, and safety of
the kingdom. This answer kindled a flame of indig
nation in the House. They forthwith resolved, that
the adviser of it had used his utraost endeavours to
create a raisunderstanding and jealousy between the
king and his people.
The Com- They prepared, finished, and passed a bill of resump-
a bill of tion. They ordered the report of the commissioners,
resumption, together with the king's promise and speeches, and the
former resolutions of the House, touching the forfeited
estates in Ireland, to be printed and published for
their justification; and they resolved, that the procuring
or passing exorbitant grants by any meraber, now of the
privy council, or by any other that had been a privy
counsellor, in this or any forraer reign, to his use or
benefit, was a high crime and misderaeanour. That jus
tice might be done to purchasers and creditors iu the
act of resumption, thirteen trustees Avere authorized and
empowered to hear and determine all clairas relating
to those estates ; to sell them to the best purchasers ;
and the money arising from the sale was appropriated
to pay the arrears of the army. It passed under the
title of a bill for granting an aid to his majesty, by the
sale of forfeited and other estates and interests in Ire
land ; and that it raight undergo no alteration in the
House of Lords, it was consolidated with the raoney
bill for the service of the year. In the House of Lords
it produced warm debates ; and some alterations were
made, which the Coraraons unanimously rejected. They
seemed to be now raore than ever exasperated against
the rainistry, and ordered a Ust of the privy council to

WILLIAM. 323
be laid before the House. The Lords demanded con- ^yf^-
ferences, which served only to exasperate the two Houses .

against each other : for the Peers insisted upon their 1699.
amendraents, and the Coramons were so provoked at
their interfering in a money bUl, that they determined
to give a loose to their resentment. They ordered all
the doors of their House to be shut, that no raerabers
should go forth. Then they took into consideration
the report of the Irish forfeitures, with the list of the
privy counsellors ; and a question was raoved, that an
address should be raade to his majesty, to remove John
Lord Somers, Chancellor of England, from his presence
and councils for ever. This, however, was carried in
the negative by a great majority. The king was ex
tremely chagrined at the bill, which he considered as
an invasion of his prerogative, an insult on his person, S^™^*-
and an injury to his friends and servants ; and he at Coie's
first resolved to hazard all the consequences of refusing ^^^
to pass it into a law ; but he was diverted from his pur- Tracts.
pose by the remonstrances of those in whom he chiefly ^?^af''^'
confided. He could not, however, dissemble his re- Ralph.
sentment. He became sullen, peevish, and morose,
and his eneraies did not fail to make use of this addi
tional ill-huinour, as a proof of his aversion to the
English people. Though the motion against the chan
cellor had miscarried, the Commons resolved to address
his majesty, that no person who was not a native of his
dominions, except his royal highness Prince George of
Denraark, should be adraitted into his raajesty's coun
cUs in England or Ireland. This resolution was leA^elled
against the Earls of Portland, Albemarle, and Gahvay ;
but before the address could be presented, the king
went to the House of Peers, and having passed the bill
which had produced such a ferment, with some others,
coraraanded the Earl of Bridgewater, speaker of the
House, in the absence of the chancellor, who was in
disposed, to prorogue the Parliaraent to the twenty-
third day of May.
In the course of this session, the Coraraons having An. 1700.
prosecuted their inquiry into the conduct of Kidd, ^^"g ^jij^"
brought in a bill for the more effectual suppressing of against
piracy, which passed into a law : understanding after- ^^"^ '
y2

324 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ^ards that Kidd was brought over to England, they
presented an address to the king, desiring that he might

1700. not be tried, discharged, or pardoned, till the next
session of ParUament ; and his majesty complied with
their request. Boiling still Avith indignation against
the lord chancellor, who had turned many disaffected
persons out of the commission of the peace, the House
ordered a bill to be prepared for qualifying justices of
the peace ; and appointed a coraraittee to inspect the
coraraission. This reporting that raany dissenters,
and raen of sraall fortunes, depending on the court,
were put into those places, the Coraraons declared in an
address, that it would rauch conduce to the serrice of
his raajesty, and the good of this kingdora, that gentle
men of quality and good estates should be restored, and
put into the coraraissions of the peace and lieutenancy ;
and that raen of small estates be neither continued, nor
put into the said commissions. The king assured them
he was of the same opinion ; and that he would give
directions accordingly. They were so molUfied by this
instance of his condescension, that they thanked him in
a body for his gracious angwer. They passed a bill to
exculpate such as had neglected to sign the association,
either through mistake, or want of opportunity. Haring
received a petition from the Lancashire clergy, com
plaining of the insolence and attempts of popish priests,
they appointed a coramittee to inquire how far the laws
against popish refugees had been put in execution ; and
upon the report, a bill was brought in, complying with
the prayer of the petition. It decreed a further reward
to such persons as should discover and convict popish
priests and Jesuits; and perpetual imprisonment for
those convicted on the oath of one or more witnesses.
It enacted, that no person born after the twenty-fifth
day of March next ensuing, being a Papist, should be
capable of inheriting any title of honour or estate
within the kingdora of England, dorainion of Wales,
or town of BerAvick-upon-Tweed ; and that no Papist
should be capable of purchasing any lands, tenements,
or hereditaments, either in his own narae or in the
name of any other person in trust for him. Several
alterations were made in this first draft, before it was

WILLIAM. 325

finished and sent up to the Lords, some of whom pro- ^"^''•
posed amendments : these, however, were not adopted ;

and the bill obtained the royal assent, contrary to the 1700.
expectation of those who prosecuted the measure, on
the supposition that the king was a favourer of the
Papists. After all, the bill was deficient in necessary
clauses to enforce execution ; so that the law was very
little regarded in the sequel.
The court sustained another insult from the old East ^^ °^^
India company, who petitioned the House that they company
might be continued by parliamentary authority during ^ush^^
the remaining part of the time prescribed in their char
ter. They, at the same time, published a state of their
case, in which they expatiated upon the equity of their
clairas, and magnified the injuries they had undergone.
The new company drew up an answer to this remon
strance, exposing the corrupt practices of their adversa
ries. But the influence of their great patron, Mr.
Montague, was now vanished ; the supply was not yet
discussed ; and the ministry would not venture to pro
voke the Coramons, who seeraed propitious to the old
corapany, and actually passed a bill in their favour.
This, meeting with no opposition in the Upper House,
was enacted into a law, renewing their establishment ;
so that now there were two rival corapanies of raerchants
trading to the East Indies. The Comraons, not yet
satisfied with the vexations to which they had exposed
their sovereign, passed a bill to appoint coramissioners
for taking and examining the public accounts. Another
law was raade to prohibit the use of India silks and
stuffs which interfered with the English raanufactures ;
a third, to take off the duties on the exportation of
woollen raanufactures, corn, grain, meal, bread, and
biscuit ; and a fourth, in which provision was made for
punishing governors, or coraraanders in chief of planta
tions and colonies, in case they should comrait any
criraes or acts of injustice and oppression in the exercise
of their administration.
The people of Scotland still continued in violent f^^^^°^^
agitation. They published a pamphlet, containing a Scotland.
detail of their grievances, which they in a great measure
ascribed to his majesty. A complaint being preferred

326 HISTORY OP ENGLAND.
CHAP, to the House of Commons against this performance, it
^ ' . was voted a false, scandalous, and traitorous libel, and

1700. ordered to be burned by the hands ofthe common hang
man. The Commons addressed his majesty, to issue
his royal proclamation for apprehending the author,
printer, and pubUsher ofthe said libel ; and he compUed
with their request. The Scottish corapany had sent
up an address to the king, in behalf of some adven
turers who were wrongfully detained prisoners in Car
thagena ; but Lord Basil Hamilton, who undertook
the charge of this petition, was refused admittance to
his majesty, on pretence of his being suspected of dis
affection to the governraent. The king, however, Avrote
to his council for Scotland, that he would demand the
enlargement of the prisoners, and countenance any
laudable measure that could advance the trade of that
kingdom. The directors of the company, not content
with this declaration, importuned their lord chancellor,
who was in London, to procure access for Lord Basil
Hamilton ; and the ministry took shelter frora their
solicitations behind a parliamentary inquiry. The sub
ject of the Scottish colony being introduced into the
House of Lords, where the ministerial influence prepon
derated, a vehement debate arose, not from any regard
to the interest of Scotland, but fi-ora raere opposition
to the court, which, however, triuraphed in the issue.
A raotion was made, that the settlement of the Scottish
colony at Darien was inconsistent with the good of the
plantation trade of England ; and passed in the affirma
tive by a small majority. Then they presented an ad
dress, declaring their sympathy Arith the losses of their
fellow-subjects, and their opinion that a prosecution of
the design must end, not only in far greater disappoint
ments to theraselves, but also prove very inconvenient
to the trade and quiet of the kingdom. They re
rainded hira of the address of both Houses, touching
that settleraent ; and they expressed their approbation
of the orders he had sent to the governors ofthe planta
tions on this subject. The king, in his answer to the
address, in which the Comraons refused to concur, took
the opportunity of exhorting thera to consider of an
union between the two kingdoms as a measure, than

WILLIAM. 327
which nothing could more contribute to their mutual *^^^'^-
security and advantage. The Lords, in pursuance of ___!__
this advice, prepared a bill, appointing certain commis- 1700.
sioners of the realm of England to treat with cora
missioners of Scotland for the weal of both kingdoms ;
but it was obstructed in the House of Comraons, who
were determined to thwart every step that might tend
to lessen the disgust, or appease the aniraosity, of the
Scottish nation. The malecontents insinuated, that the
king's opposition to the Scottish company flowed neither
from his regard to the interest of England, nor from
his punctual observance of treaties with Spain, but solely
from his attachment to the Dutch, who maintained an
advantageous trade frora the Island of Cura^oa to the
Spanish plantations in America, and were apprehensive
that the Scottish corapany would deprive thera of this
coraraerce. This interpretation served as fuel to the
flarae already kindled in Scotland, and industriously
blown up by the calumnies of the Jacobites. Their
Parliament adopted the company as a national concern,
by voting, that the colony of Caledonia in Darien was
a legal and rightful settlement, which the Parliament
would maintain and support. On account of this reso
lution tlie session was for some time discontinued ; but
when the Scots understood their new settleraent was
totally abandoned, their capital lost, and all their hope
entirely vanished, the whole nation was seized with a
transport of fury. They loudly exclairaed, that they
had been sacrificed and basely betrayed in that quarter
where they were entitled to protection. They con
certed an address to the king, couched in a very high
strain, representing the necessity of an immediate Par
liament. It was circulated about the kingdora for sub
scriptions, signed by a great nuraber of those who sat
in Parliament, and presented to the king by Lord Ross,
who with some others was deputed for that purpose.
The king told them, they should know his intention in
Scotland ; and in the mean time adjourned their Parlia
ment by proclamation. The people, exasperated at this
new provocation, began to form the draft of a second
national address, to be signed by the shires and bo
roughs ofthe kingdom ; but before this could be finished.

328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the king wrote a letter to the Duke of Queensberry, and
' the privy council of that nation, which was pubUshed
1700. for the satisfaction of the people. He professed hira
self grieved at the nation's loss, and willing to grant
what raight be needful for the relief and ease of the
kingdom. He assured thera he had their interest at
heart ; and that his good subjects should have con
vincing proofs of his sincere inclination to advance the
wealth and prosperity of that his ancient kingdom. He
said he hoped this declaration would be satisfactory to
all good raen ; that they would not suffer theraselves
to be raisled ; nor give advantage to enemies, and ill
designing persons, ready to seize every opportunity of
embroiling the government. He gave them to under
stand that his necessary absence had occasioned the late
adjournment ; but as soon as God should bring him
back, their Parliament should be assembled. Even
this explanation, seconded by all the credit and address
of his rainisters, failed in allaying the national ferment,
which rose to the very verge of rebellion.
Lord The king, who, from his first accession to the throne,
m^ssedfrom ^^^ vccred Occasionally frora one party to another, ac-
his employ- cordiug to the circurastauccs of his aifairs, and the op-
"^° ^' position he encountered, was, at this period, so incensed
and erabarrassed by the caprice and insolence of the
Coraraons, that he willingly lent an ear to the leaders
of the tories, who undertook to manage the Parliament
according to his pleasure, provided he would part with
sorae of his ministers, who were peculiarly odious to
the Commons. The person against whom their anger
was chiefly directed was the Lord Chancellor Somers,
the most active leader of the whig party. They de
manded his dismission, and the king exhorted him to
resign his office ; but he refusing to take any step that
might indicate a fear of his enemies, or a consciousness
of guilt, the king sent a peremptory order for the seals
by the Lord Jersey, to whora Soraers delivered them
without hesitation. They were successively offered to
Lord Chief Justice Holt, and Trevor, the attorney-
general, who declined accepting such a precarious office.
Meanwhile, the king gi-anted a temporary commission
to three judges to sit in the Court of Chancery ; and at

WILLIAM. 329

length bestowed the seals, with the title of lord keeper, chap.
on Nathan Wright, one of the Serjeants at law, a man

but indifferently qualified for the office to which he was noo.
now preferred. Though WilUam seemed altogether
attached to the tories, and inclined to a new Parlia
ment, no person appeared to take the lead in the affairs
of government ; and, indeed, for some time the admi
nistration seemed to be under no particular direction.
During the transactions of the last session, the nego- Second
tiation for a second partition treaty had been carried on potion.
in London by the French minister, Tallard, in con
junction with the Earls of Portland and Jersey, and
was soon brought to perfection. On the twenty-first
day of February the treaty was signed in London ; and
on the twenty-fifth of the next month it was subscribed
at the Hague by Briord, the French envoy, and the
plenipotentiaries of the States-General. By this con
vention the treaty of Ryswick was confirmed. The
contracting parties agreed, that, in case of his catholic
majesty's dying without issue, the dauphin should pos
sess, for himself and his heirs, the kingdoras of Naples
and Sicily, the islands of St. Stephano, Porto Hercole,
Orbitello, Telaraone, Porto Longone, Piorabino, the
city and marquisate of Final, the province of Guipuscoa,
the duchies of Lorraine and Bar, in exchange for which
last the Duke of Lorraine should enjoy the duchy of
Milan ; but that the county of Biche should reraain in
sovereignty to the Prince of Vaudemont : that the
Archduke Charles should inherit the kingdom of Spain
and all its dependencies in and out of Europe ; but in
case of his dying Arithout issue, it should devolve to
some other child of the emperor, excepting him who
might succeed as Eraperor or King of the Roraans :
that this monarchy should never descend to a King of
France or dauphin ; and that three months should be
allowed to the eraperor, to consider whether or not he
would accede to this treaty. Whether the French king
was really sincere in his professions at this juncture, or
proposed this treaty with a view to raake a clandestine
use of it at the court of Spain for more interested pur
poses, it is not easy to deterraine ; at first, however, it
was concealed from the notice of the public, as if the

330 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, parties had resolved to take no step in consequence of
it during the life of his cathoUc raajesty.

1700. In the beginning of July the king embarked for
Death ofthe Holland, after having appointed a regency to govern
Gloucester. *^^ kingdom in his absence. On the twenty-ninth day
of the same month, the young Duke of Gloucester, the
only remaining child of seventeen which the Princess
Anne had borne, died of a raalignant fever, in the
eleventh year of his age. His death was rauch laraented
by the greater part of the English nation, not only on
account of his promising talents and gentle behaviour,
but also, as it left the succession undetermined, and
might create disputes of fatal consequence to the na
tion. The Jacobites openly exulted in an event which
they imagined would remove the chief bar to the interest
of the Prince of Wales ; but the Protestants generally
turned their eyes upon the Princess Sophia, Electress
Dowager of Hanover, and granddaughter of James I.
It was Avith a view to concert the establishment of her
succession that the court of Brunswick now returned
the visit of King WiUiara. The present state of affairs
in England, however, afforded a very uncomfortable
prospect. The people were generally alienated from
the person and government of the reigning king, upon
whom they seera to have surfeited. The vigour of their
minds was destroyed by luxury and sloth ; the severity
of their morals was relaxed by a long habit of venality
and corruption. The king's health began to decline,
and even his faculties decayed apace. No person was
appointed to ascend the throne when it should become
vacant. The Jacobite faction alone was eager, vigilant,
enterprising, and elate. They despatched Mr. Gra
ham, brother of Lord Preston, to the court of St. Ger
main's iraraediately after the death of the Duke of
Gloucester ; they began to bestir theraselves all over
the kingdora. A report was spread that the Princess
Anne had privately sent a raessage to her father ; and
Britain was once raore threatened with civil war, con-
ftision, anarchy, and ruin.
In the mean time. King WUUara was not inactive.
The Kings of Denmark and Poland, with the Elector
of Brandenburgh, had formed a league to crush the

WILLIAM. 331

young King of Sweden, by invading his dominions on *^^^^-
different sides. The Poles actually entered Livonia, ,

and undertook the siege of Riga ; the King of Den- 1700.
mark, having demolished some forts in Holstein, the s^dJ'afeet
Duke of which was connected with Sweden, invested into the
Tonninghen. The Swedish rainister in England de- theSsist-
manded that as,sistance of William which had been sti- ance of the
pulated in a late renewal of the ancient treaty between ^^^"^^^-
England and Sweden. The states of Holland were
solicited to the same purpose. Accordingly, a fleet of
thirty sail, English and Dutch, was sent to the Baltic,
under the command of Sir George Rooke, who joined
the Swedish squadron, and bombarded Copenhagen, to
which the Danish fleet had retired. At the same time,
the Duke of Lunenbourg, with the Swedish forces,
which happened to be at Bremen, passed the Elbe, and
marched to the assistance of the Duke of Holstein.
The Danes immediately abandoned the siege of Ton
ninghen ; and a body of Saxons, Avho had made an
irruption into the territories ofthe Duke of Brunswick,
were obliged to retreat in disorder. By the mediation
of William, a negotiation was begun for a treaty be
tween Sweden and Denmark, which, in order to quicken,
Charles, the young King of Sweden, raade a descent
upon the isle of Zealand. This Avas executed with
great success. Charles was the first raan who landed ;
and here he exhibited such raarks of courage and con
duct, far above his years, as equally astonished and in
timidated his adversaries. Then he determined to
besiege Copenhagen ; a resolution that struck such ter
ror into the Danes, that they proceeded with redoubled
diligence in the treaty, which was brought to a con
clusion, between Denraark, Sweden, and Holstein,
about the middle of August. Then the Swedes retired
to Schonen, and the squadrons of the maritirae powers
returned frora the Baltic.
When the ncAV partition treaty was coraraunicated The second
by the ministers of the contracting parties to the other partition
powers of Europe, it generally met with a very un- generally
favourable construction. Saxony and the northern abk^oUie
crowns were still embroiled with their own quarrels, European
consequently could not give much attention to such a p°"*"-

332 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, remote transaction. The Princes of Germany appeared
cautious and dilatory in their answers, unwilling to be

1700. concerned in any plan that might excite the resent
ment of the house of Austria. The Elector of Bran
denburgh, in particular, had set his heart upon the regal
dignity, which he hoped to obtain from the favour and
authority of the emperor. The Italian states were
averse to the partition treaty, frora their apprehension
of seeing France in possession of Naples and other dis
tricts of their country. The Duke of Savoy affected a
mysterious neutrality, in hopes of being able to barter
his consent for some considerable advantage. The Swiss
cantons declined acceding as guarantees. The eraperor
expressed his astonishment that any disposition should
be raade of the Spanish raonarchy without the consent
of the present possessor, and the states of the kingdora.
He observed, that neither justice nor decorura could
warrant the contracting powers to corapel hira, who was
the rightful heir, to accept a part of his inheritance
within three raonths, under penalty of forfeiting even
that share to a third person not yet named ; and he
declared, that he could take no final resolution, until
he should know the sentiraents of his catholic raajesty,
on an affair in which their rautual interest was so nearly
concerned. Leopold was actually engaged in a ne
gotiation with the King of Spain, who signed a will in
favour of his second son Charles ; yet he took no raea
sures to support the disposition, either by sending the
archduke with a sufficient force to Spain, or by de
taching troops into Italy.
The French The pcoplc of Spaiu Were exasperated at the insolence
v^k It the' of the three foreign powers who pretended to parcel
court of out their dorainions. Their pride took the alarm, at
'"""¦ the prospect of their monarchy being dismerabered ;
and their grandees repined at the thought of losing so
raany lucrative governments which they now enjoyed.
The king's life became, every day raore and raore pre
carious, frora frequent returns of his disorder. The
ministry was weak and divided, the nobility factious,
and the people discontented. The hearts of the nation
had been alienated from the house of Austria, by the
insolent carriage and rapacious disposition of the Queen

WILLIAM. 333
Mariana. The French had gained over to their in- chap.
terests the Cardinal Portocarrero, the Marquis de Mon- "
tercy, with many other noblemen and persons of dis- 1700.
tinction. These, perceiving the sentiments of the
people, eraployed their eraissaries to raise a general cry
that France alone could raaintain the succession entire :
that the house of Austria was feeble and exhausted,
and any prince of that line raust owe his chief support
to detestable heretics. Portocarrero tampered with the
weakness of his sovereign. He repeated and exaggerated
all these suggestions : he advised him to consult Pope
Innocent XII. on this momentous point of regulating
the succession. That pontiff, who was a creature of
France, having taken the advice of a college of car
dinals, deterrained that the renunciation of Maria
Theresa was invalid and null, as being founded upon
compulsion, and contrary to the fundamental laws of
the Spanish monarchy. He, therefore, exhorted King
Charles to contribute to the propagation of the faith,
and the repose of Christendora, by raaking a new vrill
in favour of a grandson of the French raonarch. This
adraonition was seconded by the reraonstrances of Por
tocarrero ; and the weak prince complied with the pro
posal. In the mean time, the King of France seeraed
to act heartily as a principal in the treaty of partition.
His rainisters at foreign courts co-operated with those
of the raaritime powers, in soliciting the accession of
the different potentates in Europe. When Count Zin
zendorf, the imperial arabassador at Paris, presented a
memorial, desiring to know what part France would act,
should the King of Spain voluntarily place a grandson
of Louis upon the throne, the Marquis de Torcy an
swered in writing, that his most christian majesty would
by no means listen to such a proposal : nay, when the
emperor's minister gave them to understand that his
master was ready to begin a separate negotiation Arith
the court of Versailles, touching the Spanish succession,
Louis declared he could not treat on that subject vrith
out the concurrence of his allies.
The nature of the partition treaty was no sooner King Wii-
known in England, than condemned by the most Intel- meMslo
ligent part of the nation. They first of all complained, allay the
Scotland.

334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- that such an important affair should be concluded with-
' out the advice of Pariiament. They observed, that the
1700. scheme was unjust, and the execution of it hazardous ;
that, in concerting the terms, the maritime powers
seemed to have acted as partisans of France ; for the
possession of Naples and the Tuscan ports would sub
ject Italy to her dominion, and interfere Avith the Eng
lish trade to the Levant and Mediterranean; whUe
Guipuscoa, on any future rupture, Avould afford another
inlet into the heart of the Spanish dominions ; they,
for these reasons, pronounced the treaty destructive of
the balance of power, and prejudicial to the interest of
England. All these arguments AA'ere trurapeted by the
malecontents, so that the whole kingdom echoed Arith
the clamour of disaffection. Sir Christopher Musgrave,
and others of the tory faction, began to think in earnest
of establishing the succession of the English crown upon
the person of the Prince of Wales. They are said to
have sent over Mr. Graham to St. Germain's Avith over
tures to this purpose, and an assurance that a motion
would be made in the House of Commons, to pass a
vote that the croAvn should not be supported in the
execution of the partition treaty. King William was
not ignorant of the censure he had undergone, and not
a little alarmed to find hiraself so unpopular among his
own subjects. That he might be the more able to
bestow his attention effectually upon the affairs of Eng
land, he resolved to take some measures for the satis
faction of the Scottish nation. He permitted the Par
liament of that kingdom to raeet on the tw'enty-eighth
day of October, and wrote a letter to them from his
house at Loo, containing an assurance that he would
concur in every thing that could be reasonably proposed
for maintaining and advancing the peace and Avelfare of
their kingdom. He proraised to give his royal assent
to such acts as they should frame for the better esta
blishment of the presbyterian discipline ; for preventing
the growth of popery, suppressing vice and imraorality,
encouraging piety and virtue, preserving and securing
personal liberty, regulating and advancing trade, re
trieving the losses, and promoting the interest of their
African and Indian companies. He expressed his con-

WILLIAM. 335
cern that he could not assert the company's right of ^yf^-
establishing a colony at Darien, without disturbing the "
peace of Christendora, and entailing a ruinous war on 1700.
that his ancient kingdom. He recommended una
nimity and despatch in raising competent taxes for their
own defence ; and told them he had thought fit to con
tinue the Duke of Queensberry in the office of high-
commissioner. Notwithstanding this soothing address,
the national resentment continued to rage, and the Par
liaraent seemed altogether intractable. By this time
the company had received certain tidings of the entire
surrender of their settlement ; and on the first day of
the session, they represented to Parliaraent, that for
want of due protection abroad, some persons had been
encouraged to break in upon their privUeges even at
home. This remonstrance was succeeded by another
national address to the king, who told thera he could
not take any further notice of that affair, since the Par
liaraent was now asserabled ; and he had already made
a declaration with which he hoped all his faithful sub
jects would be satisfied. Nevertheless, he found it ab
solutely necessary to practise other expedients for allay
ing the ferment of that nation. His ministers and their
agents bestirred themselves so successfully, that the
heats in Parliament were entirely cooled, and the out
cry of the people subsided into unavailing murmurs.
The Parliament resolved, that in consideration of their
great deliverance by his majesty, and as, next under
God, their safety and happiness wholly depended on
his preservation and that of his government, they would
support both to the utraost of their power, and maintain
such forces as should be requisite for those ends. They
passed an act for keeping on foot three thousand men
for two years, to be raaintained by a land-tax. Then
the comraissioner produced the king's letter, desiring
to have eleven hundred raen on his own account to the
first day of June following : they forthvrith coraplied
with his request, and were prorogued to the sixth of
May. The supernumerary troops were sent over to
the States-General ; and the Earl of Argyle was ho
noured with the title of duke, as a recorapense for having

336 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, concurred with the coraraissioners in managing this
sRssioTi of Parliament.

1700. King William had returned to England on the
The King eighteenth day of October, not a Uttle chagrined at the
dies.'^after perplcxities in which he found himself involved ; and in
''"'"th dh'is ^^^ beginning of the next month, he received advice
dominions' that the King of Spain was actually dead. He could
ae Duke of ^°* ^^ Surprised at this event, which had been so long
Anjou. expected ; but it was attended with a circurastance which
he had not foreseen. Charles, by his last will, had de
clared the Duke of Anjou, second son of the dauphin,
the sole heir of the Spanish raonarchy. In case this
prince should die without issue, or inherit the crown
of France, he willed that Spain should devolve to the
Duke of Berry ; in default of hira, and children, to the
Archduke Charles and his heirs ; failing of whom, to
the Duke of Savoy and his posterity. He likewise re
coraraended a match between the Duke of Anjou and
one of the archduchesses. When this testament was
first notified to the French court, Louis seeraed to
hesitate between his inclination and engagements to
William and the States-General. Madame de Main-
tenon is said to have joined her influence to that of the
dauphin, in persuading the king to accept of the will ;
and Pontchartrain was engaged to support the same
measure. A cabinet council was called in her apart
ment. The rest of the ministry declared for the treaty
of partition; the king affected a kind of neutrality.
The dauphin spoke for his son, with au air of resolution
he had never assuraed before : Pontchartrain seconded
his argument : Madame de Maintenon asked what the
Duke of Anjou had done to provoke the king, that he
should be barred of his right to that succession ? Then
the rest of the members espoused the dauphin's opinion;
and the king owned himself convinced by their reasons.
In all probability, the decision of this council was pre
viously settled in private. After the will was accepted,
Louis closeted the Duke of Anjou, to whom he said,
in the presence of the Marquis des Rois, " Sir, the King
of Spain has raade you a king. The grandees demand
you ; the people wish for you, and I give my consent.

WILLIAM. 337
Remember only, you are a Prince of France. I re- ^"^P-
commend to you to love your people, to gain their af- .
fection by the lenity of your government, and to render 1700.
yourself worthy of the throne you are going to ascend."
The new monarch was congratulated on his elevation
by all the princes of the blood ; nevertheless, the Duke
of Orleans and his son protested against the will, be
cause the archduke was placed next in succession to the
Duke of Berry, in bar of their right as descendants of
Anne of Austria, whose renunciation could be of no
more force than that of Maria Theresa. On the fourth
day of December, the new king set out for Spain, to
the frontiers of which he was accorapanied by his two
brothers. When the will was accepted, the French rainister, TheFrench
de Torcy, endeavoured to justify his raaster's conduct logy fo^To-
to the Earl of Manchester, who resided at Paris in the cepting the
character of ambassador frora the court of London. He
observed, that the treaty of partition was not likely to
answer the end for which it had been concerted : that
the eraperor had refused to accede: that it was relished
by none of the princes to whom it had been comrauni
cated : that the people of England and Holland had
expressed their discontent at the prospect of France's
being in possession of Naples and Sicily : that if Louis
had rejected the will, the archduke would have had a
double title derived from the forraer Arill, and that of
the late king : that the Spaniards were so averse to the
division of their monarchy, there would be a necessity
for conquering the whole kingdom before the treaty
could be executed : that the ships to be furnished by
Great Britain and Holland would not be sufficient for
the purposes of such a war; and it was doubtful whether
England and the States-General would engage thera
selves in a greater expense. He concluded with saying,
that the treaty would have been more advantageous to
France than the will, which the king accepted purely
from a desire of preserving the peace of Europe. His
master hoped, therefore, that a good understanding
would subsist between hira and the King of Great
Britain. The same reasons were comraunicated by
Briod, the French ambassador at the Hague, to the
VOL. I. z

338 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. States-General. Notwithstanding this address, they or-
' dered their envoy at Paris to deliver a memorial to the
1700. French king, expressing their surprise at his having ac
cepted the will ; and their hope, that as the time speci
fied for the emperor's acceding to the treaty was not
expired, his Most Christian Majesty would take the affair
again into his consideration, and adhere to his engage
ments in every article. Louis, in his answer to this rae
raorial, which he despatched to all the courts of Europe,
declared, that Avhat he chiefly considered was the prin
cipal design of the contracting parties, namely, the
raaintenance of peace in Europe ; and that, true to his
principle, he only departed frora the words, that he
raight the better adhere to the spirit of the treaty.
The States- With this answcr he sent a letter to the states, giving
own PhiHp ^h^m to understand, that the peace of Europe was so
as King of firraly established by the will of the King of Spain, in
Spam. favour of his grandson, that he did not doubt their ap
probation of his succession to the Spanish crown. The
states observed, that they could not declare themselves
upon an affair of such consequence, without consulting
their respective provinces. Louis adraitted the excuse,
and assured them of his readiness to concur with what
ever they should desire for the security of the Spanish
Netherlands. The Spanish ambassador at the Hague
presented them with a letter from his new master, who
likewise notified his accession to all the powers of Eu
rope, except the King of England. The emperor loudly
exclaimed against the will, as being more iniquitous than
the treaty of partition ; and threatened to do hiraself
justice by force of arras. The Spaniards apprehending
that a league would be forraed between his imperial ma
jesty and the maritime powders, for setting aside the suc
cession of the Duke of Anjou, and conscious of their own
inability to defend their dorainions, resigned theraselves
entirely to the protection of the French raonarch. The
towns in the Spanish Netherlands and the duchy of
MUan adraitted French garrisons : a French squadron
anchored in the port of Cadiz ; and another was de
tached to the Spanish settlements in the West Indies.
Part of the Dutch array that was quartered in Luxem
bourg, Mons, and Namur, were made prisoners of war.

WILLIAM. 339

because they would not own the King of Spain, whom ^'^^^•
their masters had not yet acknowledged. The states .

were overwhelmed with consternation by this event, 1700.
especially when they considered their own naked situa
tion, and reflected that the Spanish garrisons might fall
upon them before they could asserable a body of troops
for their defence. The danger was so irarainent, that
they resolved to acknowledge the King of Spain without
further hesitation, and wrote a letter to the French king
for that purpose ; this was no sooner received, than or
ders were issued for sending back their battalions.
How warmly soever King William resented the con- Anewmj-
duct of the French king, in accepting the will so dia- new^prfia-
metrically opposite to his engagements, he dissembled ™^"t-
his chagrin ; and behaved with such reserve and appa
rent indifference, that some people naturally believed
he had been privy to the transaction. Others imagined
that he was discouraged from engaging in a new war by
his bodily infirmities, which daily increased, as well as
by the opposition in Parliament, to which he should be
inevitably exposed. But his real aim was to conceal his
sentiments, until he should have sounded the opinions
of other powers in Europe, and seen how far he could
depend upon his new ministry. He now seemed to re
pose his chief confidence in the Earl of Rochester, who
had undertaken for the tories, and was declared Lord-
lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Godolphin was appointed
first coramissioner of the treasury. Lord Tankerville
succeeded Lord Lonsdale, lately deceased, as keeper of
the privy seal, and Sir Charles Hedges was declared
secretary of state, in the roora of the Earl of Jersey ;
but the raanageraent of the Coramons was intrusted to
Mr. Robert Harley, who had hitherto opposed the mea
sures of the court with equal virulence and ability.
These new undertakers, well knowing they should find
it very difficult, if not impossible, to secure a majority
in the present Parliament, prevailed on the king to dis
solve it by proclamation : then the sheriffs were changed
according to their nomination, and Avrits issued for a
new Parliament to meet on the sixth day of February.
During this interval. Count WratislaAV arrived in Eng
land, as ambassador from the emperor, to explain Leo-
z2

340 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, pold's title to the Spanish monarchy, supported by re-
^^' peated entails and renunciations, confirraed in the raost
1700. solemn treaties. This rainister raet with a very cold
reception from those who stood at the helm of affairs.
They sought to avoid all connexions that might en
gage their country as a principal in another war upon
the continent ; smarting as they were from the losses
and incurabrances which the last had entailed upon
them and their posterity. They seemed to think that
Louis, rather than involve himself in fresh troubles,
would give all the security that could be desired for
maintaining the peace of Europe ; or even, should this
be refused, they saw no reason for Britain's exhausting
her wealth and strength to support a chimerical balance,
in which her interest was but reraotely concerned. It
w-as their opinion, that, by keeping aloof, she might ren
der herself more respectable. Her reserve would over
awe contending powders : they would in their tum sue
for her assistance, and iraplore her good offices ; and, in
stead of declaring herself a party, she would have the
honour to decide as arbitress of their disputes. Perhaps
they extended this idea too far ; and, in all probability,
their notions were inflamed by a spirit of faction. They
hated the whigs as their political adversaries, and de
tested the war, because it had been countenanced and
supported by the interest of that party. The king be
lieved, that aconjunctionof the two monarchies of France
and Spain would prove fatal to the liberties of Europe ;
and that this could not be prevented by any other me
thod than a generalunion ofthe other European powers.
He certainly was an enthusiast in his sentiments of this
equilibrium ; and fully convinced that he himself, of all
the potentates in Christendom, was the only prince ca
pable of adjusting the balance. The imperial ambas
sador could not, therefore, be long ignorant of his real
purpose, as he conversed with the Dutch favourites, who
knew and approved of their master's design, though he
avoided a declaration, until he should have rendered
his ministers more propitious to his aim. The true se
cret, however, of that reserve with which Count Wra-
tislaw was treated at his first arrival, was a private ne
gotiation which the king had set on foot with the

WILLIAM. 341

regency of Spain, touching a barrier in the Netherlands, ^y^^-
He proposed, that certain towns should be garrisoned

with English and Dutch troops, by way of security 1700.
against the ambitious designs of France ; but the re
gency were so devoted to the French interest, that they
refused to listen to any proposal of this nature. While
this affair was in agitation, William resolved to main
tain a wary distance frora the emperor ; but, when his
effort miscarried, the arabassador found him much more
open and accessible".
The ParUament meeting on the sixth, was prorogued '^^^ *^°'"-
o ¦• 1 o mons un-
to the tenth day of February, when Mr. Harley was propitious
chosen speaker by a great majority, in opposition to Sir to^e court.
Richard Onslow. The king had previously told Sir
Thomas Lyttelton, it would be for his serAdce that he
should yield his pretensions to Harley at this juncture ;
and that gentleman agreed to absent himself frora the
House on the day of election. The king observed, in
his speech, that the nation's loss, in the death of the
Duke of Gloucester, had rendered it absolutely neces
sary for them to raake further provision for the succes
sion of the crown in the protestant line : that the death
of the King of Spain had made such an alteration in the
affairs of the continent, as required their mature deli
beration. The rest of his harangue turned upon the
usual topics of deraanding supplies for the ensuing year,
rerainding them of the deficiencies and public debts,
recoraraending to their inquiry the state of the navy and
fortifications ; exhorting thera to encourage coraraerce,
employ the poor, and proceed vrith vigour and unani
mity in all their deliberations. Though the elections
had been generally carried in favour of the tory inter
est, the ministry had secured but one part of that faction.
" This year was distinguished by a glorious victory which the young King of
Sweden obtained in the nineteenth year of his age. Riga continued invested by the
King of Poland, while Peter, the czar of Muscovy, made his approaches to Narva,
at the head of a prodigious army, purposing, in violation of all faith and justice, to
share the spoils of the youthful monarch. Charles landed at Revel, compelled the
Saxons to abandon the siege of Riga, and having supplied the place, marched with
a handful of troops against the Muscovites who had undertaken the siege of Narva.
The czar quitted his army with some precipitation, as if he had been afraid of ha
zarding his person, while Charles advanced through ways that were thought im
practicable, and surprised the enemy. He broke into their camp before they had
the least intimation of his approach, and totally routed them, after a short resistance.
He took a great number of prisoners, with all their baggage, tents, and artillery, and
entered Narva in triumph.

342 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Some of the most popular leaders, such as the Duke of
' Leeds, the Marquis of Normanby, the Earls of Notting-
1700. ham, Seymour, Musgrave, Howe, Finch, and Showers,
had been either neglected, or found refractory, and re
solved to oppose the court measures with all tlieir influ
ence. Besides, the French king, knowing that the peace
of Europe would in a great raeasure depend on the re
solutions of the English Parliament, is said to have dis
tributed great sums of money in England, by means of
his minister Tallard, in order to strengthen the oppo
sition in the House of Commons. Certain it is, the
nation abounded, at this period, with the French coins
called louis-d'ors and pistoles; but whether this redund
ancy was owing to a balance of trade in favom- of Eng
land, or to the largesses of Louis, we shall not pretend
to determine. We may likewise observe, that the in
famous practice of bribing electors had never been so
flagrant as in the choice of representatives for this
Parliament. This scandalous traffic had been chiefly
carried on by the whig party, and, therefore, their an
tagonists resolved to spare no pains in detecting their
corruption. Sir Edward Seymour distinguished him
self by his zeal and activity ; he brought some of these
practices to light, and, in particular, stigmatized the new
East India company, for having been deeply concerned
in this species of venality. An inquiry being set on
foot in the House of Comraons, several elections were
declared void ; and divers persons, who had been ille
gally returned, were first expelled the House, and after
wards detained in prison. Yet these prosecutions were
carried on with such partiality, as plainly indicated
that they flowed rather frora party zeal than from pa
triotism.
^e more'^' ^ S^^^* ^°^y ^^ *^^^ Coraiuous had rcsolvod to pre-
conde- sent an address to his raajesty, desiring he would ac-
scending. knowledge the King of Spain ; and the motion, in all
probability, would have been carried by a considerable
majority, had not one bold and lucky expression given
such a turn to the debate, as induced the anti-courtiers
to desist. One Mr. Monckton, in the heat of his de
clamation against this measure, said, he expected the
next vote Avoidd be for owning the pretended Prince of

WILLIAM. 343

Wales. Though there was little or no connexion be- char

VI.

tween these two subjects, a great many members were
startled at the insinuation, and deserted the measure, 1700,
which was dropped accordingly. The king's speech
being taken into consideration, the House resolved to
support his majesty and his government ; to take such
effectual measures as might best conduce to the interest
and safety of England, and the preservation of the pro
testant religion. This resolution was presented in an
address to the king, who received it favourably. At
the sarae tirae, he laid before thera a raeraorial he had
received frora the States-General, and desired their ad
vice and assistance in the points that constituted the
substance of this reraonstrance. The states gave him
to understand, that they had acknowledged the Duke
of Anjou as King of Spain : that France had agreed to
a negotiation, in which they might stipulate the neces
sary conditions for securing the peace of Europe ; and
that they were firraly resolved to do nothing without
the concurrence of his raajesty and their other allies.
They therefore begged he would send a rainister to the
Hague, with necessary powers and instructions to co
operate with thera in this negotiation ; they told him
that, in case it should prove ineffectual, or Holland be
suddenly invaded by the troops Avhich Louis had ordered
to advance towards their frontiers, they relied on the as
sistance of England, and hoped his majesty would pre
pare the succours stipulated by treaty, to be used, should
occasion require. The memorial was likewise comrau
nicated to the House of Lords. MeanwhUe, the Cora
mons desired that the treaties between England and
the States-General should be laid before their House.
These being perused, they resolved upon an address,
to desire his raajesty would enter into such negotiations
with the States-General, and other potentates, as might
most effectually conduce to the rautual safety of Great
Britain and the United Provinces, as well as to the pre
servation of the peace of Europe, and to assure hira of
their support and assistance, in performance of the
treaty subsisting between England and the States-Ge
neral. This resolution, however, was not carried Arith-

344 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, out great opposition from those who were averse to the
^^' nation's involving itself in another war upon the conti-
1700. nent. The king professed himself extremely well pleased
with this address, and told them he would immediately
order his ministers abroad to act in concert with the
States-General and other powers, for the attainment of
those ends they proposed.
An inter- He communicatod to the Comraons a letter written
tofromte by the Eari of Mdfort to his brother the Eari of Perth,
Earl of governor to the pretended Prince of Wales. It had
Ws^ brother, been raislaid by accident, and came to London in the
French mail. It contained a scheme for another inva
sion of England, together with some reflections on the
character of the Earl of Middleton, who had supplanted
him at the court of St. Germain's. Melfort was a mere
projector, and seems to have had no other view than
that of recoraraending hiraself to King James, and
bringing his rival into disgrace. The House of Lords,
to whom the letter was also iraparted, ordered it to be
printed. Next day they presented an address, thank
ing his raajesty for his care of the protestant religion;
desiring all the treaties raade since the last war raight
be laid before thera ; requesting hira to engage in such
alliances as he should think proper for preserving the
balance of power in Europe ; assuring hira of their con
currence ; expressing their acknowledgraent for his
having communicated Melfort's letter; desiring he
would give orders for seizing the horses and arms of
disaffected persons ; for removing Papists from London;
and for searching after those arms and provisions of war
mentioned in the letter : finally, they requested him to
equip speedily a sufficient fleet for the defence of him
self and his kingdom. They received a gracious an
swer to this address, which was a further encourage
ment to the king to put his own private designs in exe
cution : towards the sarae end the letter contributed
not a little, by inflaraing the fears and resentment of
the nation against France, which in vain disclaimed the
Earl of Melfort as a fantastical scheraer, to whom no
regard was paid at the court of Versailles. The French
ministry complained of the pubUcation of this letter, as

WILLIAM. 345

an attempt to sow jealousy between the two crowns ; '-'S.^^-
and, as a convincing proof of their sincerity, banished .

the Earl of Melfort to Angers. 1700.
The credit of exchequer bills was so lowered by Succession
the change of the ministry, and the lapse of the time settled upon
aUotted for their circulation, that they fell near twenty g^^f"''^'^
per cent., to the prejudice of the revenue, and the dis- Eiectress-
credit of the government in foreign countries. The^^^^^'^"^
Coramons having taken this affair into consideration, and the '
voted, that provision should be raade, frora tirae to tirae, ^"re o'f h*er
for making good the principal and interest due on all body.
parliamentary fiinds ; and afterwards passed a bill for
renewing the bills of credit, comraonly called exche
quer bills. This was sent up to the Lords on the sixth
day of March, and on the thirteenth received the royal
assent. The next object that engrossed the attention
of the Comraons was the settleraent of the succession to
the throne, which the king had recoraraended to their
consideration in the beginning of the session. Having
deliberated on this subject, they resolved, that for the
preservation of the peace and happiness of the kingdom,
and the security of the protestant religion, it was abso
lutely necessary that a further declaration should be
made of the liraitation and succession of the crown in
the protestant line, after his raajesty and the princess,
and the heirs of their bodies respectively: and, that
further provision should be first raade for the security
of the rights and liberties of the people. Mr. Harley
moved, that some conditions of govemment raight be
settled as preliminaries, before they should proceed to
the nomination of the persons, that their security might
be complete. Accordingly, they deliberated on this sub
ject, and agreed to the following resolutions: that who-.
ever shall hereafter come to the possession of this crown
shall join in coramunion with the church of England as
by law established : that, in case the crown and iraperial
dignity of this realra shall hereafter come to any person,
not being a native of this kingdora of England, this na
tion be not obliged to engage in any war for the defence
of any dorainions or territories which do not belong to
the crown of England, without the consent of Parha
raent : that no person A\'ho shall hereafter corae to the

346 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, possession of the crown shall go out of the dorainions of
England, Scotland, or Ireland, without consent of Par

1700. liament : that, from and after the time that the further
limitation by this act shall take effect, all matters and
things relating to the well-governing of this kingdora,
which are properly cognizable in the privy-council, by
the laws and customs of the realm, shall be transacted
there, and all resolutions taken thereupon shall be
signed by such of the privy-council as shall advise and
consent to the same : that, after the limitation shall
take effect, no person born out of the kingdora of Eng
land, Scotland, or Ireland, or the dominions thereunto
belonging, although he be naturalized, and made a
denizen, (except such as are born of English parents,)
shall be capable to be of the privy-council, or a mera
ber of either House of Parliaraent, or to enjoy any
office or place pf trust either civil or military, or to
have any grant of lands, tenements, or hereditaments,
frora the crown to himself, or to any others in trust for
him : that no person who has an office or place of profit
under the king, or receives a pension frora the crown,
shall be capable of serving as member of the House of
Commons : that, after the limitation shall take effect,
judges' coraraissions be raade quamdiu se bene gesserint,
and their salaries ascertained and established ; but upon
the address of both Houses of Parliament, it may be
laAvful to remove them : that no pardon under the great
seal of England be pleadable to an impeachraent by the
Comraons in Parliament. Having settled these pre
liminaries, they resolved, that the Princess Sophia, Du
chess-dowager of Hanover, be declared the next in suc
cession to the crown of England, in the protestant line,
after his majesty and the princess, and the heirs of their
bodies respectively : and, that the further limitation of
the crown be to the said Princess Sophia and the heirs
of her body, being Protestants. A bill being formed
on these resolutions was sent up to the House of Lords,
where it met with some opposition from the Marquis of
Norraanby : a protest was likeAvise entered against it by
the Earls of Huntingdon and Plymouth, and the Lords
GuUford and Jeffi-ies. Nevertheless, it passed without
amendments, and on the twelfth day of June received

WILLIAM. 347
the royal assent : the king was extremely mortified at ^yf^-
the preliminary limitations, which he considered as an

open insult on his own conduct and adrainistration ; not 1700.
but that they were necessary precautions, naturaUy sug
gested by the experience of those evils to which the
nation had been already exposed, in consequence of
raising a foreign prince to the throne of England. As
the tories lay under the imputation of favouring the
late king's interest, they exerted theraselves zealously
on this occasion, to wipe off the aspersion, and insinuate
theraselves into the confidence of the people ; hoping
that in the sequel they should be able to restrain the
nation frora engaging too deep in the affairs of the
continent, without incurring the charge of disaffec
tion to the present king and government. The act of
settlement being passed, the Earl of Macclesfield was
sent to notify the transaction to the Electress Sophia,
who likewise received frora his hands the order of the
garter. The act of succession gave umbrage to all the popish '^^ D"-
princes, who were raore nearly related to the crown than savoy pro-
tliis lady, whom the Parliament had preferred to all ^^ ^g™st
others. The Duchess of Savoy, grand-daughter to
King Charles I., by her mother, ordered her ambassa
dor. Count Maffei, to make a protestation to the Par
liament of England, in her name, against all resolutions
and decisions contrary to her title, as sole daughter to
the Princess Henrietta, next in succession to the crown
of England, after King William and the Princess Anne
of Denmark. Two copies of this protest Maffei sent in
letters to the lord keeper and the speaker of the Lower
House, by two of his gentleraen, and a public notary to
attest the delivery ; but no notice was taken of the de
claration. The Duke of Savoy, while his rainister was
thus employed in England, engaged in an alliance with
the crowns of France and Spain, on condition that his
catholic majesty should espouse his youngest daughter
without a dowry. That he himself should comraand
the allied array in Italy, and furnish eight thousand in
fantry, with five-and-twenty hundred horse, in consi
deration of a raonthly subsidy of fifty thousand crowns.

348 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. During these transactions, Mr. Stanhope, envoy ex-
" traordinary to the States-General, was empowered to
1700. treat with the rainisters of France and Spain, according
Ineffectual to the addrcsscs of both Houses of Parliaraent. He
negotiation pgppgggjjted, that though his Most Christian Majesty had
France. thought fit to deviate from the partition treaty, it was
not reasonable that the King of England should lose the
effect of that convention ; he, therefore, expected some
security for the peace of Europe ; and for that purpose
insisted upon certain articles, iraporting, that the French
king should immediately withdraw his troops from the
Spanish Netherlands : that, for the security of England,
the cities of Ostend and Nieuport should be delivered
into the hands of his Britannic majesty : that no king
dom, provinces, cities, lands, or places, belonging to the
crown of Spain, should ever be yielded or transferred to
the crown of France, on any pretence whatever : that
the subjects of his Britannic raajesty should retain all
the privileges, rights, and immunities, with regard to
their navigation and comraerce in the dominions of
Spain, which they enjoyed at the death of his late ca
tholic majesty; and also all such iraraunities, rights,
and franchises, as the subjects of France, or any other
power, either possess for the present, or may enjoy for
the future : that all treaties of peace and conventions
between England and Spain should be renewed ; and,
that a treaty formed on these demands should be gua
ranteed by such powers as one or other of the con
tractors should solicit and prevail upon to accede. Such
likewise were the proposals made by the States-General,
with this difference, that they demanded, as cautionary
towns, all the strongest places in the Netherlands.
Count D'Avaux, the French rainister, was so surprised
at these exorbitant deraands, that he could not help
saying, they could not have been higher if his master
had lost four successive battles. He assured them,
that his Most Christian Majesty would withdraw his
troops from the Spanish Netherlands, as soon as the
King of Spain should have forces of his own sufficient
to guard the country : with respect to the other articles,
he could give no other answer, but that he would ira-

WILLIAM. 349
mediately transmit them to Versailles. Louis was '^^|^-
filled vrith indignation at the insolent strain of those .

proposals, which he considered as a sure mark of Wil- 1700.
liam's hostile intentions. He refused to give any other
security for the peace of Europe than a renewal of the
treaty of Ryswick ; and he is said to have tarapered,
by raeans of his agents and eraissaries, vrith the raerabers
of the English Parliaraent, that they raight oppose all
steps tending to a new war on the continent.
King WiUiara certainly had no expectation that Severe ad-
France would close with such proposals; but he was both Houses
not without hope, that her refusal would warm the Eng- '" relation
lish nation into a concurrence with his designs. He tion treaty.
comraunicated to the House of Coramons the demands
which had been raade by him and the States-General ;
and gave them to understand, that he would frora tirae
to tirae make thera acquainted with the progress of the
negotiation. The Coramons suspecting that his inten
tion was to make them parties in a congress which he
might conduct to a different end from that which they
proposed, resolved to signify their sentiments in the
answer to this message. They called for the treaty
of partition, which being read, they voted an address
of thanks to his raajesty, for his most gracious declara
tion, that he would make them acquainted with the
progress of the negotiation ; but they signified their
disapprobation of the partition treaty, signed Arith the
great seal of England, without the advice of the Par
liament, which was then sitting, and productive of ill
consequences to the kingdora, as well as to the peace
of Europe, as it assigned over to the French king such
a large portion of the Spanish dorainions. Nothing
could be more mortifying to the king than this open
attack upon his own conduct ; yet he suppressed his re
sentment, and without taking the least notice of their
sentiraents with respect to the partition treaty, assured
them, that he should be always ready to receive their
advice on the negotiation which he had set on foot,
according to their desire. The debates in the House
of Comraons upon the subject of the partition treaty
rose to such violence, that divers members in declaim
ing against it transgressed the bounds of decency. Sir

350 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
'-^ y|^- Edward Seymour compared the division which had been
. made of the Spanish territories to a robbery on the

1700. highway; and Mr. Howe did not scruple to say it was
a felonious treaty ; an expression which the king re
sented to such a degree, that he declared he would have
demanded personal satisfaction with his sword, had he
not been restrained by the disparity of condition be
tween himself and the person who had offered such an
outrageous insult to his honour. Whether the tories in
tended to alienate the minds of the nation frora all
foreign connexions, or to wreak their vengeance on the
late rainisters, whom they hated as the chiefs of the
whig party, certain it is, they now raised an universal
outcry against the partition treaty, which was not only
condemned in public pamphlets and private conversa
tion, but even brought into the House of Lords as an
object of parliamentary censure. In the month of
March a Avarm debate on this subject was begun by
Sheffield, Marquis of Norraanby, and carried on with
great veheraence by other noblemen ofthe same faction.
They exclaimed against the article by which so many
territories were added to the crown of France : they
complained that the eraperor had been forsaken ; that
the treaty was not coraraunicated to the privy-council
or ministry, but clandestinely transacted by the Earls
of Portland and Jersey ; that the sanction of the great
seal had been unjustly and irregularly applied first to
blank powers, and afterwards to the treaty itself. The
courtiers replied, that the king had engaged in a treaty
of partition at the desire of the eraperor, who had
agreed to every article, except that relating to the
duchy of Milan, and afterwards desired, that his ma
jesty Avould procure for him the best terms he could
obtain ; above all things recoraraending secrecy that he
raight not forfeit his interest in Spain, by seeming to
consent to the treaty : that foreign negotiations being
intrusted to the care of the croAvn, the king lay under
no legal obligation to communicate such secrets of
state to his council ; far less was he obUged to follow
their advice ; and that the keeper of the great seal had
no authority for refusing to apply it to any powers or
treaty which the king should grant or conclude, unless

WILLIAM. 351
they were contrary to law,- which had made no provision *^^^P-
for such an emergency^. The Earl of Portland appre- "
bending that this tempest would burst upon his head, 1700.
declared, on the second day of the debate, that he had
by the king's order comraunicated the treaty, before it
was concluded, to the Earls of Pembroke and Marlbo
rough, the Lords Lonsdale, Soraers, Halifax, and Se
cretary Vernon. These nobleraen owned, that they
had been made acquainted vrith the substance of it:
that when they excepted to some particulars, they Avere
told, his majesty had carried the matter as far as it
could be advanced, and that he could obtain no better
terms ; thus assured that every article was already
settled, they said they no longer insisted upon parti
culars, but gave their advice that his majesty should
not engage himself in any raeasure that would produce
a new war, seeing the nation had been so uneasy under
the last. After long debates, and great variety as well
as virulence of altercation, the House agreed to an ad
dress, in which they disapproved of the partition treaty,
as a scherae inconsistent with the peace and safety of
Europe, as well as prejudicial to the interest of Great
Britain. They coraplained, that neither the instruc
tions given to his plenipotentiaries, nor the draft of the
treaty itself, had been laid before his raajesty's council.
They humbly besought him that, for the future, he
would, in all matters of importance, require and admit
the advice of his natural-born subjects of known pro
bity and fortune ; and that he would constitute a council
of such persons, to whora he raight irapart ail affairs
which should any way concern hira and his dorainions. ^iT"^'-
They observed, that interest and natural affection to coie.^
their country would incline them to every measure that Lamberty.
might tend to its welfare and prosperity ; whereas Tracts.
strangers could not be so much influenced by these ^IJ'^^'"
considerations : that their knowledge of the country Voitaire,
' In the course of this debate, the Earl of Rochester reprehended some lords
for speaking disrespectfully of the French king, observing, that it was peculiarly
incumbent on peers to treat monarchs with decorum and respect, as they derived
their dignity from the crown. Another affirming, that the French king was not
only to be respected, but likewise to be feared, a certain lord replied, " He hoped
no man in England need to be afraid of the French king, much less the peer
who spoke last, who was too much a friend to that monarch to fear any thing
from his resentment."

352 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, would render them more capable than foreigners could
' be of advising his majesty touching the true interests of
1700. his kingdom : that they had exhibited such repeated de
monstrations of their duty and affection, as must con
vince his majesty of their zeal in his service ; nor could
he want the knowledge of persons fit to be eraployed in
all his secret and arduous affairs : finally, as the French
king appeared to have violated the treaty of partition,
they advised his raajesty, in future negotiations with
that prince, to proceed with such caution as raight imply
a real security.
William is The king received this severe remonstrance Arith his
acknow-" usual phlcg-m, saying, it contained raatter of very great
ledge the moraeut ; and he would take care that all treaties he
Spafn? raade should be for the honour and safety of England.
Though he deeply felt this affront, he would not alter
his conduct towards the new rainisters ; but he plainly
perceived their intention was to thwart hira in his fa
vourite measure, and humble him into a dependence
An. 1701. upon their interest in Parliaraent. On the last day of
March, he imparted to the Coraraons the French king's
declaration, that he would grant no other security than
a renewal of the treaty of Ryswick : so that the nego
tiation seemed to be at an end. He likewise com
raunicated two resolutions of the States-General, with a
meraorial frora their envoy in England, relating to the
ships they had equipped with a view to join the English
fleet, and the succours stipulated, in the treaty con
cluded in the year 1677, which they desired raight be
sent over with all convenient expedition. The House
having considered this raessage, unanimously resolved
to desire his majesty would carry on the negotiations in
concert with the States-General, and take such measures
therein as raight raost conduce to their safety : they
assured him, they would effectuaUy enable him to
support the treaty of 1677, by which England was bound
to assist them with ten thousand men, and twenty ships
of war, in case they should be attacked. Though the
king was nettled at that part of this address, which by
confining hira to one treaty, impUed their disapproba
tion of a new confederacy, he discovered no signs of
emotion ; but thanked them for the assurance they had

WILLIAM. 353
given, and told thera he had sent orders to his envoy "^y^^-
at the Hague, to continue the conferences with the  '. —
courts of France and Spain. On the nineteenth day of i70i-
April, the Marquis de Torcy delivered to the Earl of
Manchester, at Paris, a letter frora the new King of
Spain to his Britannic majesty, notifying his accession
to that throne, and expressing a desire of cultivating a
rautual friendship with the king and crown of England.
How averse soever WiUiara might have been to any cor
respondence of this sort, the Earl of Rochester and the
new ministers importuned him in such a raanner to ac
knowledge Philip, that he at length complied with their
entreaties, and wrote a civil answer to his most catholic
majesty. This was a very alarming incident to the
emperor, who was bent upon a war with the two crowns,
and had determined to send Prince Eugene Arith an
array into Italy, to take possession ofthe duchy of Milan,
as a fief of the erapire. The new pope, Cleraent XL,
who had succeeded to the papacy in the preceding
year, was attached to the French interest: the Venetians
favoured the eraperor; but they refused to declare
themselves at this juncture.
The French king consented to a renewal of the V^^ '""'
1 TT l-l ¦ Houses
negotiations at the Hague; but, m the raean time, tam- seem to
pered with the Dutch deputies, to engage them in a ^he'^yng."
separate treaty. Finding them deterrained to act in measures.
concert with the King of England, he protracted the
conferences, in order to gain tirae, while he erected for
tifications, and drew lines on the frontiers of Holland,
divided the princes of the erapire by his intrigues, and »
endeavoured to gain over the states of Italy. The
Dutch, raeanwhile, exerted theraselves in providing for
their own security. They reinforced their garrisons,
purchased suppUes, and solicited succours frora foreign
potentates. The states wrote a letter to King William,
explaining the danger of their situation, professing the
raost inviolable attachraent to the interest of England,
and desiring that the stipulated nuraber of troops should
be sent immediately to their assistance. The three
Scottish regiments which he had retained in his own
pay were immediately transported from Scotland. The
letter of the States-General he communicated to the
VOL. L A A

354 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. House of Coramons, who, having taken it into consider-
^'' ation, resolved to assist his majesty to support his alUes

1701. in maintaining the liberty of Europe ; and to provide
immediate succours for the States-General, according to
the treaty of 1677. The House of Peers, to whom the
letter was also comraunicated, carried their zeal still
farther. They presented an address, in which they de
sired his raajesty would not only perforra the articles of
any forraer treaty vrith the States-General, but also en
gage with thera in a strict league, offensive and defensive,
for their coraraon preservation ; and invite into it all
the princes and states that were concemed in the present
visible danger arising frora the union of France and
Spain. They exhorted hira to enter into such alliances
vrith the eraperor, as his raajesty should think necessary,
pursuant to the ends of the treaty concluded in the year
1689. They assured him of their hearty and sincere
assistance, not doubting that Almighty God would pro
tect his sacred person in so righteous a cause ; and that
the unaniraity, wealth, and courage of his subjects would
carry hira with honour and success through all the dif
ficulties of a just war. Lastly, they took leave hurably
to represent, that the dangers to which his kingdom
and allies had been exposed, were chiefly owing to the
fatal councils that prevented his majesty's sooner meet
ing his people in ParUament.
The Com- Thoso proceedings of both Houses could not but be
solve to' very agreeable to the king, who expressed his satis-
wreak their faction iu his auswor to each apart. They were the
on the old raoro reraarkable, as at this very time considerable pro-
ministry, gress was raade in a design to irapeach the old ministry.
This deviation, therefore, frora the tenor of their for
raer conduct could be ovring to no other raotive than a
sense of their own danger, and resentraent against
France, which, even during the negotiation, had been
secretly eraployed in making preparations to surprise
and distress the States-General. The Commons having
expressed their sentiraents on this subject, resumed the
consideration of the partition-treaty. They had ap
pointed a committee to examine the journals of the
House of Lords, and to report their proceedings in re
lation to the treaty of partition. When the report was

WILLIAM. 355
made by Sir Edward Seymour, the House resolved it- chap.
self into a coraraittee, to consider the state of the nation : '
after warm debates, they resolved, that William Earl of 1701.
Portland, by negotiating and concluding the treaty of
partition, was guilty of a high crirae and raisderaeanor.
They ordered Sir John Leveson Gower to irapeach him
at the bar of the House of Lords ; and named a cora
raittee to prepare the articles of his irapeachraent. Then,
in a conference with the Lords, they desired to know
the particulars of what had passed between the Earl of
Portland and Secretary Vernon, in relation to the par
tition-treaty, as also what other inforraation they had
obtained concerning negotiations or treaties of partition
of the Spanish monarchy. The Lords demurring to
this demand, the Lower House resolved to address the
king, that copies of both treaties of partition, together
with all the poAvers and instructions for negotiating
those treaties, should be laid before them. The copies
were accordingly produced, and the Lords sent down
to the Commons two papers, containing the powers
granted to the Earls of Portland and Jersey, for sign
ing both treaties of partition. The House afterwards
ordered, that Mr. Secretary Vernon should lay before
them all the letters which had passed between the Earl
of Portland and him, in relation to those treaties ; and
he thought proper to obey their comraand. Nothing
could be more scandalously partial than the conduct of
the Comraons on this occasion. They resolved to
screen the Earl of Jersey, Sir Joseph Williamson, and
Mr. Vernon, who had been as deeply concerned as any
others in that transaction ; and pointed all their venge
ance against the Earls of Portland and Orford, and the
Lords Somers and Halifax. Some of the members
even tampered with Kidd, who was now a prisoner in
Newgate, to accuse Lord Somers as having encouraged
hira in his piracy. He was brought to the bar of the
House, and examined : but he declared that he had
never spoke to Lord Somers ; and that he had no order
from those concerned in the ship but that of pursuing
his voyage against the pirates in Madagascar. Find
ing him unfit for their purpose, they left him to the
a a2

356 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, course of law ; and he was hanged with some of his
accomplices.

1701. Lord Somers, understanding that he was accused in
^'^n^Y'^ the House of Commons of having consented to the par-
of Portland .. -,•¦,, -ii i-ii
and Oiford, titioii-trcaty, desu'cd that he might be adraitted and
Somers and ^^ard in his own defence. His request being granted,
Halifax, he told the House, that when he received the king's
peached letter Concerning the partition-treaty, with an order to
send over the necessary powers in the raost secret man
ner, he thought it would have been taking too much
upon him to put a stop to a treaty of such consequence,
when the Ufe of the King of Spain was so precarious ;
for had the king died before the treaty was finished,
and he been blamed for delaying the necessary powers,
he could not have justified his own conduct, since the
king's letter was really a Avarrant : that, nevertheless, he
had written a letter to his majesty, objecting to several
particulars in the treaty, and proposing other articles
which he thought were for the interest of his country:
that he thought himself bound to put the great seal to
the treaty when it was concluded : that, as a privy-coun
sellor, he had offered his best advice, and as chancellor,
executed his office according to his duty. After he had
withdrawn, his justification gave rise to a long debate,
which ended in a resolution, carried by a majority of
seven voices, that John Lord Somers, by advising his
majesty to conclude the treaty of partition, whereby
large territories of the Spanish monarchy were to be
delivered up to France, was guilty of a high crime
and misdemeanor. Votes to the sarae effect were
passed against Edward Earl of Orford, and Charles
Lord Halifax ; and all three were impeached at the bar
of the Upper House. But the Commons knowing that
those impeachments would produce nothing in the
House of Lords, where the opposite interest predomi
nated, they resolved to proceed against the accused
noblemen in a more expeditious and effectual way of
branding their reputation. They voted and presented
an address to the king, desiring he would remove them
from his councUs and presence for ever, as advisers of a
treaty so pernicious to the trade and welfare of England.

WILLIAM. 357
They concluded by repeating their assurance, that they ^^^^
would always stand by and support his majesty, to the "
utmost of their power, against all his enemies both at 1701.
home and abroad. The king, in his answer, artfully
overlooked the first part of the remonstrance. He
thanked them for their repeated assurances ; and told
thera he would employ none in his service but such as
should be thought most likely to improve that mutual
trust and confidence between hira and his people, which
was so necessary at that conjuncture, both for their own
security and the preservation of their allies.
The Lords, incensed at this step of the Coramons, Disputes
which they considered as an insult upon their tribunal, t^o^Houses!
and a violationof coraraon justice, drew up and deUvered
a counter-address, hurably beseeching his raajesty, that
he would not pass any censure upon the accused lords
until they should be tried on the irapeachments, and
judgments be given according to the usage of Parlia
ment. The king was so perplexed by these opposite
representations, that he knew not well Avhat course to
follow. He made no reply to the counter-address ; but
allowed the naraes of the impeached lords to remain in
the council-books. The Commons having carried their
point, which was to stigraatize those noblemen, and pre
vent their being employed for the future, suffered the
impeachments to be neglected, until they theraselves
moved for trial. On the fifth day of May the House of
Lords sent a message to the Coraraons, iraporting, that
no articles had as yet been exhibited against the noble
men whom they had impeached. The charge was ira
raediately drawn up against the Earl of Orford : hira
they accused of having received exorbitant grants frora
the crown; of having been concerned Avith Kidd the
pirate ; of having comraitted abuses in managing and
victualling the fleet, AA'hen it lay on the coast of Spain ;
and lastly, of having advised the partition-treaty. The
earl in his own defence declared, that he had received
no grant from the king, except a very distant reversion,
and a present of ten thousand pounds, after he had de
feated the French at La Hogue : that in Kidd's affair
he had acted legally, and with a good intention towards
the public, though to his own loss : that his accounts

358 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, with regard to the fleet which he commanded had been
^^' examined and passed ; yet he was ready to wave the
1701. advantage, and justify hiraself in every particular ; and
he absolutely denied that he had given any advice con
cerning the treaty of partition. Lord Somers was
accused of having set the seals to the powers, and after
wards to the treaties ; of having accepted some grants ;
of having been an accomplice with Kidd ; and of having
some guilt of partial and dilatory proceedings in Chan
cery. He answered every article in the charge ; but no
replication was raade by the Comraons, either to hira
or to the Earl of Orford. When the Coraraons were
stiraulated by another raessage from the Peers, re
lating to the impeachments of the Earl of Portland
and Lord Halifax, they declined exhibiting articles
against the former, on pretence of respect for his
majesty; but on the fourteenth of June the charge
against Halifax was sent up to the Lords. He was
taxed with possessing a grant in Ireland, without pay
ing the produce of it, according to the law lately en
acted concerning those grants ; with enjoying another
grant out of the forest of Deane, to the waste of the
timber and the prejudice of the navy ; with having held
places that were incompatible, by being at the same
time commissioner ofthe treasury, and chancellor ofthe
exchequer ; and with having advised the two treaties of
partition. He answered, that his grant in Ireland was
of debts and sums of money, and within the act con
cerning confiscated estates; that all he had ever received
from it did not exceed four hundred pounds, which, if
he AA'as bound to repay, a common action would lie
against him ; but every man was not to be impeached
who did not discharge his debts at the very day of pay
ment. He observed, that as his grant in the forest of
Deane extended to weedings only, it could occasion no
Avaste of timber, nor prejudice to the navy : that the
auditor's place was held by another person, until he
obtained the king's leave to withdraw frora the treasury;
that he never saw the first treaty of partition, nor was
his advice asked upon the subject : that he had never
heard of the second but once before it was concluded ;
and then he spoke his sentiments freely on the subject.

WILLIAM. 359

This answer, like the others, would have been neglected chap.
by the Commons, whose aim was now to evade the

trials, had not the Lords pressed them by messages to 1701.
expedite the articles. They even appointed a day for
Orford's trial, and signified their resolution to the Com
mons. These desired that a committee of both Houses
should be named for settling preliminaries, one of which
was, that the lord to be tried should not sit as a peer ;
and the other imported, that those lords impeached for
the sarae raatter should not vote on the trial of each
other. They likewise desired, that Lord Soraers should
be first tried. The Lords raade no objection to this last
deraand ; but they rejected the proposal of a coramittee
consisting of both Houses, alleging, that the Commons
were parties, and had no title to sit in equality vrith the
judges, or to settle matters relating to the trial : that
this was a demand contrary to the principles of law and
rules of justice, and never practised in any court or
nation. The Lords, indeed, had yielded to this ex
pedient in the popish plot, because it was a case of
treason, in which the king's Ufe and safety of the king
dora were concerned, while the people were jealous of
the court, and the whole nation was in a ferraent ; but
at present the tiraes were quiet, and the charge araounted
to nothing raore than raisdemeanors ; therefore the
Lords could not assent to such a proposal as was dero
gatory from their jurisdiction. Neither would they
agree to the preliminaries ; but, on the twelfth day of
June, resolved, that no peer impeached for high criraes
and misdemeanors should, upon his trial, be without
the bar; and that no peer impeached could be pre
cluded from voting on any occasion, except in his own
trial. Divers messages passed between the two Houses,
the Comraons still insisting upon a coramittee to settle
preliminaries : at length the dispute was brought to a
free conference.
Meanwhile, the king going to the House of Peers The House
gave the royal assent to the bill of succession. In his °cqu^g"he
speech he expressed his warra acknowledg-raents for impeached
their repeated assurances of supporting him in such al- ""^ *
liances as should be most proper for the preservation
of the liberty of Europe, and for the security of Eng-

360 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
*^^|^- land and the States-General. He observed, that the

. season of the year was advanced ; that the posture of
1701. affairs absolutely required his presence abroad; and he
recommended despatch ofthe public business, especially
of those matters which were of the greatest importance.
The Commons thanked him, in an address, for having
approved of their proceedings : they declared they would
support hira in such alliances as he should think fit to
make, in conjunction Avith the emperor and the States-
General, for the peace of Europe, and reducing the
exorbitant power of France. Then they resuraed their
dispute with the Upper House. In the free conference.
Lord Haversham happened to tax the Comraons \rith
partiality, in impeaching some lords, and screening
others who were equally guilty of the same misdemean
ours. Sir Christopher Musgrave, and the managers for
the Commons, immediately withdrew : this unguarded
sally being reported to the House, they immediately
resolved, that John Lord Haversham had uttered most
scandalous reproaches and false expressions, highly re
flecting upon the honour and justice of the House of
Commons, tending to a breach in the good corre
spondence between the two Houses, and to the inter
ruption of the public justice ofthe nation : that the said
Lord Haversham should be charged before the Lords
for the said words : that the Lords should be desired
to proceed in justice against him, and to inflict upon
hira such punishment as so high an offence against
the Commons did deserve. The Coramons had now
found a pretence to justify their delay ; and declared
they would not renew the conference until they should
have received satisfaction. Lord Havershara offered to
submit to a trial ; but insisted on their first proving the
words which he was said to have spoken. When this
declaration was iraparted to the Commons, they said,
the Lords ought to have censured him in a summary
way, and still refused to renoAv the conference. The
Lords, on the other hand, came to a resolution, that
there should not be a coramittee of both Houses con
cerning the trial of the impeached lords. Then they
resolved, that Lord Somers should be tried at West
minster-hall, on Tuesday, the seventeenth day of June,

WILLIAM. 361
and signified this resolution to the Lower House ; re- '^ y^'''
minding them, at the same time, of the articles against  '. —
the Earl of Portland. The Comraons refused to ap- 1701.
pear, alleging they were the only judges, and that the
evidence was not yet prepared. They sent up the rea
sons of their non-appearance to the House of Lords,
where they were supported by the new ministry and
all the malecontents, and produced very warm debates.
The majority carried their point piecemeal, by dint of
different votes, against which very severe protests were
entered. On the day appointed for the trial, they sent
a raessage to the Coramons, that they were going to
Westminster-hall. The other impeached lords asked
leave, and were permitted to withdraw. The articles
of impeachraent against Lord Soraers and his answers
being read in Westrainster-hall, and the Coraraons not
appearing to prosecute, the Lords adjourned to their
own House, where they debated concerning the question
that was to be put. This being settled, they returned
to Westrainster-hall ; and the question being put, " that
John Lord Soraers be acquitted of the articles of ira
peachraent against him, exhibited by the House of
Commons, and all things therein contained, and that
the impeachment be dismissed," it was carried by a
majority of thirty-five. The Coraraons, exasperated at
these proceedings, resolved, that the Lords had refused
justice to the Commons : that they had endeavoured to
overturn the right of impeachment lodged in the Com
mons by the ancient constitution of the kingdom : that
all the ill consequences which might attend the delay
of the supplies given for the preservation of the public
peace, and the maintenance of the balance of Europe,
would be owing to those who, to procure an indemnity
for their own crimes, had used their utraost endeavours
to make a breach between the two Houses. The Lords
sent a message to the Comraons, giving thera to under
stand that they had acquitted Lord Soraers, and dis
missed the irapeachraent, as nobody had appeared to
support the articles ; and that they had appointed next
Monday for the trial of the Earl of Orford. They re
solved, that unless the charge against Lord Haversham
should be prosecuted by the Comraons before the end

362 HISTORY OF ENGLAND
;ha
VI.

CHAP- of the session, the Lords would adjudge him innocent :
that the resolutions of the Commons on their late votes
1701. contained most unjust reflections on the honour and
justice of the Peers : that they were contrived to cover
their affected and unreasonable delays in prosecuting
the impeached lords : that they manifestly tended to
the destruction of the judicature of the Lords ; to the
rendering trials on impeachments impracticable for the
future, and to the subverting the constitution of the
English governraent : that, therefore, whatever ill con
sequences might arise from the so long deferring the
supplies for this year's service were to be attributed to
the fatal counsel of the putting off the raeeting of a
Parliaraent so long, and to the unnecessary delays of
the House of Comraons. On the twenty-third day of
June, the articles of impeachment against Edward Earl
of Orford were read in Westminster-hall ; but the House
of Commons having previously ordered that none of the
members should appear at this pretended trial, those
articles were not supported ; so that his lordship was
acquitted, and the irapeachraent dismissed. Next day,
the impeachraents against the Duke of Leeds, whicli
had lain seven years neglected, together vrith those
against the Earl of Portland and Lord Halifax, as well
as the charge against Lord Havershara, were dismissed
for want of prosecution. Each House ordered a nar
rative of these proceedings to be pubUshed ; and their
mutual animosity had proceeded to such a degree of
rancour, as seemed to preclude all possibility of recon
ciliation. The Commons, iu the whole course of this
transaction, had certainly acted from motives of faction
and revenge; for nothing could be more unjust, fi-ivolous,
and partial, than the charge exhibited in the articles of
impeachraent, their anticipating address to the king,
and their affected delay in the prosecutions. Their
conduct on this occasion was so flagrant as to attract
the notice of the coraraon people, and inspire the ge
nerality of the nation with disgust. This the whigs
did not fail to augment by the arts of calumny, and, in
particular, by insinuating that the court of Versailles
had found raeans to engage the raajority of the Com
raons in its interest.

WILLIAM. 363

This faction had, since the beginning of this session, ^ y^^-
eraployed their eraissaries in exciting a popular aversion .

to the tory ministers and members, and succeeded so 1701.
well in their endeavours, that they iPorraed a scheme of Petition of
obtaining petitions frora different counties and corpora
tions, that should induce the Commons to alter their
conduct, on the supposition that it was contrary to the
sense of the nation. In execution of this scherae, a
petition, signed bythe deputy-lieutenants, above twenty
justices of the peace, the grand jury and freeholders of
the county of Kent, had been presented to the House
of Coraraons on the eighteenth day of May, by five
gentleraen of fortune and distinction. The purport of
this reraonstrance was to recoraraend union araong
themselves, and confidence in his raajesty, whose great
actions for the nation could never be forgotten without
the blackest ingratitude ; to beg they would have regard
to the voice ofthe people ; that their religion and safety
might be effectually provided for ; that their loyal ad
dresses might be turned into bills of supply ; and that
his most sacred majesty might be enabled powerfully to
assist his allies before it should be too late. The House
was so incensed at the petulance of the petition, that
they voted it as scandalous, insolent, and seditious ; and
ordered the gentlemen who had presented it to be taken
into custody. They were afterwards coramitted to the
Gatehouse, where they reraained till the prorogation of
Parliament ; but they had no reason to repine at their
imprisonment, which recommended them to the notice
and esteem of the public. They were visited and ca
ressed by the chiefs of the whig interest, and considered
as martyrs to the liberties of the people. Their con
fineraent gave rise to a very extraordinary paper, enti
tled " A memorial from the gentlemen, freeholders,
and inhabitants of the counties of  , in behalf of
theraselves and many thousands of the good people of
England." It was signed Legion, and sent to the
speaker in a letter, commanding him, in the name of
two hundred thousand Englishraen, to deliver it to the
House of Coramons. In this strange expostulation, the
House Avas charged with illegal and unwarrantable prac
tices in fifteen particulars : a new claim of right was

364 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ranged under seven heads ; and the Coraraons were ad-
" raonished to act according to their duty, as specified in
1701. this raeraorial, on pain of incurring the resentment of
an injured nation. It was concluded in' these words :
" For Englishmen are no more to be slaves to Par
liaments than to kings — our name is Legion, and we
are many." The Comraons were equally provoked and
intiraidated by this libel, which was the production of
one Daniel de Foe, a scurrilous party-writer, in very
little estimation. They would not, however, deign to
take notice of it in the House : but a complaint being
raade of endeavours to raise tumults and seditions, a
committee was appointed to draw up an address to his
majesty, informing hira of those seditious endeavours,
and beseeching him to provide for the public peace and
security.
Favourable The House, however, perceiving plainly that they
session. had incurred the odiura of the nation, which began to
claraour for a war with France, and dreading the po
pular resentment, thought fit to change their raeasures
with respect to this object, and present the address we
have already raentioned, in which they promised to sup
port him in the alliances he should contract Arith the
emperor and other states, in order to bridle the ex
orbitant power of France. They likewise proceeded
in earnest upon the supply, and voted ftinds for raising
about two millions seven hundred thousand pounds to
defray the expense of the ensuing year. They voted
thirty thousand searaen, and resolved that ten thousand
troops should be transported from Ireland to Holland,
as the auxiliaries stipulated in the treaty of 1677 with
the States-General. The funds were constituted of a
land-tax, certain duties on merchandize, and a weekly
deduction from the excise, so as to bring down the
civil list to six hundred thousand pounds ; as the Duke
of Gloucester was dead, and James's queen refused her
allowance. They passed a bill for taking aAvay all pri
vileges of Parliament in legal prosecutions, during the
intermediate prorogations : their last struggle with the
Lords was concerning a bill for appointing commis
sioners to examine and state the public accounts. The
persons nominated for this purpose were extremely ob-

WILLIAM. 365

noxious to the majority of the Peers, as violent partisans ^^a^-
of the tory faction : when the bill, therefore, was sent .

up to the Lords, they raade sorae araendraents, which 1701.
the Commons rejected. The former aniraosity between
the two Houses began to revive, when the king inter
rupted their disputes, by putting an end to the session,
on the tvA-enty-fourth day of June, after having thanked
the Parliament for their zeal in the public service, and
exhorted them to a discharge of their duties in theu-
several counties. He was, no doubt, extreraely pleased
with such an issue of a session that had begun with a
very inauspicious aspect. His health daily declined ;
but he concealed the decay of his constitution, that his
allies raight not be discouraged frora engaging in a con
federacy of which he was deeraed the head and chief
support. He conferred the coraraand of the ten thou
sand troops destined for Holland upon the Earl of
Marlborough, and appointed hira at the sarae tirae his
plenipotentiary to the States-General : a choice that
evinced his discernraent and discretion ; for that noble
raan surpassed all his contemporaries, both as a general
and a politician. He was cool, penetrating, intrepid,
and persevering ; plausible, insinuating, artful, and dis
sembling. A regency being established, the king embarked for Progress of
Holland in the beginning of July. On his arrival at Eugene in
the Hague he assisted at an assembly of the States- My.
General, Avhom he harangued in very affectionate terms,
and was answered with great cordiality ; then he made
a progress round the frontiers, to exaraine the state of
the garrisons ; and gave such orders and directions as
he judged necessary for the defence of the country.
MeaiiAvhile, the French minister, D'Avaux, being re
called frora the Hague, delivered a letter to the states
frora the French king, who coraplained that they had
often interrupted the conferences, frora which no good
fruits were to be expected ; but he assured them it
wholly depended upon themselves, whether they should
continue to receive marks of his ancient friendship for
their republic. The letter was accompanied by an in
solent memorial, to which the States-General returned
a very spirited answer. As they expected nothing uoav

366 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. i3ut hostilities frora France, they redoubled their dili-
" gence in making preparations for their oavu defence.
1701. They repaired their fortifications, augmented their
army, and hired auxiliaries. King William and they
had already engaged in an alliance with the King of
Denmark, who undertook to furnish a certain number
of troops, in consideration of a subsidy ; and they en
deavoured to mediate a peace between Sweden and Po
land ; but this they could not effect. France had like
wise offeredhermediationbetween those powers, in hopes
of bringing over Sweden to her interest ; and the court
of Vienna had tampered with the King of Poland ; but
he persisted in his resolution to prosecute the war. The
Spaniards began to be very uneasy under the dorainion
of their new master. They were shocked at the inso
lence of his French ministers and attendants, and rauch
more at the manners and fashions which they introduced.
The grandees found theraselves very little considered
by their sovereign, and resented his econoray ; for he
had endeavoured to retrench the expense of the court,
which had used to support their magnificence. Prince
Eugene, at the head of the imperial array, had entered
Italy by Vicenza, and passed the Adige near Carpi,
where he defeated a body of five thousand French forces.
The enemy were coraraanded by the Duke of Savoy,
assisted by Mareschal Catinat and the Prince of Vaude
mont, who did not think proper to hazard an engage
ment ; but Mareschal Villeroy arriving in the latter end
of August, with orders to attack the imperialists, Catinat
retired in disgust. The new general marched imme
diately towards Chiari, where Prince Eugene was in
trenched, and attacked his camp ; but met with such a
reception, that he was obliged to retire with the loss of
five thousand men. Towards the end of the carapaign
the prince took possession of all the Mantuan territories,
except Mantua itself, and Goito, the blockade of which
he formed. He reduced all the places on the Oglio,
and continued in the field during the whole winter,
exhibiting repeated marks of the most invincible courage,
indefatigable vigilance, and extensive capacity in the art
of war. In January he had well nigh surprised Cre
mona, by introducing a body of men through an old

WILLIAM. 367
aqueduct. They forced one of the gates, by which chap.
the prince and his followers entered : Villeroy being .

wakened by the noise, ran out into the street, where he 1701.
was taken ; and the town raust have been infallibly re
duced, had Prince Eugene been joined by another body
of troops, which he had ordered to march frora the
Parmesan, and secure the bridge. These not arriving
at the time appointed, an Irish regiraent in the French
service took possession of the bridge, and the prince
was obliged to retire with his prisoner.
The French king, alarmed at the activity and mill- Sketch of
tary genius of the iraperial general, sent a reinforceraent tion of
to his army in Italy, and the Duke of Vendome, to cora- ^^j^ 'j*
raand his forces in that country ; he likewise impor
tuned the Duke of Savoy to assist hira effectually;
but that prince, having obtained all he could expect
frora France, becarae cold and backward. His second
daughter was by this time raarried to the new King of
Spain, who raet her at Barcelona, where he found him
self involved in disputes with the states of Catalonia,
who refused to pay a tax he had imposed, until their
privileges should be confirmed ; and he was obliged to
gratify them in this particular. The war continued to
rage in the north. The young King of Sweden routed
the Saxons upon the river Danube ; thence he marched
into Courland, and took possession of Mittau without
opposition ; while the King of Poland retired into Li
thuania. In Hungary the French eraissaries endea
voured to sow the seeds of a new revolt. They exerted
theraselves with indefatigable industry in almost every
court of Christendora. They had already gained over
the Elector of Bavaria, and his brother, the Elector of
Cologn, together with the Dukes of Wolfenbuttle and
Saxe-Gotha, who professed neutrality, while they levied
troops, and raade such preparations for war, as plainly
indicated that they had received subsidies from France.
Louis had also extorted a treaty of alliance from the
King of Portugal, who was personally attached to the
Austrian interest ; but this weak prince was a slave to
his ministers, whom the French king had corrupted.
During this suraraer, the French coasts were overawed
by the combined fleets of England and Holland, under

368 HISTORY OP ENGLAND.
CHAP, the command of Sir George Rooke, who sailed down
the channel in the latter end of August, and detached

1701. Vice-Admiral Benbow vrith a strong squadron to the
West Indies. In order to deceive the French king,
with regard to the destination of this fleet. King Wil
liam demanded the free use of the Spanish harbours, as
if his design had been to send a squadron to the Me
diterranean ; but he met with a repulse, while the
French ships were freely admitted. About this period
the king revoked his letters patent to the commissioners
ofthe admiralty, and constituted the Earl of Pembroke
Lord High Admiral of England, in order to avoid the
factions, the disputes, and divided counsels of a board.
The earl was no sooner promoted to this office, than he
sent Captain Loades with three frigates to Cadiz, to
bring home the sea stores and effects belonging to the
English in that place, before the war should commence;
and this piece of service was successfully performed.
The French king, in order to enjoy all the advantages
that could be derived from his union vrith Spain, esta
blished a company to open a trade vrith Mexico and
Peru ; and concluded a new Assiento treaty for supply
ing the Spanish plantations Avith negroes. At the same
time he sent a strong squadron to the port of Cadiz.
The French dress was introduced into the court of
Spain ; and, by a formal edict, the grandees of that
kingdora and the peers of France were put on a level
in each nation. There was no vigour left in the coun
cils of Spain : her finances were exhausted, and her
forraer spirit seeraed to be quite extinguished ; the
nobility were beggars, and the common people over
whelmed with indigence and distress. The condition
of France was not rauch more prosperous. She had
been harassed by a long war, and now saw herself on
the eve of another, Avhich in all probability AA'ould render
her completely miserable.
dUanJe'be- These circumstances were well known to the emperor
tween the aud the maritime powers, and served to animate their
thTmaT"'' negotiations for another grand alliance. Conferences
time were opened at the Hague ; and, on the seventh day
powers. of September, a treaty was concluded between his im
perial majesty, England, and the States-General. The

WILLIAM. 369

objects proposed were, to procure satisfaction to the ^vl^'
emperor in the Spanish succession, and sufficient secu

rity for the dominions and coramerce of the allies. ^^°'-
They engaged to use their endeavours for recovering
the Spanish Netherlands, as a barrier between Holland
and France ; and for putting the emperor in possession
of the duchy of Milan, Naples, and Sicily, with the
lands and islands upon the coast of Tuscany belonging
to the Spanish dorainions. They agreed, that the King
of England and the States-General should keep and
possess whatever lands and cities they should conquer
frora the Spaniards in the Indies : that the confederates
should faithfidly comraunicate their designs to one an
other : that no party should treat of peace, or truce,
but jointly with the rest : that they should concur
in preventing the union of France and Spain under
the sarae governraent; and hinder the French from
possessing the Spanish Indies : that, in concluding a
peace, the confederates should provide for the raain
tenance of the coramerce carried on by the maritime
powers to the dorainions taken frora the Spaniards, and
secure the states by a barrier : that they should, at the
sarae time, settle the exercise of religion in the new
conquests : that they should assist one another with all
their forces, in case of being invaded by the French
king, or any other potentate, on account of this alliance :
that a defensive alliance should remain between them,
even after the peace : that all kings, princes, and states,
should be at liberty to engage in this alUance. They
determined to employ two months, to obtain by ami
cable raeans the satisfaction and security which they
deraanded ; and stipulated, that within six weeks the
treaty should be ratified.
On the sixteenth day of September, King James ex- ^.^^"i °*'
pired at St. Germain's, after having laboured under a ' °
tedious indisposition. This unfortunate raonarch, since
the miscarriage of his last atterapt for recovering his
throne, had laid aside all thoughts of worldly grandeur,
and devoted his whole attention to the concerns of his
soul. Though he could not prevent the busy genius
of his queen from planning new schemes of restoration,
he was always best pleased Avhen wholly detached from
VOL. I. B B

370 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, guch chimerical projects. Hunting was his chief di-
" version ; but religion was his constant care. Nothing
1 701. could be more harmless than the life he led; and, in
the course of it, he subjected himself to uncommon
penance and mortification. He frequently visited the
poor monks of La Trappe, who were much edified by
his hurable and pious deportraent. His pride and
arbitrary temper seem to have vanished with his great
ness. ' He became affable, kind, and easy to all his de
pendents ; and his religion certainly opened and ira
proved the virtues of his heart, though it seeraed to
impair the faculties of his soul. In his last illness he
conjured his son to prefer his religion to every worldly
advantage, and even to renounce all thoughts of a
crown, if he could not enjoy it without offering violence
to his faith. He recommended to him the practice of
justice and Christian forgiveness ; he himself declaring,
that he heartily forgave the Prince of Orange, the em
peror, and all his eneraies. He died with great marks of
devotion, and was interred, at his own request, in the
church of the English Benedictines in Paris, without
any funeral solemnity.
TheFrench Before his death he was visited by the French king,
theVe™^ who seemed touched with his condition, and declared
Prince of *^^*' "^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ death, he would own his son as King
Wales as of England. This promise James's queen had already
King of extorted from him, by the interest of Madame de Main-
tngland. i i .
tenon and the dauphin. Accordingly, when James
died, the pretended Prince of Wales was proclaimed
King of England at St. Germain's, and treated as such
at the court of Versailles. His title was likewise re
cognized by the King of Spain, the Duke of Savoy,
and the pope. William was no sooner informed of this
transaction, than he despatched a courier to the King
of Sweden, as guarantee of the treaty of Ryswick, to
complain of this manifest violation. At the sarae time, he
recalled the Earl of Manchester from Paris, and ordered
hira to return without taking an audience of leave.
That nobleraan iraraediately withdrew, after having
intimated to the Marquis de Torcy the order he had
received. Louis, in vindication of his own conduct,
dispersed through all the courts of Europe a manifesto.

WILLIAM. . 371
in which he affirmed, that, in owning the Prince of "^y^^-
Wales as King of England, he had not infringed any "
article of the treaty of Ryswick. He confessed, that 170J.
in the fourth article he had promised that he would not
disturb the King of Great Britain in the peaceable
possession of his dominions ; and he declared his in
tention was to observe that promise punctually. He
observed, that his generosity would not allow him to
abandon the Prince of Wales or his faraily : that he
could not refuse hira a title which was due to hira by
birth : that he had raore reason to coraplain of the King
of Great Britain, and the States-General, whose declara
tions and preparations in favour of the eraperor raight
be regarded as real^ contraventions to treaties : finally,
he quoted sorae instances frora history, in which the
children enjoyed the titles of kingdoras which their
fathers had lost. These reasons, hoAvever, would hardly
have induced the French king to take such a step, had
he not perceived that a war with England was inevi
table ; and that he should be able to reap sorae advan
tages in the course of it, from espousing the cause of
the pretender.
The substance ofthe French raanifesto was published Addresses
in London, by Poussin, the secretary of Tallard, who wiiiiam on
had been left in Enarland as agent for the court of Ver- ?^*' ^"'^
® ~ iect.
sallies. He was now ordered to leave the kingdora,
which was filled Arith indignation at Louis, for having
pretended to declare who ought to be their sovereign.
The city of London presented an address to the lords
justices* expressing the deepest resentraentof theFrench
king's presumption; assuring his majestythat they would
at all tiraes exert the utraost of their abilities for the
preservation of his person, and the defence of his just
rights, in opposition to all invaders of his crown and
dignity. Addresses of the sarae nature were sent up
from all parts of the kingdom, and could not but be
agreeable to William. He had now concerted raeasures
for acting with vigour against France ; and he resolved
to revisit his kingdom, after having raade a considerable
progress in a treaty of perpetual alliance between Eng
land and the States-General, which Avas afterwards
brought to perfection by his plenipotentiary, the Earl
B B 2

372 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, of Marlborough. The king's return, however, was de-
' layed a whole raonth by a severe indisposition, during
1701. which the Spanish rainister De Quires hired certain
physicians to consult together upon the state and na
ture of his distemper. They declared, that he could
not live many weeks ; and this opinion was transmitted
to Madrid. William, however, baffled the prognostic,
though his constitution had sustained such a rude shock,
that he himself perceived his end was near. He told
the Earl of Portland he found himself so weak, that he
could not expect to live another sumraer ; but charged
him to conceal this circumstance until he should be
dead. Notwithstanding this near approach to dissolu
tion, he exerted himself with surprising diligence and
spirit in establishing the confederacy, and settling the
plan of operations. A subsidiary treaty was concluded
with the King of Prussia, who engaged to furnish a
certain number of troops. The emperor agreed to
maintain ninety thousand men in the field against
France : the proportion of the states was limited to one
hundred and two thousand ; and that of England did
not exceed forty thousand, to act in conjunction Arith
the allies.
New Par- Qn the fourth day of November the king arrived in
England, which he found in a strange ferraent, produced
from the rautual animosity of the two factions. They
reviled each other in words and writing with all the
falsehood of calumny, and all the bitterness of rancour:
so that truth, candour, and temperance seemed to be
banished by consent of both parties. The king had
found hiraself deceived in his new rainisters, who had
opposed his raeasures with all their influence. He was
particularly disgusted with the deportraent of the Earl
of Rochester, who proved altogether iraperious and un
tractable, and instead of raoderating, inflamed the
violence of his party. The king declared, the year in
which that nobleman directed his councils Avas the un-
easiest of his whole life. He could not help expressing
his displeasure in such a coldness of reserve, that Ro
chester told him he would serve his majesty no longer,
since he did not enjoy his confidence. William made
no answer to this expostulation, but resolved he should

WILLIAM. 373
see hira no more. The earl, however, at the desire of ^y^^-
Mr. Harley, becarae raore pliant and submissive ; and

after the king's departure for Holland, repaired to his 170i.
government of Ireland, in which he now remained,
exerting all his endeavours to acquire popularity. Wil
liam foreseeing nothing but opposition frora the present
spirit of the House of Coramons, closeted some of their
leaders with a view to bespeak their compliance ; but
finding them deterrained to pursue their former princi
ples, and to insist upon their impeachments, he resolved,
with the advice of his friends, to dissolve the Parlia
ment. This step he was the raore easily induced to take,
as the Coramons were become extreraely odious to the
nation in general, which breathed nothing but war and
defiance against the French monarch. The Parliament
was accordingly dissolved by proclaraation, and another
suraraoned to meet on the thirtieth day of December.
Never did the two parties proceed with such heat and The king's
violence against each other as in their endeavours to to^both^*^
influence the new elections. The whigs, however, ob- Houses re
tained the victory, as they included the monied interest, grelt ap-
which will always prevail araong the borough electors, p'^use.
Corruption was now reduced into an open and avowed
coraraerce ; and, had not the people been so universally
venal and profligate that no sense of sharae remained,
the victors raust have blushed for their success. Though
the raajority thus obtained was stanch to the measures
of the court, the choice of speaker fell upon Mr. Harley,
contrary to the inclination of the king, who favoured Sir
Thomas Lyttelton : but his raajesty's speech was re
ceived with universal applause. It was so much admired
by the well-wishers to the Revolution, that they printed
it with decorations, in the English, Dutch, and French
languages. It appeared as a piece of furniture in all
their houses, and as the king's last legacy to his own and
all protestant people. In this celebrated harangue, he
expatiated upon the indignity offered to the nation by
the French king's acknowledging the pretended Prince
of Wales : he explained the dangers to which it was ex
posed by his placing his grandson on the throne of
Spain : he gave them to understand he had concluded
several alliances, according to the encouragement given

374 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, him by both Houses of Parliament, which alliances
^'' should be laid before them, together with other treaties

1701. still depending. He observed, that the eyes of all Eu
rope were upon this Parliament, and all matters at a
stand until their resolution should be known ; therefore
no time ought to be lost. He told thera, they had yet
an opportunity to secure for themselves and their pos
terity the quiet enjoyment of their religion and liber
ties, if they were not wanting to themselves, but would
exert the ancient vigour of the English nation ; but he
declared his opinion was, that, should they neglect this
occasion, they had no reason to hope for another. He
said it would be necessary to maintain a great strength
at sea, and a force on land proportionable to that of their
allies. He pressed the Coraraons to support the public
credit, which could not be preserved without keeping
sacred that maxira, that they shall never be losers who
trust to the parliaraentary security. He declared, that
he never asked aids frora his people without regret ; that
what he desired Avas for their own safety and honour,
at such a critical time ; and that the Avhole should be
appropriated to the purposes for which it was intended.
He expressed his vidllingness that the accounts should
be yearly submitted to the inspection of Parliament.
He again recommended despatch, together with good
bills for employing the poor, encouraging trade, and sup
pressing vice. He expressed his hope that they Avere
come together determined to avoid disputes and differ
ences, and to act with a hearty concurrence for promoting
the coraraon cause. He said, he should think it as great
a blessing as could befall England, if they were as rauch
inclined to lay aside those unhappy fatal aniraosities
which divided and weakened them, as he was disposed
to make all his subjects safe and easy as to any, even
the highest, offences coramitted against his person. He
conjured them to disappoint the hopes of their enemies
by their unanimity. As he had always shown, and al
ways would show, how desirous he was to be the com
raon father of all his people, he desired they would lay
aside parties and divisions, so as that no distinction
should be heard of amongst thera, but of those who were
friends to the protestant religion and present establish-

WILLIAM. 375
ment, and of those who wished for a popish prince and ^h^a^'
a French government. He concluded by affirming

that if they, in good earnest, desired to see England noi.
hold the balance of Europe, and be indeed at the head
of the protestant interest, it would appear by their im
proving the present opportunity. The Lords irarae
diately drew up a warm and affectionate address, in
which they expressed their resentraent of the proceed
ings of the French king, in owning the pretended Prince
of Wales for King of England. They assured his raa
jesty they would assist him to the utraost of their power
against all his eneraies ; and when it should please God
to deprive thera of his raajesty's protection, they would
vigorously assist and defend against the pretended Prince
of Wales, and all other pretenders whatsoever, every
person and persons who had right to succeed to the
crown of England, by virtue of the acts of Parliaraent
for establishing and liraiting the succession. On the
fifth day of January, an address to the same effect was
presented by the Comraons, and both raet with a very
gracious reception frora his raajesty. The Lords, as a
further proof of their zeal, having taken into considera
tion the dangers that threatened Europe frora the ac
cession of the Duke of Anjou to the crown of Spain,
drew up another address, explaining their sense of that
danger ; stigmatizing the French king as a violator of
treaties ; declaring their opinion that his majesty, his
subjects, and allies, could never be safe and secure until
the house of Austria should be restored to their rights,
and the invader of the Spanish raonarchy brought to
reason ; and assuring his raajesty that no time should be
lost, nor any thing wanting on their parts, which might
answer the reasonable expectations of their friends
abroad ; not doubting but to support the reputation of
the English narae, when engaged under so great a
prince, in the glorious cause of raaintaining the liberty
of Europe.
The king, in order to acquire the confidence of the Great har-
Commons, ordered Mr. Secretary Vernon to lay before ^e/n the
thera copies ofthe treaties and conventions he had lately !i'"s.*"<' ^
concluded, which were so well approved, that the House
unanimously voted the supply. By another vote, they

376 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, authorized the exchequer to borrow six hundred thou-
, sand pounds at six per cent, for the service of the fleet,
1701. and fifty thousand pounds for the subsistence of guards
and garrisons. They deliberated upon the state of the
navy, vrith the debt due upon it, and examined an esti
mate of what would be necessary for extraordinary re
pairs. They called for an account of that part of the
national debt for which no provision had been raade.
They ordered the speaker to write to the trustees for
the forfeited estates iu Ireland, to attend the House
with a full detail of their proceedings in the execution
of that act of Parliaraent. On the ninth day of January
they unanimously resolved, that leave be given to bring
in a bill for securing his majesty's person, and the suc
cession of the crown in the protestant line, for extin
guishing the hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales,
and all other pretenders, and their open and secret abet
tors. They resolved to address his majesty, that he
would insert an article in all his treaties of alUance, im-
j)orting, that no peace should be made Arith France until
his raajesty and the nation have reparation for the great
indignity offered by the French king, in owning and
declaring the pretended Prince of Wales King of Eng
land, Scotland, and Ireland. They agreed to maintain
forty thousand men for the sea service, and a like num
ber by land, to act in conjunction Arith the forces of the
allies, according to the proportions settled by the con
tracting powers. The supplies were raised by an im
position of four shillings in the pound upon lands, an
nuities, pensions, and stipends, and on the profits arising
from the different professions : by a tax of two and one-
half per cent, on all stock in trade, and raoney at in
terest ; of five shUlings in the pound on all salaries, fees,
and perquisites ; a capitation tax of four shillings : an
imposition of one per cent, on all shares in the capital
stock of any corporation or corapany which should be
bought, sold, or bargained for : a duty of sixpence per
bushel on malt, and a further duty on mum, cider, and
perry.
The two The Commons seemed to vie with the Lords in their
pass"the bill zeal for the governraent. They brought in a biU for
of abjura- attainting the pretended Prince of Wales ; which being

WILLIAM. 377
sent up to the other House, passed, with an additional ^h^^-
clause of attainder against the queen, who acted as re- "
gent for the pretender. This, however, was not carried I70i.
without great opposition in the House of Lords. When
the bill was sent back to the Comraons, they excepted
to the araendraent as irregular. They observed, that
attainders by bill constituted the most rigorous part of
the law, and that the stretching of it ought to be
avoided. They proposed, that the queen should be at
tainted by a separate bill. The Lords assented to the
proposal ; and the bill against the pretended Prince of
Wales passed. The Lords passed another for attaint
ing the queen ; however, it was neglected in the House
of Comraons. But the longest and warraest debates of
this session were produced by a bill, which the Lords
brought in, for abjuring the pretended Prince of Wales,
and swearing to the king by the title of rightful and
lawful king, and his heirs, according to the act of settle
ment. It was proposed, that this oath should be volun
tary, tendered to all persons, and their subscription or -?
refusal recorded, without any other penalty. This arti
cle was violently opposed by the Earl of Nottingham,
and other lords of .the tory interest. They observed,
that the governraent was first settled with another oath,
which was like an original contract ; so that there was
no occasion for a new iraposition : that oaths relating
to men's opinions had been always considered as severe
impositions ; and that a voluntary oath was in its own
nature unlawful. During these disputes, another bill
of abjuration was brought into the House of Comraons
by Sir Charles Hedges, that should be obUgatory on all
persons who enjoyed eraployraents in church or state ;
it likewise included an obligation to raaintain the go
vernraent in King, Lords, and Coraraons, and to main
tain the church of England, together with the toleration
for dissenters. Warm debates arose upou the question,
whether the oath should be imposed or voluntary; and
at length it was carried for imposition by the majority of
one voice. They agreed to insert an additional clause,
declaring it equally penal to compass or imagine the death
of her royal highness the princess Anne of Denmark,
as it was to compass or imagine the death of the king's

378 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, eldest son and heir. In the House of Peers this bill
was strenuously opposed by the tories ; and when after

1701. long debates it passed on the twenty-fourth day of
Febi-uary, ten lords entered a protest against it, as an
unnecessary and severe imposition.
The Lower The wholc nation now seemed to join in the cry for
tifiesThe"*" a War with France. Party heats began to abate : the
proceedings factious iu the city of London were, iu a great measure,
mons in the raodcratcd by the union of the two companies trading
preceding to the East ludics, whicli found their mutual interest
Parliament. . ... ^j., • • i tt ^ /-<
required a coalition, i he tories m the House ot Com
mons, having concurred so heartily with the inclinations
of the people, resolved, as far as it lay in their power,
to justify the conduct of their party in the preceding
Parliament. They complained of some petitions and
addresses which had reflected upon the proceedings of
the last House of Commons, and particularly of the
Kentish petition. The raajority, however, determined
that it was the undoubted right of the people of Eng
land to petition or address the king, for the calling, sit
ting, or dissolving of Parliaments, and for the redress
ing of grievances ; and that every subject under any
accusation, either by impeachment or otherwise, had a
right to be brought to a speedy trial. A complaint
being likewise raade, that the Lords had denied the
Coramons justice in the matter of the late impeach
ments, a furious debate ensued ; and it was carried by a
very small raajority that justice had not been denied.
In sorae points, however, they succeeded : in the case of
a controverted election at Maidstone, between Thomas
Blisse and Thomas Culpepper, the House resolved, that
the latter had been not only guilty of corrupt, scandalous,
and indirect practices, in endeavouring to procure him
self to be elected a burgess ; but likewise, being one of
the instruraents in proraoting and presenting the scan
dalous, insolent, and seditious petition, commonly called
the Kentish petition, to the last House of Commons,
was guilty of proraoting a scandalous, villanous, and
groundless reflection upon that House, by aspersing the
merabers with receiving French money, or being in the
interest of France ; for which offence he was ordered to
be committed to Newgate, and to be prosecuted by his

WILLIAM. 379
raajesty's attorney-general. They also resolved, that to chap.
assert that the House of Coraraons is not the only repre- '
sentative of the Coraraons of England, tends to the sub- i70i.
version of the rights and privileges of the House of
Coraraons, and the fundamental constitution of the go
vernraent of this kingdora : that to assert that theHouse
of Coraraons have no power of coraraitraent, but of their
own members, tends to the subversion of the constitu
tion of the House of Commons : that to print or pub
lish any books, or libels, reflecting upon the proceed
ings of the House of Commons, or any member thereof,
for or relating to his service therein, is a high violation
of the rights and privileges of the House of Comraons.
Notwithstanding these transactions, they did not neg
lect the vigorous prosecution of the war. They ad
dressed his raajesty to interpose with his allies, that they
might increase their quotas of land forces, to be put on
board the fleet in proportion to the numbers his majesty
should erabark. When they had settled the suras ap
propriated to the several uses of the war, they presented
a second address, desiring he would provide for the half-
pay officers, in the first place, in the recruits and levies
to be raade. The king assured them it was always his
intention to provide for those officers. He went to the
House of Peers, and gave the royal assent to an act, ap
pointing comraissioners to take, examine, and determine
the debts due to the army, navy, and the transport ser
vice ; and also to take an account of prizes taken during
the war.
The affairs of Ireland were not a little embarrassed Affairs of
by the conduct of the trustees appointed to take cogni
zance of the forfeited estates. Their office was ex
tremely odious to the people, as well as to the court,
and their deportment was arbitrary and iraperious. Se
veral individuals of that kingdora, provoked by the inso
lence of the trustees on one hand, and encouraged by
the countenance of the courtiers on the other, endea
voured by a circular letter, to spirit up the grand jury
of Ireland against the act of resuraption : petitions were
presented to the king, couched in very strong terras,
affirming, that it was injurious to the protestant in
terest, and had been obtained by gross misinformations.

380 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. The king having communicated these addresses to the
 '.  House, they were immediately voted scandalous, false,
1701. and groundless ; and the Coramons resolved, that, not
withstanding the complaints and clamours against the
trustees, it did not appear to the House but those com
plaints were groundless : nevertheless, they afterwards
received several petitions, iraploring relief against the
said act ; and they ordered that the petitioners should
be relieved accordingly. Proposals were delivered in for
incorporating such as should purchase the said forfeit
ures, on certain terras therein specified, according to
the rent-roll, when verified and made good to the pur
chasers ; but whereas in this rent-roll the value of the
estates had been estimated at something raore than
seven hundred and sixteen thousand pounds, those who
undertook to make the purchase affirmed they were
not worth five hundred thousand pounds ; and thus the
affair remained in suspense.
The king With rcspcct to Scotland, the clamours of that king-
mendsan ^^m had uot yet subsided. When the bill of abjura-
union ofthe tioii passod ill the House of Peers, the Earl of Not-
doms!"^" tingham had declared, that although he differed in
opinion from the majority in raany particulars relating
to that bill, yet he was a friend to the design of it ; and
in order to secure a protestant succession, he thought
an union of the whole island was absolutely necessary.
He therefore moved for an address to the king, that he
would dissolve the Parliaraent of Scotland now sittins',
as the legality of it raight be called in question, on ac
count of its having been originally a convention ; and
that a new Parliaraent should be summoned, that they
might treat about an union of the tAvo kingdoms. The
king had this affair so much at heart, that even when
he was disabled from going to the Parliament in person,
he sent a letter to the Commons, expressing an eager
desire that a treaty for this purpose might be set on
foot, and earnestly recommending this affair to the
consideration of the House ; but as a uoav Parliaraent
in Scotland could not be called without a great risk,
while the nation was in such a ferment, the project was
postponed to a more favourable opportunity.
Before the king's return from Holland, he had con-

WILLIAM. 381
certed with his allies the operations of the ensuing cara- *-^ y^^-
paign. He had engaged in a negotiation with the 
Prince of Hesse D'Arrastadt, who assured hira, that if 1701.
he would besiege and take Cadiz, the adrairal of Cas- He falls
tile, and divers other grandees of Spain, would declare horee.*"^
for the house of Austria. The allies had also deter
rained upon the siege of Keiserswaert, which the Elector
of Cologn had delivered into the hands of the French :
the Elector of Hanover had resolved to disarm the
Princes of Wolfenbuttle : the King of the Romans, and
Prince Louis of Baden, undertook to invest Landau :
and the eraperor proraised to send a powerful reinforce
raent to Prince Eugene in Italy : but WiUiara did not
live to see these scheraes put in execution. His consti
tution was by this time almost exhausted, though he en
deavoured to conceal the effects of his malady, and to
repair his health by exercise. On the twenty-first day
of February, in riding to Hampton-court from Ken
sington, his horse fell under him, and he hiraself was
thrown upon the ground with such violence as pro
duced a fracture in his collar-bone. His attendants con
veyed hira to the palace of Harapton-court, where the
fracture was reduced by Ronjat, his serj eaut-surgeon. In
the evening he returned to Kensington in his coach, and
the two ends ofthe fractured bone having been disunited
by the jolting of the carriage, were replaced under the
inspection of Bidloo, his physician. He seemed to be
in a fair way of recovering till the first day of March,
when his knee appeared to be inflamed, with great pain
and weakness. Next day he granted a commission
under the great seal to several peers for passing the
bills to which both Houses of Parliament had agreed ;
namely, the act of attainder against the pretended
Prince of Wales, and another in favour of the quakers,
enacting, that their soleran affirmation and declaration
should be accepted instead of an oath in the usual form.
On the fourth day of March the king was so well re- His death.
covered of his lameness, that he took several turns in
the gallery at Kensington ; but sitting down on a couch,
where he fell asleep, he was seized with a shivering,
which terminated in a fever and diarrhoea. He was at
tended by Sir Thomas Millington, Sir Richard Black-

382 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^^^- more, Sir Theodore CoUedon, Dr. Bidloo, and other
 '. — eminent physicians ; but their prescriptions proved in-
1701. effectual. On the sixth he granted another coraraission
for passing the bill for the malt-tax, and the bill of
abjuration ; and, being so weak that he could not write
his name, he, in presence of the lord-keeper and the
clerks of parliaraent, applied a stamp prepared for the
purpose. The Earl of Albemarle, arriving from Hol
land, conferred with hira in private on the posture of
affairs abroad ; but he received his inforraations with
great coldness, and said, " Je tire vers ma fin — I ap
proach the end of my life." In the evening he thanked
Dr. Bidloo for his care and tenderness, saying, " I know
that you and the other learned physicians have done all
that your art can do for my relief; but, finding all
raeans ineffectual, I subrait." He received spiritual
consolation frora Archbishop Tennison, and Burnet,
bishop of Salisbury: on Sunday raorning the sacrament
was administered to him. The lords of the privy coun
cil and divers noblemen attended in the adjoining apart
raents, and to sorae of thera who were admitted he spoke
a little. He thanked Lord Auverquerque for his long
and faithful services : he delivered to Lord Albemarle
the keys of his closet and scrutoire, telling him he
knew what to do with them. He inquired for the Earl
of Portland ; but, being speechless before that noble
man arrived, he grasped his hand and laid it to his
heart, with marks of the most tender affection. On
the eighth day of March he expired, in the fifty-second
year of his age, after having reigned thirteen years. The
Lords Lexington and Scarborough, who were in waiting,
no sooner perceived that the king was dead, than
they ordered Ronjat to untie fi-om his left arm a black
riband, to which was affixed a ring, containing some hair
of the late Queen Mary. The body, being opened and
embalmed, lay in state for some tirae at Kensington,
and on the twelfth day of April was deposited in a
vault of Henry's chapel in Westminster Abbey. In the
beginning of May, a will which he had intrusted with
Monsieur Schuylemberg was opened at the Hague. In
¦this he had declared his cousin Prince Frison of Nassau,
Stadtholder of Friesland, his sole and universal heir.

WILLIAM. 383
and appointed the States-General his executors. By a ^^^^•
codicil annexed, he had bequeathed the lordship of.

Breevert, and a legacy of two hundred thousand guilders, 1 70i •
to the Earl of Albemarle.
WiUiara III. was in his person of the middle stature. His cha-
a thin body, a delicate constitution, subject to an asthma ^'^^^'
and continual cough frora his infancy. He had an
aquiline nose, sparkling eyes, a large forehead, and a
grave, solemn aspect. He was very sparing of speech :
his conversation was dry, and his manner disgusting,
except in battle, when his deportment was free, spirited
and aniraating. In courage, fortitude, and equanimity,
he rivalled the most eminent warriors of antiquity ; and
his natural sagacity made amends for the defects in his
education, which had not been properly superintended.
He was religious, temperate, generally just and sincere,
a stranger to violent transports of passion, and raight
have passed for one of the best princes of the age in
which he lived had he never ascended the throne of
Great Britain. But the distinguishing criterion of his
character was ambition. To this he sacrificed the
punctilios of honour and decorura, in deposing his own
father-in-law and uncle ; and this he gratified at the
expense of the nation that raised him to sovereign au
thority. He aspired to the honour of acting as umpire
in all the contests of Europe ; and the second object of
his attention was, the prosperity of that country to
which he owed his birth and extraction. Whether he
really thought the interests of the continent and Great
Britain were inseparable, or sought only to drag Eng
land into the confederacy as a convenient ally, certain
it is he involved these kingdoras in foreign connexions,
which, in all probability, will be productive of their
ruin. In order to establish this favourite point, he
scrupled not to employ all the engines of corruption,
by which the morals of the nation were totally de
bauched. He procured a parliaraentary sanction for a
standing army, which now seeras to be interwoven in
the constitution. He introduced the pernicious prac
tice of borroAving upon reraote funds; an expedient
that necessarily hatched a brood of usurers, brokers,
contractors, and stock-jobbers, to prey upon the vitals

384

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.
VI.

1701.
Burnet. Oidmixon.
Boyer.Lamberty. State
Tracts.
Tindai. Ralph.Voltaire.

of their country. He entailed upon the nation a grow
ing debt, and a systera of politics big with raisery, de
spair, and destruction. To sura up his character in a
few words — WiUiara was a fatalist in religion, indefati
gable in war, enterprising in politics, dead to all the
warra and generous eraotions of the human heart, a
cold relation, an indifferent husband, a disagreeable
man, an ungracious prince, and an imperious sovereign.

ANNE. 385

CHAPTER VII.
Anne succeeds to the Throne. — She resolves to fulfil tbe Engage
ments of her Predecessor with his Allies. — A French Memorial
presented to the States-General. — The Queen's Inclination to the
Tories. — War declared against France. — The Parliament pro
rogued. — Warm Opposition to the Ministry in the Scottish Par
liament. — They recognize her Majesty's Authority. — The Queen
appoints Commissioners to treat of an Union between England and
Scotland. — Stateof Affairs on the Continent. — Keiserswaert and
Landau taken by the Allies. — Progi'ess of the Earl of Marl
borough in Flanders. — He narrowly escapes being taken by a
French Partisan. — The Imperialists are worsted at Fridlinguen.
— Battle of Luzzara, in Italy. — The King of Sweden defeats Au
gustus at Lissou in Poland. — Fruitless Expedition to Cadiz by the
Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke. — They take and destroy
the Spanish Galleons at Vigo. — Admiral Benbow's Engagement
with Du Casse in the West Indies. — The Queen assembles a new
Parliament. — Disputes between the two Houses. — The Lords in
quire into the Conduct of Sir George Rooke. — The Parliament
make a Settlement on Prince George of Denmark. — The Earl of
Marlborough created a Duke. — All Commerce and Correspondence
prohibited between Holland and the two Crowns of France and
Spain. — A Bill for preventing occasional Conformity. — It mis
carries. — Violent Animosity between the two Houses, produced by
the Inquiry into the public Accounts. — Disputes between the two
Houses of Convocation. — Account of the Parties in Scotland. —
Dangerous Heats in the Parliament of that Kingdom. — The Com
missioner is abandoned by the Cavaliers. — He is in Danger of his
Life, and suddenly prorogues the Parliament. — Proceedings of the
Irish Parhament. — They pass a severe Act against Papists. —
The Elector of Bavaria defeats the Imperialists at Scardingen,
and takes Possession of Ratisbon. — The Allies reduce Bonne. —
Battle of Eckeren. — The Prince of Hesse is defeated by the
French at Spirebach. — Treaty between the Emperor and the
Duke of Savoy. — The King of Portugal accedes to the Grand
Alliance. — Sir Cloudesley Shovel sails with a Fleet to the Medi
terranean. — Admiral Graydon's bootless Expedition to the West
Indies. — Charles, King of Spain, arrives in England.
William was succeeded as sovereign of England by chap.
Anne, Princess of Denraark, who ascended the throne '
in the thirty-eighth year of her age, to the general satis- i70i.
faction of all parties. Even the Jacobites seeraed pleased Annesuc-
with her elevation, on the supposition that, as in all throne.
probability she would leave no heirs of her own body,
VOL. I. c c

386 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the dictates of natural affection would induce her to
^"" alter the succession in favour of her own brother. She
1701. had been taught to cherish warra sentiraents of the
tories, whom she considered as the friends of monarchy,
and the true sons of the church ; and they had al
ways professed an inviolable attachment to her person
and interest ; but her conduct was wholly influenced by
the Countess of Marlborough, a woraan of an iraperious
teraper and intriguing genius, who had been intiraate
with the princess frora her tender years, and gained a
surprising ascendancy over her. Anne had undergone
some strange vicissitudes of fortune in consequence of
her father's expulsion, and sustained a variety of mor
tifications in the late reign, during which she conducted
herself with such discretion, as left little or no pretence
for censure or resentment. Such conduct, indeed, was
in a great measure owing to a natural temperance of
disposition, not easily ruffled or inflamed. She was
zealously devoted to the church of England, from
which her father had used some endeavours to detach
her before the Revolution ; and she lived in great har-
raony with her husband, to whom she bore six children,
all of whora she had already survived. WiUiara had no
sooner yielded up his breath, than the privy-council in
a body waited on the new queen, who, in a short but
sensible speech, assured thera, that no pains nor dili
gence should be wanting on her part, to preserve and
support the religion, laws, and liberties of her country,
to raaintain the succession in the protestant line, and
the governraent in church and state, as by law esta
blished. She declared her resolution to carry on the
preparations for opposing the exorbitant power of
France, and to assure the allies that she would pursue
the true interest of England, together with theirs, for
the support of the coraraon cause. The members of
the privy-council having taken the oaths, she ordered a
proclamation to be published, signifying her pleasure,
that all persons in office of authority or government at
the decease of the late king, should so continue till
further direction. By virtue of an act passed in the
late reign, the ParUament continued sitting even after
the king's death. Both Houses raet iraraediately, and

ANNE. 387
unanimously voted an addres of condolence and con- "^yj^^-
gratulation ; and, in the afternoon, the queen was pro

claimed. Next day the Lords and Commons severally 1701.
attended her with an address, congratulating her ma
jesty's accession to the throne ; and assuring her of
their firm resolution to support her against all her ene
mies whatsoever. The Lords acknowledged, that their
great loss was no otherwise to be repaired but by a
vigorous adherence to her majesty and her allies, in the
prosecution of those measures already concerted to re
duce the exorbitant power of France. The Comraons
declared they would raaintain the succession of the
crown in the protestant line, and effectually provide for
the public credit of the nation. These addresses were
graciously received by the queen, who, on the eleventh
day of March, went to the House of Peers with the
usual soleranity, where, in a speech to both Houses, she
expressed her satisfaction at their unaniraous concur
rence with her opinion, that too much could not be
done for the encouragement of their allies in humbling
the power of France; and desired they would con
sider of proper methods towards obtaining a union be
tween England and Scotland. She observed to the
Comraons, that the revenue for defraying the expenses
of the civil governraent was expired ; and that she re
lied entirely on their affection for its being supplied in
such a raanner as should be raost suitable to the honour
and dignity of the crown. She declared it should be
her constant endeavour to raake them the best return
for their duty and affection, by a careful and diligent
adrainistration for the good of all her subjects. " And
as I know my own heart to be entirely English (con
tinued she) I can very sincerely assure you, there is not
any thing you can expect or desire from me, which I
shall not be ready to do for the happiness and prosper
ity of England ; and you shall always find me a strict
and religious observer of my word." These assurances
were extremely agreeable to the ParUament ; and she
received the thanks of both houses. Addresses of con
gratulation were presented by the bishop and clergy of
London ; by the dissenters in and about that city ; and
by all the counties, cities, towns, and corporations of
c c2

388 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. England. She declared her attachraent to the chureh ;
" she promised her protection to the dissenters ; and re-
1701. ceived the compliraents of all her subjects with such
affability as ensured their affection.
She re- Williara's death was no sooner known at the Hague,
fuifiUheen- than all Holland was filled with consternation. The
gagements gtatos iraraediately asserabled, and, for some time,gazed
deceTso^"^^" at oach othcr in silent fear and astonishment. They
with his sighed, wept, and interchanged erabraces and vows,
that they would act with unaniraity, and expend their
dearest blood in defence of their country. Then they
despatched letters to the cities and provinces, informing
them of this unfortunate event, and exhorting thera to
union and perseverance. The express frora England
having brought the queen's speech to her privy-council,
it was translated and published, to revive the drooping
spirits of the people. Next day Pensionary Fagel im
parted to the states of Holland a letter which he had
received from the Earl of Marlborough, containing
assurances, in the queen's name, of union and assist
ance. In a few days, the queen wrote a letter in the
French language to the states, confirming these as
surances : it was delivered by Mr. Stanhope, whom she
had furnished with fresh credentials as envoy frora
England. Thus animated, the states resolved to pro
secute vigorous raeasures : their resolutions were still
raore inspirited by the arrival of the Earl' of Marlbo
rough, whom the queen honoured with the order of the
garter, and invested with the character of ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States-Gene
ral : he was likewise declared captain-general of her
forces both at home and abroad. He assured the states,
that her Britannic raajesty would raaintain the alliances
which had been concluded by the late king, and do
every thing that the coraraon concerns of Europe re
quired. The speech was answered by Dickvelt, presi
dent of the week, who, in the narae of the states, ex
pressed their hearty thanks to her raajesty, and their
resolutions of concurring with her in a vigorous prose
cution of the common interest.
The importance of WiUiam's life was evinced by the
joy that diffused itself through the kingdom of France

ANNE. 389
at the news of his decease. The person who first chap.
brought the tidings to Calais was iraprisoned by the "
governor, until his information was confirraed. The 1702.
court of Versailles could hardly restrain their transports ^ French
so as to preserve common decorum : the people of Paris presented to
openly rejoiced at the event : all decency was laid aside '^^ ^^^f^-
at Rome, where this incident produced such indecent
raptures, that Cardinal Grimani, the imperial minister,
complained of them to the pope, as an insult on his
master the emperor, who was William's friend, con
federate, and ally. The French king despatched cre
dentials to Barre, whora the Count D'Avaux had left
at the Hague to raanage the affairs of France, together
with instructions to renew the negotiation with the
states, in hope of detaching thera from the alliance.
This minister presented a memorial iraplying severe re
flections on King WiUiara, and the past conduct of the
Dutch ; and insinuating, that now they had recovered
their liberty, the court of France hoped they would con
sult their true interest. The Count de Goes, envoy
frora the eraperor, aniraadverted on these expressions
in another memorial, which was Ukewise published : the
states produced in public an answer to the same re
monstrance, expressing their resentraent at the inso
lence of such insinuations, and their veneration for the
raeraory of their late stadtholder. The Earl of Marl
borough succeeded in every part of his negotiation.
He animated the Dutch to a full exertion of their
vigour : he concerted the operations of the carapaign :
he agreed with the States-General and the iraperial
minister, that war should be declared against France
on the same day at Vienna, London, and the Hague :
and on the third of April embarked for England, after
having acquired the entire confidence of those who
governed the United Provinces.
By this tirae the House of Coraraons in England had An. 1702.
settled the civil list upon the queen for her life. When incimation '
the bill received the royal assent, she assured them that to the tones.
one hundred thousand pounds of this revenue should be
applied to the public service of the current year : at
the same time, she passed another bill for receiving and

390 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, examining the public accounts. A coraraission for this
" purpose was granted in the preceding reign, but had
1702. been for sorae years discontinued ; and, indeed, always
proved ineffectual to detect and punish those individuals
who shamefully pillaged their country. The viUany
was so complicated, the vice so general, and the delin
quents so powerfully screened by artifice and interest,
as to elude all inquiry. On the twenty-fourth day of
March the oath of abjuration was taken by the speaker
and merabers, according to an act for the further se
curity of her majesty's person, and the succession of the
crown in the protestant line, and for extinguishing the
hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales. The queen's
inclination to the tories plainly appeared in her choice
of ministers. Doctor John Sharp, Archbishop of York,
became her ghostly director and counsellor in all eccle
siastical affairs. The Earl of Rochester was continued
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and enjoyed a great share
of her majesty's confidence: the privy-seal was intrusted
to the Marquis of Normanby : the Earl of Nottingham
and Sir Charles Hedges were appointed secretaries of
state: the Earl of Abingdon, Viscount Weymouth,
Lord Dartmouth, Sir Christopher Musgrave, GrenviUe,
Howe, Gower, and Harcourt, were adraitted as mem
bers of the privy-council, together with Sir Edward
Seymour, now declared coraptroUer of the household.
The Lord Godolphin declined accepting the office of
lord high treasurer, until he was overruled by the per
suasions of Marlborough, to whose eldest daughter his
son was raarried. This nobleraan refused to coramand
the forces abroad, unless the treasuiy should be put into
the hands of Godolphin, on whose punctuality in point
of reraittances he knew he could depend. George,
Prince of Denmark, was invested with the title of ge
neralissimo of all the queen's forces by sea and land ;
and afterwards created lord high admiral, the Earl of
Pembroke having been dismissed frora this office with
the offer of a large pension, which he generously re
fused. Prince George, as adrairal, was assisted by a
council, consisting of Sir George Rooke, Sir David
Mitchel, George Churchill, and Richard Hill. Though

ANNE. 391

the legality of this board was doubted, the Parharaent '^y^'^'
had such respect and veneration for the queen, that it .

was suffered to act without question. 1702.
A rivalship for the queen's favour already appeared Y*""^^"
between the Earls of Rochester and Marlborough, against
The forraer, as first cousin to the queen, and chief of the France.
tory faction, raaintained considerable influence in the
council ; but even there the interest of his rival pre-
dorainated. Marlborough was not only the better
courtier, but, by the canal of his countess, actually di
rected the queen in all her resolutions. Rochester pro
posed in council, that the EngUsh should avoid a decla
ration of a war with France, and act as auxiliaries only.
He was seconded by sorae other members ; but the
opinion of Marlborough preponderated. He observed,
that the honour of the nation was concerned to fulfil
the late king's engagements ; and affirmed that France
could never be reduced within due bounds, unless the
English would enter as principals in the quarrel. This
allegation was supported by the Dukes of Somerset and
Devonshire, the Earl of Pembroke, and the majority
of the council. The queen being resolved to declare
war, communicated her intention to the House of
Coramons, by whom it was approved ; and on the fourth
day of May the declaration was soleranly proclairaed.
The King of France was, in this proclaraation, taxed
with having taken possession of great part of the Spa
nish dominions ; with designing to invade the liberties
of Europe, and obstruct the freedora of navigation and
coraraerce ; with having offered an unpardonable insult
to the queen and her throne, by taking upon hira to
declare the pretended Prince of Wales King of Eng
land, Scotland, and Ireland. The three declarations
ofthe emperor, England, and the States-General, which
were published in one day, did not fail to disconcert,
as well as to provoke, the French monarch. When his
minister De Torcy recited them in his hearing, he spoke
of the queen with some acrimony ; but with respect to
the States-General, he declared with great emotion, that
" Messieurs the Dutch merchants should one day re
pent of their insolence and presumption, in declaring

392

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP, war against so powerful a monarch :" he did not, how-
^^'' ever, produce his declaration till the third day of July.

1702. The House of Comraons, in corapliance with the
The Par- quecu's dcsiro, brought in a bill, erapowering her ma-
prOTo^ed. jesty to name commissioners to treat Arith the Scots for
a union of the two kingdoras. It met with warm
opposition frora Sir Edward Seymour, and other tory
merabers, who discharged abundance of satire and ridi
cule upon the Scottish nation ; but the raeasure seeraed
so necessary at that juncture to secure the protestant
succession against the practices of France and the
clairas of the pretender, that the majority espoused the
bill, which passed through both Houses, and on the
sixth day of May received the royal assent, together
with some bills of less importance. The enemies of the
late king continued to revile his raeraory''. They even
charged hira with having forraed a design of excluding
the Princess Anne from the throne, and of introducing
the Elector of Hanover as his own iraraediate successor.
This report had been so industriously circulated, that
it began to gain credit all over the kingdora. Several
peers interested themselves in William's character ; and
a motion was raade in the Upper Ibouse, that the truth
of this report should be inquired into. The House
imraediately desired that those lords who had visited
the late king's papers would intiraate whether or not
they had found any among them relating to the queen's
succession, or to the succession of the house of Hanover.
They forthwith declared that nothing of that sort ap
peared. Then the House resolved, that the report was
groundless, false, villanous, and scandalous, to the dis
honour of the late king's raeraory, and highly tending
to the disservice of her present majesty, whom they be
sought to give order that the authors or publishers of
such scandalous reports should be prosecuted by the
attorney-general. The same censure was passed upon
° In their hours of debauch they drank to the health of Sorrel, meaning the horse
that fell with the king ; and under the appellation of the little gentleman in velvet,
toasted the mole that raised the hill over which the horse had stumbled. As the
beast had formerly belonged to Sir John Fenwick, they insinuated that William's
fate was a judgment upon him, for his cruelty to that gentleman ; and a Latin
epigram was written on the occasion.

ANNE. 393

some libels and pamphlets, tending to inflame the fac- chap.
tions of the kingdora, and to propagate a spirit of irre- .

ligion''. On the twenty-first day of May, the Commons, 1702.
in an address, advised her raajesty to engage the era
peror, the States-General, and her other allies, to join
with her in prohibiting all intercourse with France and
Spain ; and to concert such raethods with the States-
General as might most effectually secure the trade of
her subjects and allies. The Lords presented another
address, desiring the queen would encourage her sub
jects to equip privateers, as the preparations of the
enemy seemed to be raade for a piratical war, to the in
terruption of coramerce : they likeArise exhorted her
majesty to grant coraraissions or charters to all persons
who should make such acquisitions in the Indies, as she
in her great wisdom should judge most expedient for
the good of her kingdoms. On the twenty-fifth day
of May, the queen having passed several public and
private bills", disraissed the Parliaraent by prorogation,
after having, in a short speech, thanked thera for their
zeal, recommended unanimity, and declared she would
carefully preserve and maintain the act of toleration.
In Scotland a warra contest arose between the re- ^YP °P-
volutioners and those in the opposition, concerning the [he ministry
existence of the present Parliaraent. The queen had™*?,s^.°'-
signified her accession to the throne in a letter to her ment.
privy-council for Scotland, desiring they would con
tinue to act in that office until she should send a new
coraraission. Meanwhile she authorized thera to publish
a proclaraation, ordering all officers of state, coun
sellors, and magistrates, to act in all things con
formably to the coraraissions and instructions of his
late raajesty, until new commissions should be prepared.
She likeArise assured thera ofher firra resolution to pro-
' Doctor Binkes, in a sermon preached before the convocation, on the thirtieth
day of January, drew a parallel between the sufferings of Christ and those of King
Charles, to which last he gave the preference, in point of right, character, and
station. " During th is short session, the queen gave her assent to an act for laying a duty
upon land ; to another for encouraging the Greenland trade ; to a third for making
good the deficiencies and the pubUc credit ; to a fourth for continuing the imprison
ment of Counter, and other conspirators against King William ; to a fifth for the
relief of protestant purchasers of the forfeited estates of Ireland j to a sixth, en
larging the time for taking the oath of abjuration ; to a seventh, obliging the Jews
to maintain and provide for their protestant children.

394 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
•^HAP. tect them in their religion, laws, and liberties, and in
' the established government of the church. She had
1702. already,in presence of twelve Scottish counsellors, taken
the coronation-oath for that kingdom ; but those who
wanted to erabroil the affairs of their country affirraed
that this was an irregular way of proceeding, and that
the oath ought to have been tendered bypersons deputed
for that purpose, either by the Parliaraent or the privy-
council of the kingdora. The present ministry, con
sisting ofthe Duke of Queensberry, the Earls of March
mont, Melvil, Seafield, Hyndford, and Selkirk, were
devoted to revolution principles, and desirous that the
Parliament should continue, in pursuance of a late act
for continuing the Parliament that should be then in
being, six months after the death of the king ; and that
it should assemble in twenty days after that event.
The queen had, by several adjournments, deferred the
meeting almost three raonths after the king's decease ;
and therefore the anti-re volutioners affirraed that it was
dissolved. The Duke of Hamilton was at the head of
this party, which clamoured loudly for a new Parliament.
This nobleman, together with the Marquis of Tweeddale,
the Earls Marshal and Rothes, and raany other noble
raen, repaired to London, in order to make the queen
acquainted with their objections to the continuance of
the present Parliament. She adraitted thera to her
presence, and calraly heard their allegations ; but she
was deterrained by the advice of her privy-council for
that kingdora, who were of opinion that the nation was
in too great a ferraent to hazard the convocation of a
new Parliament. According to the queen's last ad
journment, the Parliament met at Edinburgh on the
ninth day of June, the Duke of Queensberry having
been appointed high coraraissioner. Before the queen's
commission was read, the Duke of Harailton, for him
self and his adherents, declared their satisfaction at her
majesty's accession to the throne, not only on account
of her undoubted right by descent, but Ukewise because
of her many personal virtues and royal qualities. He
said they were resolved to sacrifice their lives and for
tunes in defence of her raajesty's right against all her
enemies whatever ; but, at the same time, they thought

ANNE. 395
themselves bound in duty to give their opinion, that they ^yf^-
were not warranted by law to sit and act as a Parlia- " 
ment. He then read a paper to the foUowing effect : 1702.
that forasmuch as, by the fundamental laws and con
stitution of this kingdom, all Parliaments do dissolve on
the death of their sovereign, except in so far as in
novated by an act in the preceding reign, that the
Parliaraent in being at his raajesty's decease should
raeet, and act what might be needful for the defence of
the true protestant religion as by law established, and
for the maintenance of the succession to the crown as
settled by the claira of right, and for the preservation
and security of the public peace ; and seeing these ends
are fully answered by her majesty's succession to the
throne, we conceive ourselves not now warranted by
law to meet, sit, or act ; and therefore do dissent from
any thing that shall be done or acted. The duke
having recited this paper, and formally protested against
the proceedings of the Parliament, withdrew with
seventy-nine raerabers araidst the acclamations of the
people. Notwithstanding their secession, the commissioner. They re-
who retained a much greater number, produced the m^e'sty's
queen's letter, signifying their resolution to raaintain authority.
and protect her subjects in the fiiU possession of their
religion, laws, liberties, and the presbyterian discipline.
She inforraed them of her having declared war against
France ; she exhorted them to provide competent sup
plies for raaintaining such a nuraber of forces as raight
be necessary for disappointing the eneray's designs, and
preserving the present happy settleraent; and she
earnestly recommended to their consideration a union
of the two kingdoms. The Duke of Queensberry and
the Earl of Marchmont having enforced the different
articles of this letter, committees were appointed for
the security of the kingdom, for controverted elections,
for drawing up an answer to her majesty's letter, and
for revising the minutes. Meanwhile, the Duke of
Hamilton and his adherents sent the Lord Blantyre to
London, with an address to the queen, who refused to
receive it, but wrote another letter to the Parliaraent,
expressing her resolution to maintain their dignity and

396 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, authority against all opposers. They, in answer to the
^"' former, had assured her, that the groundless secession

1702. of some merabers should increase and strengthen their
care and zeal for her majesty's service. They expelled
Sir Alexander Bruce, for having given vent to some re
flections against presbytery. The lord advocate pro
secuted the faculty of advocates before the Parliaraent,
for having passed a vote araong theraselves in favour of
the protestation and address of the dissenting raerabers.
The faculty was severely repriraanded ; but the whole
nation seemed to resent the prosecution. The Parlia
raent passed an act for recognizing her raajesty's royal
authority ; another for adjourning the court of judica
ture called the session ; a third declaring this meet
ing of Parliament legal, and forbidding any person to
disown, quarrel with, or impugn the dignity and au
thority thereof, under the penalty of high treason ; a
fourth for securing the true protestant religion and
presbyterian church governraent; a fifth for a land-tax ;
and a sixth enabling her raajesty to appoint cora
raissioners for a union between the two kingdoras.
The queen The Earl of Marchuiont, of his own accord, and even
commis- Contrary to the ad vice of the high commissioner, brought
sioners to jn a bill for abjuring the pretended Prince of Wales ;
union be- but this was not supported by the court party, as the
tween Eng- commissioner had no instructions how to act on the oc-
Scotiand. casion. Perhaps the queen and her English rainistry
resolved to keep the succession open in Scotland, as a
check upon the whigs and house of Hanover. On the
thirtieth day of June, the coraraissioner adjourned the
Parliaraent, after having thanked them for their cheer
fulness and unanimity in their proceedings; and the
chiefs of the opposite parties hastened to London, to
raake their different representations to the queen and
her rainistry. In the raean tirae she appointed cora
missioners for treating about the union ; and they met at
the Cockpit on the twenty-second day of October. On
the twentieth day of the next month they adjusted pre
liminaries, iraporting, that nothing agreed on among
theraselves should be binding, except ratified by her
raajesty and the respective parliaments of both nations ;
and that, unless all the heads proposed for the treaty

ANNE. 397
were agreed to, no particular thing agreed on should be chap.
binding. The queen visited them in December, in '
order to quicken their mutual endeavours. They agreed, 1702. •
that the two kingdoms should be inseparably united
into one monarchy, under her majesty, her heirs, and
successors, and under the sarae limitations, according
to the acts of settleraent : but when the Scottish cora
missioners proposed, that the rights and privileges of
their company trading to Africa and the Indies should
be preserved and maintained, such a difficulty arose as
could not be surmounted, and no further progress was
raade in. this coraraission. The tranquillity of Ireland
was not interrupted by any new coramotion. That king
dom was ruled by justices whom the Earl of Rochester
had appointed ; and the trustees for the forfeited estates
maintained their authority.
While Britain was engaged in these civil transactions, ^*?^ °^
affairs on
her allies were not idle on the continent. The old the conti-
Duke of Zell, and his nephew, the Elector of Bruns- ''^°*-
wick, surprised the Dukes of Wolfenbuttle and Saxe-
Gotha, whom they compelled to renounce their attach
ments to France, and concur in the common councils
of the empire. Thus the north of Gerraany was re
united to the interests of the confederates ; and the
princes would have been in a condition to assist thera
effectually, had not the neighbourhood of the war in
Poland deterred thera frora parting with their forces.
England and the States-General endeavoured in vain
to mediate a peace between the Kings of Sweden and
Poland. Charles was becorae enamoured of war, and am
bitious of conquest. He threatened to invade Saxony
through the dorainions of Prussia. Augustus retired
to Cracow, while Charles penetrated to Warsaw, and
even ordered the cardinal-primate to summon a diet for
choosing a new king. The situation of affairs at this
juncture was far from being favourable to the allies.
The court of Vienna had tarapered in vain with the
Elector of Bavaria, who raade use of this negotiation to
raise his terras with Louis. His brother, the Elector
of Cologn, admitted French garrisons into Liege, and
all his places on the Rhine. The Elector of Saxony
was too hard pressed by the king of Sweden to spare

398 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, his full proportion of troops to the allies : the King of
' Prussia was overawed by the vicinity of the Swedish
1702. conqueror : the Duke of Savoy had joined his forces to
those of France, and overrun the whole state of Milan ;
and the pope, though he professed a neutrality, evinced
himself strongly biassed to the French interests.
Kiesers- The War was begun, in the narae of the elector-pala^
Landau tiuo, with the siogc of Keiserswaert, which was invested
th'^'-^ in the month of April by the Prince of Nassau-Saar-
burgh, mareschal-du-camp to the emperor : under this
officer the Dutch troops served as auxiliaries, because
war had not yet been declared by the States-General.
The French garrisons made a desperate defence. They
worsted the besiegers in divers sallies, and maintained
the place until it was reduced to a heap of ashes. At
length the allies made a general attack upon the coun
terscarp and ravelin, which they carried after a very ob
stinate engagement, with the loss of two thousand raen.
Then the garrison capitulated on honourable terms, and
the fortifications were razed. During this siege, which
lasted from the eighteenth day of April to the raiddle of
June, Count Tallard posted hiraself on the opposite side
of the Rhine, frora whence he supplied the town vrith
fresh troops and araraunition, and annoyed the besiegers
with his artiHery; but finding it irapossible to save
the place, hejoined the grand array, coraraanded by the
Duke of Burgundy in the Netherlands. The siege of
Keiserswaert was covered by a body of Dutch troops
under the Earl of Athlone, who lay encaraped in the
Duchy of Cleve. MeanwhUe General Coehorn, at
the head of another detachraent, entered Flanders, de
molished the French lines between the forts of Donat
and Isabelle, and laid the chatellanie of Bruges under
contribution : but a considerable body of French troops
advancing under the Marquis de Bedraar and the Count
de la Motte, he overflowed the country, and retired
under the walls of Sluys. The Duke of Burgundy, who
had taken the coramand of the French army under
Boufflers, encamped at Zanten, near Cleve, and laid a
scheme for surprising Nimeguen ; in which, however,
he was baffled by the vigilance and activity of Athlone,
who, guessing his design, marched thither, and en-

ANNE. 399

camped under the cannon of the town. In the begin- ^^^''•
ning of June, Landau was invested by Prince Louis of

Baden ; in July, the King of the Romans arrived in the 1702.
camp ofthe besiegers, with such pomp and magnificence
as exhausted his father's treasury. On the 9th day of
September, the citadel was taken by assault ; and then
the town surrendered.
When the Eari of Mariborough arrived in HoUand, f^°%^^y °^
the Earl of Athlone, in quality of Veldt-raareschal, in- of Mari-
sisted upon an equal command with the English general ; p^andfrs.'"
but the states obliged hira to peld this point in favour
of Marlborough, whora they declared generalissimo of
all their forces. In the beginning of July he repaired
to the carap at Nimeguen, where he soon assembled au
array of sixty thousand raen, well provided with all ne
cessaries : then he convoked a council of the general
officers, to concert the operations of the campaign. On
the sixteenth day of the month he passed the Maese,
and encamped at Over-asselt, within two leagues and a
half of the eneray, who had intrenched theraselves
between Goch and Gedap. He afterwards repassed the
river below the Grave, and reraoved to Gravenbroeck,
where he was joined by the British train of artillery frora
Holland. On the second day of August he advanced
to Petit Brugel, and the French retired before hira,
leaving Spanish Guelderland to his discretion. He had
resolved to hazard an engageraent, and issued orders
accordingly; but he was restrained by the Dutch
deputies, who were afraid of their own interest, in case the
battle should have proved unfortunate. The Duke of
Burgundy, finding hiraself obliged to retreat before the
allied array, rather than expose himself longer to such
a mortifying indignity, returned to Versailles, leaving
the command to Boufflers, who lost the confidence of
Louis by the ill success of this campaign. The deputies
of the States-General having represented to the Earl of
Marlborough the advantages that would accrue to
Holland, from his dispossessing the enemy ofthe places
they raaintained iu the Spanish Guelderland, by which
the navigation of the Maese was obstructed, and the im
portant town of Maestricht in a manner blocked up, he
resolved to deliver them from such a troublesome neigh-

400 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, bourhood. He detached General Schultz with a body
^"' of troops to reduce the town and castle of Work, which

1702. were surrendered after a slight resistance. In the be
ginning of Septeraber he undertook the siege of Venlo,
which capitulated on the twenty -fifth day ofthe raonth,
after fort St. Michael had been stormed and taken by
Lord Cutts and the English volunteers, among whora
the young Earl of Huntingdon distinguished himself
by very extraordinary acts of valour. Then the general
invested Ruremonde, which he reduced after a very
obstinate defence, together with the fort of Stevensuaert,
situated on the sarae river. Boufflers, confounded at
the rapidity of Marlborough's success, retired towards
Liege, in order to cover that city ; but, at the approach
of the confederates, he retired with precipitation to
Tongeren, frora whence he directed his route towards
Brabant, with a view to defend such places as the allies
had no design to attack. When the Earl of Marl
borough arrived at Liege, he found the suburbs of St.
Walburgh had been set on fire by the French garrison,
who had retired to the citadel and the Chartreux. The
allies took immediate possession of the city ; and in a
few days opened the trenches against the citadel, which
was taken by assault. On this occasion, the hereditary
Prince of Hesse-Cassel charged at the head of the gre
nadiers, and was the first person who mounted the
breach. Violani the governor, and the Duke of Charost,
were made prisoners. Three hundred thousand florins
in gold and silver were found in the citadel, besides
notes for above one raiUion, drawn upon substantial mer
chants in Liege, who paid the raoney. Iraraediately after
this exploit, the garrison of the Chartreux capitulated
on honourable terms, and were conducted to Antwerp.
By the success of this carapaign, the Earl of Marl
borough raised his railitary character above all censure,
and confirmed himself in the entire confidence of the
States-General, who in the beginning of the season had
trembled for Nimeguen, and now saw the enemy driven
back into their own domains.
He nar- When the army broke up in November, the g-eneral
capes being repaired to Maestricht, frora whence he proposed to re-
French^ ^ turn to the Hague by water. Accordingly he erabarked
partisan.

ANNE. 101

in a large boat Avith five-and-twenty soldiers, under the ^yf:^-
command of a lieutenant. Next morning he was joined.

at Ruremonde by Coehorn, in a large vessel with sixty 1702.
men ; and they were moreover escorted by fifty troopers,
Avho rode along the bank of the river. The large boat
outsailed the other, and the horsemen mistook their AA'ay
in the dark. A French partisan, with five-and-thirty
men from Gueldres, who lurked among the rushes in
wait for prey, seized the rope by which the boat was
drawn, hauled it ashore, discharged their sraall arras and
hand grenades, then rushing into it secured the soldiers
before they could put theraselves in a posture of defence.
The Earl of Marlborough Avas accompanied by General
Opdara, and Mynheer Gueldermalsen, one of the depu
ties, who were provided with passports. The earl had
neglected this jirecaution ; but recollecting he had an
old passport for his brother. General Churchill, he pro
duced it without any emotion ; and the partisan Avas in
such confusion that he never examined the date. Never
theless, he rifled their baggage, carried off the guard as
prisoners, and allowed the boat to proceed. The go
vernor of Venlo receiving information that the earl was
surprised by a party, and conveyed to Gueldres, imrae
diately raarched out with his whole garrison to invest
that place. The sarae imperfect account being trans
mitted to Holland, filled the whole province Avith con
sternation. The states forthwith assembling, resolved
that all their forces should raarch iraraediately to Guel
dres, and threaten the garrison of the place with the
utraost extreraities, unless they would immediately de
Uver the general. But before these orders could be
despatched, the earl arrived at the Hague, to the inex
pressible joy of the people, who already looked upon hira
as their saviour and protector.
The French arms were not quite so unfortunate on The impe-
the Rhine as in Flanders. The Elector of Bavaria sur- worsted at
prised the city of Ulra in Suabia by a stratagem, and ^'''^"'
then declared for France, which had by this time cora
plied with aU his demands. The diet of the empire,
assembled at Ratisbon, were so incensed at his conduct
in seizing the city of Ulra by perfidy, that they presented
a memorial to his imperial majesty, requesting he would
A^OL. 1. D D

-102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, proceed against the elector, according to the constitu-
. tions of the empire. They resolved, by a plurality of

1702. voices, to declare war in the name of the empire against
the French king and the Duke of Anjou, for having
invaded several fiefs of the empire in Italy, the Arch
bishopric of Cologn, and the Diocese of Liege ; and
they forbade the rainisters of Bavaria and Cologn to ap
pear in the general diet. In vain did these powers pro
test against their proceedings. The empire's declaration
of war was published and notified, in the narae of the
diet, to the Cardinal of Limberg, the eraperor's com
raissioner. Meanwhile the French raade theraselves
masters of Neuburgh, in the circle of Suabia, while Louis,
Prince of Baden, being Aveakened by sending off detach
raents, was obliged to lie inactive in his camp near Frid
linguen. The French army was divided into two bodies,
commanded by the Marquis de Villars and the Count
de Guiscard ; and the prince thinking himself in danger
of being enclosed by the enemy, resolved to decamp.
Villars immediately passed the Rhine, to fall upon him
in his retreat, and an obstinate engagement ensuing,
the imperialists Avere overpowered by numbers. The
prince, having lost two thousand men, abandoned the
field of battle to the enemy, together with his baggage,
artillery, and aramunition, and retired towards Stauften,
without being pursued. The French army, even after
they had gained the battle, were unaccountably seized
with such a panic, that if the imperial general had faced
them with tAvo regiments, he would have snatched the
victory from Villars, who was upon this occasion saluted
Mareschal of France by the soldiers ; and next day the
town of FridUnguen surrendered. The prince being
joined by some troops under General Thungen, and
other reinforcements, resolved to give battle to the
eneray ; but Villars declined an engageraent, and re
passed the Rhine. Towards the latter end of October,
Count Tallard, and the Marquis de Loraarie, with a
body of eighteen thousand men, reduced Triers and
Traerbach : on the other hand, the Prince of Hesse-
Cassel, Avith a detachment from the allied army at Liege,
retook from the French the towns of Zinch, Lintz,
Brisac, and Andernach.

ANNE. 403

In Italy, Prince Eugene laboured under a total neg- ^y^^^-
Iect of the imperial court, where his eneraies, on pre- .

tence of supporting the king of the Roraans in his first 1702.
carapaign, weaned the emperor's attention entirely from battle of
his affairs on the other side of the Alps, so that he left uaiy!"*' '"
his best army to raoulder away for want of recruits and
reinforcements. The prince, thus abandoned, could not
prevent the Duke de Vendome from relieving Mantua,
and was obliged to relinquish some other places he had
taken. Philip, King of Spain, being inspired with the
arabition of putting an end to the war in this country,
sailed in person for Naples, where he was visited by the
cardinal-legate, with a compliment frora the pope ; yet
he could not obtain the investiture ofthe kingdom from
his holiness. The emperor, however, was so disgusted
at the embassy which the pope had sent to Philip, that
he ordered his arabassador at Rome to withdraw. Philip
proceeded from Naples to Final, under convoy of the
French fleet, Avhich had brought him to Italy: here he
had an interview with the Duke of Savoy, who began to
be alarmed at the prospect of the French king's being
master of the Milanese ; and, in a letter to the Duke de
Vendorae, he forbade hira to engage Prince Eugene
until he himself should arrive in the camp. Prince
Eugene, understanding that the French army intended
to attack Luzzara and Guastalla, passed the Po, Avith
an array of about half the nuraber of the enemy, and
posted himself behind the dyke of Zero, in such a man
ner that the French were ignorant of his situation. He
concluded, that on their arrival at the ground they had
chosen, the horse would march out to forage, while the
rest of the army would be eraployed in pitching tents, .
and providing for their refreshment. His design was
to seize that opportunity of attacking them, not doubt
ing that he should obtain a complete victory ; but he
was disappointed by mere accident. An adjutant, with
an advanced guard, had the curiosity to ascend the dylie,
iu order to view the country, when he discovered the
imperial infantry lying on their faces, and their horse in
the rear, ranged in order of battle. The French camp
was immediately alarmed; and as the intermediate
ground was covered with hedges, which obliged the as-
D D 2

404 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- sailants to defile, the eneray were in a posture of defence
before the iraperialists could advance to action ; never-

1702. theless, the prince attacked thera with great vivacity, in
hopes of disordering their line, which gave way in several
places ; but night interposing, he was obliged to desist ;
and in a few days the French reduced Luzzara and
Guastalla. The prince, however, maintained his post,
and Philip returned to Spain, without having obtained
any considerable advantage.
The King The French king employed all his artifice and in-
of Sweden ,. . .. ^•^. • j. ^v. r j
defeats Au- trigucs IU raisiug up HOW cuemies against the coniede-
gustus at rates. He is said to have bribed Count Mansfield, pre-
Poland. sident of the council of war at Vienna, to withhold the
supplies from Prince Eugene in Italy. At the Otto
man Porte he had actually gained over the visir, who
engaged to renew the war with the emperor. But the
mufti and all the other great officers were averse to this
design, and the visir fell a sacrifice to their resentraent.
Louis continued to embroil the kingdora of Poland by
means of the cardinal-primate. The young King of
Sweden advanced to Lissau, where he defeated Au
gustus. Then he took possession of Cracow, and raised
contributions ; nor could he be persuaded to retreat,
although the Muscovites and Lithuanians had ravaged
Livonia, and even raade an irruption into Sweden.
Fruitless^ The Operations of the combined squadrons at sea did
to Cadiz by iiot fuUy auswcr the expectations of the public. On the
the Duke of t Avelfth day of May, Sir John Munden sailed with twelve
anTsir ships to intercept a French squadron appointed as a
George couvoy to a ucw Vicoroy of Mexico, from Corunna to
the West Indies. On the twenty-eighth day of the
month he chased fourteen sail of French ships into Co
runna. Then he called a council of war, in which it
was agreed, that as the place Avas strongly fortified, and
that seventeen of the enemy's ships of war rode at an
chor in the harbour, it would be expedient for thera to
follow the latter part of their instructions, by Avhich
they were directed to cruise in soundings for the pro
tection of the trade. They returned accordingly, and
being distressed by want of provisions, carae into port,
to the general discontent of the nation. For the satis
faction of the people. Sir John Munden was tried by a

ANNE. 405

court-martial, and acquitted ; but as this miscarriage had chap.
rendered hira very unpopular. Prince George disraissed

him from the service. We have already hinted, that 1702
King William had projected a scheme to reduce Cadiz,
with intention to act afterwards against the Spanish set
tlements in the JVest Indies. This design Queen Anne
resolved to put in execution. Sir George Rooke cora
raanded the fleet, and the Duke of Ormond was ap
pointed general of the land forces destined for this ex
pedition. The combined squadrons amounted to fifty
ships of the line, exclusive of frigates, fire-ships, and
smaller vessels ; and the nuraber of soldiers erabarked
was not far short of fourteen thousand. In the latter
end of June the fleet sailed frora St. Helen's : on the
twelfth of August they anchored at the distance of two
leagues frora Cadiz. Next day the Duke of Ormond
suraraoned the Duke de Brancaccio, who was governor,
to subrait to the house of Austria; but that officer an
swered, he would acquit hiraself honourably ofthe trust
reposed in hira by the king. On the fifteenth the' Duke
of Ormond landed with his forces in the bay of Bulls,
under cover of a smart fire from sorae frigates, and re
pulsed a body of Spanish cavalry ; then he suraraoned
the governor of Fort St. Catharine's to surrender : and
received an answer, importing, that the garrison was
prepared for his reception. A^ declaration was pub
lished in the Spanish language, intimating, that the allies
did not corae as eneraies to Spain ; but only to free them
from the yoke of France, and assist thera in establish
ing themselves under the government of the house of
Austria. These professions produced very little effect
araong the Spaniards, who Avere either cooled in their
attachment to that family, or provoked by the excesses
of the English troops. These having taken possession
of Fort St. Catharine's, and Port St. Mary's, instead of
protecting, plundered the natives, notwithstanding the
strict orders issued by the Duke of Ormond to prevent
this scandalous practice : even some general officers were
concerned in the pillage. A battery was raised against
Montagorda fort opposite to the Puntal; but the attempt
miscarried, and the troops were re-embarked.
Captain Hardy having been sent to Avater in Lagos

406 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, bay, received intelligence that the galleons from the
^"' West Indies had put into Vigo, under convoy of a French

1702. ¦ squadron. He sailed immediately in quest of Sir George
Tliey take Rooko, who was now OU his voyage back to England,
the SpanTsh ^ud falling in AA'ith him on the sixth day of October,
galleons at comraunicatcd the substance of what he had learned.
^'^°' Rooke immediately called a council of war, in Avhich it
was determined to alter their course, and attack the
enemy at Vigo. He forthArith detached some small
vessels for intelligence, and received a confinnation, that
the galleons, and the squadron commanded by Chateau
Renault, were actually in the harbour. They sailed
thither, and appeared before the place on the eleventh
day of October. The passage into the harbour Avas nar
row, secured by batteries, forts, and breastworks on each
side ; by a strong boom, consisting of iron chains, top
masts, and cables, moored at each end to a seventy-gun
ship ; and fortified within by five ships of the same
strength lying athAvart the channel, with their broadsides
to the offing. As the first and second rates of the com
bined fleets Avere too large to enter, the admirals shifted
their flags into sraaller ships ; and a division of five-and-
twenty English and Dutch ships of the line, with their
frigates, fire-ships, and ketches, was destined for the ser
vice. In order to facilitate the attack, the Duke of
Ormond landed with five-and-twenty hundred men, at
the distance of six miles from Vigo, and took by assault
a fort and platform of forty pieces of cannon, at the
entrance of the harbour. The British ensign was no
sooner seen flying at the top of this fort, than the ships
advanced to the attack. Vice-Admiral Hopson, in the
Torbay, crowding all his sail, ran directly against the
boom, which was broken by the first shock ; then the
Avhole squadron entered the harbour, through a prodi
gious fire from the enemy's ships and batteries. These
last, however, were soon stormed and taken by the gre
nadiers who had been landed. The great ships lay
against the forts at each side of the harbour, AAdiich in a
Uttle tirae they silenced ; though Vice-Admiral Hopson
narrowly escaped frora a fire-ship by which he was
boarded. After a very vigorous engagement, the French,
finding themselves unable to cope with such an adver-

ANNE. 40/

sary, resolved to destroy their ships and galleons, that ^yj"^^'
they raight not fall into the hands of the victors. They

accordingly burned and ran ashore eight ships and as 1702.
raany advice-boats ; but ten ships of war were taken, to
gether vrith eleven galleons. Though they had secured
the best part of their plate and raerchandize before the
English fleet arrived, the value of fourteen raillions of
pieces of eight, in plate and rich coraraodities, was de
stroyed in six galleons that perished ; and about half
that value was brought off by the conquerors ; so that
this was a dreadful blow to the enemy, and a noble ac
quisition to the allies. Immediately after this exploit.
Sir George Rooke was joined l)y Sir Cloudesley Shovel,
who had been sent out with a squadron to intercept the
galleons. This officer was left to bring home the prizes,
and dismantle the fortifications, while Rooke returned
in triumph to England.
The glory which the Enarlish acquired in this ex- Admiral
.... ° ¦' . i.-i:iixu 1 .Benbow's
pedition was in some measure tarnished by the conduct engagement
of sorae officers in the West Indies. Thither Admiral ™'h i^u
Benbow had been detached with a squadron of ten sail, west in-
iu the course of the preceding year. At Jamaica he <^'<=5-
received inteUigence that Monsieur Du Casse was in
the neighbourhood of Hispaniola, and resoh'ed to beat
up to that island. At Leogane he fell in Avith a French
ship of fifty guns, which her captain ran ashore and blew
up. He took several other vessels, and having alarraed
Petit-Guavas, bore away for Donna Maria bay, where
he understood that Du Casse had sailed for the coast of
Carthagena. Benbow resolved to follow the same
course, and on the nineteenth of August discovered the
enemy's squadron near St. Martha, consisting- of ten
sail, steering along shore. He formed the line, and an
engagement ensued, in which he AA'as very ill seconded
by some of his captains. Nevertheless, the battle con
tinued till night, and he deterrained to renew it next
morning, when he perceived all his ships at the distance
of three or four miles astern, except the Ruby, cora
raanded by Captain George Walton, who joined hira in
plying the enemy with chase-guns. On the tAventy-
first these two ships engaged the French squadron ; and
the Ruby was so disabled, that the admiral Avas obliged

408 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, to send her back to Jamaica. Next day the Greenwich,
coramanded by Wade, was five leagues astern; and the

1702. wind changing, the enemy had the advantage of the
weather-gage. On the twenty-third the admiral re
newed the battle with his single ship, unsustained by
the rest of his squadron. On the twenty-fourth his leg
was shattered by a chain-shot; notwithstanding which
accident, he remained on the quarter-deck in a cradle,
and continued the engagement. One of the largest
ships of the enemy lying like a wreck upon the water,
four sail of the English squadron poured their broad
sides into her, and then ran to leeward, without paying
any regard to the signal for battle. Then the French
bearing down upon the admiral with their whole force,
shot away his main-top-sail-yard, and damaged his rig
ging in such a manner, that he was obliged to lie by
and refit, while they took their disabled ship in tow.
During this interval, he called a council of his captains,
and expostulated with them on their behaviour. They
observed, that the French were very strong, and adrised
him to desist. He plainly perceived that he was be
trayed, and with the utmost reluctance returned to
Jamaica, having not only lost a leg, but also received
a large wound on his face, and another on his arra, while
he in person atterapted to board the French admiral.
Exasperated at the treachery of his captains, he granted
a coraraission to Rear-Adrairal Whetstone, and other
officers, to hold a court-martial, and try thera for cow
ardice. Hudson, ofthe Pendennis, died before his trial:
Kirby and Wade were convicted, and sentenced to be
shot: Constable, of the Windsor, was cashiered and im
prisoned: Vincent, of the Falraouth, and Fogg, the
admiral's own captain of the Breda, were convicted of
having signed a paper, that they would not fight under
Benbow's command; but, as they behaved gallantly in
the action, the court inflicted upon them no other pu
nishment than that of a provisional suspension. Cap
tain Walton had likewise joined iu the conspiracy, while
he was heated with the ifuraes of intoxication ; but he
afterwards renounced the engageraent, and fought with
admirable courage until his ship was disabled. The
boisterous manners of Benbow had produced this base

ANNE. 409

confederacy. He was a rough seaman ; but remarkably ^y^^"
brave, honest, and experienced*. He took this mis

carriage so much to heart that he became melancholy, 1702.
and his grief co-operating with the fever occasioned by
his wounds, put a period to his life. Wade and Kirby
were sent home in the Bristol ; and, on their arrival at
Plymouth, shot on board of the ship, by virtue of a dead
warrant for their immediate execution, which had lain
there for sorae time. The same precaution had been
taken in all the western ports, in order to prevent ap
plications in their favour.
During these transactions, the queen seeraed to be The queen
 assGmblGS a
happy in the affection of her subjects. Though the new Par-
continuance ofthe Parliament was limited to six raonths Hament.
after the kiug's decease, she dissolved it by proclaraation
before the terra was expired ; and issued writs for elect
ing another, in which the tory interest precTorainated.
In the summer the queen gave audience to the Count
de Platens, envoy-extraordinary from the elector of
Hanover ; then she made a progress with her husband
to Oxford, Bath, and Bristol, where she was received
with all the marks of the raost genuine affection. The
new Parliament raeeting on the twentieth dayof October,
Mr. Harley was chosen speaker. The queen in her
speech declared, she had suraraoned them to assist her
in carrying on the just and necessary war in which the
nation Avas engaged. She desired the Commons would
inspect the accounts ofthe public receipts-and payments,
that if any abuses had crept into the raanageraent ofthe
finances, they raight be detected, and the offenders pu
nished. She told them that the funds assigned in the
last Parliament had not produced the sums granted ;
and that the deficiency was not supplied even by the hun
dred thousand pounds which she had paid from her own
"' When one of his lieutenants expressed his sorrow for the loss of the admiral's
leg, " I am sorry for it too," replied the gallant Benbow, " but I had rather have
lost them both than have seen this dishonour brought upon the English nation.
But, do you hear ? If another shot should take me off, behave like brave men,
and fight it out." When Du Casse arrived at Carthagena, he wrote a letter to
Benbow to this effect ;
" SIR,
" I had little hope on Monday last but to have supped in your cabin ; but it
pleased God to order it otherwise. I am thankful for it. As for those cowardly
captains who deserted you, hang them up, for, by God, they deserve it.
" Yours, DU CASSE."

410 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- revenue for the public service. She expressed her con
cern for the disappointraent at Cadiz, as well as for the

1702. abuses coraraitted at Port St. Mary's, which had obliged
her to give directions for the strictest exaraination of
the particulars. She hoped they would find tirae to
consider of sorae better and more effectual method to
prevent the exportation of wool, and iraprove that raa
nufacture, Avhich she was determined to encourage. She
professed a firm persuasion, that the affection of her
subjects was the surest pledge of their duty and obe
dience. She promised to defend and maintain the
church as by law established ; and to protect her sub
jects in the full enjoyraent of all their rights and liberties.
She protested that she relied on their care of her ; she
said her interest and theirs were inseparable ; and that
her endeavours should never be wanting to make them
all safe and happy. She was presented with a very
affectionate address from either House, congratulating
her upon the glorious success of her arras, and those of
her allies, under the command of the Earl of Marl
borough ; but that of the Commons was distinguished
by an implicated reproach on the late reign, importing
that the Avonderful progress ofher majesty's arras under
the Earl of Marlborough had signally "retrieved" the
ancient honour and glory of the English nation. This
expression had excited a warm debate in the House, in
the course of which raany severe reflections were made
on the memory of King William. At length the
question was put, whether the word " retrieved" should
remain ; and carried in the affirmative, by a raajority
of one hundred.
Disputes The strength of the tories appeared in nothing raore
t'wo'Houses^ conspicuous thau in their inquiry concerning contro
verted elections. The borough of Hindon, near Salis
bury, was convicted of bribery, aud a bill brought in
for disfranchising the town : yet no vote passed against
the person who exercised this corruption, because he
happened to be a tory. Mr. Howe was declared duly
elected for Gloucestershire, though the majority of the
electors had voted for the other candidate. Sir John
Packington exhibited a complaint against the Bishop of
Worcester and his son, for having endeavoured to pre-

ANNE. 411

vent his election : the Coramons having taken it into chap.
consideration, resolved that the proceedings of WiUiam

Lord Bishop of Worcester, and his son, had been ma- 1702.
licious, unchristian, and arbitrary, in high violation of
the liberties and privileges ofthe Coraraons of England.
They voted an address to the queen, desiring her to
reraove the father frora the office of lord-alraoner ; and
they ordered the attorney-general to prosecute the son,
after his privilege as raember of the convocation should
be expired. A counter address was immediately voted,
and presented by the Lords, beseeching her majesty
would not remove the Bishop of Worcester frora the
place of lord-almoner, until he should be found guilty
of some crirae by due course of law ; as it was the un
doubted right of every lord of Parliaraent, and of every
subject of England, to have an opportunity to make his
defence before he suffered any sort of punishment. The
queen said she had not as yet received any coraplaint
against the Bishop of Worcester ; but she looked upon
it as her undoubted right to continue or displace any
servant attending upon her own person when she should
think proper. The Peers having received this answer,
unaniraously resolved, that no lord of their House
ought to suffer any sort of punishment by any proceed
ings of the House of Commons, otherwise than accord
ing to the known and ancient rules and raethods of Par
liament. When the Commons attended the queen with
their address against the bishop, she said she was sorry
there was any occasion for such a remonstrance, and
that the Bishop of Worcester should no longer continue
to supply the place of her alm6ner. This regard to
their address was a flagrant proof of her partiality to
the tories, who seeraed to justify her attachment by
tlieir compliance and liberality.
In deliberating on the supplies, they agreed to all the The Lords
deraands of the rainistry. They voted forty thousand 'the"conduc°
searaen, and the like nuraber of land forces, to act in of sir
conjunction with those of the allies. For the raain- Rookl^
tenance of these last, they granted eight hundred and
thirty-three thousand eight hundred and twenty-six
pounds, besides three hundred and fifty thousand pounds
for guards and garrisons ; seventy thousand nine hun-

412 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. (Jred and seventy-three pounds for ordnance ; and fifty-
. one thousand eight hundred and forty-three pounds for

1702. subsidies to the allies. Lord Shannon ari-iving with the
news of the success at Vigo, the queen appointed a day
of thanksgiving for the signal success ofher arras under
the Earl of Marlborough, the Duke of Orraond, and
Sir George Rooke ; and on that day, which was the
tAvelfth of Noveraber, she went in state to St. Paul's
church, attended by both Houses of Parliament. Next
day the Peers voted the thanks of their House to the
Duke of Orraond for his services at Vigo ; and, at the
same time, drew up an address to the queen, desiring
she would order the Duke of Ormond and Sir George
Rooke to lay before them an account of their proceed
ings ; a request with which her majesty complied. Those
two officers were likewise thanked by the House of
Comraons: Vice-Admiral Hopson was knighted, and
gratified with a considerable pension. The Duke of
Ormond, at his return frora the expedition, complained
openly of Rooke's conduct, and seemed determined to
subject him to a public accusation ; but that officer was
such a favourite araong the Comraons, that the court
was afraid to disoblige them by an impeachraent, and
took great pains to mitigate the duke's resentment.
This nobleraan was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ire
land, and Rooke was admitted into the privy-council.
A motion, however, being made in the House of
Lords, that the admiral's instructions and journals re
lating to the last expedition raight be exarained, a cora
raittee was appointed for that purpose, and prepared an
unfavourable report ; but it was rejected by a raajority of
the House, and they voted, that Sir George Rooke had
done his duty, pursuant to the councils of war, like a
brave officer, to the honour of the British nation.
The Parlia- Qu the twouty-first day of Noveraber, the queen sent
aseftiement a racssago to the Houso of Coramons by Mr. Secretary
GeOT'eTf Hedges, recommending further provision for the prince
Denmark, her husbaud, in case he should survive her. This
message being considered, Mr. Howe moved, that the
yearly sum of one hundred thousand pounds should be
settled on the iprince, in case he should survive her ma
jesty. No opposition Avas made to the proposal ; but

ANNE. 413

warm debates were excited by a clause in the bill, ex- ^^^^•
empting the prince from that part of the act of succes

sion by which strangers, though naturalized, were ren- 1702.
dered incapable of holding employments. This clause
related only to those who should be naturalized in a
future reign ; and indeed was calculated as a restriction
upon the house of Hanover. Many members argued
against the clause of exemption, because it seemed to
iraply that persons already naturalized would be ex
cluded frora eraployraents in the next reign, though
already possessed of the right of natural-born subjects ;
a consequence plainly contradictory to the raeaning of
the act. Others opposed it, because the Lords had
already resolved by a vote, that they would never pass
any bill sent up frora the Coraraons, to which a clause
foreign to the bill should be tacked ; and this clause
they affirraed to be a tack, as an incapacity to hold era
ployraents was a circurastance altogether distinct frora a
settleraent in raoney. The queen expressed uncomraon
eagerness in behalf of this bill ; and the court influence
was raanaged so successfully, that it passed through both
Houses, though not without an obstinate opposition,
and a forraal protest by seven-and-twenty peers.
The Earl of Marlborough, arriving in England about 7?"®,^"^ °^
the latter end of November, received the thanks of the rough '
Commons for his great and signal services, which were created a
so acceptable to the queen, that she created hira a duke,
gratified him with a pension of five thousand pounds
upon the revenue of the post-office, during his natural
life ; and, in a message to the Comraons, expressed a
desire that they would find sorae method to settle it on
the heirs male of his body. This intiraation was pro
ductive of warra debates, during which Sir Christopher
Musgrave observed, that he would not derogate frora
the duke's erainent services ; but he affirmed his grace
had been very Avell paid for them, by the profitable em
ployments which he and his duchess enjoyed. The
duke, understanding that the Commons were heated by
the subject, begged her majesty would rather forego her
gracious message in his behalf, than create any uneasi
ness on his account, which raight erabarrass her affairs,
and be of ill consequence to the public. Then she sent
another raessage to the House, signifying, that the Duke

414 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, of Marlborough had declined her interposition. Not-
' withstanding this declaration, the Coramons in a body
1702. presented an address, acknowledging the eminent ser
vices of the Duke of Marlborough, yet expressing their
apprehension of making a precedent to alienate the re
venue of the crown, which had been so much reduced
by the exorbitant grants of the late reign, and so lately
settled and secured by her raajesty's unparalleled grace
and goodness. The queen was satisfied with their
apology ; but their refusal in all probabUity helped to
alienate the duke from the tories, with whom he had
been hitherto connected.
All com- In the beginning- of January, the queen gave the
correspond- Housc of Commous to Understand, that the States-Ge-
ence pro- neral had pressed her to augment her forces, as the only
tween Hoi- meaus to render ineffectual the great and early prepa-
landand ratious of the eneray. The Coraraons iraraediately re-
crowns of solved, that ten thousand men should be hired, as an
France and augmentation of the forces to act in conjunction with
the allies ; but on condition that an immediate stop
should be put to all commerce and correspondence with
France and Spain oh the part of the. States-General.
The Lords presented an address to the queen on the
same subject, and to the same effect; and she owned
that the condition was absolutely necessary for the good
of the whole alliance. The Dutch, even after the de
claration of war, had carried on a traffic with the
French ; and, at this very juncture, Louis found it
irapossible to make remittances of raoney to the Elector
of Bavaria in Gerraany, and to his forces in Italy, ex
cept through the channel of English, Dutch, and Ge
neva raerchants. The States-General, though shocked
at the imperious manner in which the Parliament of
England prescribed their conduct, complied with the
demand without hesitation, and published a prohibi
tion of all commerce with the subjects of France and
Spain.
A bui for The Comraons of this Parliament had nothing more
occI^Snaf ^* ^6^^*- ^^^^ ^^^^^ against occasional conformity. The
conformity, torics affcctcd to distinguish themselves as the only true
friends to the church and monarchy; and they hated
the dissenters with a mixture of spiritual and political
disgust. They looked upon these last as an intruding

ANNE. 41.5
sect, which constituted great part of the whig faction ^y w^'
that extorted such iraraense sums of money from the  L_
nation in the late reign, and involved it in pernicious 1702.
engagements, frora whence it had no prospect of de
liverance. They considered them as encroaching schis
matics that disgraced and endangered the hierarchy;
and those of their own comraunion who recoraraended
moderation they branded with the epithets of luke
warm Christians, betrayers, and apostates. They now
resolved to approve themselves zealous sons of the
church, by seizing the first opportunity that was in their
power to distress the dissenters. In order to pave the
way to this persecution, sermons were preached, and
pamphlets were printed, to blacken the character of the
sect, and inflarae the popular resentraent against them.
On the fourth day of Noveraber, Mr. Broraley, Mr. St.
John, and Mr. Annesley, were ordered by the House
of Coramons to bring in a bill for preventing occasional
conformity. In the preamble, all persecution for con
science-sake was condemned ; nevertheless, it enacted
that all those who had taken the sacrament aud test for
offices of trust, or the magistracy of corporations, and
afterwards frequented any meeting of dissenters, should
be disabled frora holding their eraployraents, pay a fine
of one hundred pounds, and five pounds for every day
in which they continued to act in their eraployraents
after having been at any such meeting : they were also
rendered incapable of holding any other employment
till after one whole year's conformity ; and, upon a re
lapse, the penalties and tirae of incapacity were doubled.
The proraoters of the bill alleged, that an established
religion and national church were absolutely necessary,
when so many impious men pretended to inspiration,
and deluded such numbers of the people : that the most
effectual way to preserve this national church would be
the maintenance of the civil power in the hands of those
who expressed their regard to the church in their prin
ciples and practice : that the Parliament, by the corpo
ration and test acts, thought they had raised a sufficient
barrier to the hierarchy, never imagining that a set of
men Avould rise up whose consciences would be too
tender to obey the laws, but hardened enough to break

416 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, them : that as the last reign began with an act in fa-
' vour of dissenters, so the Commons were desirous that
1702. in the beginning of her raajesty's auspicious govern
raent, an act should pass in favour of the church of
England : that this bill did not intrench on the act of
toleration, or deprive the dissenters of any privileges
they enjoyed by law, or add any thing to the legal
rights of the church of England : that occasional con
formity was an evasion of the law, by which the dissent
ers raight insinuate theraselves into the management
of all corporations : that a separation from the church,
to which a man's conscience will allow him occasionally
to conform, is a mere schisra, which in itself Avas sinful,
without the superaddition of a temporal law to make it
an offence : that the toleration was intended only for the
ease of tender consciences, and not to give a licence for
occasional conforraity: that conforming and non-con
forming were contradictions ; for nothing but a firm
persuasion that the terms of comraunion required are
sinful and unlawftil could justify the one ; and this
plainly conderans the other. The raerabers who op
posed the bill argued, that the dissenters were generally
well affected to the present constitution : that to bring
any real hardship upon thera, or give rise to jea
lousies and fears at such a juncture, raight be attended
with dangerous consequences : that the toleration had
greatly contributed to the security and reputation ofthe
church, and plainly proved, that liberty of conscience
and gentle raeasures were the most effectual means for
increasing the votaries of the church, and diminishing
the nuraber of dissenters : that the dissenters could not
be terraed schismatics without bringing a heavy charge
upon the church of England, which had not only tole
rated such schism, but even alloAved communion with
the reformed churches abroad : that the penalties of
this bill were more severe than those Avhich the laws
imposed on Papists, for assisting at the most solemn act
of their religion : in a word, that toleration and tender
ness had been always productive of peace and union,
whereas persecution had never failed to excite disorder,
and extend superstition. Many alterations and miti
gations were proposed without effect. In the course of

ANNE. 417
the debates, the dissenters were raentioned and reviled chap.
with great acriraony ; and the bill passed the Lower "
House by Adrtue of a considerable raajority. 1702,
The Lords, apprehensive that the Commons would i* miscar-
tack it to some money-bill, voted, that the annexing any "*''¦
clause to a money-bill was contrary to the constitution
of the English government, and the usage of Parlia
ment. The bill met with a very warm opposition in the
Upper House, where a considerable portion of the whig
interest still remained. These raerabers beUeved that
the intention of the bill was to model corporations, so
as to eject all those who would not vote in elections for
the tories. Some iraagined this was a preparatory step
towards a repeal ofthe toleration ; and others concluded
that the promoters of the bill designed to raise such
disturbances at home, as would discourage the allies
abroad, and render the prosecution of the war imprac
ticable. The majority of the bishops, and among these
Burnet of Sarura, objected against it on the. principles
of raoderation, and from motives of conscience. Never
theless, as the court supported this measure with its own
power and influence, the bill made its way through the
House, though not without alterations and amendraents,
which were rejected by the Coraraons. The Lower
House pretended, that the Lords had no right to alter
any fines and penalties that the Coraraons should fix in
bills sent up for their concurrence, on the supposition,
that those were matters concerning money, the pecu
liar province of the Lower House : the Lords ordered a
minute inquiry to be made into all the rolls of Parliament
snce the reign of Henry the Seventh : and a great num
ber of instances were found, in which the Lords had
begun the clauses iraposing fines and penalties, altered
the penalties which had been fixed by the Coraraons,
and even changed the uses to which they were applied.
These precedents were entered in the books : but the
Coramons resolved to maintain their point without en'
gaging in any dispute upon the subject. After warm
debates, and a fi-ee conference between the two Houses,
the Lords adhered to their amendraents, though this
resolution was carried by a raajority of one vote only :
the Coraraons persisted in rejecting thera : the bill mis-
VOL. I, E E

418 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, carried, and both Houses published their proceedings
" by way of appeal to the nation". A bill was now brought
1702. into the Lower House, granting another year's consider
ation to those who had not taken the oath abjuring the
pretended Prince of Wales. The Lords added three
clauses, importing, that those persons who should take
the oath within the limited time raight return to their
benefices and employments, unless they should be
already legally filled ; that any person endeavouring to
defeat the succession to the crown, as now limited by
law, should be deemed guilty of high treason ; and that
the oath of abjuration should be imposed upon the sub
jects in Ireland. The Commons made some opposition
to the first clause ; but at length, the question being put,
whether they should agree to the amendraents, it was
carried in the affirraative by one voice.
vioientani- No object cngrosscd more time, or . produced more
mosity be- o cd ? i
tween the violcut debates, than did the inquiry into the public
two Houses, accounts. The commissioners appointed for this pur-
produced 111 1 1 • ¦ nil
by the in- poso pretended to havo made great discovcries. They
?he'^pubHc charged the Earl of Ranelagh, paymaster-general of the
accounts, army, with flagrant mismanagement. He acquitted
himself in such a manner as screened him from all seve
rity of punishraent : nevertheless, they expelled hira
from the House for a high crime and misdemeanour, in
misapplying several suras of the public money ; and he
thought proper to resign his employraent. A long ad
dress was prepared and presented to the queen, attri
buting the national debt to raismanagement ofthe funds ;
complaining that the old methods of the exchequer had
been neglected ; and that iniquitous frauds had been
committed by the commissioners of the prizes. Pre
vious to this remonstrance, the House, in consequence
ofthe report ofthe committee, had passed several severe
resolutions, particularly against Charies Lord Halifax,
auditor of the receipt of the exchequer, as having neg-
Ipcted his duty, and been guilty of a breach of trust.
" While this bill was depending, Daniel de Foe published a pamphlet, entitled
" The shortest Way with the Dissenters ; or. Proposals for the Estabhshment of
the Church. " The piece was a severe satire on the violence of the church party.
The Commons ordered it to burned by the hands of the common hangman, and
the author to be prosecuted. He was accordingly committed to Newgate, tried,
condemned to pay a fine of two hundred pounds, and stand in the pillory.

ANNE. 419
For these reasons they actually besought the queen, in ^y^''-
an address, that she would give directions to the attor- 
ney-general to prosecute hira for the said offences ; and 1702.
she proraised to coraply with their request. On the
other hand, the Lords appointed a coramittee to examine
all the observations which the commissioners of accounts
had offered to both Houses. They ascribed the national
debt to deficiencies in the funds : they acquitted Lord
Halifax, the lords of the treasury, and their officers,
whom the Coramons had accused ; and represented these
circurastances in an address to the queen, which was
afterwards printed with the vouchers to every particu
lar. This difference blew up a fierce flame of discord
between the two Houses, which manifested their rautual
aniraosity in speeches, votes, resolutions, and confer
ences. The Coniraons affirraed, that no cognizance the
Lords could take of the public accounts would enable
thera to supply any deficiency, or appropriate any sur
plusage of the public raoney ; that they could neither
acquit nor conderan any person whatsoever upon any
inquiry arising originally in their own House ; and that
their attempt to acquit Charles Lord Halifax was un
parliamentary. The Lords insisted upon their right
to take cognizance originally of all public accounts :
they affirmed, that in their resolutions, with respect to
Lord Halifax, they had proceeded according to the rules
of justice. They owned, however, that their resolutions
did not amount to any judgment or acquittal ; but that
finding a vote of the Comraons reflected upon a raem
ber of their House, they thought fit to give their opinion
in their legislative capacity. The queen interposed by
a message to the Lords, desiring they would despatch
the business in which they were engaged. The dispute
continued even after this intimation : one conference
was held after another, till at length both sides despaired
of an accoraraodation. The Lords ordered their pro
ceedings to be printed, and the Coraraons followed their
exaraple. On the twenty-seventh day of February the
queen, having passed all the bills that were ready for the
royal assent, ordered the lord-keeper to prorogue the
Parliament, after having pronounced a speech iu the
usual style. She thanked thera for their zeal, affection,
E E 2

420 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, and despatch ; declared she would encourage and main-
' tain the church as by law established ; desired they
1702. would consider some further laws for restraining the
great licence assumed for publishing scandalous pam
phlets and libels ; and assured thera that all her share
of the prizes which might be taken in the war should
be applied to the public service. By this time the Earl
of Rochester was entirely removed from the queen's
councils. Finding himself outweighed by the interest
of the Duke of Marlborough and Lord Godolphin, he
had become sullen and intractable ; and, rather than re
pair to his government of Ireland, chose to resign the
office, Avhich, as we have already observed, was conferred
upon the Duke of Ormond, an accomplished nobleman,
AA'ho had acquired great popularity by the success of the
expedition to Vigo. The parties in the House of Lords
were so nearly matched, that the queen, in order to
ascertain an undoubted majority in the next session,
created four ucav peers', Avho had signalized themselves
by the violence of their speeches in the House of
Commons.
Disputes The tAvo Houses of Convocation, which were sum-
between the
two Houses moned Avith the ParUament, bore a strong affinity with
cftion"^°' *^'^ assembly by the different interests that prevailed
in the Upper and Lower. The last, in imitation ofthe
Commons, Avas desirous of branding the preceding reign;
and it Avas Avith great difficulty that they concurred Avith
the jn-elates in an address of congratulation to her ma-
j'esty. Then their former contest Avas revived. The
Lower House desired, in an appUcation to the Arch
bishop of Canterbury and his suffragans, that the mat
ters in dispute concerning the raanner of synodical pro
ceedings, and the right of the LoAver House to hold
intermediate assemblies, might be taken into considera
tion, and speedily determined. The bishops proposed,
that in the intervals of sessions, the Lower House raight
appoint committees to prepare matters ; and when busi-
f Thesewere John Granville, created Bai-on Granville of Potheridge,in the county
of Devon ; Heneage Finch, Baron of Guernsey, in the county of Southampton ; Sir
John Leveson Gower, Baron Gower of Sittenham, in Yorkshire ; and Francis Sey
raour Conway, youngest son of Sir Edward Seymour, made Baron Conway, of Rag-
ley, m the county of Warwick. At the same time, however, John Harvey, of the
opposite faction, was created Baron of Ickworth, in the county of Suffolk ; and the
Marquis of Normanby waa honoured with the title of Duke of Buckinghamshire.

ANNE. 421
ness should be brought regularly before thera, the arch- chap.
bishop would regulate the prorogations in such a raan- "
ner, that they should have sufficient tirae to sit and 1702.
deliberate on the subject. This offer did not satisfy
the Lower House, which was emboldened to persist in
its demand by a vote of the Commons. These, in con
sequence of an address of thanks from the clergy, touch
ing Mr. Lloyd, son to the Bishop of Worcester, whora
they ordered to be prosecuted after his privilege as raem
ber of the Convocation should be expired, had resolved,
that they would on all occasions assert the just rights
and privileges of the Lower House of convocation. The
prelates refused to depart from the archbishop's right
of proroguing the whole Convocation Avith consent of his
suffragans. The Lower House proposed to refer the con
troversy to the queen's decision. The bishops declined
this expedient, as inconsistent with the episcopal author
ity, and the presidence of the archbishop. The Lower
House having incurred the imputation of favouring pres
bytery, by this opposition to the bishops, entered in
their books a declaration, acknowledging the order of
bishops as superior to presbyters, and to be a divine
apostolical institution. Then they desired the bishops,
in an address, to concur in settling the doctrine of the
divine apostolical right of episcopacy, that it might be a
standing rule of the church. They likeArise presented
a petition to the queen, complaining, that in the Convo
cation called in the year 1700, after an interruption of
ten years, several questions having arisen concerning the
rights and liberties of the Lower House, the bishops had
refused a verbal conference ; and afterwards declined a
proposal to subrait the dispute to her majesty's deter
mination ; they, therefore, fled for protection to her ma
jesty, begging she would call the question into her own
royal audience. The queen promised to consider their
petition, which was supported by the Earl of Notting
ham ; and ordered their council to exaraine the affair,
how it consisted with law and custora. Whether their
report was unfavourable to the Lower House, or the queeii
was unAvilling to encourage the division, no other an
swer Avas raade to their address. The archbishop replied
to their request presented to the Upper House, concern-

422 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, ing the divine right of presbytery, that the preface to
" the form of ordination contained a declaration of three
1702. orders of ministers frora the times of the apostles;
namely, bishops, priests, and deacons, to which they
had subscribed : but he and his brethren conceived, that,
without a royal licence, they had not authority to atterapt,
enact, proraulge, or execute any canon, Avhich should con
cern either doctrine or discipline. The Lower House an-
SAvered this declaration in very petulant terms ; and the
dispute subsisted when the Parliament was prorogued.
But these contests jiroduced divisions through the whole
body of the clergy, who ranged theraselves in different
factions, distinguished by the names of high-church and
low-church. The first consisted of ecclesiastical tories ;
the other included those who professed revolution prin
ciples, and recommended moderation towards the dis
senters. The high-church party reproached the other
as time-servers, and Presbyterians in disguise ; and were,
in their turn, stigmatized as the friends and abettors of
tyranny and persecution. At present, however, the tories
both in church and state triumphed in the favour of
their sovereign. The right of Parliaments, the meraory
of the late king, and even the act liraiting the succession
of the house of Hanover, became the subjects of ridi
cule. The queen was flattered as possessor of the pre
rogatives of the ancient monarchy : the history written
by her grandfather, the Earl of Clarendon, was now for
the first time published, to inculcate the principles of
obedience, and inspire the people with an abhorrence of
opposition to an anointed sovereign. Her raajesty's
hereditary right Avas deduced from Edward the Con
fessor ; and, as heir of his pretended sanctity and virtue,
she was persuaded to touch persons afflicted with the
king's evil, according to the office inserted in the Li
turgy for this occasion.
tir°artief "^^^ change of the ministry in Scotland seeraed fa
in Scotland, vourable to the episcopaUans and anti-revolutioners of
that kingdora. The Earis of Marchmont, Melvil, Sel
kirk, Leven, and Hyndford, were laid aside ; the Earl
of Seafield was appointed chancellor; the Duke of
Queensberry, and the Lord Viscount Tarbat, were de
clared secretaries of state ; the Marquis of Annandale

ANNE. 423

was made president of the council, and the Earl of Tul- *"y^ ''•
libardine, lord privy-seal. A new Parliament having .

been suraraoned, the Earl of Seafield employed his in- 1702.
fluence so successfully, that a great number of anti-
revolutioners were returned as members. The Duke
of Harailton had obtained from the queen a letter to
the privy-council in Scotland, in which she expressed
her desire that the presbyterian clergy should live in
brotherly love and communion with such dissenting
ministers of the reformed religion as were in possession
of benefices, and lived with decency, and submission to
the law. The episcopal clergy, encouraged by these
expressions in their favour, drew up an address to the
queen, imploring her protection ; and hurably beseech
ing her to allow those parishes in which there was a
majority of episcopal freeholders to bestow the benefice
on ministers of their principles. This petition was pre
sented by Dr. Skeen and Dr. Scott, who were intro
duced by the Duke of Queensberry to her majesty. She
assured thera of her protection and endeavours to sup
ply their necessities ; and exhorted them to live in peace
and Christian love with the clergy, who were by law in
vested with the church government in her ancient king
dom of Scotland. A proclamation of indemnity having
been published in March, a great number of Jacobites
returned from France and other countries, pretended
to have changed their sentiments, and took the oaths,
that they might be qualified to sit in Parliament. They Q^J^fj^^^
forraed an accession to the strength of the anti-revolu- Torcy's
tioners and episcopalians, who now hoped to outnuraber ^3™^^^ -s
the presbyterians, and outweigh their interest. But this Mem.
confederacy was coraposed of dissonant parts,from which g^^^hejl^^''
no harmony could be expected. The Presbyterians and Tindai.
revolutioners were headed by the Duke of A rgyle. The Meml''""'''
country party of raalecontents, which took its rise fi-ora Lives of
the disappointments of the Darien settlement, acted ^fg/^*^™'"
under the auspices ofthe Duke of HamUton and Marquis Hist, of
of Tweeddale ; and the Earl of Hume appeared as chief Maribo-^ °
of the anti-revolutioners. The different parties, Avho ™|jgjj^^^ ^^
now united, pursued the most opposite ends. The Maribo-
raajority of the country-party were friends to the Revo- ro"gi>'3
lution, and sought only redress of the grievances Avhich ''° "

424 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- the nation had sustained in the late reign. The anti-
. revolutioners considered the accession and government

1702. of King William as an extraordinary event, which they
were willing to forget, believing that^ all parties were
safe under the shelter of her majesty's general indem
nity. The Jacobites submitted to the queen, as tutrix
or regent for the Prince of Wales, whom they firmly
believed she intended to establish on the throne. The
whigs under Argyle, alarmed at the coalition of all their
enemies, resolved to procure a parUamentary sanction
for the Revolution.
An. 1703. The Parliament being opened on the sixth day of
SinTe May, at Edinburgh, by the Duke of Queensberry, as
Parliament commissioner, the queen's letter Avas read, in which she
dom! ™^' demanded a supply for the maintenance of the forces,
advised them to encourage trade, and exhorted thera to
proceed with wisdom, prudence, and unanimity. The
Duke of Hamilton immediately offered the draft of a
bill for recognizing her majesty's undoubted right and
title to the imperial crown of Scotland, according to the
declaration of the estates of the kingdom, containing
the claim of right. It was immediately received ; and,
at the second reading, the queen's advocate offered an
additional clause, denouncing the penalties of treason
against any person who should question her majesty's
right and title to the crown, or her exercise of the go
vernment, from her actual entry to the same. This,
after a long and Avarm debate, was carried by the con
currence of the anti-revolutioners. Then the Earl of
Hume produced the draft of a bill for the supply : im
mediately after it was read, the Marquis of Tweeddale
made an overture, that, before all other business, the
Parliament would proceed to make such conditions of
government, and regulations in the constitution of the
kingdora, to take place after the decease of her raajesty
and the heirs of her body, as should be necessary for
the preservation of their religion and liberty. This
overture and the bUl were ordered to lie upon the table,
and in the raean time, the comraissioner found himself
involved in great perplexity. The Duke of Argyle,
the Marquis of Annandale, and the Earl of Marchmont,
gave him to understand in private, that they were re-

ANNE. 425
solved to move for an act, ratifying the Revolution ; and chap.
for another, confirming the presbyterian government : '
that they would insist upon their being discussed before 1703.
the bill of supply, and that they were certain of carry
ing the points at which they aimed. The commissioner
now found himself reduced to a very disagreeable alter
native. There was a necessity for relinquishing all hope
of a supply, or abandoning the anti-revolutioners, to
whom he was connected by promises of concurrence.
The whigs were determined to oppose all schemes of
supply that should come from the cavaliers ; and these
last resolved to exert their whole power in preventing
the confirmation of the Revolution and the presbyte
rian discipline. He foresaw that on this occasion the
whigs would be joined by the Duke of Harailton and
his party, so as to preponderate against the cavaliers.
He endeavoured to cajole both parties ; but found the
task impracticable. He desired in Parliament, that the
act for the supply might be read, promising that they
should have full time afterwards to deliberate on other
subjects. The Marquis of Tweeddale insisted upon his
overture ; and after warra debates, the House resolved
to proceed with such acts as raight be necessary for se
curing the religion, liberty, and trade of the nation,
before any bill for supply or other business should be
discussed. The Marquis of Athol offered an act for
the security of the kingdora, in case of her raajesty's
decease ; but, before it was read, the Duke of Argyle
presented his draft of a bill for ratifying the Revolution,
and all the acts following thereupon. An act for lirait
ing the succession after the death of her majesty, and
the heirs of her body, Avas produced by Mr. Fletcher of
Saltoun. The Earl of Rothes recommended another,
importing, that after her majesty's death, and failing
heirs of her body, no person coming to the crown of
Scotland, being at the same time King or Queen of
England, should, as King or Queen of Scotland, have
power to raake peace or vA'ar without the consent of Par
liaraent. The Earl of Marchmont recited the draft of
an act for securing the true protestant religion and
presbyterian government : one Avas also suggested by
Sir Patrick Johnson, alloAving the importation of wines.

426 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, and other foreign liquors. All these bills were ordered
^ ' to Ue on the table. Then the Earl of Strathmore pro-
1703. duced an act for toleration to all Protestants in the ex
ercise of religious worship. But against this the general
assembly presented a most violent remonstrance ; and
the promoters of the bill, foreseeing that it would meet
Arith great opposition, allowed it to drop for the present.
On the third day of June, the Parliament passed the act
for preserving the true reformed protestant religion, and
confirraing presbyterian church governraent, as agreeable
to the word of God, and the only government of Christ's
church within the kingdom. The same party enjoyed
a further triumph in the success of Argyle's act, for
ratifying and perpetuating the first act of King Wil
liam's Parliament ; for declaring it high treason to dis
own the authority of that Parliament, or to alter or
renovate the claira of right, or any article thereof. This
last clause was strenuously opposed ; but at last the bill
passed, with the concurrence of all the ministry, except
the Marquis of Athol and the Viscount Tarbat, who be
gan at this period to correspond with the opposite party.
The com- The cavalicrs thinking themselves betrayed by the
^andoned^ Dukc of Queensbcrry, who had assented to these acts,
by the cava- first expostulated with him on his breach of promise,
and then renounced his interest, resoh-ing to separate
themselves frora the court, and jointly pursue such mea
sures as might be for the interest of their party. But
of all the bills that Avere produced in the course of this
remarkable session, that which produced the raost A-io-
lent altercation was the act of security, calculated to
abridge the prerogative of the crown, lirait the suc
cessor, and throw a vast additional poAver into the hands
of the Parliament. It Avas considered paragraph by
paragraph : many additions and alterations were pro
posed, and some adopted : inflammatory speeches were
uttered ; bitter sarcasms retorted fi-ora party to party ;
aud different votes passed on different clauses. At
length, in spite of the most obstinate opposition frora
the rainistry and the cavaliers, it was passed by a raa
jority of fifty-nine voices. The coramissioner was im
portuned to give it the royal assent ; but declined
answering their entreaties till the tenth day of Septem-

ANNE. 427
ber. Then he made a speech in ParUament, giving *^yf7-
thera to understand that he had received the queen's

pleasure, and was empowered to give the royal assent I70a
to all the acts voted in this session, except to the act
for the security of the kingdom. A motion was raade
to soUcit the royal assent in an address to her majesty;
but the question being put, it was carried in the nega
tive by a small majority. On the sixth day ofthe same
month, the Earl of Marchmont had produced a bill to
settle the succession on the house of Hanover. At first
the import of it was not knoAvn ; but when the clerk
in reading it raentioned the Princess Sophia, the whole
House was kindled into a flarae. Sorae proposed that
the overture should be burned : others raoved that the
earl raight be sent prisoner to the castle : and a general
dissatisfaction appeared in the whole assembly. Not that
the majority in ParUament were averse to the succession
in the house of Hanover ; but they resolved to avoid a
nomination without stipulating conditions ; and they
had already provided in the act of security, that it
should be high treason to own any person as king or
queen after her majesty's decease, until he or she should
take the coronation oath, and accept the terras of the
claira of right, and such conditions as should be settled
in this or any ensuing Parliaraent.
Andrew Fletcher, of Saltoun, a raan of undaunted He is in
courage and inflexible integrity, who professed repub- hb^ufe, and
lican principles, and seeraed designed by nature as a suddenly
member of sorae Grecian coraraonwealth, after having the™aruL
observed that the nation would be enslaved, should it ™^°'-
subrait, either willingly or by coraraission, to the suc
cessor of England, without such conditions of govern
raent as should secure thera against the influence of an
English rainistry, offered the draft of an act, importing,
that after the decease of her raajesty, without heirs of
her body, no person being successor to the EngUsh
throne should succeed to the crown of Scotland, but
under the following liraitations, which, together with
the coronation oath and claira of right, they should
swear to observe ; naraely, that all offices and places,
civil and railitary, as well as pensions, should for the
ftiture be conferred by a Parliament, to be chosen at

428 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- every Michaelraas head-court, to sit on the first day of
" Noveraber, and adjourn theraselves from time to time,
1703. till the ensuing Michaelmas : that they should choose
their own president : that a committee of six-and-thirty
members, chosen out of the whole Parliament, without
distinction of estates, should, during the intervals of
Parliament, be vested, under the king, with the ad
ministration of the government, act as his council, be
accountable to Parliament, and call it together on ex
traordinary occasions. He proposed that the successor
should be noraiuated by the majority; declaring for
himself that he would rather concur in nominating the
most rigid Papist with those conditions than the truest
Protestant without them. The motion was seconded
by many members ; and though postponed for the pre
sent, in favour of an act of trade under the considera
tion of the House, it was afterwards resuraed with great
warmth. In vain the lord-treasurer represented that
no funds Avere as yet provided for the army, and raoved
for a reading of the act presented for that purpose : a
certain meraber observed, that this was a very unsea
sonable juncture to propose a supply, when the House
had so rauch to do for the security of the nation : he
said they had very little eneourageraent to grant sup
plies, when they found theraselves frustrated of all their
labour and expense for these several raonths ; and when
the whole kingdom saw that supplies served for no other
use but to gratify the avarice of some insatiable minis
ters. Mr. Fletcher expatiated upon the good conse
quences that would arise from the act A^-hich he had
proposed. The chancellor answered, that such an act
A^'as laying a scheme for a coraraonwealth, and tending
to innovate the constitution of the raonarchy. The
ministry proposed a state of a vote, whether they should
first give a reading to Fletcher's act, or to the act of
subsidy. The country party moved that the question
might be, " Overtures for subsidies, or overtures for li
berty." Fletcher withdrcAv his act, rather than people
should pervert the meaning of laudable designs. The
House resounded with the cry of " Liberty or subsidy."
Bitter invectives Avere uttered against the ministry.
Oue niember said, it was uoav plain the nation was to

ANNE.- 429
expect no other return for their expense and toil, than chap.
that of being loaded with a subsidy, and being obliged to "
bend their necks under the yoke of slavery, which was 1703.
prepared for them frora that throne : another observed,
that as their liberties were suppressed, so the privUeges
of Parliament were like to be torn from them ; but that
he would venture his life in defence of his birthright,
and rather die a free man than Uve a slave. When the
vote was demanded, and declined by the coramissioner,
the Earl of Roxburgh declared, that if there was no
other way of obtaining so natural and undeniable a pri
vilege of Parliament, they would demand it with their
sAvords in their hands. The comraissioner, foreseeing
this spirit of freedora and contradiction, had ordered the
foot guard to be in readiness, and placed a strong guard
upon the eastern gate of the city. Notwithstanding
these precautions, he ran the risk of being torn in
pieces ; and, in this apprehension, ordered the chan
cellor to inforra the House, that the Parliament should
proceed upon overtures for liberty at their next sitting.
This promise allayed the ferment which had begun to
rise. Next day the members prepared an overture, im
plying, that the elective members should be chosen for
every seat at the Michaelmas head-courts : that a Par
liament should be held once in two years at least : that
the short adjournments de die in diem should be raade
by the Parliaraents theraselves, as in England ; and that
no officer in the array, custoras, or excise, nor any gra
tuitous pensioner, should sit as an elective raeraber.
The coraraissioner being apprized of their proceedings,
called for such acts as he was erapowered to pass, and
having given the royal assent to them, prorogued the
Parliament to the twelfth day of October ^- Such Avas
' Though the queen refused to pass the act of security, the royal assent was
granted to an act of limitation on the successor, in which it was declared, that no
King or Queen of Scotland should have power to make war or peace without con
sent of Parliament. Another law was enacted, allowing French wines and other
liquors to be imported in neutral bottoms : without this expedient, it was alleged,
that the revenue would have been insufficient to maintain the government. An act
passed in favour of the company trading to Africa and the Indies ; another for a
commission conceming the public accounts; a third for punishing slanderous
speeches and writings. The commission for treating of a union with England
was vacated, with a prohibition to grant any other commission for that purpose
without consent of Parliament ; and no supply having been provided before the
adjournment, the army and expense of government were maintained upon credit.

430 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the issue of this reraarkable session of the Scottish Par-
" liaraent, in which the Duke of Queensberry was aban-
1703. doned by the greatest part of the rainistry ; and such a
spirit of ferocity and opposition prevailed, as threatened
the whole kingdom with civil war and confusion. The
queen conferred titles upon those'' Avho appeared to have
influence in the nation, and attachment to her govern
ment, and rerived the Order of the Thistle, which the
late king had dropped.
Proceed- Ireland was filled with discontent, by the behaviour
ings ot the /., n ^ n n - l
Irish Par- aiid conduct 01 the trustees tor the lorieited estates.
hament. The Earl of Rochester had contributed to foraent the
troubles of the kingdom, by encouraging the factions
which had been imported from England. The Duke
of Ormond was received wdth open arms, as heir to the
virtues of his ancestors, AA'ho had been the bulwarks of
the protestant interest in Ireland. He opened the Par
liaraent on the twenty-first day of September, with a
speech to both Houses, in which he told thera, that his
inchnation, his interest, and the examples of his proge
nitors, were indispensable obligations upon him, to im
prove every opportunity to the advantage and prosperity
of his native country. The Commons having chosen
Allen Broderick to be their speaker, proceeded to draw
up very affectionate addresses to the queen and the lord
lieutenant. In that to the queen they complained,
that their enemies had misrepresented them, as desirous
of being independent of the crown of England ; they,
therefore, to vindicate themselves frora such false asper
sions, declared and acknowledged, that the kingdora of
Ireland was annexed and united to the iraperial crown
of England. In order to express their hatred of the
trustees, they resolved that all the protestant free
holders of that kingdora had been falsely and raaliciously
raisrepresented, traduced, and abused, in a book enti
tled " The Report of the Commissioners appointed to
inquire into the Irish Forfeitures;" and it appearing
¦¦ The Marquis of Athol, and the Marquis of Douglas, though this last was a
minor, were created dukes. Lord Tarbat was invested with the title of Earl of
Cromarty ; the Viscounts Stair and Roseberry were promoted to the same dignity.
Lord Boyle was created Earl of Glasgow; James Stewart, of Bute, Earl of Bute;
Charles Hope, of Hopetoun, Earl of Hopetoun ; John Crawford, of Kilbimie,
Viscount Garnock ; and Sir James Primrose, of Carrington, Viscount Primrose.

ANNE. 431
that Francis Annesley, raeraber of the House, John *^y^^-
Trenchard, Henry Langford, and James Harailton, "
were authors of that book, they further resolved, that 1703.
these persons had scandalously and raaliciously raisre
presented and traduced the protestant freeholders of
that kingdora, and endeavoured to create a misunder
standing and jealousy between the people of England
and the Protestants of Ireland. Annesley was expelled
the House, Harailton was dead, and Trenchard had re
turned to England. They had finished the inquiry
before the raeeting of this Parliaraent ; and sold, at an
under value, the best of the forfeited estates to the
sword-blade corapany of England. This, in a petition
to the Irish Parliaraent, prayed that the heads of a bill
be brought in for enabling thera to take conveyance of
lands in Ireland ; but the Parliaraent Avas very little
disposed to confirra the bargains of the trustees, and the
petition lay neglected on the table. The House ex
pelled John Asgill, who, as agent to the sword-blade
company, had offered to lend raoney to the public in
Ireland, on condition that the Parliaraent would pass
an act to confirm the company's purchase of the for
feited estates. His constituents disowned his proposal ;
and when he was suraraoned to appear before the House,
and answer for his prevarication, he pleaded his privilege
as raeraber of the English Parliament. The Comraons,
in a representation of the state and grievances of the na
tion, gave her raajesty to understand, that the constitu
tion of Ireland had been of late greatly shaken; and
their lives, liberties, and estates, called in question, and
tried in a manner unknoAvn to their ancestors ; that the
expense to which they had been unnecessarily exposed
by the late trustees for the forfeited estates, in defend
ing their just rights and titles, had exceeded in value the
current cash of the kingdom : that their trade was de
cayed, their money exhausted, and that they were hin
dered frora maintaining their own manufactures : that
raany protestant farailies had been constrained to quit
the kingdom, in order to earn a livelihood in foreign
countries : that the want of frequent Parliaments in Ire
land had encouraged evil-minded men to oppress the
subject : that raany civil officers had acquired great

432 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, fortunes in that impoverished country, by the exercise
' of corruption and oppression : that others, in consider-
1703. able employraents, resided in another kingdom, neg
lecting- personal attendance on their duty, while their
offices were ill-executed, to the detriment ofthe public,
and the failure of justice. They declared, that it was
from her majesty's gracious interposition alone they
proposed to themselves relief from those their manifold
grievances and misfortunes. The Commons afterwards
voted the necessary supplies, and granted one hundred
and fifty thousand pounds to make good the deficiencies
of the necessary branches of the establishment.
They pass a They appointed a committee to inspect the public
against accouuts, by which they discovered, that above one hun-
Papists. (jre(j thousand pounds had been falsely charged as a
debt upon the nation. The committee was thanked by
the House for having saved this sum, and ordered to
examine what persons were concerned in such a mis
representation, which was generally imputed to those
who acted under the Duke of Ormond. He hiraself
was a nobleman of honour and generosity, addicted to
pleasure, and fond of popular applause ; but he was sur
rounded by people of more sordid principles, who had
ingratiated themselves into his confidence by the arts of
adulation. The Coraraons voted a provision for the
half-pay officers ; and abolished pensions to the amount
of seventeen thousand pounds a year, as unnecessary
branches of the establishment. They passed an act
settling the succession of the croAvn, after the pattern
set thera by England : but the raost iraportant trans
action of this session was a severe bill to prevent the
growth of popery. It bore a strong affinity to that
which had passed three years before in England ; but
contained raore effectual clauses. Araong others, it
enacted, that all estates of Papists should be equally
divided araong the children, notwithstanding any settle
ment to the contrary, unless the persons to whora they
raight be settled should qualify theraselves by taking the
oaths, and coraraunicating with the church of England.
The bill was not at all agreeable to the rainistry in
England, who expected large presents frora the Papists,
by whora a considerable sura had been actually raised

ANNE. 433

for this purpose. But as they did not think proper to ^yj^^-
reject such a bill while the English Parliament was sit

ting, they added a clause which they hoped the ParUa- 1703.
ment of Ireland would refuse, namely, that no persons
in that kingdom should be capable of any employraent,
or of being in the raagistracy of any city, who did not
qualifytheraselves by receiving the sacraraent according
to the test act passed in England. Though this was
certainly a great hardship on the dissenters, the Par
liament of Ireland sacrificed this consideration to their
comraon security against the Roraan Catholics, and
accepted the amendment without hesitation. This affair
being discussed, the Comraons of Ireland passed a vote
against a book entitled " Meraoirs of the late King
Jaraes II." as a seditious libel. They ordered it to be
burnt by the hands of the coraraon hangraan ; and the
bookseller and printer to be prosecuted. When this
motion was made, a member informed the House, that
in the county of Limerick, the Irish Papists had begun
to form theraselves into bodies ; to plunder the Protest
ants of their arras and raoney; and to raaintain a
correspondence with the disaffected in England. The
House iraraediately resolved, that the Papists of the
kingdora still retained hopes of the accession of the per
son known by the narae of the Prince of Wales in the
lifetirae of the late king Jaraes, and now by the narae
of Jaraes III. In the midst of this zeal against popery
and the pretender they were suddenly adjourned by
the coramand of the lord-lieutenant, and broke up in
great animosity against that nobleman'.
The attention of the English rainistry had been for TheEiector
o •' Qi rSa van n.
sorae tirae chiefly engrossed by the affairs of the con- defeats the
tinent. The emperor agreed with the allies, that his ™^*^rdTn!
son the Archduke Charles should assume the title of gen, and
King of Spain, demand the Infanta of Portugal in mar- gessTon of
riage, and undertake soraething of iraportance, with the Ratubon.
assistance of the maritirae powers. Mr. Methuen, the
English minister at Lisbon, had already made sorae
' They had besides the bills already mentioned passed an act for an additional
excise on beer, ale, and other liquors : another encouraging the importation of
iron and staves : a third for preventing popish priests from coming into the king
dom : a fourth securing the liberty ofthe subject ; and for prevention of imprison
ment beyond seas : and a fifth for naturalizing all protestant strangers.
VOL. I. F F

434 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, progress in a treaty with his Portuguese raajesty; and
" the court of Vienna promised to send such an army into
1703. the field as would in a little time drive the Elector of
Bavaria from his dominions. But they were so dilatory
in their preparations, that the French king broke all
their raeasures, by sending powerful reinforcements to
the elector, in whose abUity and attachment Louis re
posed great confidence. Mareschal Villars, who cora
manded an army of thirty thousand men at Strasburg,
passed the Rhine, and reduced fort Kehl, the garrison
of which was conducted to Philipsburgh. The eraperor,
alarraed at this event, ordered Count Schlick to enter
Bavaria on the side of Saltsburgh, with a considerable
body of forces ; and sent another under Count Stirum,
to invade the same electorate by the way of Newraark,
which was surrendered to him after he had routed a
party of Bavarians : the city of Amberg raet with the
same fate. Meanwhile Count Schlick defeated a body
of militia that defended the lines of Saltsburgh, and
made hiraself raaster of Riedt, and several other places.
The elector asserabling his forces near Brenau, difiused
a report that he intended to besiege Passau, to cover
which place Schlick advanced with the greatest part of
his infantry, leaving behind his cavalry and cannon.
The elector having by this feint divided the iraperialists,
passed the bridge of Scardingen with twelve thousand
men, and, after an obstinate engagement, compelled
the ImperiaUsts to abandon the field of battle : then he
marched against the Saxon troops which guarded the
artillery ; and attacked them with such irapetuosity, that
they were entirely defeated. In a few days after these
actions he took Newburgh on the Inn by capitulation.
He obtained another advantage over an advanced post
of the imperialists near Burgenfelt, commanded by the
young Prince of Brandenburgh Anspach, who was mor
tally wounded in the engageraent. He advanced to
Ratisbon, where the diet of the erapire was asserabled,
and deraanded that he should be iraraediately put in
possession of the bridge and gate of the city. The
burghers immediately took to their arms, and planted
cannon on the raraparts : but when they saw a battery
erected against thera, and the elector determined to

ANNE. 435
bombard the place, they thought proper to capitulate, chap.
and comply with his demands. He took possession of ^"-
the town on the eighth day of April, and signed an in- 1703.
strument, obliging himself to withdraw his troops as
soon as the emperor should ratify the diet's resolution for
the neutrality of Ratisbon. Mareschal Villars having
received orders to join the elector at all events, and being
reinforced by a body of troops under Count Tallard,
resolved to break through the lines which the Prince of
Baden had raade at Stolhoffen. This general had been
luckily joined by eight Dutch battalions, and received
the French army, though double his nuraber, with
such obstinate resolution, that Villars was obUged to re
treat with great loss, and directed his route towards
Offingen. Nevertheless, he penetrated through the
Black-Forest, and effected a junction with the elector.
Count Stirum endeavoured to join Prince Louis of
Baden ; but being attacked nearSchwemmingen, retired
under the cannon of Nortlingen.
The confederates were raore successful on the Lower '^^^ *^^^'
 reducfi
Rhine and in the Netherlands. The Duke of Marl- Bonne.
borough crossed the sea in the beginning of April ; and
asserabling the allied array, resolved that the carapaign
should be begun with the siege of Bonne, which was
accordingly invested on the twenty-fourth day of April.
Three different attacks were carried on against this
place : one by the hereditary Prince of Hesse-Cassel ;
another by the celebrated Coehorn ; and a third by
Lieutenant-General Fagel. The garrison defended
theraselves vigorously till the fourteenth day of May,
when the fort having been taken by assault, and the
breaches rendered practicable, the Marquis d'Alegre,
the governor, ordered a parley to be beat: hostages were
iraraediately exchanged; on the sixteenth the capi
tulation was signed; and in three days the garrison
evacuated the place, in order to be conducted to Luxera-
burgh. During the siege of Bonne, the Mareschals
Boufflers and Villeroy advanced with an array of forty
thousand raen towards Tongeren ; and the confederate
array, coraraanded by M. D'Auverquerque, was obliged
at their approach to retreat under the cannon of Maes
tricht. The enemy having taken possession of Tongeren,
ff2

436 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, made a raotion against the confederate array, which they
- found already drawn up in order of battle, and so ad-
1703. vantageously posted, that notwithstanding their great
superiority in point of nuraber, they would not hazard
an attack, but retired to the ground from whence they
had advanced. Imraediately after the reduction of
Bonne, the Duke of Marlborough, who had been pre
sent at the siege, returned to the confederate array in
the Netherlands, now amounting to one hundred and
thirty squadrons, and fifty-nine battalions. On the
twenty-fifth day of May, the duke having passed the
river Jecker, in order to give battle to the enemy, they
marched with precipitation to Boekwern, and abandoned
Tongeren, after having blown up the walls of the place
with gunpowder. The duke continued to follow them
to Thys, where he encamped, while they retreated to
Hannye, retiring as he advanced. Then he resolved to
force their lines : this service was effectually performed
by Coehorn, at the point of Callo, and by Baron Spaar,
in the county of Waes, near Stoken. The duke had
formed the design of reducing A ntwerp, which was gar
risoned by Spanish troops under the coraraand of the
Marquis de Bedraar. He intended AA'ith the grand
army to attack the enemy's lines on the side of Louvaine
and Mechlin : he detached Coehorn with his flying camp
to the right of the Scheldt, towards Dutch Flanders,
to amuse the Marquis de Bedraar on that side ; and he
ordered the Baron Opdara, with twelve thousand raen,
to take post between Eckeren and Capelle, near Ant
werp, that he raight act against that part of the Unes
which was guarded by the Spanish forces.
Battle of The French generals, in order to frustrate the scheme
*" "''''"• of Marlborough, resolved to cut off the retreat of
Opdam. Boufflers, with a detachment of twenty thou
sand men from Villeroy's array, surprised him at
Eckeren, where the Dutch were put in disorder ; and
Opdam, believing all was lost, fled to Breda. Never
theless, the troops rallying under general Schlangen-
burgh, maintained their ground with the raost obstinate
valour till night, when the enemy was obliged to retire,
and left the comraunication free with fort Lillo, to which
place the confederates marched Avithout further molest-

ANNE. 437
ation, having lost about fifteen hundred men in the *^yi^^-
engagement. The daraage sustained by the French __! 
was more considerable. They were frustrated in their 1703.
design, and had actually abandoned the field of battle ;
yet Louis ordered Te Deum to be sung for the victory :
nevertheless, Boufflers was censured for his conduct on
this occasion, and in a little time totally disgraced.
Opdam presented a justification of his conduct to the
States-General ; but by this oversight he forfeited the
fruits of a long service, during which he had exhibited
repeated proofs of courage, zeal, and capacity. The
states honoured Schlangenburgh with a letter of thanks
for the valour and skill he had manifested in this engage
ment ; but in a little time they dismissed him frora his
employment, on account of his having given umbrage
to the Duke of Marlborough, by censuring his grace for
exposing such a sraall number of men to this disaster.
After this action, Villeroy, who lay encaraped near St.
Job, declared he would wait for the Duke of Marl
borough, who forthwith advanced to Hoogstraat, with
a view to give him battle ; but, at his approach, the
French general, setting fire to his camp, retired within
his lines with great precipitation. Then the duke in
vested Huy, the garrison of which, after a vigorous
defence, surrendered theraselves prisoners of war, on
the twenty-seventh day of August. At a council of
war held in the camp of the confederates, the duke pro
posed to attack the enemy's lines between the Mehaigne
and Leu we, and was seconded by the Danish, Hanove
rian, and Hessian generals ; but the scherae was op
posed by the Dutch officers, and the deputies of the
states, who alleged that the success was dubious, and the
consequences of forcing the lines would be inconsider
able; they therefore recoraraended the siege of Liraburg,
by the reduction of which they would acquire a whole
province, and cover their own country, as well as Juliers
and Gueldres, from the designs of the enemy. The
siege of Liraburg was accordingly undertaken. The
trenches were opened on the five-and-twentieth day of
September, and in two days the place Avas surrendered ;
the garrison reraaining prisoners of war. By this con
quest the allies secured the country of Liege, and the

438 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, electorate of Cologn, from the incursions of the enemy :
" before the end of the year, they remained raasters of
1703. the whole Spanish Guelderland, by the reduction of
Gueldres, which surrendered on the seventeenth day of
September, after having been long blockaded, bora
barded, and reduced to a heap of ashes by the Prussian
general, Lottura. Such was the campaign in the Ne
therlands, which in all probability would have produced
events of greater importance, had not the Duke of
Marlborough been restricted by the deputies of the
States-General, who began to be influenced by the in
trigues of the Louvestein faction, ever averse to a single
dictator.
The Prince The FroHch kiug redoubled his efforts in Germany.
def^a^^d by '^^^ Dukc de Vondome was ordered to raarch frora the
the French MUaueso to Tyrol, and there join the Elector of Ba-
bacif"'^'^' "varia, who had already raade hiraself master of Inspruck.
But the boors rising in arms, drove him out of the
country before he could be joined by the French ge
neral, who was, therefore, obliged to return to the
Milanese. The imperialists in Italy were so ill supplied
by the court of Vienna, that they could not pretend to
act offensively. The French invested Ostiglia, which,
however, they could not reducer but the fortress of
Barsillo, in the Duchy of Reggio, capitulating after a
long blockade, they took possession of the Duke of
Modena's country. The Elector of Bavaria rejoining
Villars, resolved to attack Count Stirum, whom Prince
Louis of Baden had detached from his array. With this
view, they passed the Danube at Donawert, and dis-
' charged six g-uns, as a signal for the Marquis D'Usson,
whora they had left in the carap at Lavingen, to fall
upon the rear of the imperialists, whUe they should
charge them in front. Stirura no sooner perceived the
signal, than he guessed the intention of the enemy,
and instantly resolved to attack D'Usson, before the
elector and the mareschal should advance. He ac
cordingly charged hira at the head of sorae select
squadrons with such irapetuosity, that the French ca
valry were totally defeated ; and aU his infantry would
have been killed and taken, had not the elector and
Villars come up in time to turn the fate of the day.

ANNE. 439
The action continued from six in the morning till four chap.
in the afternoon, when Stirura, being overpowered by "
nurabers, was obliged to retreat to Norlingen, with the 1703.
loss of twelve thousand men, and all his baggage and
artillery. In the mean time the Duke of Burgundy,
assisted by Tallard, undertook the siege of Old Brisac,
with a prodigious train of artillery. The place was very
strongly fortified, though the garrison was sraall, and ill-
provided with necessaries. In fourteen days, the go
vernor surrendered the place, and was condemned to
lose his head for having made such a slender defence.
The Duke of Burgundy returned in triumph to Ver
sailles, and Tallard was ordered to invest Landau. The
Prince of Hesse-Cassel being detached from the Nether
lands for the relief of the place, joined the Count of
Nassau-Weilbourg, general of the Palatine forces, near
Spires, where they resolved to attack the French in their
lines. But by this time Monsieur Pracontal, with ten
thousand raen, had joined Tallard, and enabled hira to
strike a stroke which proved decisive. He suddenly
quitted his lines, and surprised the prince at Spirebach,
where the French obtained a coraplete victory, after a
very obstinate and bloody engageraent, in which the
Prince of Hesse distinguished hiraself by uncoramon
marks of courage and presence of mind. Three horses
were successively killed under hira, and he slew a French
officer with his own hand. After incredible efforts, he
was fain to retreat with the loss of sorae thousands.
The French paid dear for their victory, Pracontal
having been slain in the action. Nevertheless, they
resumed the siege, and the place was surrendered by
capitulation. The campaign in Germany was finished
with the reduction of Augsburgh by the Elector of
Bavaria, who took it in the month of December, and
agreed to its being secured by a French garrison.
The emperor's affairs at this juncture wore a very Treaty be-
unpromising aspect. The Hungarians were fleeced, and ^^peror^
barbarously oppressed, by those to whom he intrusted and the
the governraent of their country. They derived courage sa" oy.°
frora despair. They seized this opportunity, when the Jiie Kingof
emperor's forces were divided, and his councils dis- a<Ldes to
tracted, to exert themselves in defence of their Uberties. ^^^^^^^

440 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. They ran to arms, under the auspices of Prince Ra-
" gotzki. They demanded that their grievances should
1703. be redressed, and their privileges restored. Their re
sentraent was kept up by the eraissaries of France and
Bavaria, who likewise encouraged thera to persevere in
their revolt, by repeated promises of protection and as
sistance. The emperor's prospect, however, was soon
mended, by two incidents of very great consequence to
his interest. The Duke of Savoy, foreseeing how much
he should be exposed to the mercy of the French king,
should that monarch become master of the Milanese,
engaged in a secret negotiation with the emperor, which,
notwithstanding all his caution, was discovered by the
court of Versailles. Louis iraraediately ordered the
Duke de Vendorae to disarm the troops of Savoy that
were in his army, to the nuraber of two-and-twenty
thousand raen ; to insist upon the duke's putting him
in possession of four considerable fortresses ; and de
mand that the nuraber of his troops should be reduced
to the establishraent stipulated in the treaty of 1696.
The duke, exasperated at these insults, ordered the
French arabassador, and several officers of the same
nation, to be arrested. Louis endeavom-ed to inti
midate hira by a menacing letter, in which he gave h m
to understand, that since neither religion, honour, in
terests, nor alliances, had been able to influence his
conduct, the Duke de Vendorae should raake known
the intentions of the French monarch, and allow him
four-and-twenty hours to deliberate on the measures he
should pursue. This letter was answered by a mani
festo : in the mean tirae, the duke concluded a treaty
with the court of Vienna; acknowledged the Arch
duke Charles as King of Spain ; and sent envoys to
England and Holland. Queen Anne, knowing his ira
portance, as well as his selfish disposition, assured him
of her friendship and assistance ; and both she and the
states sent ambassadors to Turin. He was iraraediately
joined by a body of imperial horse under Visconti,and
afterwards by Count Staremberg, at the head of fifteen
thousand raen, with whora that general marched from
the Modenese, in the worst season of the year, through
an enemy's country, and roads that were deeraed im-

ANNE. 441
passable. In vain the French forces harassed him in *^yj^^-
his march, and even surrounded him in many different  '. —
places on the route : he surraounted all these difficul- 1703.
ties with incredible courage and perseverance, and joined
the Duke of Savoy at Canelli, so as to secure the
country of Piedraont. The other incident which proved
so favourable to the iraperial interest was a treaty by
which the King of Portugal acceded to the grand al
liance. His ministry perceived, that should Spain be
once united to the crown of France, their raaster would
sit very insecure upon his throne. They were inti
midated by the united fleets of the maritime powers,
which maintained the empire of the sea ; and they were
allured by the splendour of a match between their
Infanta and the Archduke Charles, to whom the em
peror and King of the Romans proraised to transfer
all their pretensions to the Spanish crown. By this
treaty, concluded at Lisbon, between the emperor, the
Queen of Great Britain, the King of Portugal, and
the States-General, it was stipulated, that King Charles
should be conveyed to Portugal by a powerful fleet,
having on board twelve thousand soldiers, with a great
supply of money, arras, and aramunition ; and that he
should be joined immediately upon his landing by an
army of eight-and-twenty thousand Portuguese.
The confederates reaped very little advantage frora sirCioudes-
the naval operations of this suraraer. Sir George slis with^a
Rooke cruized in the channel, in order to alarra the ?!^i.'° *®
coast of France, and protect the trade of England, ranean.
On the first day of July, Sir Cloudesley Shovel sailed
frora St. Helen's, with the corabined squadrons of Eng
land and Holland ; he directed his course to the Me
diterranean, and being reduced to great difficulty
by want of water, steered to Altea, on the coast of
Valentia, where Brigadier Seyraour landed, and en
caraped with five-and-twenty hundred raarines. The
adrairal published a short raanifesto, signifying that he
was not corae to disturb, but to protect the good sub
jects of Spain, who would swear allegiance to their law
ful monarch, the Archduke Charles, and endeavour to
shake off the yoke of France. This declaration pro
duced little or no effect ; and the fleet being watered.

442 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Sir Cloudesley sailed to Leghorn. One design of this
'  armament was to assist the Cevennois, who had in the
1703. course of the preceding year been persecuted into a re
volt on account of religion, and implored the assistance
of England and the States-General. The admiral
detached two ships into the gulf of Narbonne, with some
refugees and French pilots, who had concerted signals
with the Cevennois : but the Mareschal de Montrevil
having received intimation of their design, took such
measures as prevented all coramunication ; and the Eng
lish captains having repeated their signals to no pur
pose, rejoined Sir Cloudesley at Leghorn. This admiral,
having renewed the peace with the piratical states of
Barbary, returned to England, without having taken
one effectual step for annoying the enemy, or atterapted
any thing that looked like the result of a concerted
scherae for that purpose. The nation naturally mur
mured at the fruitless expedition, by which it had in
curred such a considerable expense. The merchants
coraplained that they were ill supplied vrith convoys.
The ships of war were victualled with damaged pro
visions ; and every article of the marine being mis
managed, the blame fell upon those who acted as council
to the lord high admiral.
Gra"don's ^'^^ 'woTO the arms of England by sea much more
bootless ex- succcssful iu the Wost Indies. Sir George Rooke, in
the*We°st° *^^ preceding year, had detached from the Mediter-
indies. raucan Captain Hovenden Walker with six ships of the
line and transports, having on board four regiments of
soldiers for the Leeward Islands. Being joined at An
tigua by sorae troops under Colonel Codrington, they
raade a descent upon the island of Guadaloupe, where
they razed the fort, burned the town, ravaged the
country, and re-erabarked with precipitation, in conse
quence of a report that the French had landed nine
hundred men on the back of the island. They retired
to Nevis, where they must have perished by famine, had
not they been providentially relieved by Vice-Admiral
Graydon, in his way to Jamaica. This officer had been
sent out with three ships to succeed Benbow, and was
convoyed about one hundred and fifty leagues by two
other ships of the Une. He had not sailed raany days.

ANNE. 443
when he fell in with part ofthe French squadron, com- *^y^j^'
manded by Du Casse, on their return from the West " 
Indies, very foul, and richly laden. Captain Cleland, 1703.
of the Montagu, engaged the sternmost ; but he was
called off by a signal frora the adrairal, who proceeded
on his voyage without taking further notice of the
eneray. When he arrived at Jamaica, he quarrelled
with the principal planters of the island ; and his ships
beginning to be crazy, he resolved to return to Eng
land. He accordingly sailed through the gulf of Florida,
with a view to attack the French at Placentia, in New
foundland ; but his ships were dispersed in a fog that
lasted thirty days ; and afterwards, the council of war
which he convoked were of opinion that he could
not attack the settleraent with any prospect of suc
cess. At his return to England, the House of Lords,
then sitting, set on foot an inquiry into his con
duct. They presented an address to the queen, de
siring she would reraove hira frora his eraployraents ;
and he was accordingly disraissed. The only exploit
that tended to distress the eneray was perforraed by
Rear-Adrairal Dilkes, who, in the raonth of July,
sailed to the coast of France with a small squadron; and
in the neighbourhood of Granville, took or destroyed
about forty ships and their convoy. Yet this damage
was inconsiderable when compared to that which the
English navy sustained frora the dreadful terapest that
began to blow on the twenty-seventh day of Novera
ber, accompanied with such flashes of lightning, and
peals of thunder, as overwhelraed the whole kingdora
with consternation. The houses in London shook from
their foundations, and sorae of them falling, buried the
inhabitants in their ruins. The water overflowed several
streets, and- rose to a considerable height in Westrain
ster-hall. London-bridge was almost choked up with
the wrecks of vessels that perished in the river. The
loss sustained by the capital was computed at a million
sterling ; and the city of Bristol suffered to a prodi
gious araount ; but the chief national daraage fell upon
the navy. Thirteen ships of war were lost, together
with fifteen hundred seamen, including Rear-Adrairal
Beaumont, who had been employed in observing the

444 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
*^HAP. Dunkirk squadron, and was then at anchor in the
Downs, where his ship foundered. This great loss, how-

1703. ever, was repaired with incredible diligence, to the as
tonishraent of all Europe. The queen iraraediately
issued orders for building a greater nuraber of ships
than that which had been destroyed, and she exercised
her bounty for the relief of the shipwrecked seamen,
and the widows of those who were drowned, in such a
manner as endeared her to all her subjects.
Charles, The empcror having declared his second son Charles
Spafn,°ar- Kiug of Spain, that young prince set out frora Vienna
rives in to HoUaud, aud at Dusseldorp was visited by the Duke
°s ^" ¦ of Marlborough, who, in the narae of his raistress, con
gratulated hira upon his accession to the crown of
Spain. Charles received him with the most obliging
courtesy. In the course of their conversation, taking
off his sword, he presented it to the English general,
with a very gTacious aspect, saying, in the French
language, " I am not asharaed to own myself a poor
prince. I possess nothing but my cloak and sword ; the
latter raay be of use to your grace ; and I hope you will
not think it the worse for ray wearing it one day."
" On the contrary," replied the duke, " it will always
put me in mind of your raajesty's just right and title,
and of the obligations I lie under to hazard my life in
making you the greatest prince in Christendom." This
nobleraan returned to England in October, and King
Charles embarking for the same kingdora, under convoy
of an English and Dutch squadron, arrived at Spit
head on the twenty-sixth day of Noveraber. There he
was received by the Dukes of Somerset and Marlbo
rough, who conducted him to Windsor ; and on the
road he was raet by Prince George of Denraark. The
queen's deportment towards him Avas equally noble and
obliging ; and he expressed the raost profound respect
and veneration for this Ulustrious princess. He spoke
but little, yet what he said was judicious, and he behaved
with such politeness and affability, as conciliated the
affection of the English nobility. After having been
magnificently entertained for three days, he returned
to Portsmouth, frora whence, on the fourth of January,
he sailed for Portugal, with a great fleet, commanded by

ANNE. 445
Sir George Rooke, haAfing on "board a body of land- '-'y^^-
forces, under the Duke of Schomberg. When the ad- . 
miral had almost reached Cape Finisterre, he was driven 1703.
back by a storm to Spithead, where he was obUged to
remain till the raiddle of February. Then being fa
voured with a fair wind, he happily performed the
voyage to Lisbon, where King Charles was received
with great splendour, though the court of Portugal was
overspread with sorrow, excited by the death of the
infanta, whom the King of Spain intended to espouse.
In Poland, all hope of peace seemed to vanish. The
cardinal-primate, by the instigation of the Swedish
king, whose array lay encamped in the neighourhood
of Dantzic, assembled a diet at Warsaw, which so
lemnly deposed Augustus, and declared the throne
vacant. Their intention was to elect young Sobieski,
son of their late monarch, who resided at Breslau, in
Silesia ; but their scheme was anticipated by Augustus,
who retired hastily into his Saxon dorainions, and seiz
ing Sobieski, with his brother, secured thera as prisoners
at Dresden.

446 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.
VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
The Commons revive the Bill against occasional Conformity. — Con
spiracy trumped up by Simon Frazer, Lord Lovat. — The Lords
present a Remonstrance to the Queen. — The Commons pass a vote
in Favour of the Earl of Nottingham. — Second Remonstrance of
the Lords. — Further Disputes between the two Houses. — The
Queen grants the First-fruits and the Tenths to the poor Clergy.
— Inquiry into naval Affairs. — Trial of Lindsay. — Meeting of the
Scottish Parliament. — Violent Opposition to the Ministry in that
Kingdom. — Their Parliament pass the Act of Security. — Melan
choly Situation of the Emperor's Affairs. — The Duke of Marlbo
rough marches at the head of the allied Army into Germany. — He
defeats the Bavarians at Schellenberg. — Fruitless Negotiation with
the Elector of Bavaria. — The Confederates obtain a complete
Victory at Hochstadt. — Siege of Landau. — The Duke of Marl
borough returns to England. — State of the War in different Parts
of Europe. — Campaign in Portugal. — Sir George Rooke takes
Gibraltar. — And worsts the French Fleet in a Battle off Malaga.
— Session of Parhament in England. — An Act of Alienation
passed against the Scots. — Manor of Woodstock granted to the
Duke of Marlborough. — Disputes between the two Houses on the
Subject of the Aylesbiiry Constables. — The Parliament dissolved.
— Proceedings in the Parliament of Scotland. — They pass an Act
for a Treaty of Union with England. — Difference between the
Parliament and Convocation in Ireland. — Fruitless Campaign on
the Moselle. — The Duke of Marlborough forces the French Lines
in Brabant. — He is prevented by the Deputies of the States from
attacking the French Army. — He visits the imperial Court of
Vienna. — State of the War on the Upper Rhine, in Hungary,
Piedmont, Portugal, and Poland. — Sir Thomas Dilkes destroys
Part of the French Fleet, and reheves Gibralta,r. — The Earl of
Peterborough and Sir Cloudesley Shovel reduce Barcelona. — The
Earl's surprising Progress in Spain. — New Parliament in Eng-
land.-1-Bill for a Regency in case of the Queen's Decease. — De
bates ih the House of Lords upon the supposed Danger to which
the Church was exposed. — The Parliament prorogued. — Disputes
in the Convocation. — Conferences opened for a Treaty of Union
with Scotland. — Substance of the Treaty.

When the Parliaraent raet in October, the Queen in
1703. her speech took notice of the declaration by the Duke
The Com- of Savoy, and the treaty with Portugal, as circurastances
thewir"^ advantageous to the alliance. She told thera, that al-
^onli°^ though no provision was raade for the expedition to Lis-
eonformity. bou, and the augracutation of the land-forces, the funds

ANNE. 447

CHAP. vni.

had answered so well, and the produce of prizes been
so considerable, that the public had not run in debt by
those additional services : that she had contributed out 1703,
of her own revenue to the support of the circle of
Suabia, whose firra adherence to the interest of the
alUes deserved her seasonable assistance. She said, she
would not engage in any unnecessary expense of her
own, that she might have the more to spare towards the
ease of her subjects. She recommended despatch and
union, and earnestly exhorted them to avoid any heats
or divisions that might give encouragement to the com
mon enemies of the church and state. Notwithstand
ing this admonition, and the addresses of both Houses,
in which they proraised to avoid all divisions, a raotion
was raade in the House of Coramons for renewing the
bill against occasional conformity, and carried by a
great majority. In the new draft, however, the penal
ties were lowered, and the severest clauses mitigated.
As the court no longer interested itself in the success
of this measure, the House was pretty equally divided
with respect to the speakers, and the debates on each
side were raaintained with equal spirit and ability : at
length it passed and was sent up to the Lords, who
handled it still raore severely. It was opposed by a sraall
raajority of the bishops, aud particularly by Burnet of
Sarura, who declairaed against it, as a scherae of the
Papists to set the church and Protestants at variance.
It was successively attacked by the Duke of Devon
shire, the Earl of Perabroke, the Lords Haversham,
Mohun, Ferrars, and Wharton. Prince George of
Denmark absented hiraself frora the House ; and the
question being put for a second reading, it was carried
in the negative; yet the Duke of Marlborough and
Lord Godolphin entered their dissent against its being
rejected, though the former had positively declared,
that he thought the bill unseasonable. The Comraons
having perused a copy of the treaty with Portugal,
voted forty thousand men, including five thousand ma
rines, for the sea service of the ensuing year ; and a
like number of land-forces, to act in conjunction with
the allies, besides the additional ten thousand: they
likewise resolved, that the proportion to be eraployed.

448 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, in Portugal should amount to eight thousand. Sums
' were granted for the maintenance of these great arraa-
1703. raents, as well as for the subsidies payable to her ma
jesty's allies, and funds appointed equal to the occa
sion. Then they assured the queen, in an address,
that they would provide for the support of such alliances
as she had raade, or should make, with the Duke of
Savoy.
Conspiracy At this pcriod the nation was alarmed by the detec-
b™'simou ^ tion of a conspiracy said to be hatched by the Jacobites
Frazer, of Scotlaud. Simou Frazcr, Lord Lovat, a raan of
' desperate enterprise, profound dissiraulation, abandoned
raorals, and ruined fortune, who had been outlawed for
having ravished a sister of the Marquis of Athol, was
the person to whom the plot seems to have owed its
origin. He repaired to the court of St. Germain's,
where he undertook to assemble a body of twelve thou
sand Highlanders to act in favour of the pretender, if
the court of France would assist them with a sraall re
inforceraent of troops, together with officers, arras,
araraunition, and money. The French king seeraed to
listen to the proposal ; but, as Frazer's character was
infamous, he doubted his veracity. He was, therefore,
sent back to Scotland with two other persons, who
were instructed to learn the strength and sentiraents
of the clans, and endeavour to engage sorae of the
nobility in the design of an insurrection. Frazer no
sooner returned, than he privately discovered the whole
transaction to the Duke of Queensberry, and undertook
to raake hira acquainted with the whole correspondence
between the pretender and the Jacobites. In conse
quence of this service he was provided with a pass, to
secure hira frora all prosecution ; and raade a progress
through the Highlands to sound the inclinations of the
chieftains. Before he set out on this circuit, he de
livered to the duke a letter from the queen-dowager at
St. Germain's, directed to the Marquis of Athol ; it
was couched in general terras, and superscribed in a
different character ; so that, in all probability, Frazer
had forged the direction, with a view to ruin the raar
quis, who had prosecuted hira for the injury done to
his sister. He proposed a second journey to France,

ANNE. 449
where he should be able to discover other more material 9^jf/-
circurastances; and the Duke of Queensberry procured  !_
a pass for hira to go to Holland from the Earl of Not- 1703.
tingham, thought it was expedited under a borrowed
name. The duke had coraraunicated his discovery to
the queen, Arithout disclosing his narae, which he de
sired might be concealed: her majesty believed the
particulars, which were confirmed by her spies at Paris,
as well as by the evidence of Sir John Maclean, who
had lately been conveyed from France to England in
an open boat, and apprehended at Folkstone. This
gentleraan pretended at first, that his intention was to
go through England to his own country, in order to
take the benefit of the queen's pardon ; and this, in all
probability, was his real design ; but being given to un
derstand that he would be treated in England as a
traitor, unless he should merit forgiveness by raaking
iraportant discoveries, he related all he knew of the
proposed insurrection. From his inforraations the
rainistry gave directions for apprehending one Keith,
whose uncle had accorapanied Fraser frora France, and
knew all the intrigues of the court of St. Gerraain's.
He declared, that there was no other design on foot,
except that of paving the Avay for the pretender's as
cending the throne after the queen's decease. Fergu
son, that veteran conspirator, affirraed that Fraser had
been eraployed by the Duke of Queensberry to decoy
some persons whom he hated into a conspiracy, that he
might have an opportunity to effect their ruin, and by
the discovery establish his own credit, which began to
totter. Perhaps there was too rauch reason for this
imputation. Among those who were seized at this
time was a gentleman of the name of Lindsay, who had
been under-secretary to the Earl of Middleton. He
had returned from France to Scotland, in order to take
the benefit of the queen's pardon, under the shelter of
which he came to England, thinking hiraself secure
from prosecution. He protested he knew of no designs
against the queen or her government ; and that he did
not believe she would ever receive the least injury or
molestation from the court of St. Germain's. The
House of Lords having received intimation of this con-
VOL. I. G G

450 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, spiracy, resolved, that a coramittee should be appointed
^"^" to examine into the particulars ; and ordered, that Sir
1703. John Maclean should be next day brought to their
House. The queen, who was far from being pleased
with this instance of their officious interposition, gave
them to understand by message, that she thought it
would be inconvenient to change the method of exa
mination already begun ; and that she would in a short
time inform the House of the whole affair. On the
seventeenth day of December the queen went to the
House of Peers, and having passed the bill for the
land-tax, made a speech to both Houses, in which she
declared, that she had unquestionable information of ill
practices and designs carried on by the emissaries of
France in Scotland. The Lords persisting in their re
solution to bring the inquiry into their oavu House, chose
their select committee by ballot ; and, in an address,
thanked her majesty for the information she had been
pleased to communicate.
The Lords The Commous taking it for granted that the queen
monsu-ance" ^^^s disobUged at theso proceedings of the Upper House,
to the which, indeed, implied an insult upon her ministry, if
queen. ^^^ upou lierself, presented an address, declaring them
selves surprised to find, that when persons suspected of
treasonable practices were taken into custody by her
majesty's messengers, in order to be exarained, the
Lords, in violation of the known laws of the land, had
wrested them out of her hands, and arrogated the exa
mination solely to themselves ; so that a due inquiry
into the evil practices and designs against her raajesty's
person and government might, in a great raeasure, be
obstructed. They earnestly desired that she would
suffer no diminution of the prerogative ; and they as
sured her they would, to the utmost of their power, sup
port her in the exercise of it at home, as well as in
asserting it against all iuA^asions whatsoever. The queen
thanked them for their concern and assurances ; and
was not ill pleased at the nature of the address, though
the charge against the Peers was not strictly true ; for
there were many instances of their having assumed such
a right of inquiry. The Upper House deeply resented
the accusation. They declared that, by the known

ANNE. 451
laws and customs of Parliament, they had an undoubted ^".f^-
right to take examinations of persons charged with
crirainal matters, whether those persons were or were 1703.
not in custody. They resolved, that the address of the
Commons was unparliamentary, groundless, without
precedent, highly injurious to the House of Peers,
tending to interrupt the good correspondence between
the two Houses, to create an ill opinion in her majesty
of the House of Peers, of dangerous consequence to
the liberties of the people, the constitution of the king
dora, and privileges of Parliaraent. They presented a
long reraonstrance to the queen, justifying their oavu
conduct, explaining the steps they had taken, recrimi
nating upon the Comraons, and expressing the most
fervent zeal, duty, and affection to her majesty. In her
answer to this representation, which was drawn up with
elegance, propriety, and precision, she professed her
sorrow for the misunderstanding which had happened
between the two Houses of Parliament, and thanked
thera for the concern they had expressed for the rights
of the crown and the prerogative ; which she should
never exert so willingly as for the good of her subjects,
and the protection of their liberties.
Among other persons seized on the coast of Sussex, The Com-
on their landing frora France, was one Boucher, who ™vote?rfa-
had been aide-de-carap to the Duke of Berwick. This ™"^ °^ *e
raan, when examined, denied all knowledge of any tingham.° '
conspiracy : he said that, being weary of living so long
abroad, and having raade sorae unsuccessful atterapts
to obtain a pass, he had chosen rather to cast hiraself
on the queen's mercy than to remain longer in exile
from his native country. He was tried and condemned
for high treason, yet continued to declare hiraself ig
norant of the plot. He proved, that in the war of Ire
land, as well as in Flanders, he had treated the English
prisoners with great humanity. The Lords desisted
from the prosecution ; he obtained a reprieve, and died
in Newgate. On the twenty-ninth day of January the
Earl of Nottingham told the House, that the queen had
coraraanded hira to lay before them the papers contain
ing all the particulars hitherto discovered of the con
spiracy in Scotland ; but that there was one circum-
gg2

452

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.
VIII.
1703.

Second re
raonstrance
of the
Lords.

stance which could not yet be properly communicated,
without running the risk of preventing a discovery of
greater importance. They forthwith drew up and pre
sented an address, desiring that all the papers might be
imraediately submitted to their inspection. The queen
said she did not expect to be pressed in this manner im
mediately after the declaration she had made ; but in a
few days the Earl of Nottinghara deUvered the papers,
sealed, to the House, and all the Lords were sura
raoned to attend on the eighth day of February, that
they might be opened and perused. Nottingham was
suspected of a design to stifle the conspiracy. Com
plaint was made in the House of Coraraons that he had
discharged an officer belonging to the late King James,
Avho had been seized by the governor of Berwick. A
warm debate ensued, and at length ended in a resolve,
that the Earl of Nottingham, one of her majesty's
principal secretaries of state, for his great ability and
diligence in the execution of his office, for his un
questionable fidelity to the queen and her government,
and for his steady adherence to the church of England
as by law established, highly raerited the trust her ma
jesty had reposed in him. They ordered the speaker
to present this resolution to the queen, who said she
was glad to find them so well satisfied A^dth the Earl of
Nottingham, who Avas trusted by her in so consider
able an office. They perused the examinations of the
witnesses which were laid before thera, without passing
judgment, or offering advice on the subject ; but they
thanked her majesty for having comraunicated those
particulars, as well as for her wisdom and care of the
nation. WhUe the Lords proceeded with uncommon
eagerness in their inquiry, the Lower House, in an
other address, renewed their complaints against the con
duct of the Peers, which they still affirmed was without
a precedent. But this was the language of irritated fac
tion, by which indeed both sides were equally actuated.
The select committee of the Lords prosecuted the
inquiry, and founded their report chiefly on the con
fession of Sir John Maclean, who owned that the court
of St. Germain's had listened to Lovat's proposal ; that
several councils had been held at the pretender's court

ANNE. 453
on the subject of an invasion ; and that persons were ^T^iff'
sent over to sound some of the nobility in Scotland  '. 
But the nature of their private correspondence and ne- 1703.
gotiation could iiot be discovered. Keith had tampered
with his uncle to disclose the whole secret ; and this was
the circumstance which the queen declined imparting
to the Lords, until' she should know the success of his
endeavours, which proved ineffectual. The uncle stood
aloof; and the ministry did not heartily engage in the
inquiry. The House of Lords having finished these
examinations, and being warmed with violent debates,
voted, that there had been dangerous plots between
sorae persons in Scotland and the courts of France and
St. Germain's ; and, that the encouragement for this
plotting arose from the not settling the succession to
the crown of Scotland in the house of Hanover. These
votes were signified to the queen in an address ; and
they proraised, that when the succession should be thus
settled, they would endeavour to proraote the union of
the two kingdoras upon just and reasonable terras.
Then they coraposed another representation, in answer
to the second address of the Coraraons touching their
proceedings. They charged the Lower House with
want of zeal in the whole progress of this inquiry.
They produced a great nuraber of precedents, to prove
that their conduct had been regular and parliaraentary ;
and they, in their turn, accused the Coraraons of par
tiality and injustice in vacating legal elections. The
queen, in answer to this reraonstrance, said, she looked
upon any raisunderstanding between the two Houses as
a very great raisfortune to the kingdora ; and that she
should never orait any thing in her power to prevent
all occasions of thera for the future.
The Lords and Coramons, animated by such opposite Further dis-
Dutcs be—
principles, seized every opportunity of thwarting each tween the
other. An action having been brought by one Matthew tw° Houses.
Ashby against WUUara White, and the other constables
of Aylesbury, for having denied hira the privilege of
voting in the last election, the cause was tried at the
assizes, and the constables were cast with daraages. But
an order was given in the Queen's Bench to quash
all the proceedings, since no action had ever been

454 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, brought on that account. The cause being raoved by
^"^' writ of error into the House of Lords, was argued with

1703. great warrath : at length it was carried by a great raa
jority, that the order of the Queen's Bench should be
set aside, and judgraent pronounced according to the
verdict given at the assizes. The Coraraons considered
these proceedings as encroaching on their privileges.
They passed five different resolutions, iraporting that
the Coraraons of England in Parliaraent assembled had
the sole right to examine and determine all matters re
lating to the right of election of their own raerabers :
that the practice of determining the qualifications of
electors in any court of law would expose all mayors,
baiUffs, and returning officers, to a multiplicity of vexa
tious suits, and insupportable expenses, and subject
them to different and independent jurisdictions, as well
as to inconsistent deterrainations in the sarae case,
without relief : that Matthew Ashby was guUty of a
breach of privilege, as were all attorneys, solicitors,
counsellors, and seijeants at law, soliciting, prosecuting,
or pleading in any case of the sarae nature. These
resolutions, signed by the clerk, were fixed upon the
gate of Westminster-hall. On the other hand, the
Lords appointed a coraraittee to draw up a state of the
case ; and, upon their report, resolved, that every person
being wilfully hindered to exercise his right of voting,
raight raaintain an action in the queen's courts against
the officer by whora his vote should be refused, to assert
his right, and recover daraages for the injury : that an
assertion to the contrary was destructive of the property
of the subjects, against the freedom of elections, and
manifestly tended to the encouragement of partiaUty
and corruption : that the declaring of Matthew Ashby
guilty of a breach of privilege of the House of Cora
mons Avas an unprecedented attemptupon the judicature
of Parliaraent, and an atterapt to subject the law of
England to the votes of the House of Comraons.
Copies of the case, and these resolutions, were sent by
the lord-keeper to all the sheriffs of England, to be
circulated through all the boroughs of their respective
counties. On the seventh day of February, the queen ordered

ANNE. 455

secretary Hedges to tell the House of Coraraons, that ^y^^[-
she had remitted the arrears of the tenths to the poor .

clergy : that she would grant her whole revenue arising 1703.
out ofthe first-fruits and tenths, as far as it should become ^^ J"Jl^"
free fi-ora incurabrance, as an augmentation of their first-fruits
raaintenance ; that if the House of Coraraons could find f"*!,*® .,
' . . tenthstothe
any method by which her intentions to the poor clergy poor clergy.
might be raade raore effectual, it would be an advantage
to the public, and acceptable to her raajesty. The
Coraraons imraediately brought in a bill, enabling her to
alienate this branch of the revenue, and create a corpo
ration by charter, to direct the application of it to the
uses proposed : they likewise repealed the statute of
mortraain, so far as to allow all raen to bequeath by
will, or grant by deed, any sura they should think fit to
give towards the augraentation of benefices. Addresses
of thanks and acknowledgraent frora all the clergy of
England were presented to the queen for her gracious
bounty; but very little regard was paid to Burnet,
bishop of Sarura, although the queen declared that
prelate author of the project. He AA^as generally hated,
either as a Scot, a low-churchraan, or a raeddling
partisan. In March an inquiry into the condition of the navy inquiry
was begun in the House of Lords. They desired the Iffiarr^
queen, in an address, to give speedy and effectual orders
that a number of ships sufficient for the home service
should be equipped and raanned with all possible ex
pedition. They resolved, that Adrairal Graydon's not
attacking the four French ships in the channel had
been a prejudice to the queen's service, and a disgrace
to the nation ; that his pressing men in Jamaica, and his
severity towards raasters of raerchant vessels and trans
ports, had been a great discourageraent to the inhabit
ants of that island, as well as prejudicial to her raa
jesty's service ; and they presented an address against
hira, in consequence of which he was dismissed. They
examined the accounts of the Earl of Orford, against
which great clamour had been raised ; and taking cog
nizance of the remarks raade by the coraraissioners of
the public accounts, found them false in fact, ill-
grounded, and of no importance. The Commons be-

456 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, sought the queen to order a prosecution on account of
' ill practices in the Earl of Ranelagh's office ; and they
1703. sent up to the Lords a bill for continuing the cora
raission on the public accounts. Some alterations were
made in the Upper House, especially in the noraination
of coramissioners ; but these were rejected by the Com
raons. The Peers adhering to their araendraents, the
bill dropped, and the coraraission expired. No other
bill of any consequence passed in this session, except
an act for raising recruits, which erapowered justices
of the peace to irapress idle persons for soldiers and
marines. On the third day of April the queen went to
the House of Peers, and having made a short speech on
the usual topics of acknowledgment, unity, and mode
ration, prorogued the Parliament to the fourth day of
July. The division still continued between the two
Houses of Convocation ; so that nothing of moment
was transacted in that assembly, except their address
to the queen upon her granting the first-fruits and
tenths for the augmentation of sraall benefices. At the
same time, the Lower House sent their prolocutor Arith
a deputation to wait upon the speaker of the House of
Commons, to return their thanks to that honourable
House for having espoused the interest of the clergy ;
and to assure thera that the Convocation would pursue
such methods as might best conduce to the support,
honour, interest, and security ofthe church as now by law
established. They sent up to the archbishop and pre
lates divers representations, containing coraplaints, and
proposing canons and articles of reforraation ; but very
little regard was paid to their reraonstrances.
Trial of About this period the Earl of Nottinghara, after
mdsay. l^^y^^g ineffectually pressed the queen to discard the
Dukes of Soraerset and Devonshire, resigned the seals.
The Earl of Jersey and Sir Edward Seyraour were dis
missed : the Earl of Kent was appointed chamberlain,
Harley secretary of state, and Hemy St. John secre
tary of war. The discovery of the Scottish conspiracy
was no sooner known in France, than Louis ordered
Frazer to be imprisoned in the Bastile. In England,
Lindsay being sentenced to die, for having corre
sponded with France, was given to understand that he

ANNE. 457
had no mercy to expect, unless he would discover the ^y^f^'
conspiracy. He persisted in denying all knowledge of.

any such conspiracy ; and scorned to save his life by 1703-
giving false information. In order to intimidate him
into a confession, the mimstry ordered hira to be con
veyed to Tyburn, where he still rejected Ufe upon the
terras proposed: then he was carried back to New
gate, where he reraained some years : at length he was
banished, and died of hunger in Holland. The rainis
ters had been so lukewarm and languid in the investi
gation of the Scottish conspiracy, that the whigs loudly
exclaimed against thera as disguised Jacobites, and even
whispered insinuations, iraplying, that the queen her
self had a secret bias of sisterly affection for the court
of St. Gerraain's. What seemed to confirra this allega
tion, was the disgrace of the Duke of Queensberry, who
had exerted hiraself with reraarkable zeal in the de
tection ; but the decline of his interest in Scotland was
the real cause of his being laid aside at this juncture.
The design of the court was to procure in the Scot- J|J^ gjffjjg^
tish Parliaraent the noraination of a successor to the Parliament.
crown, and a supply for the forces, which could not be
obtained in the preceding session. Secretary Johnston,
in concert with the Marquis of Tweeddale, undertook
to carry these points, in return for certain liraitations S"t"^*'
on the successor, to which her raajesty agreed. The q! Anne.
marquis was appointed comraissioner. The office of ^^"i"'-
lord-register was bestowed upon Johnston : and the Lockhart.
Parliaraent met on the sixth day of July. The queen ^"^^^'
in her letter expressed her concern, that these divisions Lives of
should have risen to such a height, as to encourage the rait.'^'^'"''
eneraies of the nation to eraploy their eraissaries for de- Voitaire.
bauching her good subjects frora their allegiance. She Europe."^
declared her resolution to grant whatever could in rea- History of
son be demanded for quieting the minds of the people. of^Mari-^
She told them she had empowered the Marquis of borough.
Tweeddale to give unquestionable proofs ofher determi
nation to maintain the government in church and state,
as by law established in that kingdora ; to consent to
such laws as should be found wanting for the further
security of both, and for preventing all encroachments
for the future. She earnestly exhorted them to settle An. 1704.

458 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the succession in the protestant line, as a step absolutely
^"^- necessary for their own peace and happiness, the quiet
1704. and security of all her dorainions, the reputation of her
affairs abroad, and the iraproveraent of the protestant
interest through all Europe. She declared, that she
had authorized the coramissioner to give the royal as
sent to whatever could be reasonably demanded, and
was in her power to grant, for securing the sovereignty
and liberties of that her ancient kingdom. The re
maining part of the letter turned upon the necessity of
their granting a supply, the discouragement of vice,
the encouragement of comraerce, and the usual recora-
raendation of moderation and unanimity.
Violent op- The Duke of Harailton presented a resolve, that the
the'mi- '" Parliament would not name a successor to the crown,
nistry in nntU the Scots should have concluded a previous treaty
dom. ™^" with England, in relation to commerce and other con
cerns. This raotion produced a warm debate, in the
course of which Fletcher of Saltoun expatiated upon the
hardships and raiseries which the Scots had sustained
since the union of the two crowns under one sovereign,
and the impossibility of bettering their condition, unless
they should take care to anticipate any design that
tended to a continuation ofthe same calamities. Another
resolve was produced by the Earl of Rothes, importing,
that the Parliament should proceed to raake such limita
tions and conditions of the government as might be
judged proper for rectifying the constitution ; for vin
dicating and securing the sovereignty and independency
of the nation ; and that then Parliament would take
into consideration the other resolve offered by the Duke
of Hamilton, for a treaty previous to the noraination of
a successor. This proposal was seconded by the court
party, and violent heats ensued. At length, Sir Jaraes
Falconer, of Phesdo, offered an expedient, which neither
party could refiise with any show of raoderation. He
suggested a resolve, that the Parliaraent would not pro
ceed to the noraination of a successor until the previous
treaty with England should be discussed ; and that it
would raake the necessary liraitations and conditions of
governraent before the successor should be noraiuated.
This joint resolve, being put to the vote, was carried by

ANNE. 459

a gi'eat majority. The treaty with England was neg- chap.
lected, and the affair of the succession consequently .

postponed. The Duke of Athol raoved, that her raa- 1704.
jesty should be desired to send down the witnesses and
all the papers relating to the conspiracy, that, after due
exaraination, those who were unjustly accused raight be
vindicated, and the guilty punished according to their
deraerits. The coramissioner declared, that he had
already wTitten, and would write again, to the queen on
that subject. The intention of the cavaliers was to con
vict the Duke of Queensberry of raalice and calurany in
the prosecution of that affair, that they raight wreak
their vengeance upon hira for that instance of his ani
mosity, as well as for his having deserted thera in the
forraer session. He found raeans, however, to persuade
the queen, that such an inquiry would not only protract
the session, but also divert thera frora the settleraent of
the succession, and raise such a ferraent as might be
productive of tragical consequences. Alarraed at these
suggestions, she resolved to prevent the examination ;
and gave no answer to the repeated applications raade
by her Parliaraent and rainisters. Meanwhile the Duke
of Queensberry appeased his eneraies in Scotland, by
directing all his friends to join iu the opposition.
The Duke of Harailton again raoved, that the Par- Their Par
liaraent should proceed to the liraitations, and narae pass the
coraraissioners to treat with England, previous to all*°'.°^^"
other business, except an act for a land-tax of two
raonths, necessary for the iraraediate subsistence of the
forces. The Earl of Marchraont proposed an act to ex
clude all popish successors; but this was warraly opposed,
as unseasonable, by Harailton and his party. A bill of
supply being offered by the Lord Justice Clerk, the
cavaliers tacked to it great part of the act of security,
to which the royal assent had been refused in the former
session. Violent debates arose ; so that the House
was filled with rage and tumult. The national spirit of
independence had been wrought up to a dangerous
pitch of enthusiasm. The streets were crowded with
people of all ranks, exclaiming against English in
fluence ; and threatening to sacrifice as traitors to their
country all who should embrace measures that seemed

460 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, to favour a foreign interest. The coramissioner and his
' friends were confounded and appalled. Finding it ira-
1704. possible to stera the torrent, he, with the concurrence
of the other rainisters, wrote a letter to the queen,
representing the uncorafortable situation of affairs, and
advising her raajesty to pass the bill, encumbered as it
was with the act of security. Lord Godolphin, on
whose council she chiefly relied, found himself involved
in great perplexity. The tories had devoted him to de
struction. He foresaw that the queen's concession to the
Scots in an affair of such consequence would furnish
his enemies with a plausible pretence to arraign the con
duct of her minister ; but he chose to run that risk,
rather than see the array disbanded for want of a supply,
and the kingdom left exposed to an invasion. He,
therefore, seconded the advice ofthe Scottish ministers;
and the queen authorized the comraissioner to pass the
bill that was depending. This act provided, that in case
of the queen's dying without issue, a Parliament should
immediately meet, and declare the successor to the
crown, different from the person possessing the thi-one of
England, unless before that period a settlement should
be made in Parliament of the rights and liberties of the
nation, independent of English councils : by another
clause, they were empowered to arm and train the sub
jects, so as to put them in a posture of defence. The
Scottish Parliament having, by a laudable exertion of
spirit, obtained this act of security, granted the supply
without further hesitation ; but, not yet satisfied with
this sacrifice, they engaged in debates about the con
spiracy, and the proceedings of the House of Lords in
England, which they terraed an officious interraeddling
in their concerns, and an encroachraent upon the so
vereignty and independency of the nation. They drew
up an address to the queen, desiring that the evidence
and papers relating to the plot might be subjected to
their exaraination in the next session. Meanwhile, the
coraraissioner, dreading the further progress of such an
ungovernable ferocity, prorogued the Parharaent to the
seventh day of October. The act of security being
transraitted to England, copies of it were circulated by
the eneraies of Godolphin, who represented it as a mea-

ANNE. 461

sure of that rainister ; and the kingdora was filled with ^hap.
raurmurs and discontent. People openly declared that .

the two kingdoms were now separated by law, so as 1704.
never to be rejoined. Reports were spread, that great
quantities of arms had been conveyed to Scotland, and
that the natives were employed in preparations to invade
England. All the blame of these transactions was im
puted to Lord Godolphin, whora the tories determined
to attack, while the other party resolved to exert their
whole influence for his preservation ; yet, in all pro
bability, he owed his immediate support to the success
of his /friend the Duke of Marlborough.
Nothing could be raore deplorable than the situation Melancholy
to which the eraperor was reduced in the beginning of theem" °
the season. The raalecontents in Hungary had rendered p^?^'^
theraselves formidable by their success: the Elector of^ '"^'
Bavaria possessed all the places on the Danube, as far
as Passau, and even threatened the city of Vienna,
which must have been infallibly lost, had the Hungarians
and Bavarians acted in concert. By the advice of Prince
Eugene, the emperor implored the assistance of her
Britannic majesty ; and the Duke of Marlborough ex
plained to her the necessity of undertaking his relief.
This nobleman in the month of January had crossed
the sea to Holland, and concerted a scheme with the
deputies of the States-General for the operations of the
ensuing campaign. They agreed, that General Au
verquerque should lie upon the defensive with a small
body of troops iu the Netherlands ; while the main army
of the allies should act upon the Rhine, under the cora
raand of the Duke of Marlborough. Such was the pre
text under which this consuraraate general concealed
another plan, which was coraraunicated to a few only,
in whose discretion he could confide. It was approved
by the pensionary and some leading raen, who secured
its favourable reception with the States-General, when
it becarae necessary to impart the secret to that nu
merous asserably. In the raean tirae, the preparations
were made, on pretence of carrying the war to the
banks of the Moselle.
In the month of April, the duke, accompanied by his
brother General Churchill, Lieutenant-General Lumley,

462 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
VIII. ' the Earl of Orkney, and other officers of distinction,
 embarked for Holland, where he had a long conference
^704. f/f[t}^ a deputation of the states, concerning a proposal
of Marl" ^ of scuding a large army towards the Moselle. The
borough deputies of Zealand opposed this measure of sending
the head of their troops to such a distance so strenuously, that the
the allied duke was obUo'ed to tell thera, in plain terms, he had
sriDV into
Germany, received Orders to raarch thither with the British forces.
He accordingly asserabled his army at Maestricht ; and
on the eighth day of May began his march into Gerraany.
The French iraagined his intention was to begin the
carapaign with the siege of Traerbach, and penetrate
into France along the Moselle. In this persuasion they
sent a detachraent to that river ; and gave out that they
intended to invest Huy, a pretence to which the duke
paid no regard. He continued his route by Bedburgh,
Kerpenord, Kalsecken : he visited the fortifications of
Bonne, where he received certain advice that the re
cruits and reinforcements for the French army in Ba
varia had joined the elector at Villengen. He redoubled
his diligence, passed the Neckar on the third of June,
and halted at Ladenburgh ; from thence he wrote a
letter to the States-General, giving them to understand
that he had the queen's orders to march to the relief of
the empire ; and expressing his hope that they would
approve the design, and allow their troops to share the
honour of the expedition. By the return of a courier
he received their approbation, and full power to com
mand their forces. He then proceeded to Mildenheim,
where he was visited by Prince Eugene ; and these two
great raen, whose talents were congenial, immediately
contracted an intimacy of friendship. Next day Prince
Louis of Baden arrived in the carap at Great Hippach.
He told the duke, his grace was come to save the em
pire, and to give hira an opportunity of vindicating his
honour, which he knew was at the last stake in the
opinion of sorae people. The duke replied, he was corae
to learn of him how to serve the empire : that they must
be ignorant indeed, who did not know that the Prince
of Baden, when his health permitted him, had preserved
the empire, and extended its conquests.
Those three celebrated generals agreed that the two

ANNE. 463
arraies should join ; that the command should be alter- ^^jf/'-
nately vested in the duke and Prince Louis from day

to day; and that Prince Eugene should coraraand a 1704.
separate army on the Rhine. Prince Louis returned
to his army on the Danube : Prince Eugene set out for
Philipsburgh : the Duke of Marlborough being joined
by the iraperial array under Prince Louis of Baden, at
Wastertellen, prosecuted his raarch by Elchingen,
Gingen, and Landthaussen. On the first day of July
"he was in sight of the eneray's intrenchraents at Dillen-
gen, and encaraped with his right at Amerdighera, and
his left at Onderingen. Understanding that the Elector He defeats
of Bavaria had detached the best part of his infantry to va^ansat
reinforce the Count D'Arco, who was posted behind Scheiien-
strong lines at Schellenberg, near Donawert, he re- ^''^'
solved to attack their intrenchraents without delay.
On the second day of July he advanced towards the
eneray, and passed the river Werraitz : about five o'clock
in the afternoon the attack was begun by the English and
Dutch infantry, supported by the horse and dragoons.
They were very severely handled, and even obliged
to give way, when Prince Louis of Baden raarching up,
at the head of the imperialists, to another part of the
line, made a diversion in their favour. After an ob
stinate resistance they forced his intrenchments, and
the horse entering with the infantry, fell so furiously
upon the enemy, already disordered, that they were
routed with great slaughter. They fled vrith the ut
most trepidation to Donawert and the Danube, leaving
six thousand men dead on the field of battle. The
confederates took sixteen pieces of cannon, thirteen
pair of colours, vrith all the tents and baggage. Yet
the victory was dearly purchased : some thousands of
the allies were slain in the attack, including raany gal
lant officers, araong whora were the Generals Goor and
Beinheira, and Count Stirura was raortally wounded.
Next day the Bavarian garrison abandoned Donawert,
of which the confederates took imraediate possession,
while the elector passed the Danube in his raarch to the
river Leche, lest the victors should cut off his retreat to
his own country. The confederates having crossed the
Danube on several bridges of pontoons, a detachment

464 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP., yp-as sent to pass the Leche, and take post in the country
" of the elector, who had retired under the cannon of
1704. Augsburgh. The garrison of Neuburgh retiring to
Ingoldstadt, the place was secured by the confederates;
and the Count de Frize was detached with nine bat
talions and fifteen squadrons to invest the town of Rain.
Advice arriving frora Prince Eugene that the Mare
schals Villeroy and Tallard had passed the Rhine at
Fort Kehl, with an array of five-and-forty thousand
raen, to succour the Elector of Bavaria, the generals
of the allies immediately detached Prince Maximilian
of Hanover with thirty squadrons of horse, as a re
inforcement to the prince. In a few days Rain sur
rendered, and Aicha was taken by assault. The em
peror no sooner received a confirmation of the victory
of Schellenberg, than he wrote a letter of acknow
ledgraent to the Duke of Marlborough, and ordered
Count Wratislau to intimate his intention of investing
him with the title of prince of the erapire, which the
duke declined accepting, until the queen interposed
her authority at the desire of Leopold.
Fruitless The allies advanced within a league of Augsburgh,
wit1i°the°" and though they found the Elector of Bavaria too se-
Eiector of curcly posted under the cannon of that city to be dis-
Bavaria. iii ii., n
lodged or attacked with any prospect of success, they
encamped with Friedburgh in their centre, so as to cut
off all communication between him and his dominions.
The Duke of Marlborough having reduced hira to this
situation, proposed very advantageous terms of peace,
provided he would abandon the French interest, and
join the imperialists in Italy. His subjects, seeing them
selves at the mercy of the allies, pressed him to comply
with these offers rather than expose his country to ruin
and desolation. A negotiation was begun, and he seemed
ready to sign the articles, when hearing that Mareschal
Tallard had passed the Black Forest, to join hira with
a great body of forces, he declared, that since the King
of France had made such powerful efforts to support
him, he thought hiraself obliged in honour to continue
firra in the alliance. The generals of the allies were so
exasperated at this disappointment, that they sent out
detachments to ravage the country of Bavaria, as far as

ANNE. 465

Munich : upwards of three hundred towns, villages, and ^y^f^'
castles, were inhumanly destroyed, to the indelible dis

grace of those who countenanced and conducted such 1704.
barbarous practices. The elector, shocked at these brutal
proceedings, desired, in a letter to the Duke of Marl
borough, that a stop might be put to acts of violence
so opposite to true glory. The answer he received im
plied, that it was in his own power to put an end to
thera by a speedy accomraodation. Incensed at this
reply, he declared, that since they had obliged hira to
draw the sword, he would throw away the scabbard.
The duke and Prince Louis, finding it irapossible to
attack the elector in his strong carap, resolved to un
dertake the siege of Ingoldstadt, and for that purpose
passed the Paer near the town of Schrobbenhausen,
where they encaraped, Avith their left at Closterburgh.
On the fifth day of August the Elector of Bavaria
marched to Biberach, where he was joined by Tallard.
He resolved to pass the Danube at LaAvingen, to attack
Prince Eugene, who had followed the French array frora
the lines of Biehl, and lay encamped at Hochstadt. Next
day, however, he made a raotion that disappointed the
eneray. Nevertheless, they persisted in their design of
passing the Danube, and encaraping at Blenheim. The
allies resolved that Prince Louis should undertake the
siege of Ingoldstadt, whilst Prince Eugene and the duke
should observe the Elector of Bavaria. Advice being
received that he had actually crossed the Danube at
Lawingen, the Duke of Marlborough joined the forces
of Prince Eugene at the camp of Munster on the ele
venth day of August, Prince Louis having by this tirae
raarched off towards the place he intended to besiege.
Next day the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene
observed the posture of the eneray, who were advan
tageously posted on a hill near Hochstadt, their right
being covered by the Danube and the village of Blen
heim, their left by the village of Lutzengen, and their
front by a rivulet, the banks of which were steep, and
the bottora marshy.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, the generals re- The confe-
solved to attack thera iraraediately, rather than Ue taln^l^coml
inactive until their forage and provisions should be piete vic-
° '¦ tory at
VOL. I. H H Hochstadt.

466 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, consumed. They were, moreover, stimulated to this
'  hazardous enterprise by an intercepted letter to the
1704. Elector of Bavaria from Mareschal Villeroy, giving him
to understand that he had received orders to ravage the
country of Wirtemberg, and intercept all communica
tion between the Rhine and the allied army. The dis
positions being made for the attack, and the orders
communicated to the general officers, the forces ad
vanced into the plain on the thirteenth day of August,
and were ranged in order of battle. The cannonading
began about nine in the morning, and continued on
both sides till one in the afternoon. The French and
Bavarians amounted to about sixty thousand men.
Mareschal Tallard commanded on the right, and posted
seven-and-twenty battalions, with twelve squadrons, in
the villag-e of Blenheim, supposing that there the allies
would make their chief effort ; their left was conducted
by the' Elector of Bavaria, assisted by Marsin, a French
general of experience and capacity. The number of the
confederates did not exceed five-and-fifty thousand:
their right was under the direction of Prince Eugene,
and their left commanded by the Duke of Marlborough.
At noon the action was begun by a body of English and
Hessians under Major-General Wilkes, who having
passed the rivulet with difficulty, and filed off to the
left in the face of the enemy, attacked the village of
Blenheira with great vigour ; but were repulsed after
three successive attempts. MeauAvhile the troops in
the centre, and part of the right wing, passed the rivu
let on planks in different places ; and formed on the
other side without any molestation from the eneray.
At length, however, they were charged by the French
horse with such irapetuosity, and so tembly gaUed in
flank by the troops posted at Blenheira, that they feU
in disorder, and part of thera repassed the rivulet ; but
a reinforcement of dragoons coming up, the French
cavalry were broken in their turn, and driven to the very
edges of the viUage of Blenheim. The left wing of the
confederates being uoav completely forraed, ascended
the hill in a firni corapacted body, charging the enemy's
horse, which could no longer stand their ground, but
rallied several tiraes as they gave way. Tallard, in order

ANNE. 467
to raake a vigorous effort, ordered ten battaUons to fill ^^A^-
up the intervals of his cavalry. The duke, perceiving '
his design, sent three battalions of the troops of Zell to 1704.
sustain his horse. Nevertheless, the line was a little
disordered by the prodigious fire frora the French in
fantry, and even obliged to recoil about sixty paces ; but
the confederates advancing to the charge with redoubled
ardour, routed the French horse ; and their battalions
being thus abandoned, were cut in pieces. Tallard,
having rallied his broken cavalry behind some tents that
were still standing, resolved to draw off the troops he
had posted in the village of Blenheim, and sent an
aide-du-camp to Marsin, who was with the Elector of
Bavaria on the left, to desire he would face the con
federates with some troops to the right of the village
of Oberklau, so as to keep them in play, and favour
the retreat of the forces from Blenheira. That officer
assured hira, he was so far frora being in a condition to
spare troops, that he could hardly raaintain his ground.
The fate of the day was now more than half decided.
The French cavalry, being vigorously attacked in flank,
were totally defeated. Part of them endeavoured to
gain the bridge which they had thrown over the Danube
between Hochstadt and Blenheira ; but they were so
closely pursued, that those who escaped the slaughter
threw theraselves into the river, where they perished.
Tallard, being surrounded, was taken near a raill behind
the village of Sonderen, together with the Marquis de
Montperouz, general of horse, the Major-Generals de
Seppeville, de Silly, de la Valiere, and raany other of
ficers of distinction. Whilst these occurrences passed
on the left wing, Marsin's quarters at the village of
Oberklau, in the centre, were attacked by ten battalions,
under the Prince of Holsteinbeck, who passed the rivu
let with undaunted resolution ; but, before he could
forra his men on the other side, he was overpowered by
numbers, mortally wounded, and taken prisoner. His
battalions being supported by some Danish and Hano
verian cavalry, renewed the charge, and were again re
pulsed : at length the Duke of Marlborough in person
brought up some fresh squadrons from the body of re
serve, and corapelled the enemy to retire. By this tirae
H h2

468 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
c^jAP. Prince Eugene had obliged the left wing of the enemy
 '.  to give ground, after having surmounted a great num-
1704. ber of difficulties, sustained a very obstinate opposition,
and seen his cavalry, in which his chief strength seeraed
to lie, three times repulsed. The Duke of Marlborough
had no sooner defeated the right wing, than he made a
disposition to reinforce the prince, when he understood
from an aid-du-camp that his highness had no occasion
for assistance ; and that the elector, Avith Monsieur de
Marsin, had abandoned Oberklau and Lutzengen. They
Avere pursued as far as the villages of Morselingen and
Teissenhoven, from Avhence they retreated to Dillingen
and Lawingen. The confederates being now masters
of the field of battle, surrounded the A-illage of Blen
heim, in Avhich, as we have already observed, seven-and-
twenty battalions and tweh^e squadrons were posted.
These troops, seeing themselves cut off from all com
munication Avith the rest of their army, and despairing
of being able to force their Avay through the allies, capi
tulated about eight in the evening, laid do wn theu- arms,
delivered their colours and standards, and surrendered
themselves prisoners of war, on condition that the of
ficers shoLild not be rifled. This AA'as one of the most
glorious and complete victories that ever was obtained.
Ten thousand French and Bavarians were left dead on
the field of battle : the greater part of thirty squadrons
of horse and dragoons perished in the river Danube :
thirteen thousand were made prisoners : one hundred
pieces of cannon were taken, Avith twenty-four mor
tars, one hundred and twenty-nine colours, one hun
dred and seventy-one standards, seventeen pair of
kettle-drums, three thousand six hundred tents, four-
and-thirty coaches, three hundred laden mules, two
bridges of boats, fifteen pontoons, fifteen barrels and
eight casks filled with silver. Of the allies, about four
thousand five hundred men were killed, and about eight
thousand Avounded or taken. The loss of the battle was
imputed to two capital errors committed by Mareschal
TaUard; namely, his weakening the centre, by de
taching such a number of troops to the village of Blen
heim, and his suffering the confederates to pass the ri
vulet, and form unmolested. Certain it is, these cir-

ANNE. 469
cumstances contributed to the success of the Duke of chap.
Marlborough, Avho rode through the hottest of the .

fire with the calmest intrepidity, giving his orders Avith 1704.
that presence of mind and deliberation which were so
peculiar to his character. When he next day visited
Tallard, he told that general, he was sorry such a rais
fortune should happen personally to one for whora
he had a profound esteem. The mareschal congratu
lated him on having vanquished the best troops in the
world ; a corapliraent to which the duke replied, that
he thought his own the best troops in the world, seeing
they had conquered those upon whora the raareschal
had bestowed such an encoraiura.
The victorious generals having by this decisive stroke ps? °^
saved the house of Austria frora entire ruin, and en
tirely changed the face of affairs in the empire, sig
nified their opinion to Prince Louis of Baden, that it
would be for the advantage of the common cause to join
all their forces, and drive the French out of Germany,
rather than lose tirae at the siege of Ingoldstadt, Avhich
would surrender of course. This opinion Avas confirraed
by the conduct of the French garrison at Augsburg,
who quitted that place on the sixteenth day of August.
The raagistrates sent a deputation craving the protec
tion of the Duke of Marlborough, who forthwith or
dered a detachment to take possession of that important
city. The duke having sent Mareschal de Tallard
under a guard of dragoons to Franckfort, and disposed
of the other prisoners of distinction in the adjacent
places, encamped at SefiUingen, within half a league of
Ulra. Here he held a conference with the Princes
Eugene and Louis of Baden, in which they agreed,
that, as the eneray retreated towards the Rhine, the
confederate army should take the same route, excepting
three-and-twenty battalions and some squadrons, to be
left for the siege of Ulra, under General Thungen.
They began their march on the twenty-sixth day of
August, by different routes, to the general rendezvous at
Bruschal, near Philipsburgh. Then they resolved, that
Prince Louis of Baden should undertake the siege of
Landau, in order to secure the circle of Suabia from
the incursions of that garrison. Considering the con-

470 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, sternation that prevailed all over France, nothing could
" be more impolitic than this measure, which gave the
1704. enemy time for recollection, and recruiting their forces.
It was a proposal on which the Prince of Baden in
sisted with uncommon obstinacy. He was even sus
pected of corruption. He was jealous of the glory
which the Duke of Marlborough had acquired, and such
a bigoted papist, that he repined at the success of an
heretical general. On the twelfth day of September he
marched towards Landau with the troops destined for
the siege, and the Duke of Marlborough, with Prince
Eugene, encamped at Croon Weissenburgh, to cover
the enterprise. By this tirae Ulra had surrendered to
Thungen even before the trenches were opened. Ville
roy advanced with his array towards Landau, as if he
had intended to attack the confederates ; but retired
without having raade any attempt for the relief of the
place, which was defended with the most obstinate valour
till the twenty-third day of November, when the be
siegers having lodged theraselves on the counterscarp,
the breaches being practicable, and the dispositions
made for a general assault, the garrison capitulated upon
honourable conditions. The King of the Romans had
arrived in the camp, that he might have the credit of
taking the place, the command of which he bestowed on
the Count de Frize, who had before defended it Arith
equal courage and ability.
The Duke The next enterprise which the confederates under-
roughre-' took was the siege of Traerbach. The hereditary
E^land P""^^® "f Hesse-Cassel being intrusted with the direc
tion of the attacks, invested the castle in the beginning
of November. Though it was strongly fortified, and
well defended, he carried on his operations wnth such
spirit and assiduity, that in about six weeks the garri
son surrendered the place on honourable terms. In
the mean tirae the Duke of Marlborough repaired to
Berlin, where he negotiated for a reinforceraent of
eight thousand Prussians, to serve under Prince Eugene
in Italy during the next campaign. Thence he pro
ceeded to the court of Hanover, where, as in all other
places, he was received with particular marks of distinc
tion. When he arrived at the Hague, he was con-

ANNE. 471
gratulated by the States-General on his victories at ^^A^-
Schellenberg and Blenheira, and as rauch considered in

Holland as if he had been actually stadtholder. He 1704.
had received a second letter from the emperor, couched
in the warmest terras of acknowledgraent, and was de
clared prince of the erapire. In Deceraber he erabarked
for England, where he found the people in a transport
of joy, and was welcoraed as a hero who had retrieved
the glory of the nation.
In Flanders, nothing of raoraent was executed, ex- ^^^ "^."'^
cept the borabardraent of Bruges and Naraur by Baron feren"parts
Spaar, with nine thousand Dutch troops ; and two at- °^ Europe.
terapts upon the French lines, which were actually pe
netrated by Auverquerque, though he was not able to
maintain the footing he had gained. The Elector of
Bavaria, who had retired to Brussels after his defeat,
forraed a scherae for surprising the Dutch general at
the end of the carapaign, and assembled all his troops
at Tirlemont ; but the French court, apprehensive of
his temerity, sent Villeroy to watch his conduct, and
prevent his hazarding an engagement, except with a
fair prospect of advantage. The mareschal, finding
him deterrained to give battle at all events, represented
the improbability of succeeding against an enemy so
advantageously posted, and the ill consequences of a
repulse; but, finding the elector deaf to all his re
raonstrances, he flatly refused to raarch, and produced
the king's order to avoid an engageraent. In Italy the
French raet with no opposition. The Duke of Savoy,
being unable to face the eneray in the field, was obliged
to lie inactive. He saw the Duke de Vendorae reduce
Vercelli and Ivrea, and undertake the siege of Verac,
while he posted his little array on the other side of the
Po, at Crescentino, where he had a bridge of corarau
nication, by which he supplied the place occasionaUy
with fresh troops and provisions. The place held out
five raonths, against all the efforts of the French ge
neral : at length, the communication being cut off, the
Duke of Savoy retired to Chivas. He bore his misfor
tunes with great equanimity, and told the English rai
nister, that though he was abandoned by the allies, he
Avould never abandon himself. The emperor had neg-

472 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
chap, lected Italy, that he might act with more vigour against
^"'' Ragotski and the Hungarian malecontents, over whora

1704. he obtained several advantages : notwithstanding which
they continued formidable, from their number, bravery,
and resolution. The ministers of the alUes pressed
Leopold to enter into a negotiation for a peace with
those rebels, and conferences were opened ; but he was
not sincerely disposed to an accommodation, and Ra
gotski aimed at the principality of Transylvania, which
the court of Vienna would not easily relinquish; The
emperor was not a little alarmed by a revolution at the
Ottoman Porte, until the new sultan despatched a
chiaus to Vienna, with an assurance that he would give
no assistance to the malecontents of Hungary. In Po
land, the diet being assembled by the cardinal-primate,
Stanislaus Lezinski, Palatine of Posnania, was elected
and proclaimed king, and recognized by Charles of
Sweden, who still maintained his army by contributions
in that country, more intent upon the ruin of Augustus
than upon the preservation of his own dominions ; for he
paid no regard to the progressof the Muscovites, who had
ravaged Livonia, reduced Narva, and made incursions
into Sweden. Augustus retreated iuto his Saxon do
minions, Avhich he impoverished in order to raise a
great army, vrith which he might return to Poland;
the pope espoused the interest of this new convert, so
far as to cite the cardinal-primate to appear at Rome,
and give an account of the share he had in the Polish
troubles. The Protestants of the Cenvennois, deriving
courage from despair, became so troublesome to the
government of France, that Louis Avas obliged to treat
them with lenity : he sent Mareschal Villars against
them with a fresh reinforcement ; but at the sarae time
furnished him Avith instructions to treat for an accom
raodation. This officer imraediately coraraenced a ne
gotiation with Cavalier, the chief of the revolters ; and
a formal treaty was concluded, by which they were in
dulged with liberty of conscience ; but these articles
were very ill observed by the French rainistry.
in™rtu^i ^^ Portugal, the interest of Kiug Charles wore a
or uga . ^^^^ melancholy aspect. When he arrived at Lisbon,
he found no preparations made for opening the cam-

ANNE. 473
paign. The Portuguese rainistry favoured the French ^y^f^'
in secret ; the people were averse to heretics ; the Duke " 
of Schomberg was on ill terms with Fagel, the Dutch 1704.
general : the Portuguese forces consisted of raw undis
ciplined peasants; and the French arabassador had
bought up the best horses in the kingdom, so that the
troopers could not be properly mounted. The King of
Portugal had proraised to enter Spain with Charles by
the raiddle of May ; but he was not ready till the be
ginning of June, Avhen they reached Santarera. By this
time they had published their respective manifestoes ;
Charles displaying his title to the crown of Spain, and
proraising pardon to all his subjects who should in three
raonths join his army ; and the King of Portugal de
claring, that his sole aim in taking- up arras was to re
store the liberty of the Spanish nation, oppressed by
the power of France, as Avell as to assert the right of
Charles to that monarchy. The present possessor, whom
they raentioned by the narae of the Duke of Anjou,
had already anticipated their invasion. His general,
the Duke of Berwick, entering Portugal, took the
town of Segura by stratagera. The g-overnor of Salva-
terra surrendered at discretion : Cebreros was reduced
without much opposition : Zebredo vA-as abandoned by
the inhabitants ; and the town of Lhana la Viella was
taken by assault. Portugal Avas at the same time in
vaded in different parts by the Marquis de Jeoffreville,
Prince Tserclaes de Tilly, and the Marquis de Villa-
darias. Two Dutch battalions were attacked and taken
by the Duke of Berwick at Sodreira Formosa. Then
he passed the Tagus, and joined Prince Tserclaes.
King Philip arriving in the army, invested Portalegre ;
and the garrison, including an English regiment of
foot, commanded by Colonel Stanhope, were made pri
soners of war. The next place he besieged was Castle
Davide, which met with the sarae fate. On the other
hand, the Marquis Das Minas, in order to raake a di
version, entered Spain with fifteen thousand men, took
Fuente Grimaldo, in Castile, by assault, defeated a
body of French and Spaniards coramanded by Don
Ronquillo, and made himself master of Manseinto.
The weather growing excessively hot, Philip sent his

474 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, troops into quarters of refreshment ; and the allies fol-
^"^" lowed his example. Duke Schomberg finding his ad-

1704. vice very little regarded by the Portuguese rainistry,
and seeing very little prospect of success, desired leave
to resign his command, which the queen bestowed upon
the Earl of Galway, who, with a reinforceraent of Eng
lish and Dutch troops, arrived at Lisbon on the thirtieth
day of July. About the latter end of Septeraber, the
two kings repaired to the carap near Alraeda, resolving
to invade Castile ; but they found the river Agueda so
well guarded by the Duke of Berwick, that they would
not attempt a passage. They, therefore, retired into
the territories of Portugal, and the army was put into
winter-quarters. The Spaniards were now so weak
ened, by detachraents sent with the Marquis de Villa-
darias towards Gibraltar, that the Duke of Berwick
could not execute any scheme of importance during
the reraaining part of the carapaign.
Sir George The arras of England were not less fortunate by sea
takes Gib- than they had been upon the Danube. Sir George
raltar. Rooke having landed King Charles at Lisbon, sent a
squadron to cruise off Cape Spartell, under the cora
mand of Rear-Admiral Dilkes, who, on the twelfth of
March, engaged and took three Spanish ships of war,
bound from St. Sebastian's to Cadiz. Rooke received
orders from the queen to sail to the relief of Nice and
Villa Franca, which were threatened with a siege by
the Duke de Vendome : at the same tirae he was
pressed by King Charles to execute a scheme upon
Barcelona, projected by the Prince of Hesse d'Arm
stadt, who declared his opinion, that the Catalonians
would declare for the house of Austria, as soon as
they should be assured of proper support and protection.
The ministry of England understanding that the French
were employed in equipping a strong squadron at Brest,
and judging it was destined to act in the Mediterra
nean, sent out Sir Cloudesley Shovel with a consider
able fleet, to watch the motions of the Brest squadron ;
and he was provided with instructions how to act, in
case it should be sailed to the Mediterranean. Mean
while, Sir George Rooke, in compUance Avith the en
treaties of King Charles, sailed with the transports

ANNE. 475
under his convoy to Barcelona, and on the eighteenth ^y.^F-
of May appeared before the city. Next day the troops "
were landed by the Prince of Hesse, to the nuraber of 1704.
two thousand, and the Dutch ketches bombarded the
place ; but by this time the govemor had secured the
chiefs of the Austrian party, and the people exhibiting
no raarks of attachraent to King Charles, the prince re-
erabarked his soldiers, frora an apprehension of their
being attacked and overpowered by superior nurabers.
On the sixteenth day of June, Sir George Rooke, being
joined by Sir Cloudesley Shovel, resolved to proceed
up the Mediterranean in quest of the French fleet,
which had sailed thither frora Brest, and which Rooke
had actually discovered, in the preceding raonth, on
their voyage to Toulon. On the seventeenth day of
July the adrairal called a council of war in the road of
Tetuan, when they resolved to make an atterapt upon
Gibraltar, which was but slenderly provided with a
garrison. Thither they sailed, and on the twenty-first
day of the month the Prince of Hesse landed on the
isthmus with eighteen hundred marines : then he sum
moned the governor to surrender, and was answered,
that the place would be defended to the last extremity.
Next day the admiral gave orders for cannonading the
town : perceiving that the eneray were driven from
their fortifications at the south mole-head, he com
manded Captain Whitaker to arra all the boats, and
assault that quarter. The Captains Hicks and Juraper,
who happened to be nearest the raole, immediately
manned their pinnaces, and entered the fortifications
sword in hand. The Spaniards sprung a mine, by
which two lieutenants, and about a hundred men, were
killed or wounded. Nevertheless, the two captains
took possession of a platform, and kept their ground
until they were sustained by Captain Whitaker, and the
rest of the seamen, who took by stoi-m a redoubt be
tween the raole and the town. Then the governor
capitulated ; and the Prince of Hesse entered the place,
amazed at the success of this attempt, considering the
strength of the fortifications, which raight have been
defended by fifty men against a numerous army.
A sufficient garrison being left with his highness.

476 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the adrairal returned to Tetuan, to take in wood and
. water ; and when he sailed, on the ninth day of Au-

1704. gust, he descried the French fleet, to which he gave
And worsts chaso with all the sail he could spread. On the thir-
flTet^nT*' teenth he carae up with it, as it lay in a line off Malaga
battle off ready to receive hira, to the number of two-and-fifty
^ ^^' great ships, and four-and-tAventy galleys, under the
command of the Count de Tholouse, High Admiral of
. France, with the inferior flags of the white and blue
divisions. The English fleet consisted of three-and-
fifty ships of the line, exclusive of frigates, but they
were inferior to the French in number of guns and
raen, as Avell as in weight of raetal, and altogether un
provided of galleys, frora which the enemy reaped great
advantage during the engagement. A little after ten
in the morning the battle began, with equal fury on
both sides, and continued to rage with doubtful success
till two in the afternoon, when the van of the French
gave Avay ; nevertheless, the fight was maintained till
night, when the enemy bore away to leeward. The
wind shifting before morning, the French gained the
weather-gage ; but they made no use of this advantage ;
for two successive days the English admiral endeavoured
to renew the engagement, which the Count de Tho
louse declined, and at last he disappeared. The loss
was pretty equal on both sides, though not a single ship
was taken or destroyed by either ; but the honour of
the day certainly remained Arith the English. Over
and above the disadvantages we have enumerated, the
bottoms of the British fleet were foul, and several large
ships had expended all their shot long before the battle
ceased : yet the enemy were so roughly handled, that
they did not venture another engageraent during the
whole war. The French king, in order to raise the
drooping spirits of his people, claimed the victory, and
published an account of the action, Avliich, at this dis
tance of time, plainly proves that he was reduced to the
raean shift of imposing upon his subjects by false and
partial representations. Among other exaggerations in
this detail, we find mention raade of mischief done to
French ships by English bombs : though nothing is
more certain than that there was not one bomb vessel in

ANNE. 477
the combined fleet. The French academy, actuated by ^hap.
a servile spirit of adulation, caused a medal to be struck "
on the occasion, which, instead of perpetuating the glory 1704.
of their prince, served only to transmit their own shame
to posterity. After the battle. Sir George Rooke sailed
to Gibraltar to refit, and leaving a squadron with Sir
John Leake, set sail for England on the twenty-fourth
day of August. He arrived in September, and was re
ceived by the ministry, and the people in general, with
those raarks of esteera and veneration which were due
to his long services and signal success ; but he was still
persecuted with a spirit of envy and detraction. Philip,
King of Spain, alarraed at the reduction of Gibraltar,
sent the Marquis de Villadarias with an array to retake
it. The siege lasted four months, during which the
Prince of Hesse exhibited many shining proofs of cou
rage and ability. The place was supplied with raen
and provisions by convoys frora Lisbon, until Monsieur
de Pointis put a stop to that communication, by enter
ing the bay with a strong squadron, but he was obUged
to retire at the approach of Sir John Leake and Adrairal
Vanderdussen ; and the Marquis de Villadarias, having
made little or no progress on land, thought proper to
abandon the enterprise.
The Parliament of England meeting on the twenty- Session of
Parlianient
ninth day of October, the queen, in her speech, ob- in England.
served, thatthe great and reraarkable success with which
God had blessed her arms produced unanimous joy and
satisfaction through all parts of the kingdom ; and that
a timely improvement of the present advantages would
enable her to procure a lasting foundation of security
for England, as well as a firra support for the liberty of
Europe. She declared her intention was to be kind
and indulgent to all her subjects. She expressed her
hope that they would do nothing to endanger the loss
of this opportunity ; and that there would be no con
tention among them, but an emulation to proraote the
public welfare. Congratulatory addresses were voted
and presented by both Houses. They were equal in
their professions of duty and affection to the queen ;
but the addresses irabibed a very different colour frora
the different factions by Avhich the two Houses Avere

478 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, influenced. The Lords congratulated her on the great
and glorious success of her arras under the command

1704. of the Duke of Marlborough, without deigning to raen
tion Sir George Rooke, who had defeated the French
navy at sea, and added the iraportant fortress of Gib
raltar to the British conquests. On the other hand, the
Coramons affected to mention the battle of Blenheira,
and Rooke's naval victory, as events of equal glory and
iraportance. However they might be warped by pre
judice against individuals, they did not suffer the war
to languish for want of supplies. Having taken into
consideration the services of the army and navy, they
voted that the queen should be desired to bestow her
bounty on the seamen and land-forces who had behaved
themselves so gallantly. Then they deliberated upon
the different articles of national expense, and granted
four millions six hundred and seventy thousand nine
hundred and thirty-one pounds for the occasions of the
ensuing year, to be raised by a land-tax, by the sale of
annuities, and other expedients. These raeasures were
taken with such expedition, that the land-tax received
the royal assent on the ninth day of December ; when
the queen, in a short speech, thanked the Commons for
their despatch, which she considered a sure pledge of
their affection.
An act of The high-churcli party took this occasion to promote
passed""" the bill against occasional conforraity, which was reviv^ed
against the and brought into the House on a new model, by Mr.
William Bromley, who moved that it might be tacked
to the land-tax bill, and sent up to the Lords for their
concurrence. The court no longer espoused this raea
sure, and the violent party was weakened by defection.
After a warra and tedious debate, the tack was rejected
by a great majority. The bill, hoAvever, passed the
House of Comraons, and was sent up to the Lords on
the fourteenth day of Deceraber, Avhen it would hardly
have excited a debate, had not the queen been present,
and desirous of hearing what could be said on both
sides of the question. For the information and satisfac
tion of her majesty the subject was again discussed, and
all the arguraents being repeated, the bill was rejected by
a majority of one-and-twenty voices. The next subject

ANNE. 479
on which the House of Lords eraployed their attention chap.
was the late conduct of the Scottish Parliament. The "
Lord Haversham in a set speech observed, that the 1704.
settlement of the succession in Scotland had been post
poned, partly because the rainistry for that kingdom
were weak and divided ; partly from a received opinion
that the succession was never sincerely and cordially
intended by those who managed the affairs of Scotland
in the cabinet council. He expatiated on the bad con
sequences that might attend the act of security, which
he styled a bill of exclusion ; and particularly raentioned
that clause by which the heritors and boroughs were
ordained to exercise their fencible raen every month.
He said the nobility and gentry of Scotland were as
learned and brave as any nation in Europe, and gene
rally discontented ; that the comraon people were very
nuraerous, very stout, and very poor ; and he asked who
was the man that could tell what such a raultitude, so
armed, and so disciplined, might do under such leaders,
could opportunities suit their intention. He recora
raended these circumstances to the consideration of the
House, and concluded with these words of Lord Bacon,
" Let raen beware how they neglect or suffer raatter of
troubles to be prepared ; for no man can forbid the
sparks that may set all on fire." The Lords resolved
to consider these subjects on the twenty-ninth day of
Noveraber, when the queen repaired to the House of
Peers to hear the debates, and by her presence mode
rate the heat of both parties. The Earl of Nottingham
reflected so severely on the meraory of King William,
that he would have been sent to the Tower, had not the
Lords declined any such raotion, out of respect to her
majesty. After much declamation on the Scottish act
of security, the grand coraraittee of the Peers, by the
advice of Lord Wharton, resolved that the queen should
be enabled by act of Parliaraent on the part of England,
to narae coraraissioners to treat about an union vrith
Scotland, provided that the Parliament of Scotland
should first appoint comraissioners on their part for the
sarae purpose : that no Scotsraen should enjoy the pri
vileges of Englishraen, except such as were settled in
England, Ireland, and the plantations, and such as

480 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, -^ygj-e or might be in the sea or land service, until an
' union could be effected, or the succession settled as in
1704. England : that the traffic by cattle from Scotland to
England should be prevented : that the lord adrairal
should issue orders for taking such vessels as should be
found trading frora Scotland to France, or to the ports
of any of her majesty's enemies ; and that care should
be taken to prevent the exjiortation of English wool
into Scotland. On these resolutions a bill was formed.
for an entire union, and passed the House on the twen
tieth day of Deceraber. The Lords presented an ad
dress to the queen, representing that they had duly
weighed the dangerous and pernicious effects that were
likely to be produced by divers acts of Parliaraent lately
passed in Scotland : that they Avere of opinion the safety
ofthe kingdom required that speedy and effectual orders
should be given to put Newcastle in a posture of de^
fence, to secure the port of Tinraouth, and repair the
fortifications of Hull and Carlisle. They likewise ad
vised her majesty to give directions for disciplining the
militia of the four northern counties ; for providing
them with arms and ammunition ; for maintaining a
competent number of regular troops on the northern
borders of England, as well as in the north of Ireland ;
and for putting the laws in execution against Papists.
The queen promised that a survey should be made of
the places they had mentioned, and laid before the
Parliament ; and that she would giye the necessary di
rections upon the other articles of the address. The
Commons seemed to concur with the Lords in their
sentiments of the Scottish act of security. They re
solved, that a bill should be brought iu for the effectual
securing the kingdom of England from the apparent
dangers that might arise from several acts lately passed
in the Parliaraent of Scotland ; and this AA'as formed on
nearly the same resolutions which had been taken in
the Upper House. The bill sent down by the Lords
Avas thrice read, and ordered to lie upon the table : but
they passed their own, to take effect at Christmas, pro
vided before that time the Scots should not settle the
succession. When it was offered to the Lords, they
passed it without any amendment, contrary to the ex-

ANNE. 481

pectation and even to the hope of some merabers who ^^j^j^'
were no friends to the house of Hanover, and firraly be- .

lieved the Lords would have treated this bUl with the 1704.
sarae conterapt which had been manifested for that
which they had sent down to the Comraons.
The Duke of Marlborough, at his first appearance w*''Xt°^k
in the House after his return to England, was honoured granted to
with a very extraordinary eulogium, pronounced by the ^f^jy^^/'®
lord-keeper, in the narae of the Peers of England ; and borough.
a corapliraent of the sarae nature was presented to hira
by a coraraittee of the House of Coramons. Doctor
Delaune, Vice-chancellor of Oxford, accorapanied by
the principal merabers of the university, attended the
queen with an address of congratulation upon the suc
cess of her arras in Gerraany, under the adrairable con
duct and invincible courage of the Duke of Marl
borough ; and at sea, under the most brave and faith
ful Admiral Sir George Rooke. He received a civil
answer from her majesty, though now she took um
brage at Rooke's being raised upon a level with the
Duke of Marlborough, whose great victories had capti
vated her admiration, and whose wife had alienated
her affection from the tories. The Commons perceiving
how high he stood in her majesty's esteem, and having
been properly tutored for the purpose, took into con
sideration the great services of the duke ; and, in an
address, besought her majesty to consider some proper
raeans to perpetuate the raeraory of such noble actions.
In a few days she gave thera to understand by a raes
sage, that she was inclined to grant the interest of the
crown in the honour and raanor of Woodstock and hun
dred of Wooton to the Duke of Marlborough and his
heirs ; and that as the lieutenancy and rangership of
the parks, with the rents and profits of the manors and
hundreds, were granted for two lives, she wished that
encumbrance could be reraoved. A bill was iraraediately
brought in, enabling the queen to bestow these honours
and manors on the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs ;
and the queen was desired to advance the money for
dearing the encumbrances. She not only coraplied
with this address, but likeArise ordered the comptroller
of herVorks to build in Woodstock-park a magnificent
VOL. I. II

482 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, palace for the duke, upon a plan rauch raore solid than
' beautiful. By this time Sir George Rooke was laid
1704. aside, and the comraand of the fleet bestowed upon Sir
Cloudesley Shovel, now declared Rear-Admiral of Eng
land. Mareschal de Tallard, with the other French
generals taken at Hochstadt, arrived on the sixteenth
of December in the river Thames, and were immediately
conveyed to Nottingham and Lichfield, attended by a
detachraent of the royal regiment of horse guards. They
were treated with great respect, and allowed the privilege
of riding ten miles around the places of their confine
ment.
Disputes While the House of Comraons, in tAvo successive
two Houses addresses, thanked the queen for the treaty which the
on the sub- Duko of Marlborougli had concluded with Prussia,
Ayie'sbury coucemiug the troops to be sent to the Duke of Savoy,
constables., and dcsirod she would use her interest with the allies,
that they raight next year furnish their coraplete pro
portions of men by sea and land ; the Lords examined
into all the proceedings at sea, and all the instructions
of the Admiralty ; and presented an address to the
queen, explaining all the different articles of misraa
nageraent. She proraised to consider them particu
larly, and give such directions upon them as raight be
raost for the advantage of the public serAdce. The re
maining part of the session was consumed in disputes
and altercations betAveen the two Houses on the subject
ofthe Aylesbury constables, who Avere sued by five other
inhabitants for having denied them the right of voting
at the election. These five persons were committed to
Newgate by order of the House of Commons. They
raoved for a habeas corpus in the King's Bench ; but
the court Avould take no cognizance of the affair. Two
of the prisoners petitioned the queen that their case
might be brought before her majesty in Parliament.
The Commons, in an address, besought the queen to
refuse granting a writ of error in this case, Avhich would
tend to the overthrowing the undoubted rights and pri
vileges of the Commons of England. She assured them
she would not do any thing to give them just cause of
complaint ; but this matter, relating to the course of
judicial proceedings, being of the highest importance.

ANNE. 483

she thought it necessary to weigh and consider very ^y.f.^-
carefuUy what raight be proper for her to do in a thing

of so great concern. They voted all the lawyers, who 1704.
had pleaded on the return of the habeas corpus in be
half of the prisoners, guilty of a breach of privilege,
and ordered thera to be taken into custody. They like
wise ordered the prisoners to be removed frora Newgate
into the custody of their serjeant at arras, lest they
should have been discharged by the queen's granting
writs of error. The prisoners, finding themselves at
the raercy of the exasperated Coramons, petitioned the
Lords for relief. The Upper House passed six differ
ent resolutions against the conduct of the Comraons,
as being an obstruction to justice, and contrary to Magna
Charta. The Lower House deraanded a conference, in
which they insisted upon the sole right of deterraining
elections ; they affirmed, that they only could judge
who had a right of voting ; and that they were judges
of their own privileges, in which the Lords could not
intermeddle. The Upper House deraanded a free conference, '^^^ Pf^ria-
ment dis—
which proved ineffectual. New resolutions were taken solved.
by the Coraraons, diaraetrically opposite to those of the
Peers, who, on the other hand, attended the queen
with a long representation of all the particulars relating
to this affair. They affirraed that the proceedings of
the House of Coraraons against the Aylesbury raen
were wholly noAv and unprecedented : that it was the
birthright of every Englishraan, who apprehended him
self injured, to seek for redress in her majesty's courts
of justice : that if any power could control this right,
and prescribe when he should, and Avheu he should not,
be allowed the benefit of the laws, he ceased to be a
fi-eeraan, and his Uberty and property were precarious.
They requested, therefore, that no consideration what
ever should prevail with her majesty to suffer an ob
struction to the knoAvn course of justice ; but that she
should be pleased to give effectual orders for the imrae
diate issuing of the Avrits of error. The queen assured
thera that she would have coraplied with their request ;
but, finding an absolute necessity for putting an irarae
diate end to the session, she knew there could be no
ii2

484 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, further proceedings on that matter. On the very day,
" which was the fourteenth of March, she went to the
1704. House of Lords, and passed the bills that were ready
for the royal assent. Then she thanked the Parliament
for having despatched the public business : she warned
them to avoid the fatal effects of aniraosity and dissen
sion ; and ordered the lord-keeper to prorogue them to
Thursday the first of May ; but on the fifth of April
they were dissolved by proclamation, and another was
Burnet. published for calling a uoav Parliament. The queen,
Europe, accompanied by the Prince of Denmark, made an ex-
Tindai. cursion to Ncwmarkct, and afterAvards dined by invita-
Hist. ot . .11 ¦ • f r^ 1 • -, 1 1
the Duke of tion witli the uuivcrsity ot Cambridge, where she con-
rou'h°' ferred the honour of knighthood upon Dr. EUis the
Lockhart. vice-chaucellor ; upon Jaraes Montague, counsel for the
LiVet'of university ; and upon the celebrated Isaac Newton, ma-
the Admi- theuiatical professor. The two Houses of Convocation
Quincy. ^tUl coutiuued at variance. The Lower House penned
Feuquieres. petulant representations ; and the archbishop answered
them by verbal reprehension and admonition. The
tory interest was now in the wane. The Duke of
Buckinghamshire was deprived of the privy seal, and
that office conferred upon the Duke of Newcastle, a
nobleman of powerful influence with the whig party.
The Earl of Montague was created Marquis of Mount-
hermer and Duke of Montague ; the Earl of Peter
borough and Lord Cholmondeley were chosen of the
privy council ; and Lord Cutts was sent to comraand
the troops in Ireland, under the Duke of Ormond.
ingTfn the "^^^^ ministry of Scotland was now entirely changed.
Parliament The Marquis of Tweeddale and Johnstone, having been
of Scotland, f^^^^ unequal to the undertaking, were dismissed.
The Duke of Queensberry resuraed the raanagement
of affairs in that kingdom under the title of lord privy
seal; and the office of commissioner was conferred upon
the young Duke of Argyle, who succeeded to his fa
ther's influence among the presbyterians. He Avas a
nobleraan possessed of good natural talents, which had
not been neglected ; candid, open, and sincere ; brave,
passionate, and aspiring : had he been endued with a
greater share of liberality, his chai-acter would have
been truly heroic. At this juncture he was instructed

ANNE. 485

to procure an act of the Scottish Parliaraent, settling chap.
the protestant succession ; or to set on foot a treaty for . ^'"'

the union of the two kingdoras. At the opening of the 1704.
session in June, the members were divided into three
parties, naraely, the Cavaliers, or Jacobites, the Revo
lutioners, the Squadrone Volante, or Flying Squadron,
headed by the Marquis of Tweeddale, who disclairaed
the other two factions, and pretended to act frora the
dictates of conscience alone. The Parliaraent was ad
journed to the third day of July, when her raajesty's
letter was read, earnestly recommending the settle
ment of the succession in the protestant line, and
an act for a coraraission to treat of an union between
the two kingdoras. The Marquis of Annandale pro
posed that the Parliaraent should proceed on the limita
tions and conditions of government ; that a committee
should be appointed to consider the condition of the
coin and the comraerce of the nation. The Earl
of Mar raoved that the House would, preferable to
all other business, consider the raeans for engaging
in a treaty with England. After a long debate they
resolved to proceed on the coin and the coraraerce.
Schemes for supplying the nation with money by a
paper credit were presented by Dr. Hugh Chamber-
layne and John Law, but rejected. The House re
solved, that any kind of paper credit, by the circulation
of bills, was an iraproper expedient ; and appointed a
council to put the laws relating to trade in execution.
The Duke of Hamilton proposed that the Parliament
should not proceed to the noraination of a successor
until the treaty with England should be discussed, and
the limitations settled. This proposal being approved,
a draft of an answer to her majesty's letter was presented
by the Marquis of Tweeddale. Two different forms of
an act for a treaty with England were offered by the
Earl of Mar and the Marquis of Lothian : others were
produced concerning the elections of officers of state,
and the regulation of comraerce.
The chief aim of the cavaliers Avas to obstruct the They pass
settlement of the succession ; and with that view they a treaty°of
pressed the project of limitations, to Avhich they knoAv ^"^'°" ^'h
the court would never assent. A raotion being raade.

486 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, to grant the first reading to an act of commission for a
^^"' treaty Arith England, the Duke of Harailton insisted on

1705. the liraitations, and a vote being stated in these terms,
" Proceed to consider the act for a treaty of liraitation,"
the latter was carried in favour of the cavaliers. On
the twenty-second day of August an act for this purpose
was approved ; and next day an act for a triennial Par
liaraent, which the courtiers were enabled to defeat.
They likewise passed an act, ordaining, that the Scot-
tishambassadorsrepresentingScotlandshould be present
when the sovereign might have occasion to treat vrith
foreign princes and states, and be accountable to the
Parliaraent of Scotland. Fletcher, of Saltoun, pre
sented a scheme of limitations that savoured strongly of
republican principles. He afterwards enlarged upon
every article, endeavouring to prove that they were ab
solutely necessary to prevent the consequences of Eng
lish influence ; to enable the nation to defend its rights
and liberties ; to deter ministers of state from giving bad
advice to their sovereign ; to preserve the courts of ju
dicature frora corruption, and screen the people from
tyranny and oppression. The Earl of Stair having
argued against these liraitations, Fletcher replied, " It
was no wonder he opposed the scherae ; for, had such
an act subsisted, his lordship would have been hanged
for the bad counsel he had given to King Jaraes ; for
the concern he had in the raassacre of Glencoe ; and
for his conduct since the Revolution." The next sub
ject on which the Parliament deliberated was the con
spiracy. A motion being made that the House raight
know what answer the queen had returned to their ad
dress in the last session, the chancellor delivered to the
clerk-register the papers relating to the plot, that they
raight be perused by the merabers ; but these being
copies, and the evidences remaining at London, no fur
ther progress was made in the affair. Yet the Duke of
Athol, in a distinct narrative of the pretended con
spiracy, boldly accused the Duke of Queensberry of
having endeavoured to mislead the queen by false in
sinuations against her good subjects. When the act for
a treaty of union fell under consideration, a draft for
that purpose, presented by the Earl of Mar, was cora-

ANNE. 487
pared with the English act, iraporting, that the queen "^yj^j^-
should name and appoint not only the comraissioners  '. 
for England, but likewise those for Scotland. Fletcher 1705.
did not fail to inveigh against the iraperious conduct of
the English Parliaraent in this affair. He exhorted the
House to resent such treatraent, and offered the draft
of an address to her raajesty on the subject ; but this
the House rejected. Duke Harailton proposed that a
clause raight be added to the act, iraporting, that the
union should no ways derogate from any fundaraental
laws, ancient privileges, offices, rights, liberties, and dig
nities of the Scottish nation. This occasioned a long
debate ; and the question being put, was carried in the
negative. Another clause was proposed, that the Scot
tish coraraissioners should not begin to treat until the
English Parliament should have rescinded their clause,
enacting, that the subjects of Scotland should be ad
judged and taken as aliens after the twenty-fifth day of
December. The courtiers, considering the temper of
the House, would not venture to oppose this motion
directly, but proposed that the clause should be forraed
into a separate act ; and the expedient was approved.
Though the Duke of Athol entered a vigorous protest,
to which the greater part of the cavaliers and all the
squadrone adhered, coraprehending four-and-twenty
peers, seven-and-thirty barons, and eighteen boroughs,
the act for the treaty of union was, after rauch alter
cation, finished, empowering comraissioners to raeet and
treat of an union ; but restraining thera frora treating of
any alterations of the church governraent as by law
established. Whilst this iraportant subject was under
consideration, the Duke of Hamilton, to the amazeraent
of his whole party, raoved that the nomination of the
comraissioners should be left to the queen. Fourteen
or fifteen of the cavaliers ran out of the House in a
transport of indignation, exclairaing that they were de
serted and basely betrayed by the Duke of Harailton.
A very hot debate ensued, in the course of which the
duke was severely handled by those whom he had
hitherto conducted ; but at length, the question being
put, whether the nomination should be left to the queen
or to the Parliaraent, the duke's raotion Avas approved

488 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, by a very small majority. He afterwards excused hira-
^"^" self for his defection by saying he saw it was in vain
1705. to contend; and that since the court had acquired a
great raajority, he thought he might be allowed to pay
that compliraent to his sovereign. He was desirous of
being in the coraraission, and the Duke of Argyle pro-
raised he should be nominated. The queen refusing to
honour hira with that mark of distinction, Argyle would
not suffer himself to be naraed, and threatened to op
pose the union ; but raeans were found to appease his
resentraent. Two drafts of an address being presented
by the Earl of Sutherland and Fletcher of Saltoun, be
seeching her raajesty to use her endeavours with the
Parliament of England to rescind that part of their act
which declared the subjects of Scotland aliens ; and an
overture of a bill being offered, ordaining that the Scot
tish commissioners should not enter upon the treaty of
union until that clause should be repealed ; the courtiers
moved, that the Parliament should proceed by way of
order to their coraraissioners, and by address to her
raajesty. After sorae debate, the House assenting to
this proposal, the order and address were drawn up and
approved. The great and weighty affair of the treaty
being at length happily transacted, though not without
a protest by Athol and his adherents, the Parliament
granted a supply of fifty thousand pounds, and the
House was adjourned to the twentieth dayof Deceraber:
then the queen declared the Earl of Mar secretary of
state, in the room ofthe Marquis of Annandale, who was
appointed lord-president of the council.
?itweenthe ^^^ Ireland the Parliament met at DubUn on the
Parliament fifth day of March, and voted one hundred and fifty
volt^oTln thousand pounds for the support of the necessary
Ireland. branches of the establishment. A dispute arose between
the Coramons and the Lower House of Convocation,
relating to the tithes of hemp and flax, ascertained in a
clause of a Mil for the better iraproveraent of theherapen
and flaxen manufactures of the kingdom. The Lower
House of Convocation presented a memorial against this
clause as prejudicial to the rights and properties of the
clergy. The Coraraons voted the person who brought
it in guilty of a breach of privilege ; and ordered hira to

ANNE. 489
be taken into custody. Then they resolved, that the '^^^j^j''-
Convocation were guilty of a conterapt and breach of the .

privilege of that House. The Convocation presuraing 1705.
to justify their memorial, the Comraons voted, that all
matters relating to it should be razed out of the journals
and books of Convocation. The Duke of Orraond,
dreading the consequences of such heats, adjourned the
Parliament to the first day of May, when the Houses
meeting again, carae to some resolutions that reflected
obliquely on the Convocation, as enemies to her raa
jesty's governraent and the protestant succession. The
clergy, in order to acquit themselves of all suspicion, re
solved in their turn, that the church and nation had been
happily delivered from popery and tyranny by King
WiUiara at the Revolution : that the continuance of
these blessings were due (under God) to the auspicious
reign and happy governraent of her raajesty Queen
Anne : that the future security and preservation of the
church and nation depended wholly (under God) on the
succession of the crown as settled by law in the pro
testant line : that if any clergyman should by word or
writing declare any thing in opposition to these re
solutions, they should look upon him as a sower of
divisions among the Protestants, and an enemy to the
constitution. They levelled another resolution against
the presb3i;erians, importing, that to teach or to preach
against the doctrine, government, rites, or cereraonies
of the church, or to maintain schools or seminaries for
the education of youth, in principles contrary to those
of the established church, was a conterapt of the eccle
siastical laws of the kingdom, of pernicious consequence,
and served only to continue and widen the unhappy
schisms and divisions in the nation. In June the Par
liament was prorogued to the sarae month ofthe follow
ing year: then the Duke of Orraond erabarked for
England, leaving the administration in the hands of
Sir Richard Cox, lord-chancellor, and Lord Cutts, the
coraraander-in-chief of the queen's forces, who were
appointed lords-justices during the duke's absence.
During these transactions in Great Britain and Fruitless
Ireland, the allies had not been remiss in their pre- on the^
parations for the ensuing campaign. The Duke of'^°'^'i^-

490 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Marlborough had fixed upon the Moselle for the scene
 '.  of action ; and magazines of all sorts were forraed at
1705. Triers. On the thirteenth day of March the Duke era
barked for Holland, where he prevailed upon the States-
General to contribute their troops for the execution of
his project. Having concerted with the deputies of the
states and the Dutch generals the necessary measures
for opening the campaign, he set out for Maestricht, in
order to asserable his army. On the fifth day of May
the Eraperor Leopold died at Vienna, and was succeeded
on the iraperial throne by his eldest son, Joseph, King
of the Romans, a prince who resembled his father in
raeekness of disposition, narrowness of intellect, and
bigotry to the Roraish religion. On the fifteenth of
June the English troops passed the Maese, aud con
tinued their march towards the Moselle, under the com
raand of General Churchill ; and the duke set out for
Creutznach, to confer with Prince Louis of Baden, who
excused himself on pretence of being much indisposed.
Marlborough visited him at Rastadt, where in a con
ference they resolved that a sufficient number of Ger
man troops should be left for the security of the lines
of Lauterburg and Stolhoffen, under the coramand of
General Thungen, and that Prince Louis of Baden
should march with a large detachment towards the Saar,
to act in concert with the Duke of Marlborough. The
confederate army passed the Moselle and the Saar in
the beginning of June, and encamped at Elft in sight
of the enemy, who retired with great precipitation, and
intrenched themselves in the neighbourhood of Conings-
raacheren. The duke's design was to besiege Saar-
Louis ; but Prince Louis failed in the performance of
his engagement : he feigned himself sick, and repaired
to the bath at Schlangeubade, leaving the small number
of imperial troops he had conducted as far as Creutz
nach, under the comraand of the Count de Frize. He
was suspected of treachery ; but probably acted from
envy of the duke's railitary reputation "'.
" The Duke of Marlborough finding himself obliged to retreat, sent a note with
a trumpeter to Villars, containing an apology for decamping.  " Do me the jus
tice (said he) to believe that my retreat is entirely owing to the failure of the
Prince of Baden ; but that my esteem for you is still greater than my resentment
of his conduct. "

ANNE. 491

While this nobleraan sustained such a mortifying chap.
disappointment on the Moselle, the French did not fail

to make advantage of their superiority in the Nether- 1705.
lands, where General D'Auverquerque was obliged to The Duke
stand on the defensive. They invested Huy, and car- borough
ried on their operations so vigorously, that in a few days forces the
the garrison were obUged to surrender theraselves pri- iines in
soners of war : then Villeroy undertook the reduction Brabant.
of Liege, and actually began his works before the citadel.
Marlborough was no sooner inforraed of the eneray's
progress than he marched to Triers, where, in a coun
cil, it was resolved that the army should return to the
Netherlands. The troops were in motion on the nine
teenth of June, and marched with such expedition, that
they passed the Maese on the first day of July. Ville
roy having received advice ofthe duke's approach, aban
doned his enterprise, and retired to Tongeren, from
whence he retreated within his lines, that reached from
Marche aux Dames on the Meuse, along the Mehaigne,
as far as Lenuive. Marlborough having joined D'Au
verquerque, sent General Scholten with a detachment
to invest Huy, and in a few days the garrison surren
dered at discretion. The English general, resolving to
strike some stroke of importance that should atone for
his disappointment on the Moselle, sent General Hora-
pesch to the states, with a proposal for attacking the
French lines, and obtained their perraission to do what
ever he should think proper for the good of the coraraon
cause. Then he explained the scheme in two successive
councils of war, by which, at length, it was approved and
resolved upon, though sorae Dutch generals declared
theraselves against the undertaking. The enemy were
posted along the lines, amounting to one hundred bat
talions and one hundred and forty-six squadrons. The
allied army did not rauch exceed that nuraber. In order
to divide thera, D'Auverquerque raade a false motion
and passed the Mehaigne, as if he had intended to attack
the lines about Masselin. The stratagera succeeded.
The French weakened the other parts by strengthening
that which was on the side ofthe Gerbise towards Na
raur. The Duke of Marlborough having raade the dis
position, the army began to march in the night between

492 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the seventeenth and eighteenth of July, in order to force
^"'' a passage of the French lines at Heylesem, the castle of

1705. Wauge, and the villages of Wauge, Neerhespen, and
Oostraalen. These posts were taken with very little
difficulty ; but before the infantry could come up, the
enemy advanced with fifty squadrons and twenty bat
talions, and began to fire frora eight pieces of cannon
with triple barrels, which did considerable execution.
The duke perceiving that they were continually rein
forced frora the other parts of the lines, ordered the
horse to charge their cavalry, which were soon broken
and routed ; but rallying behind their infantry, inter
lined with foot, and joined by fresh squadrons, they
advanced again towards the allies, who were now sus
tained by their infantry, and raoved forAvards to renew
the charge. After a warra though short engageraent,
the enemy's horse were defeated vrith great slaughter.
The infantry, seeing themselves abandoned in the plain,
retreated in great disorder between the villages of Hey
lesem and Golsteven, vA'here they were joined by the
rest of their army, and formed again in order of battle.
Meanwhile the Duke of Marlborough ordered all his
troops to enter the lines ; and extended his right to
wards the great Geete before Tirlemont, where the
enemy had left the battalion of Montluc, which surren
dered at discretion. In this action the confederates
took the Marquis d'Alegre and the Count de Home,
lieutenant-generals, one raajor-general, two brigadier-
generals, with many other officers, and a great number
of comraon soldiers ; a large heap of standards, four
colours, one pair of kettle-druras, and ten pieces of
cannon. In the action, as the Duke of Marlborough
advanced to the charge at the head of several squadrons,
a Bavarian officer rode up to attack hira sword in hand ;
but in raising himself on his stirrups to strike with the
greater advantage, he fell from his horse, and was im
raediately slain.
He is pre- The body of troops commanded by Monsieur d' Aleare
vented bv t • i
the deputies bemg thus defeated, with little or no loss to the confe-
of the states derates, the Elector of Bavaria and the Mareschal de
from attack- .

the deputies being thus defeated, with little or no loss to the confe-
fromlt'te^! derates, the Elector of Bavaria and the Mareschal de
ing the Villeroy passed the great Geete and the Deule with
FrencI
army.

French great expedition, and took possession of the strong camp

ANNE. 493
at Parck, their left extending to Rooselaer, and their ^y^f'
right to Wineselen against the height of Louvain. Next ' 
day the Duke of Marlborough marching through the 1705.
plain of Parck, took twelve hundred prisoners, who
could not keep pace with the rest ofthe enemy's forces;
and in the evening he encaraped with the right at the
abbey of Vliersbeck, and the left before Bierbeck, under
the cannon of Louvain. He detached Lieutenant-Ge
neral Henkelura, the Duke of Wirteraberg, and Count
Oxienstiern, Arith a considerable body of forces, to attack
sorae posts on the Deule, which were slenderly guarded.
Their advanced guard accordingly passed the river, and
repulsed the enemy ; but, for want of timely support,
they were obliged to pass it and retire. On the third
of August, Baron Spaar, with a body of Dutch troops,
marched to Raboth on the canal of Bruges, forced the
French lines at Lovendegen, and took four forts by
which they were defended ; but receiving advice that
the eneray were on their march towards him, he retired
to Mildegera, and carried with hira several hostages, as
security for the payraent of the contributions he had
raised. On the fifteenth the duke moved from Mildert
to Corbais ; next day continued his march to Genap,
frora whence he advanced to Fischermont. On the
seventeenth General D'Auverquerque took the post of
Waterlo ; and next day the confederate army was drawn
up in order of battle before the eneray, who extended
frora Overysche, near the wood of Soignies, to Neer-
ysche, with the little river Ysche in their front, so as to
cover Brussels and Louvain. The Duke of Marlbo
rough proposed to attack thera iraraediately, before they
could recollect theraselves frora their consternation; and
D'Auverquerque approved of the design ; but it was
opposed by General Schlangenburg, and other Dutch
officers, who represented it in such a light to the depu
ties of the states, that they refused to concur in the
execution. The duke being obliged to reUnquish the
scherae, wrote an expostulatory letter to the States-
General, complaining of their having withdrawn that
confidence which they had reposed in him while he acted
in Germany. This letter being published at the Hague,
excited murmurs among the people, and the English

494 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, nation were incensed at the presuraption of the depu-
' ties, who wrote several letters in their own justification
1705. to the States-General; but these had no effect upon the
populace, by whora the duke was respected even to a
degree of adoration. The states being apprised of the
resentraent that prevailed over all England, and that the
Earl of Perabroke, lord-president of the council, was
appointed as envoy-extraordinary to Holland, with in
structions to deraand satisfaction, thought proper to
anticipate his journey, by making submissions to the
duke, and removing Schlangenburg frora his coramand.
The confederate army returned to Corbais, frora whence
it marched to Perwitz, where it encamped. The little
town of Sout-Leeuwe, situated in the middle of a mo
rass, and constituting the chief defence of the enemy's
lines, being taken by a detachment under the coramand
of Lieutenant-General Dedem, the duke ordered the
lines from this place to Wasseigne to be levelled, and the
town of Tirlemont to be dismantled ; then passing the
Demer, he encamped on the nineteenth day of Septem
ber at Aerschot. About the latter end of the month
he raarched to Heventhals ; from hence the duke re
paired to the Hague, where he had several conferences
with the pensionary. In a few days he retm-ned to the
army, which, decamping from Heventhals, raarched to
Clarapthout. On the twenty-fourth day of October,
the Count de Noyelles invested Santvliet, which sur
rendered before the end of the raonth.
the im^'eriai "^^ ^^^^ period the duke, in consequence of pressing
court of letters from the emperor, set out for Vienna, in order to
Vienna. couccrt the Operations of the ensuing carajjaign, and
other measures of importance, in which the concerns of
the allies were interested. In his way he was magni
ficently entertained by the Elector Palatine, and him of
Triers, and corapliraented by the magistracy of Frank
fort, where he conferred with Prince Louis of Baden.
On the twelfth of Noveraber he arrived at Vienna,
where he was treated with the highest raarks of distinc
tion and cordial friendship by their iraperial majesties.
His son-in-law, the Earl of Sunderland, had been sent
thither as envoy-extraordinary; and now they conferred
together with the emperor and his ministers. They re-

ANNE. 495
solved to maintain the war with redoubled vigour. The chap.
treaties were renewed, and provision made for the se

curity ofthe Duke of Savoy. The emperor, in considera- 1705.
tion of the duke's signal service to the house of Austria,
presented him with a grant of the lordship of Mindel-
heira, in Suabia, which was now erected into a princi
pality of the Roman empire. In his return with the
Earl of Sunderland he visited the courts of BerUn and
Hanover, where he was received with that extraordinary
respect which was due to his character, and arrived at
the Hague on the fourteenth day of December. There
he settled the operations of the next campaign with the
States-General, who consented to join England in raain
taining an additional body of ten thousand raen, as a
reinforceraent to the army of Prince Eugene in Italy.
While the allies were engaged in the siege of Santvliet,
the Elector of Bavaria sent a detachment, under the
comraand of Don Marcello de Griraaldi, to invest
Diest, the garrison of which were raade prisoners of
war. On the Upper Rhine, Mareschal Villars besieged and state of the
took Homburgh, and passed the Rhine at Strasburgh on upper
the sixth day of August. Prince Louis of Baden ar- ^^"^> »"
riving in the camp of the imperialists at Stolhoffen, not piedmont,
only obliged him to retire, but having passed the river, j^" p^]^J,j
forced the French lines at Hagenau : then he reduced
Drusenheim and Hagenau, but attempted no enterprise
equal to the number of his array, although the eraperor
had expostulated with hira severely on his conduct, and
he had now a fair opportunity of eraulating the glory of
Marlborough, upon whom he looked with the eyes of
an envious rival. In Italy a battle was fought at Ca-
sano, between Prince Eugene and the Duke de Ven
dome, with dubious success. The Duke de Feuillade
reduced Chivas, and invested Nice, which, after an olr-
stinate defence, surrendered in December. All the
considerable places belonging to the Duke of Savoy
were now taken, except Coni and Turin; and his
little army was reduced to twelve thousand men,
whom he could hardly support. His duchess, his
clergy, and his subjects in general, pressed hira to

496 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, submit to the necessity of his affairs ; but he adhered to
tbe alliance with surprising fortitude. He withstood
1705. the importunities of his duchess, excluded all the bishops
and clergy from his councils ; and when he had occa
sion for a confessor, chose a priest occasionally, either
frora the Dorainicans or Franciscans. The campaign
in Portugal began with a very promising aspect. The
alUes invaded Spain by the different frontiers of Beyra
and Alentejo. Their array, under the coraraand of the
Conde das Galveas, undertook the siege of Valencia
d' Alcantara in May, and took it by ^assault : Albu
querque surrendered upon articles; and then the troops
were sent into quarters of refreshraent. The Marquis
de las Minas, who coramanded the Portuguese in the
province of Beyra, reduced the town of Salva-terra,
plundered and burned Sarca ; but was obliged to retire
to Panamacos at the approach of the eneray. Towards
the end of Septeraber the confederates, being re-assem
bled, invested Badajox, by the advice ofthe Earl of Gal
way, who lost his right hand by a cannon-ball, and was
obliged to be carried off ; so that the conduct of the
siege was left to General Fagel. He had made con
siderable progress towards the reduction of the place ;
when the Mareschal de Thesse found means to throw in
a powerful reinforceraent ; and then the confederates
abandoned the enterprise. The war continued to rage
in Hungary Arith various success. Ragotski, though
frequently worsted, appeared still in arras, and ravaged
the country, which becarae a scene of misery and deso
lation. In Poland the old cardinal-primate owned Sta
nislaus, but died before the coronation, which was per
formed by the Bishop of Cujavia. In the beginning of
the winter. King Augustus had passed through Poland
in disguise to the Muscovite army, which was put under
his command in Lithuania ; and the campaign was pro
tracted through the whole winter season, notwithstand
ing the severity ofthe weather in that northern climate.
In the spring the Swedish general, Reinchild, obtained
a complete victory over the Saxon array, which was either
cut in pieces or taken, with their carap, baggage, and
artillery: yet the war was not extinguished. The King

ANNE. 497

of Sweden continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of ^yiil'
peace, and was becorae as savage in his raanners as

brutal in his revenge. ^'^*'^-
At sea the arms of the allies were generally pro- ^^^j^es'^d™^
sperous. Philip of Spain being obstinately bent upon strays part
retaking Gibraltar, sent Mareschal de Thesse to renew fJ^^ij
the siege, while De Pointis was ordered to block up the fleet, and
place by sea with his squadron. These French officers "oihSxax.
carried on the siege with such activity, that the Prince
of Hesse despatched an express to Lisbon with a letter,
desiring Sir John Leake to sail imraediately to his as
sistance. This adrairal having been reinforced from
England by Sir Thomas Dilkes, with five ships of the
line and a body of troops, set sail iraraediately ; and on
the tenth day of March descried five ships of war haul
ing out of the bay of Gibraltar. These were com
manded by De Pointis in person, to whora the English
adrairal gave chase. One of thera struck, after having
raade a very slight resistance ; and the rest ran ashore
to the westward of Marbella, where they were destroyed.
The reraaining part of the French squadron had been
blown frora their anchors, and taken shelter in the bay
of Malaga ; but now they slipped their cables, and inade
the best of their way to Toulon. The Mareschal de
Thesse, in consequence of this disaster, turned the
siege of Gibraltar into a blockade, and Avithdrew the
greater part of his forces. While Sir John Leake was
eraployed in this expedition. Sir George Byng, who had
been ordered to cruise in soundings for the protection
of trade, took a ship of forty guns from the enemy, to
gether with twelve privateers, and seven vessels richly
laden frora the West Indies.
But the raost eminent achievement of this suraraer "^p^"]
was the reduction of Barcelona, by the celebrated Earl borough
of Peterborough and Sir Cloudesley Shovel, who sailed ^loujesiey
from St. Helen's in the latter end of May with the shovel re-
English fleet, having on board a body of five thousand ^fo^n]^*'^"
land-forces ; and on the twentieth of June arrived at
Lisbon, where they were joined by Sir John Leake and
the Dutch Adrairal AUeraonde. In a council of war,
they deterrained to put to sea with eight-and-forty ships
of the line, which should be stationed between Cape
VOL. I. K K

498 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Spartel and the bay of Cadiz, in order to prevent the
^"'' Junction of the Toulon and Brest squadrons. The

1705. Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt arriving from Gibraltar,
assured King Charles that the province of Catalonia
and the kingdom of Valencia were attached to his in
terest ; and his majesty being weary of Portugal, resolved
to accompany the Earl of Peterborough to Barcelona.
He accordingly erabarked Avith htm on board of the
Ranelagh, and the fleet sailed on the tAventy-eighth day
of July, the Earl of Galway having reinforced them with
tAvo regiments of English dragoons. At Gibraltar they
took on board the English guards, and three old regi
raents, in lieu of Avhich they left two new-raised batta
lions. On the eleventh day of August they anchored
in the bay of Altea, where the Earl of Peterborough
published" a manifesto in the Spanish language, which
had such an effect, that all the inhabitants of the place,
the neighbouring villages, and adjacent mountains, ac
knowledged King Charles as their lawful sovereign.
They seized the town of Denia for his service ; and he
sent thither a garrison of four hundred raen under the
command of Major-General Ramos. On the twenty-
second they arrived in the bay of Barcelona : the troops
were diserabarked to the eastAvard ofthe city, where they
encaraped in a strong situation, and were Avell received
by the country people. King Charles landed araidst
the acclaraations of an infinite multitude from the neigh
bouring towns and villages, who threw themselves at his
feet, exclaiming, "Long live the king!" and exhibited all
the marks of the most extravagant joy. The inhabitants
of Barcelona were well affected to the house of Austria, .
but overaAved by a garrison of five thousand men, under
the Duke de PopoU, Velasco, and other officers devoted
to the interest of King Philip. Considering the strength
of such a garrison, and the small number of Dutch and
English troops, nothing could appear more desperate
and dangerous than the design of besieging the place ;
yet this was proposed by the Prince of Hesse-Darm
stadt, who served in the expedition as a volunteer,
strongly urged by King Charles, and approved by the
Earl of Peterborough and Sir Cloudesley Shovel. The
city was accordingly invested on one side ; but as a pre-

ANNE. 499

vious step to the reduction of it, they resolved to attack ch^ap.
the fort of Montjuic, strongly situated on a hill that .

commanded the city. The outAvorks were taken by 1705.
storra, with the loss of the gallant Prince of Hesse,
who was shot through the body, and expired in a few
hours : then the Earl of Peterborough began to bom
bard the body of the fort ; and a shell chancing to fall
into the magazine of powder, blew it up, together Avith
the governor and some of the best officers ; an accident
which struck such a terror into the garrison, that they
surrendered without further resistance.
, This great point being gained, the English general '^''^ ??¦¦'''
erected his batteries against the town, with the help of progress in
the Miquelets and seamen : the borab-ketches began to ^i"""'
fire with such execution, that in a foAv days the governor
capitulated, and on the fourth day of October King
Charles entered in triumph''. All the other places
in Catalonia declared for him, except Roses ; so that
the largest and richest province of Spain was conquered
with an army scarce double the number of the garrison
of Barcelona. King Charles wrote a letter with his
own hand to the Queen of England, containing a cir
curastantial detail of his affairs, the warraest expressions
of acknowledgraent, and the highest encomiums on her
subjects, particularly the Earl of Peterborough. In a
council of war it was deterrained that the king and the
earl should continue in Catalonia with the land-forces ;
that Sir Cloudesley Shovel should return to England ;
that five-and-tAventy English and fifteen Dutch ships of
war should winter at Lisbon, under the command of
Sir John Leake and the Dutch Rear-Admiral Wasse-
' Voltaire, upon what authority we know not, tells us, that during the capitu
lation, the German and Catalonian troops found raeans to climb over the ram
parts into the city, and began to commit the raost barbarous excesses ; the vice
roy complained to Peterborough that his soldiers had taken an unfair advantage
of the treaty, and were actually employed in burning, plundering, murdering, and
violating the inhabitants. The earl replied, " They must then be the troops of the
Prince of Hesse : allow me to enter the city with my English forces, I will save it
from ruin, oblige the Germans to retire, and march back again to our present situa
tion. " The viceroy trusted his honour, and forthwith admitted the earl with his
troops. He soon drove out the Germans and Catalonians, after having obliged
them to quit the plunder they had taken ; and by accident he rescued the
Duchess of Popoli from the hands of two brutal soldiers, and delivered her to her
husband. Having thus appeased the tumult, and dispelled the horrors of the
citizens, he returned to his former station, leaving the inhabitants of Barcelona
amazed at such an instance of magnanimity and moderation in a people whora
they had been taught to consider as the most savage barbarians.
KK 2

.500 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
*^HAP. naer ; and that four English and two Dutcli frigates
 '.  should reraain at Barcelona. Don Francisco de Velasco
1705. was transported to Malaga with about a thousand raen
of his garrison ; the rest voluntarily engaged in the ser
vice of King Charles, and six other regiraents were
raised by the states of Catalonia. The Count de Cifu-
entes, at the head of the Miquelets and Catalans at
tached to the house of Austria, secured Tarragonia,
Tortosa, Lerida, San-Mattheo, Gironne, and other
places. Don Raphael Nevat, revolting from Philip with
his whole regiment of horse, joined General Ramos at
Denia, and made themselves raasters of several places of
importance in the kingdora of Valencia. Flushed with
such unexpected success, they penetrated to the capital
of the same name, which they surprised, together Avith
the Marquis de Villa-Garcia, the viceroy, and the arch
bishop. These advantages, however, were not properly
improved. The court of Charles was divided into fac
tions, and so much time lost in disputes, that the enemy
sent a body of six thousand men into the kingdom of
Valencia, under the command of the Conde de las
Torres, who forthwith invested San-Mattheo, guarded
by Colonel Jones at the head of five hundred Mique
lets. This being a place of great consequence, on ac
count of its situation, the Earl of Peterborough marched
thither with one thousand infantry, and two hundred
dragoons ; and by raeans of feigned intelligence art
fully conveyed to the Conde, induced that general to
abandon the siege with precipitation, in the apprehen
sion of being suddenly attacked by a considerable army.
Peterborough afterwards took possession of Nules, and
purchasing horses at CastiUon de la Plana, began to form
a body of cavalry, Avhich did good service in the sequel.
Having assembled a little array, consisting of ten squa
drons of horse and dragoons, and four battaUons of regular
troops, with about three thousand railitia, he marched to
Molviedro, which was surrendered to him by the governor.
Brigadier Mahoni. Between this officer and the Duke
d'Arcos, the Spanish general, he excited such jealousies
by dint of artifices, not altogether justifiable even in
war, that the duke was more intent upon avoiding the
supposed treachery of Mahoni than upon interrupting

ANNE. 501
the earl's march to Valencia, where the inhabitants ex- '^y.f^-
pressed uncommon marks of joy at his arrival. About .

this period a very obstinate action happened at St. Iste- 1705.
van de Litera, where the Chevalier D'Asfeldt, with
nine squadrons of horse and dragoons, and as raany bat
talions of French infantry, attacked Colonel Wills at
the head of a sraall detachraent ; but this last being
supported by Lieutenant-General Cunninghara, who
was mortally wounded in the engagement, repulsed the
enemy, though three tiraes his nuraber, with the loss of
four hundred men killed upon the spot. The troops
on both sides fought with the most desperate valour,
keeping up their fire until the muzzles of their pieces
raet, and charging each other at the point of the bayo
net. The only raisfortune that attended the English
arms in the course of this year was the capture of the
Baltic fleet homeward-bound, with their convoy of three
ships of war, which Avere taken by the Dunkirk squa
dron under the coraraand of the Count de St. Paul,
though he himself Avas killed in the engagement. When
an account of this advantage was communicated to the
French king, he replied with a sigh, " Very well, I wish
the ships were safe again in any English port, provided
the Count de St. Paul could be restored to life." After
the deatli ofthe famous Du Bart, this officer was coupted
the best searaan in France.
The kingdora of England was now wholly engrossed New Par-
by the election of raerabers for the new Parliament. England."
The tories exerted themselves with great industry, and
propagated the cry of the church's being in danger ; a
cry in which the Jacobites joined with great fervour :
but, notwithstanding all their efforts in words and
writing, a majority of whigs Avas returned : and now
the Lord Godolphin, who had hitherto maintained a
neutrality, thought proper openly to countenance that
faction. By his interest co-operating with the influence
of the Duchess of Marlborough, Sir Nathan Wright
was deprived of the great seal, Avhich Avas committed to
Mr. William Cowper, Avith the title of lord keeper.
This was a lawyer of good extraction, superior talents,
engaging manners, and erainence in his profession. He
was stanch to whig principles, and for many years had

502 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, been considered as one of their best speakers in the
. House of Commons. The new Parliament meeting on

1705. the twenty-fifth day of October, a violent contest arose
about the choice of a speaker. Mr. Broraley was sup
ported by the tories, and the whigs proposed Mr. John
Smith, who was elected by a majority of forty-three
voices. The queen in her speech represented the ne
cessity of acting vigorously against France, as a com
mon enemy to the liberties of Europe : she coramended
the fortitude of the Duke of Savoy, Avhich she said was
without example : she told them her intention was to
expedite commissions for treating of an union with
Scotland; she earnestly recommended an union of
minds and affections among her people : she observed,
that some persons had endeavoured to foment animo
sities, and even suggested in print that the established
church was in danger : she affirraed that such people
were enemies to her and to the kingdom, and meant
only to cover designs Avhich they durst not publicly oAvn,
by endeavouring to distract the nation with unreason
able and groundless distrusts and jealousies : she de
clared she would ahvays affectionately support and
countenance the church of England, as by law esta
blished : that she Avould inviolably maintain the tolera
tion, that she Avould promote religion and virtue, en
courage trade, and every thing else that might make
thera a happy and flourishing people.
Bill for a The majority in both Houses now professed the same
ctfroTth" principles, and were weW disposed to support the queen
queen's jn all her designs. They first presented the usual ad-
dresses, in the warmest terms of duty and affection.
Theu the Commons dreAv up a second, assuring her they
would, to the utmost of their power, assist her in bringing
the treaty of union to a happy conclusion. They desired
that the proceedings of the last session of Parliament,
relating to the union and succession, raight be laid be
fore the House. The Lords had solicited the sarae
satisfaction ; and her majesty promised to comply with
their request. The Lower House having heard and
decided in sorae cases of controverted elections, pro
ceeded to take into consideration the estiraates for the
service of the ensuing year, and granted the supplies

ANNE. 503
without hesitation. In the House of Lords, while the ^y^^^'
queen was present. Lord Haversham, at the end of a  L_
long speech, in which he reflected upon the conduct of 1705.
the Duke of Marlborough, both on the Moselle and in
Brabant, moved for an address to desire her raajesty
would invite the presumptive heir to the crown of Eng
land to corae and reside in the kingdora. This raotion
was earnestly supported by the Duke of Buckinghara,
the Earls of Rochester, Nottinghara, and Anglesea.
They said there was no raethod so effectual to secure the
succession, as that of the successor's being upon the spot,
ready to assurae and raaintain his or her right against
any pretender ; and they observed, that in forraer times,
when the throne of England was vacant, the first comer
had always succeeded in his pretensions. The proposal
was vehemently opposed by the whigs, Avho knew it was
disagreeable to the queen, whora they would not venture
to disoblige. They argued, that a rivalry between the
two courts raight produce distractions, and be attended
with very ill consequences, and observed, that the
Princess Sophia had expressed a full satisfaction in the
assurances of the queen, who had proraised to raaintain
her title. The question being put, was carried in the
negative by a great majority. The design of the tories
in making this motion was, to bring the other party into
disgrace either with the queen or with the people.
Their joining in the measure would have given umbrage
to their sovereign ; and, by opposing- it, they ran the
risk of incurring the public odiura, as eneraies to the
protestant succession ; but the pretence of the tories
was so thin, the nation saw through it ; and the sole
effect the raotion produced was the queen's resentraent
against the whole party. Burnet, Bishop of Sarura, pro
posed, that provision might be made for maintaining the
public quiet in the interval between the queen's decease
and the arrival of her successor : the raotion Avas se
conded by the lord treasurer ; and a bill brought in for
the better security of her majesty's person and govern
raent, and of the succession to the crown of England.
By this act a regency Avas appointed, of the seven per
sons that should possess the offices of Archbishop of Can
terbury, lord chancellor or lord keeper, lord treasurer,

504 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
*^HAP. lord president, lord privy seal, lord high adrairal, and the
" lord chief justice of the Queen's Bench. Their business
1705. was to proclaira the next successor through the king
dora of England, and join with a certain nuraber of per
sons naraed as regents by the successor, in three lists to
be sealed up and deposited with the Archbishop of Can
terbury, the lord keeper, and the minister residentiary
of Hanover. It was enacted, that these joint regencies
should conduct the administration ; that the last Parlia
raent, even though dissolved, should reassemble, and
continue sitting for six months after the decease of her
raajesty. The bill met with a warm opposition from
the tories, and did not pass the Upper House without
a protest. It was still further obstructed in the House
of Comraons even by sorae of the whig party, who
were given to understand that the Princess Sophia had
expressed an inclination to reside in England. Ex
ceptions were likewise taken to that clause in the bill
enacting that the last Parliaraent should be reassembled.
They affirmed that this was inconsistent with part of
the act by which the succession vvas at first settled ; for,
among other limitations, the Parliament had provided,
that when the crown should devolve to the house of
Hanover, no man, who had either place or pension,
should be capable of sitting in the House of Commons.
After tedious disputes and zealous altercations, they
agreed that a certain number of offices should be spe
cified as disqualifying places. This self-denying clause,
and sorae other araendraents, produced conferences be
tween the two Houses, and at length the bill passed by
their rautual assent. Lord Havershara raoved for an
inquiry into the raiscarriages of the last campaign,
hoping to find sorae foundation for censure in the con
duct of the Duke of Marlborough ; but the proposal
was rejected as invidious, and the two Houses presented
an address to the queen, desiring she would preserve a
good correspondence araong all tlie confederates. They
likewise concurred in repealing the act by Avhich the
Scots had been alienated, and all the northern counties
alarmed with the apprehension of a rupture between the
two nations. The Lord Shannon and Brigadier Stan
hope arriving with an account of the expedition to Ca-

ANNE. 505

talonia, the queen coraraunicated the good news in a ^y^ff'
speech to both houses, expressing her hope that they .

would enable her to prosecute the advantages which her 1705.
arras had acquired. The Commons were so well pleased
with the tidings, that they forthwith granted two hun
dred and fifty thousand pounds for her majesty's pro
portion of the expense of prosecuting the successes
already gained by King Charles III. for the recovery
of the raonarchy of Spain to the house of Austria. On
the fifteenth day of Noveraber, the queen gave the royal
assent to an act for exhibiting a bill to naturalize the
Princess Sophia, and the issue of her body.
These measures being taken, the sixth day of De- Debates in
cember was appointed for inquiring into those dangers of LorX^
to which the tories affirraed the chm-ch was exposed ; "po° th^
and the queen attended in person, to hear the debates dangefto
on this interesting subject. The Earl of Rochester ^'¦••^V'^''
corapared the expressions in the queen's speech at the exposed.
beginning of the session to the law enacted in the reign
of Charles II. denouncing the penalties of treason
against those who should call the king a Papist ; for
which reason, he said he always thought him of that
persuasion. He affirmed that the church's danger arose
from the act of security in Scotland, the absence of the
successor to the crown, and the practice of occasional
conformity. He was answered by Lord Halifax, who,
by way of recrimination, observed that King Charles II.
was a Roman Catholic, at least his brother declared hira
a Papist after his death ; that his brother and successor
was a known Roman Catholic, yet the church thought
herself secure ; and those patriots who stood up in its
defence were discountenanced and punished ; nay, when
the successor ascended the throne, and the church was
apparently in the most imminent danger, by the high-
commission court and otherArise, the nation was then
indeed generally alarmed ; and every body knew who
sat in that court, and entered deeply into the measures
which were then pursued. Compton, Bishop of London,
declared that the church was in danger, from profane
ness, irreligion, and the licentiousness of the press. He
complained that sermons were preached wherein re
bellion Avas countenanced, and resistance to the higher

506 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, powers encouraged. He alluded to a serraon preached
^"^' before the lord mayor, by Mr. Hoadly, now Bishop of

1705. Winchester. Burnet of Sarura said, the Bishop of Lon
don was the last raan who ought to complain of that
serraon ; for if the doctrine it contained was not good,
he did not know what defence his lordship could make
for his appearing in arms at Nottingham. He affirraed
the church would be always subject to profaneness and
irreligion, but that they were not now so flagrant as
they usually had been : he said, the society set up for
reformation in London and other cities had contributed
considerably to the suppression of vice : he was sure the
corporation for propagating the gospel had done a great
deal towards instructing men in religion, by giving
great numbers of books in practical divinity ; by erect
ing libraries in country parishes; by sending raany
able divines to the foreign plantations, and founding
schools to breed up children in the christian know
ledge ; though to this expense very little had been con
tributed by those who appeared so wonderfully zealous
for the church. The Archbishop of York expressed
his apprehension of danger frora the increase of dis
senters ; particularly from the many acaderaies they
had instituted : he raoved, that the judges might be
consulted with respect to the laws that were in force
against such seminaries, and by what means they raight
be suppressed. Lord Wharton raoved that the judges
raight also be consulted about raeans of suppressing
schools and serainaries held by nonjurors ; in one of
which the sons of a noble lord in that House had been
educated. To this sarcasra the archbishop replied, that
his sons were indeed taught by Mr. Ellis, a sober, vir
tuous raan ; but that when he refused the oath of abju
ration, they were iraraediately withdrawn frora his in
structions. Lord Wharton proceeded to declare, that
he had carefully perused a paraphlet entitled " The Me
morial," which was said to contain a demonstration that
the church was in danger ; but all he could learn was,
that the Duke of Buckingham, the Earls of Rochester
and Nottinghara, were out of place : that he reraem
bered some of these noblemen sat in the high-com
mission court, and then made no complaint of the

ANNE. 507
church's being in danger. Patrick, Bishop of Ely, ^yj^^-
coraplained of the heat and passion raanifested by the  '—
gentlemen belonging to the universities, and of the un- 1705.
dutiful behaviour of the clergy towards their bishops.
He was seconded by Hough of Lichfield and Coventry,
who added, that the inferior clergy calumniated their
bishops, as if they were in a plot to destroy the church,
and had corapounded to be the last of their order.
Hooper of Bath and Wells expatiated on the invidious
distinction iraplied in the terras " high church" and
" low church." The Duke of Leeds asserted that the
church could not be safe without an act against occa
sional conforraity. Lord Somers recapitulated all the
arguments which had been used on both sides of the
question : he declared his own opinion was, that the
nation was happy under a wise and just adrainistration:
that for men to raise groundless jealousies at that junc
ture could mean no less than an intention to embroil
the people at home, and defeat the glorious designs of
the allies abroad. The debate being finished, the
question was put, whether the church of England was
in danger, and carried in the negative by a great raa
jority : then the House resolved, that the church of
England, as by law established, Avhich was rescued frora
the extremest danger by King William III. of glorious
memory, is now, by God's blessing, under the happy
reign of her raajesty, in a raost safe and flourishing
condition ; and that whoever goes about to suggest or
insinuate that the church is in danger under her ma
jesty's administration, is an enemy to the queen, the
church, and the kingdora. Next day the Coraraons con
curred in this determination, and joined the Lords in
an address to the queen, communicating this resolution,
beseeching her to take effectual measures for raaking it
public; and also for punishing the authors and spreaders
of the seditious and scandalous reports of the church's
being in danger. She accordingly issued a proclaraation,
containing the resolution ofthe two Houses, and offering
a reward for discovering the author ofthe Memorial of
the Church of England, and for apprehending David
EdA\'ards, a professed Papist, charged upon oath to be
the printer and publisher of that libel.

508 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. After a short adjournment, a coraraittee of the Lower
 House presented the thanks of the Comraons to the
1 705. Duke of Marlborough, for his great services perforraed to
The Parlia- ber majosty and the nation in the last campaign, and for
rogued. his prudcut negotiations with her allies. This nobleman
theTonvo- ^^^ ^"^ such credit with the people, that when he proposed
cation. a loau of fivc huudrod thousand pounds to the emperor,
upon a branch of his revenue in Silesia, the money was
advanced imraediately by the merchants of Loudon.
The kingdom was blessed with plenty : the queen was
universally beloved : the people in general were zealous
for the prosecution of the war : the forces were well
paid : the treasury was punctual : and though a great
quantity of coin was exported for the maintenance of
the war, the paper-currency supplied the deficiency so
well, that no murraurs were heard, and the public
credit flourished both at horae and abroad. All the
funds being established, one in particular for two mil
lions and a half, by way of annuities for ninety-nine
years, at six and a half per cent., and all the bills
having received the royal assent, the queen went to
the House of Peers on the nineteenth day of March,
where, having thanked both Houses for the repeated
instances of their affection which she had received, she
prorogued the parliaraent to the tAventy-first day of
May following". The new Convocation, instead of
imitating the union and harmony of the Parliament,
revived the divisions by which the former had been dis
tracted, and the two Houses seemed to act Avith more
deterrained rancour against each other. The Upper
House having drawn up a Avarra address of thanks to
the queen for her affectionate care of the church, the
Boyer.'' Lower Housc refused to concur ; nor would they give
Lockhart. any reason for their dissent. They prepared another
H"st"rf ii^ ^ different strain, which was rejected by the arch-
Europe, bishop. Then they agreed to divers resolutions, as-
tS'.^'^^^' serting their right of having what they offered to the
Hist, of Upper House received by his grace and their lordships.
the Duke t i- ,-i ¦ -,. . . , , ^
of Marl- in consequence ot this dissension the address was
Burdfe't' ^^^'opped, and a stop put to all further comraunication
Lives of the " Among other bills passed during this session was an act for abridging and re-
Admirals. forming some proceedings in the common law and in chancery.
Voltaire.

ANNE. 509
between the two Houses. The Dean of Peterborough ^y^^[-
protested against the irregularities of the Lower House  il_
The queen, in a letter to the archbishop, signified her 1705.
resolution to raaintain her supreraacy, and the due sub
ordination of presbyters to bishops. She expressed her
hope that he and his suffragans would act conforraably
to her resolution, in which case they might be assured
of the continuance of her favour and protection : she
required him to irapart this declaration to the bishops
and clergy, and to prorogue the Convocation to such
time as should appear most convenient. When he
comraunicated this letter to the -Lower House, the
raerabers were not a little confounded ; nevertheless,
they would not coraply with the prorogation, but con
tinued to sit, in defiance of her raajesty's pleasure.
The eyes of Great Britain were now turned upon a An. I706.
transaction of the utraost consequence to the whole ences open-
island : naraely, the treaty for an union of the two king- ^'^ fo' ^
doras of England and Scotland. The queen having unfon with
appointed the coraraissioners* on both sides, they raet Scotland.
on the sixteenth day of April, in the council chamber
of the Cockpit near Whitehall, which was the place ap
pointed for the conferences. Their coraraissions being
¦¦ The English commissioners were, Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterbury;
WilHam Cowper, lord keeper of the great seal ; John Lord Arclibishop of York ;
Sidney Lord Godolphin, lord high treasurer of England ; Thomas Earl of Pem
broke and Montgomery, president of the council ; John Duke of Newcastle, keeper
of the privy seal ; William Duke of Devonshire, steward ofthe household; Charles
Duke of Somerset, master of the horse ; Charles Duke of Bolton, Charles Earl of
Sunderland, Evelyn Earl of Kingston, Charles Earl of Carlisle, Edward Earl of
Oxford, Charles Viscount Townshend, Thomas Lord AVharton, Ralph Lord Grey,
John Lord Powlet, Jolm Lord Somers, Charles Lord Halifax, William Cavendish,
Marquis of Hartington, John Manners, Marquis of Granby ; Sir Charles Hedges
and Robert Harley, principal secretaries of state ; John Smith ; Henry Boyle,
chancellor of the exchequer; Sir John Holt, chief justiceof the Queen's Bench; Sir
Thomas Trevor, chief justice ofthe common pleas ; Sir Edward Northey, attorney-
general ; Sir Simon Harcourt, solicitor-general ; Sir John Cooke ; and Stephen
Waller, doctor of laws  The Scottish commissioners were, James Earl of Sea
field, lord chancellor of Scotland ; James Duke of Queensberry, lord privy seal ;
John Earl of Mar, and Hu^ Earl of Loudon, principal secretaries of state ; John
Earl of Sutherland, John Earl of Morton, David Earl of Wemys, David Earl of
Leven, John Earl of Stair, Archibald Earl of Roseberry, David Earl of Glasgow,
Lord Archibald Campbell, Thomas Viscount Duplin, Lord William Ross, Sir
Hugh Dalrymple, president ofthe session; Adam Cockburn, of Ormistoun, lord
justice clerk ; Sir Robert Dundas of Amistoun, Robert Stuart of TuUicultrie, lords
ofthe session ; Mr. Francis Montgomery, one of the commissioners ofthe trea
sury ; Sir David Dalrymple, one of her majesty's solicitors ; Sir Alexander
Ogilvie, receiver- general; Sir Patrick Johnston, provost of Edinburgh; Sir
James Smollett, of Bonhill ; George Lockhart, of Camwath ; William Morrison,
of Preston-grange ; Alexander Grant ; William Seton, of Pifmidden ; John
Clerk, of Pennycook ; Hugh Montgomery, Daniel Stuart, and Daniel Campbell.

510 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, opened aud read by the respective secretaries, and iii-
" troductory speeches being pronounced by the lord
1706. keeper of England, and the lord chanceUor of Scot
land, they agreed to certain preliminary articles, im
porting, that all the proposals should be made in
writing; and every point, when agreed, reduced to
writing: that no points .should be obligatory, till all
matters should be adjusted in such a raanner as would
be proper to be laid before the queen and the two Par
liaraents for their approbation: that a committee should
be appointed from each commission, to revise the mi
nutes of what might pass, before they should be inserted
in the books by the respective secretaries ; and that all
the proceedings during the treaty should be kept secret.
The Scots were inclined to a federal union, like that
of the United Provinces ; but the English were bent
upon an incorporation, so that no Scottish Parliament
should ever have power to repeal the articles of the
treaty. The lord keeper proposed that the two king
doms of England and Scotland should be for ever
united into one realm, by the name of Great Britain ;
that it should be represented by one and the same Par
liament ; and, that the succession of this raonarchy,
failing of heirs of her majesty's body, should be ac
cording to the limitations mentioned in the act of Par
liaraent passed in the reign of King WiUiara, entitled
" An act for the further limitation of the crown, and the
better securing- the rights and liberties of the subject."
The Scottish commissioners, in order to coraply in some
measure with the popular clamour of their nation, pre
sented a proposal, implying, that the succession to the
crown of Scotland should be established upon the same
persons raentioned in the act of King Wilham's reign :
that the subjects of Scotland should for ever enjoy all
the rights and privileges of the natives in England, and
the dorainions thereunto belonging ; and, that the sub
jects of England should enjoy the Uke rights and
privileges in Scotland : that there should be a free
communication and intercourse of trade and navigation
between the two kingdoms, and plantations thereunto
belonging; and that all laws and statutes in either
kingdom, contrary to the terms of this union, should

ANNE. 511
be repealed. The English coraraissioners declined en- '^^j^j^-
tering into any considerations upon these proposals,  '. 
declaring themselves fully conrinced that nothing but 1706.
an entire union could settle a perfect and lasting friend
ship between the two kingdoms. The Scots acquiesced
in this reply, and both sides proceeded in the treaty,
without any other intervening dispute. They were
twice visited by the queen, who exhorted them to ac
celerate the articles of a treaty that would prove so ad
vantageous to both kingdoras. At length they were
finished, arranged, and mutually signed, on the twenty-
second of July, and next day presented to her majesty,
at the palace of St. James's, by the lord keeper in the
narae ofthe English coramissioners ; at the same time
a sealed copy of the instruraent was likewise delivered
by the lord chancellor of Scotland ; and each made a
short oration on the subject, to which the queen re
turned a very gracious reply. That sarae day she dic
tated an order of council, that whoever should be con
cerned in any discourse or libel, or in laying Avagers
relating to the union, should be prosecuted with the
utraost rigour of the law.
In this faraous treaty it was stipulated, that the sue- Substance
cession to the united kingdora of Great Britain should °g*y
be vested in the Princess Sophia, and her heirs, accord
ing to the acts already passed in the Parliaraent of
England : that the united kingdora should be repre
sented by one and the sarae Parliament : that all the
subjects of Great Britain should enjoy a coraraunication
of privileges and advantages: that they should have
the sarae allowances, encouragements, and drawbacks ;
and.be under the same prohibitions, restrictions, and
regulations, with respect to comraerce and customs:
that Scotland should not be charged with the tempo
rary duties on sorae certain coraraodities : that the sura
of three hundred ninety-eight thousand and eighty-five
pounds, ten shillings, should be granted to the Scots,
as an equivalent for such parts of the custoras and ex
cise charged upon that kingdora, in consequence of the
union, as would be applicable to the payraent of the
debts of England, according to the proportion which
the custoras and excise of Scotland bore to those of

512 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. England : that, as the revenues of Scotland raight in-
' crease, a further equivalent should be allowed for such
1706. proportion of the said increase as should be applicable
to the payraent of the debts of England : that the sura
to be paid at present, as well as the raonies arising from
the future equivalents, should be employed in reducing
the coin of Scotland to the standard and value of the
English coin ; in paying off the capital stock and in
terest due to the proprietors of the African company,
which should be immediately dissolved ; in discharging
all the public debts of the kingdom of Scotland ; in
promoting and encouraging raanufactures and fisheries,
under the direction of commissioners to be appointed
by her majesty, and accountable to the Parliament of
Great Britain : that the laws concerning public right,
policy, and civil governraent, should be the same
throughout the whole united kingdom ; but that no al
teration should be raade in laAvs which concerned pri
vate right, except for evident utility of the subjects
within Scotland : that the court of session, and all other
courts of judicature in Scotland, should reraain as then
constituted by the laws of that kingdom, with the same
authority and privileges as before the union ; subject,
nevertheless, to such regulations as should be made by
the Parliament of Great Britain : that all heritable
offices, superiorities, heritable jurisdictions, offices for
life, and jurisdictions for life, shoidd be reserved to the
owners, as rights and property, iri the same manner as
then enjoyed by the laws of Scotland : that the rights
and privileges of the royal boroughs in Scotland should
remain entire after the union : that Scotland should be
represented in the Parliaraent of Great Britain by six
teen peers and forty-five commoners, to be elected in
such a manner as should be settled by the present Par
Uament of Scotland : that all peers of Scotland, and
the successors to their honours and dignities, should,
frora and after the union, be peers of Great Britain,
and should have rank and precedency next and irarae
diately' after , the English peers of the like orders and
degrees at the tirae of the union ; and before all peers
of Great Britain of the like orders and degrees, who
might be created after the union : that they should be

ANNE. 513
tried as peers of Great Britain, and enjoy all privileges ^y^[-
of peers, as fully as enjoyed by the peers of England,  1_
except the right and privilege of sitting in the House 1706.
of Lords, and the privileges depending thereon, and
particularly the right of sitting upon the trials of peers ;
that the crown, sceptre, and sword of state, the records
of Parliaraent, and all other records, rolls, and registers
whatsoever, should still reraain as they were, within
that part of the united kingdom called Scotland : that
all laws and statutes in either kingdom, so far as they
might be inconsistent vrith the terras of these articles,
should cease and be declared void by the respective
Parliaraents ofthe two kingdoras. Such is the substance
of that treaty of union which was so eagerly courted by
the English rainistry, and proved so unpalatable to the
generality of the Scottish nation.

VOL. I. L L

514 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAPTER IX.
Battle of RamiUies, in which the French are defeated. — The Siege
of Barcelona raised hy the English Fleet. — Prince Eugene ohtains
a complete Victory over the French at Turin. — Sir Cloudesley
Shovel sails with a Reinforcement to Charles King of Spain. —
The King of Sweden marches into Saxony. — The French King
demands Conferences for a Peace. — Meeting of the Scottish Par
liament. — Violent Opposition to the Union. — The Scots in general
averse to the Treaty. — Which is nevertheless confirmed by their
Parliament. — Proceedings in the English Parliament. — The
Commons approve of the Articles of the Union. — The Lords pass
a Bill for the Security of the Church of England. — Arguments
used against the Articles of the Union. — Which, however, are
confirmed hy Act of Parliament. — The Parhament revived by
Proclamation. — The Queen gives Audience to a Muscovite Am
bassador. — Proceedings in Convocation. — France threatened with
total Ruin. — The Allies are defeated at Almanza. — Unsuccessful
Attempt upon Toulon. — Sir Cloudesley Shovel wrecked on the
Rocks of Scilly. — Weakness of the Emperor on the Upper Rhine.
— Interview between the King of Sweden and the Duke of Marl
borough. — Inactive Campaign in the Netherlands. — Harley begins
to form a Party against the Duke of Marlborough. — The Nation
discontented with the Whig Ministry. — Meeting of the first
British Parhament. — Inquiry into the State of the War in Spain.
— Gregg, a Clerk in the Secretary's Ofiice, detected in a Cor
respondence with the French Ministry. — Harley resigns his
Employments. — The Pretender embarks at Dunkirk for Scotland.
— His Design is defeated. — State of the Nation at that Period. —
Parliament dissolved. — The French surprise Ghent and Bruges.—
They are routed at Oudenarde. — The Allies invest Lisle. — They
defeat a large Body of French Forces at WjTiendale. The
Elector of Bavaria attacks Brussels. — Lisle surrendered, Ghent
taken, and Bruges abandoned. — Conquest of Minorca by General
Stanhope. — Rupture between the Pope and the Emperor. — Death
of Prince George of Denmark. — The new Parliament assembled.
— Naturalization Bill. — Act of Grace. — Disputes about the Mus
covite Ambassador compromised.
CHAP. While this treaty was on the carpet at home, the
. allied arras prospered surprisingly in the Netherlands,

1706. in Spain, and in Piedraont. The French kiuff had
Battle of 11. , ..____ o
amillies, * - — — 
which countries ; and indeed, at the bee-innine of the cam-
the French • i • • « ®
defeated. P^ig"' his arinies were very formidable. He hoped that.

Ramnhes, ^esolved to make very considerable efforts in these
countries ; and indeed, at the beginning of the cam
paign, his armies were very formidable. He hoped that,
by the reduction of Turin and Barcelona, the war would

are

ANNE. 515
be extinguished in Italy and Catalonia. He knew ^f^^-
he could outnumber any body of forces that Prince '
Louis of Baden should assemble on the Rhine ; and he 1706.
resolved to reinforce his army in Flanders, so as to be
in a condition to act offensively against the Duke of
Marlborough. This nobleraan repaired to Holland in
the latter end of April ; and conferred with the States-
General. Then he asserabled the army between Bor-
schloen and Groes- Waren, and found it amounted to
seventy-fom- battalions of foot, and one hundred and
twenty-three squadrons of horse and dragoons, well fur
nished with artillery and pontoons. The court of
France having received intelligence that the Danish
and Prussian troops had not yet joined the confederates,
ordered the Elector of Bavaria and the Mareschal de
Villeroy to attack them before the junction could be
effected. In pursuance of this order they passed the
Deule on the nineteenth day of May, and posted thera
selves at Tirleraont, being superior in number to the
allied army. There they were joined by the horse of the
army coraraanded by Mareschal Marsin, and encamped
between Tirlemont and Judoigne. On Whitsunday,
early in the raorning, the Duke of Marlborough ad
vanced with his army in eight columns towards the
village of Raraillies, being by this time joined by the
Danes ; and he learned that the enemy were in march
to give hira battle. Next day the French generals,
perceiving the confederates so near thera, took posses
sion of a strong carap, the right extending to the torab
of Hauteraont, on the side of the Mehaigne ; their left
to Anderkirk ; and the village of Raraillies being near
their centre. The confederate array was drawn up in
order of battle, with the right wing near Foltz on the
brook of Yause, and the left by the village of Franque-
nies, which the enemy had occupied. The duke or
dered Lieutenant-General Schultz, with twelve batta
lions and twenty pieces of cannon, to begin the action,
by attacking RamiUies, which was strongly fortified
Arith artillery. At the sarae tirae Veldt-Mareschal
D'Auverquerque, on the left, coraraanded Colonel
WertmuUer, with four battalions and two pieces of
LL 2

516 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, cannon, to dislodge the enemy's infantry posted araong
^^- the hedges of Franquenies. Both these orders were
1706. successfully executed. The Dutch and Danish horse
of the left wing charged with great vigour and intre
pidity, but were so roughly handled by the troops of the
French king's household, that they began to give way,
when the Duke of Marlborough sustained thera Arith
the body of reserve, and twenty squadrons drawn from
the right, where a morass prevented them from acting.
In the raean tirae, he in person rallied some of the
broken squadrons, in order to renew the charge, when
his own horse falling, he was surrounded by the enemy,
and must have been either killed or taken prisoner, had
not a body of infantry come seasonably to his relief.
When he remounted his horse, the head of Colonel
Brienfield, his gentleraan of the horse, was carried off
by a cannon-ball while he held the duke's stirrup. Be
fore the reinforceraent arrived, the best part of the
French raousquetaires were cut in pieces. All the
troops posted in Raraillies were either killed or taken.
The rest ofthe enemy's infantry began to retreat in tole
rable order, under cover ofthe cavalry on their left Aving,
which formed themselves in three lines between Ossuz
and Anderkirk ; but the English horse having found
means to pass the rivulet which divided them from the
enemy, fell upon them vrith such impetuosity, that they
abandoned their foot, and were terribly slaughtered in
the village of Anderkirk. They now gave way on all
sides. The horse fled three different ways ; but were so
closely pursued that very few escaped. The Elector
of Bavaria, and the Mareschal de Villeroy, saved them
selves with the utraost diflficulty. Several waggons of
the enemy's vanguard breaking doAvn in a narrow pass,
obstructed the way in such a manner, that the baggage
and artillery could uot proceed ; nor could their troops
defile in order. The victorious horse being informed
of this accident, pressed on them so vigorously that
great numbers threw down their arms and submitted.
The pursuit was foUoAved through Judoigne till two
o'clock in the morning, five leagues from the field of
battle, and within two of Louvaine. In a word, the

ANNE. 517
confederates obtained a coraplete victory. They took '-'?^^-
the eneray's baggage and artillery, about one hundred ,

and twenty colours, or standards, six hundred officers, 1706.
six thousand private soldiers ; and about eight thousand
were killed or wounded*. Prince Maxirailian and
Prince Monbason lost their lives : the Major-Generals
Palavicini and Mezieres were taken, together with the
Marquises de Bar, de Nonant,-and de la Beaume, this
last the son of the Mareschal de Tallard, Monsieur de
Montmorency, nephew to the Duke of Luxerabourg,
and many other persons of distinction. The loss of
the allies did not exceed three thousand men, including
Prince Louis of Hesse, and Mr. Bentinck, who were
slain in the engagement. The French generals retired
with precipitation to Brussels, while the allies took
possession -of Louvaine, and next day encaraped at
Bethlem. The battle of Raraillies was attended with
the iraraediate conquest of all Brabant. The cities
of Louvaine, Mechlin, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent,
and Bruges, subraitted without resistance, and ac
knowledged King Charles. Ostend, though secured
by a strong garrison, was suiTended after a siege of
ten days. Menin, esteeraed the raost finished fortifica
tion in the Netherlands, and guarded by six thousand
men, raet with the sarae fate. The garrison of Den
dermonde surrendered themselves prisoners of war; and
Aeth subraitted on the sarae conditions. The French
troops were dispirited. The city of Paris was over
whelraed with consternation. Louis affected to bear
his misfortunes with calmness and composure ; but the
constraint had such an effect upon his constitution that
his physicians thought it necessary to prescribe frequent
bleeding, which he accordingly underwent. At his
court no mention was raade of railitary transactions :
all was soleran, silent, and reserved.
Had the issue of the carapaign in Catalonia been The siege
such as the beginning seemed to prognosticate, the "o^f raided
French king might have in sorae raeasure consoled by the Eng
lish fleet.
" The French impute the loss of this battle to the misconduct of Villeroy, who,
it must be owned, made a most wretched disposition. When he returned to Ver
sailles, where he expected to meet with nothing but reproaches, Louis received
him without the least mark of displeasure, saying, " Mr. Mareschal, you and I are
too old to be fortunate."

518 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, hiraself for his disgraces in the Netherlands. On the
' sixth day of April, King Philip, at the head of a nu-
1706. merous army, undertook the siege of Barcelona, while
the Count de Thoulouse blocked it up Arith a powerful
squadron. The inhabitants, aniraated by the presence
of King Charles, made a vigorous defence ; and the
garrison was reinforced with some troops from Gironne
and other places. But, after the fort of Montjuic was
taken, the place was so hard pressed, that Charles ran
the utraost risk of falling into the hands of the enemy;
for the Earl of Peterborough, who had raarched from
Valencia with two thousand raen, found it irapractica
ble to enter the city. Nevertheless, he raaintained his
post upon the hills ; and with surprising courage and
activity kept the besiegers in continual alarra. At
length. Sir John Leake sailed frora Lisbon vrith thirty
ships of the line ; and on the eighth day of May arrived
in sight of Barcelona. The French adrairal no sooner
received intelligence of his approach, than he set sail
for Toulon. In three days after his departure. King
Philip abandoned the siege, and retired in great dis
order, leaving behind his tents, with the sick and
wounded. On the side of Portugal, the Duke of Ber
wick was left with such an inconsiderable force as proved
insuificient to defend the frontiers. The Earl of Gal
way, with an array of twenty thousand men, undertook
the siege of Alciantara ; and in three days the garrison,
consisting of four thousand raen, were made prisoners
of war. Then he marched to Placentia, and advanced
as far as the bridge of Alraaris ; but the Portuguese
would penetrate no farther until they should know the
fate of Barcelona. When they understood the siege
was raised, they consented to proceed to Madrid.
Philip, guessing their intention, posted to that capital,
and sent his queen Avith all his valuable effects to
Burgos, whither he followed her in person, after having
destroyed every thing that he could not carry away.
About the latter end of June, the Earl of Galway en
tered the city without resistance ; but the Spaniards
were extreraely mortified to see an army of Portuguese,
headed by a heretic, in possession of their capital.
King Charles loitered away his time in Barcelona

ANNE. 519
until his competitor recovered his spirits, and received ^P^ ^'
such reinforcements as enabled him to retm-n to Ma- "

drid, with an array equal to that coraraanded by the 1706.
Earl of Galway. This general raade a raotion towards
Arragon, in order to faciUtate his conjunction with
Charles, who had set out by the way of Saragossa,
where he was acknowledged as sovereign of Arragon
and Valencia. In the beginning of August this prinee
arrived at the Portuguese camp, with a small reinforce
ment ; and in a few days vvas foUoAved by the Earl of
Peterborough, at the head of five hundred dragoons.
The two ai-mies were now pretty equal in point of
nuraber ; but as each expected further reinforceraents,
neither chose to hazard an engagement. The Earl of
Peterborough, who aspired to the chief comraand, and
hated the Prince of Lichtenstein, who enjoyed the con
fidence of King Charles, retired in disgust ; and era-
barking on board an English ship of war, set sail for
Genoa. The English fleet continued all the summer
in the Mediterranean : they secured Carthagena, which
had declared for Charles : they took the town of Alicant
by assault, and the castle by capitulation. Then sailing
out of the Straits, one squadron was detached to the
West Indies, another to lie at Lisbon, and the rest were
sent home to England.
Fortune Avas not more propitious to the French in P"iceEu-
firenc ob—
Italy than in Flanders. The Duke de Vendome having tains a
been recalled to assume the command in Flanders ™™pieteVictory over
after the battle of RamiUies, the Duke of Orleans was the French
placed at the head of the army in Piedmont, under the ^' '^™"-
tutorage and direction ofthe Mareschal de Marsin. They
were ordered to besiege Turin, which was accordingly
invested in the month of May; and the operations car
ried on till the beginning of September. Great prepa
rations had been made for this siege. It was not under
taken until the Duke of SaA-oy had rejected all the offers
of the French monarch, which were suflBcient to have
shaken a prince of less courage and fortitude. The
Duke de la Feuillade having finished the lines of cir
cumvallation and contravallation, sent his quarter-raas-
ter-generalwith a trumpet, to offer passports and a guard
for the removal of the duchess and her children. The

520 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Duke of Savoy replied, that he did not intend to reraove
' his family, and that the raareschal raight begin to exe-
1706. cute his master's orders whenever he should think fit ;
but, when the siege began with uncomraon fury, and
' the French fired red-hot balls into the place, the two
duchesses, with the young prince and princesses, quitted
Turin, and retired to Quierasco, from whence they were
conducted through raany dangers into the territories of
Genoa. The duke himself forsook his capital, in order
to put himself at the head of his cavalry ; and was pur
sued from place to place by five-and-forty squadrons
under the command of the Count D'Aubeterre. Not
withstanding the very noble defence which was made by
the garrison of Turin, which destroyed fourteen thou
sand of the eneray during the course of the siege, the
defences were alraost ruined, their araraunition began
to fail, and they had no prospect of relief but from
Prince Eugene, who had iiuraberless difficulties to en
counter before he could march to their assistance. The
Duke de Vendome, before he left Italy, had secured all
the fords of the Adige, the Mincio, and the Oglio, and
forraed such lines and intrenchments as he imagined
would effectually hinder the imperial general frora arriv
ing in tirae to relieve the city of Turin. But the prince
surraounted all opposition ; passed four great rivers in
despite of the enemy ; and reached the neighbourhood
of Turin on the thirteenth day of August. There,
being joined by the Duke of Savoy, he passed the Po
between Montcalier and Cavignan. On the fifth day
of September they took a convoy of eight hundred
loaded mules ; next day they passed the Doria, and en
camped with the right on the bank of that river before
Pianessa, and the left on the Sturabefore the Veneria. The
enemy were intrenched, having the Stura on their right,
the Doria on their left, and the convent of capuchins,
called Notre Dame de la Campagne, in their centre.
When Prince Eugene approached Turin, the Duke of
Orleans proposed to march out of the intrenchments and
give hira battle ; and this proposal Avas seconded by aU
the general officers, except Marsin, who, finding the
duke deterrained, produced an order frora the French
king coraraanding the duke to follow the raareschal's

ANNE. 521
advice. The court of VersaiUes was now becorae afraid '"^^^•
of hazarding an engageraent against those who had so "
often defeated their arraies ; and this ofliicer had private 1706.
instructions to keep within the trenches. On the se
venth day of Septeraber the confederates marched up to
the intrenchments of the French, in eight colurans,
through a terrible fire frora forty pieces of artillery, and
were formed in order of battle within half cannon shot
of the enemy. Then they advanced to the attack with
surprising resolution, and raet with such a warm recep
tion as seemed to stop their progress. Prince Eugene
perceiving this check, drew his sword, and putting him
self at the head of the battaUons on the left, forced the
intrenchments at the first charge. The Duke of Savoy
met with the same success in the centre, and on the
right near Lucengo. The horse advanced through the
intervals of the foot, left for that purpose ; and break
ing in with vast irapetuosity, corapleted the confusion
of the eneray, who were defeated on all hands, and re
tired with precipitation to the other side of the Po,
while the Duke of Savoy entered his capital in triuraph.
The Duke of Orleans exhibited repeated proofs of the
raost intrepid courage, and received several wounds in
the engageraent. Mareschal de Marsin fell into the
hands ofthe victors, his thigh being shattered with a ball,
and died in a few hours after the araputation. Of the
French array, about five thousand raen were slain on the
field of battle ; a great nuraber of oflScers, and upwards of
seven thousand raen, were taken, together with two
hundred and fifty-five pieces of cannon, one hundred
and eighty raortars, an incredible quantity of ararauni
tion, all the tents and baggage, five thousand beasts of
burden, ten thousand horses belonging to thirteen re
giraents of dragoons, and the raules of the coraraissary-
general, so richly laden, that this part of the booty alone
was valued at three raillions of livres. The loss of the
confederates did not exceed three thousand raen killed
or disabled in the action, besides about the same num
ber at the garrison of Turin, which had fallen since the
beginning of the siege. This was such a fatal stroke
to the interest of Louis, that Madame de Maintenon
would not venture to make him fully acquainted with

522 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^^6^' the state of his affairs. He was told that the Duke of
 L_ Orleans had raised the siege of Turin at the approach
1706. of Prince Eugene ; but he knew not that his OAvn array
was defeated and ruined. The spirits of the French
were a little coraforted in consequence of an advantage
gained about this time by the Count de Medavi-grancey,
who commanded a body of troops left in the Mantuan
territories. He surprised the Prince of Hesse in the
neighbourhood of Castiglione, and obliged hira to retire
to the Adige, with the loss of two thousand raen : but
this victory was attended with no consequence in their
favour. The Duke of Orleans retreated into Dauphine,
Avhile the French garrisons were driven out of every
place they occupied in Piedraont and Italy, except Cre-
raona, Valenza, and the castle of Milan, which were
blocked up by the confederates.
Skcioudes- Over and above these disasters which the French
sails witr sustained in the course of this carapaign, they were
=>¦ reinforce- miserably alarmed by the project of an invasion from
Charles Britain, formed by the Marquis de Guiscard, who,
King of actuated by a family disgust, had abandoned his country,
and become a partisan of the confederates. He was de
clared a lieutenant-general in the emperor's ai-my, and
came over to London, after having settled a corre
spondence with the malecontents in the southern parts
of France. He insinuated himself into the friendship
of Henry St. John, secretary of AA'ar, and other persons
of distinction. His scheme of invading France was
approved by the British ministry, and he was promoted
to the command of a regiment of dragoons destined for
that service. About eleven thousand men were em
barked under the conduct of Earl Rivers, Avith a large
train of artillery ; and the combined squadrons, com
manded by Sir Cloudesley Shovel, set sail frora Ply
raouth on the thirteenth day of August. Next day
they were forced into Torbay by contrary Avinds, and
there they held a council of AAar to concert their opera
tions, when they discovered that Guiscard's plan was
altogether chimerical, or at least founded upon such
slight assurances and conjectures as could not justify
their proceeding to execution. An express was imrae
diately despatched to the Admiralty, Avitli the result of

ANNE. 523
this council ; and in the raean time letters aiTived at ^J^-^ ^'
court from the Earl of Galway, after his retreat from

Madrid to Valencia, soliciting succours with the raost 1706.
earnest entreaties. The expedition to France was ira
raediately postponed, and Sir Cloudesley Shovel was
ordered to raake the best of his way for Lisbon, there
to take such raeasures as the state of the war in Spain
should render necessary. Guiscard and his oflScers
being set on shore, the fleet sailed with the first fair
wind, and towards the latter end of October arrived at
Lisbon. On the twenty-eighth day of the next raonth
the King of Portugal died, and his eldest son and suc
cessor being but eighteen years of age, was, even raore
than his father, influenced by a rainistry which had pri
vate connexions with the court of Versailles. Never
theless, Sir Cloudesley Shovel and Earl Rivers, being
pressed by letters frora King Charles and the Earl of
Galway, sailed to their assistance in the beginning of
January ; and on the twenty-eighth arrived at Alicant,
frora whence the Earl of Rivers proceeded by land to
Valencia, in order to assist at a general council of war.
The operations of the ensuing carapaign being con
certed, and the array joined by the reinforcement frora
England, Earl Rivers, disliking the country, returned
with the adrairal to Lisbon.
Poland was at length delivered from the presence of The King
the King of Sweden, who, in the beginning of Septem- marches*"
ber, suddenly marched through Lusatia into Saxony ; '"'« Sax-
and in a little time laid that whole electorate under °°^'
contribution. Augustus being thus cut off from all re
source, resolved to obtain peace on the Swede's oavu
terms, and engaged in a secret treaty for this purpose.
In the mean time the Poles and Muscovites attacked
the Swedish forces at Kalish in Great Poland ; and by
dint of numbers routed thera with great slaughter. Not
withstanding this event, Augustus ratified the treaty,
by which he acknowledged Stanislaus as true and right
ful King of Poland, reserving to hiraself no more than
the empty title of sovereign. The confederates were
not a little alarmed to find Charles in the heart of Ger
many, and the French court did not fail to court his
alliance ; but he continued on the reserve against all

524 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, their solicitations. Then they iraplored his raediation
" for a peace ; and he answered, that he would interpose
1706. his good oflSces, as soon as he should know they would
be agreeable to the poAvers engaged in the grand alliance.
TheFrench The pride of Louis was now hurabled to such a de
mands con- gree as raight have excited the corapassion of his enemies.
ferences for jje employed the Elector of Bavaria to write letters in
d peace, j^.^ narae to the Duke of Marlborough and the deputies
of the States-General, containing proposals for opening
a congress. He had already tarapered with the Dutch,
in a raeraorial presented by the Marquis d'Alegre. He
likewise besought the pope to interpose in his behalf.
He offered to cede either Spain and the West Indies,
or Milan, Naples, and Sicily, to King Charles ; to give
up a barrier for the Dutch in the Netherlands ; and to
inderanify the Duke of Savoy for the ravages that had
been committed in his dominions. Though his real
aira was peace, yet he did not despair of being able to
excite such jealousies araong the confederates as raight
shake the basis of their union. His hope was not alto
gether disappointed. The court of Vienna was so
rauch alarmed at the offers he had made, and the
reports circulated by his emissaries, that the eraperor
resolved to raake hiraself raaster of Naples before the
allies should have it in their power to close with the
proposals of France. This was the true raotive of his
concluding a treaty with Louis in the succeeding winter,
by which the Milanese was entirely evacuated, and the
French king at liberty to employ those troops in making
strong efforts against the confederates in Spain and the
Netherlands. The Dutch were intoxicated with suc
cess, and their pensionary, Heinsius, entirely influenced
by the Duke of Marlborough, who found his account
in the continuance of the war, which at once gratifled
his avarice and arabition ; for all his great qualities were
obscured by the sordid passion of accuraulating wealth.
During the whole war the allies never had such an op
portunity as they now enjoyed to bridle the power of
France effectually, and secure the liberties ofthe erapire;
and indeed, if their real design was to establish an equal
balance between the houses of Austria and Bourbon, it
could not have been better effected than by dividing the

ANNE. 525

Spanish monarchy between these two potentates. The ^^^ ^"
accession of Spain, with all its appendages, to either.

would have destroyed the equiUbriura which the allies 1706.
proposed to establish. But other raotives contri
buted to a continuation of the war. The powers of the
confederacy were fired with the arabition of raaking
conquest ; and England in particular thought herself
entitled to an indemnification for the immense sums she
had expended. Animated by these concurring consi
derations. Queen Anne and the States-General rejected
the offers of France ; and declared that they would not
enter into any negotiation for peace, except in concert
with their allies.
The tories of England began to meditate schemes of "IJeeting of
opposition against the Duke of Marlborough. They Parliament.
looked upon him as a selfish nobleman, who sacrificed
the interest of the nation, in protracting a ruinous war
for his own private advantage. They saw their country
oppressed with an increasing load of taxes, which they
apprehended would in a little tirae becorae an intolerable
burden ; and they did not doubt but at this period
such terras raight be obtained as would fully answer the
great purpose of the confederacy. This, indeed, was
the prevailing opinion araong all the sensible people of
the nation who were not particularly interested in the
prosecution of the war, either by being connected Arith
the general, or in sorae shape eraployed in the manage
ment of the finances. The tories were likewise insti
gated by a party-spirit against Marlborough, who, by
means of his wife, was iu full possession of the queen's
confidence, and openly patronised the whig faction.
But the attention of people in general was now
tumed upon the Scottish Parliaraent, which took into
consideration the treaty of union lately concluded be
tween the comraissioners of both kingdoms. On the
third day of October, the Duke of Queensberry, as
high-commissioner, produced the queen's letter, in
which she expressed her hope that the terras of the
treaty Avould be acceptable to her Parliaraent of Scot
land. She said, an entire and perfect union would be
the soUd foundation of a lasting peace ; it would secure
their religion, liberty, and property, reraove the ani-

526 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, niosities that prevailed among themselves, and the
.jealousies that subsisted between the two nations; it

1706. would increase their strength, riches, and comraerce; the
whole island would be joined in affection, and free from
all apprehensions of different interests; it would be
enabled to resist all its enemies, support the protestant
interest everywhere, and raaintain the liberties of Eu
rope. She renewed her assurance of raaintaining the
governraent of their church ; and told thera, that now
they had an opportunity of taking such steps as might
be necessary for its security after the union. She de
manded the necessary supplies. She observed, that the
great success with which God Almighty had blessed
her arms afforded the near prospect of a happy peace,
-with which they would enjoy the full advantages of this
union : that they had no reason to doubt but the Par
liaraent of England would do all that should be necessary
on their part to confirra the union : finally, she recom
mended calmness and unanimity in deliberating on this
great and weighty affair, of such consequence to the
whole island of Great Britain.
Violent op- Hithcrto the articles of the union had been indus-
the'union? triously coucealod from the knowledge of the people ;
but the treaty being recited in Parliament, and the par
ticulars divulged, such a flame was kindled through
the whole nation as had not appeared since the Re
storation. The cavaliers or Jacobites had always fore
seen that this union would extinguish all their hopes of
a revolution in favour of a pretender. The nobiUty
found themselves degraded in point of dignity and in
fluence, by being excluded from their seats in Parlia
ment. The trading part of the nation beheld their com
merce saddled with heavy duties and restrictions, and
considered the privilege of trading to the English plant
ations as a precarious and uncertain prospect of ad
vantage. The barons, or gentlemen, were exasperated
at a coalition, by which their Parliaraent Avas annihilated,
and their credit destroyed. The people in general ex
clairaed, that the dignity of their crown was betrayed ;
that the independency of their nation had fallen a sa
crifice to treachery and corruption ; that whatever con
ditions might be speciously offered, they could not

ANNE. 527
expect they would be observed by a ParUament in which c hap.
the English had such a majority. They exaggerated  '. —
the dangers to which the constitution of their church 1706.
would be exposed from a bench of bishops, and a Par
liaraent of episcopalians. This consideration alarraed
the presbyterian rainisters to such a degree, that they
employed all their power and credit in waking the re
sentraent of their hearers against the treaty, which
produced an universal ferraent araong all ranks of peo
ple. Even the raost rigid puritans joined the ca
valiers in expressing their detestation of the union; and,
laying aside their mutual animosities, proraised to co
operate in opposing a measure so ignominious and pre
judicial to their country. In Parliaraent the opposition
was headed by the Dukes of Harailton and Athol, and
the Marquis of Annandale. The first of these noble
men had wavered so rauch in his conduct that it is dif
ficult to ascertain his real political principles. He was
generally supposed to favour the plaim of the pretender;
but he was afraid of embarking too far in his cause, and
avoided violent raeasures in the discussion of this treaty,
lest he should incur the resentraent of the EngUsh Par
liament, and forfeit the estate he possessed in that king
dom. Athol was raore forward in his professions of
attachraent to the court of St. Gerraain's ; but he had
less ability, and his zeal was supposed to have been in
flaraed by resentraent against the rainistry. The debates
upon the different articles of the treaty were carried on
with great heat and vivacity ; and raany shrewd argu
raents were used against this scheme of an incorporating
union. One meraber afl^rraed, that it would furnish a
handle to any aspiring prince to overthrow the liberties
of all Britain ; for if the Parliament of Scotland could
alter, or rather subvert, its constitution, this circum
stance might be a precedent for the Parliaraent of Great
Britain to assurae the sarae power : that the represent
atives for Scotland would, frora their poverty, depend
upon those who possessed the raeans of corruption ; and
having- expressed so little concern for the support of
their oAvn constitution, would pay very little regard to
that of any other. " What ! (said the Duke of Hamil
ton) shall we in half an hour give up what our fore-

528 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, fathers maintained vrith their lives and fortunes for
' many ages ? Are here none of the descendants of those
1706. worthy patriots, who defended the liberty of their
country against all invaders ; who assisted the great
King Robert Bruce to restore the constitution and re
venge the falsehood of England, and the usurpation of
Baliol? Where are the Douglasses and Campbells?
Where are the peers, where are the barons, once the
bulwark of the nation? Shall we yield up the so
vereignty and independency of our country, when we
are coramanded by those we represent to preserve the
same, and assured of their assistance to support us ?"
The Duke of Athol protested against an incorporating
union, as contrary to the honour, interest, fundamental
laws, and constitution of the kingdora of Scotland, the
birthright of the peers, the rights and pririleges of the
barons and boroughs, and to the claira of right, property,
and liberty of the subjects. To this protest nineteen
peers and forty-six comraoners adhered. The earl mare
schal entered a protest, importing, that no person being
successor to the crown of England should inherit that
of Scotland, without such previous limitations as raight
secure the honour and sovereignty ofthe Scottish croAvn
and kingdora, the frequency and power of Parliaraent,
the religion, liberty, and trade of the nation, frora Eng
lish or any foreign influence. He was seconded by six-
and-forty raerabers. With regard to the third article
of the union, stipulating that both kingdoras should be
represented by one and the same Parliament, the coun
try-party observed, that, by assenting to this expedient,
they did in effect sink their own constitution, whUe
that of England underwent no alteration : that in all
nations there are fundamentals which no power what
ever can alter : that the rights and privileges of Parlia
ment being one of these fundamentals among the Scots,
no Parliament, or any other power, could ever legally pro
hibit the raeeting of Parliaraents, or deprive any of the
three estates of its right of sitting or voting in Parlia
raent, or give up the rights and privileges of Parliaraent;
but that by this treaty the Parliament of Scotland was
entirely abrogated, its rights and privileges sacrificed,
and those ofthe English Parliament substituted in their

ANNE. 529

place. They argued, that though the legislative power '-'?^^'
in Parliament was regulated and deterrained by a ma- .

jority of voices, yet the giving up the constitution, Avith 1706.
the rights and privileges of the nation, was not subject
to suffrage, being founded on dominion and property ;
and therefore could not be legally surrendered without
the consent of every person who had a right to elect and
to be represented in Parliament. They aflSrmed that
the obligation laid on the Scottish merabers to reside so
long in London, iu attendance on the British Parlia
ment, would drain Scotland of all its money, irapoverish
the merabers, and subject thera to the temptation of
being corrupted. Another protest was entered by the
Marquis of Annandale against an incorporating union,
as being odious to the people, subversive of the con
stitution, sovereignty, and claim of right, and threaten
ing ruin to the church as by law established. Fifty-
two merabers joined in this protestation. Alraost every
article produced the most inflamraatory disputes. The
Lord Belhaven enuraerated the mischiefs which would
attend the union, in a pathetic speech, that droAV tears
from the audience, and is at this day looked upon as
a prophecy by great part of the Scottish nation. Ad
dresses against the treaty were presented to Parliaraent
by the convention of boroughs, the coraraissioners of
the general asserably, the corapany trading to Africa
and the Indies, as well as frora several shires, stewartries,
boroughs, toAvns, and parishes, in all the different parts
of the kingdora, without distinction of whig or tory,
episcopalian or presbyterian. The Earl of Buchan
for the peers, Lockhart of Carnwath for the barons.
Sir Walter Stuart in behalf of the peers, barons,
and boroughs, the Earls of Errol and Marischal for
themselves, as high-constable and earl-marshal of the
kingdora, protested severally against the treaty of
union. While this opposition raged within doors, the resent- The Scots
ment of the people rose to transports of fury and re- Ivefse to*
venge. The raore rigid presbyterians, known by the '^« "^«**y-
narae of Cameronians, chose oflScers, formed theraselves
into regiraents, provided horses, arras, and araraunition,
and raarching to Durafries, burned the articles of the
VOL. I. MM

530 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, union at the Market-cross, justifying their conduct in
" a public declaration. They made a tender of their at-
1706. tachment to Duke Harailton, frora whom they received
encouragement in secret. They reconciled themselves
to the episcopalians and the cavaliers; they resolved to
take the route to Edinburgh, and dissolve the Parlia
ment ; while the Duke of Athol undertook to secure
the pass of Stirling with his Highlanders, so as to open
the comraunication between the western and northern
parts of the kingdora. Seven or eight thousand raen
were actually ready to appear in arms at the town of
Hamilton, and march directly to Edinburgh, under the
duke's comraand, when that nobleman altered his
opinion, and despatched private couriers through the
whole country, requiring the people to defer their raeet
ing till further directions. The raore sanguine cavaliers
accused his grace of treachery ; but in all likelihood he
was actuated by prudential raotives. He alleged, in his
own excuse, that the nation was not in a condition to
carry on such an enterprise, especially as the English
had already detached troops to the border, and raight
in a few days have wafted over a considerable reinforce
raent frora Holland. During this commotion among
the Cameronians, the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow
were filled with tumults. Sir Patrick Johnston, pro
vost of Edinburgh, who had been one of the com
raissioners for the union, was besieged in his own house
by the populace, and would have been torn in pieces,
had not the guards dispersed the raultitude. The
privy-council issued a proclaraation against riots, com
manding all persons to retire from the streets whenever
the drum should beat ; ordering the guards to fire upon
those who should disobey this coramand, and indemni
fying thera frora all prosecution for mairaing or slaying
the lieges. These guards were placed all round the
house in which the Peers and Comraons were assem
bled, and the council received the thanks of the Par
liaraent for having thus provided for their safety.
Notwithstanding these precautions of the government,
the commissioner was constantly saluted with the
curses and imprecations of the people as he passed
along ; his guards were pelted, and some of his attend-

ANNE. 531

ants wounded with stones as they sat by hira in the ^"x^-
coach, so that he was obliged to pass through the streets

on full gallop. 1706.
Against all this national fury, the Dukes of Queens- which is
berry and Argyle, the Earls of Montrose, Seafield, and °«™rtheiess
o • 111 11 IT . confirmed
Stair, and the other nobleraen attached to the union, by then-
acted with equal prudence and resolution. They argued ^'"''^'"•"^nt.
strenuously against the objections that were started in
the House. They magnified the advantages that would
accrue to the kingdom from the privileges of trading to
the English plantations, and being protected in their
comraerce by a powerful navy ; as weU as frora the ex
clusion of a popish pretender, AAho they knew was odious
to the nation in general. They found raeans, partly by
their promises, and partly by corruption, to bring over
the Earls of Roxburgh and Marchmont, with the whole
squadron who had hitherto been unpropitious to the
court. They disarmed the resentment of the clergy,
by proraoting an act to be inserted in the union, de
claring the presbyterian discipline to be the only go
vernraent in the church of Scotland, unalterable in all
succeeding tiraes, and a fundaraental article of the treaty.
They soothed the African company with the prospect
of being indemnified for the losses they had sustained.
They amused individuals with the hope of sharing the
rest of the equivalent. They employed eraissaries to
allay the ferraent araong the Cameronians, and disunite
them frora the cavaliers, by canting, praying, and de
monstrating the absurdity, sinfulness, and danger of
such a coalition. These remonstrances were reinforced
by the sum of twenty thousand pounds, which the
queen privately lent to the Scottish treasury, and which
was now distributed by the ministry in such a manner
as might best conduce to the success of the treaty. By
these practices they diminished, though they could not
silence, the clamour of the people, and obtained a con
siderable raajority in Parliament, which out-voted all
opposition. Not but that the Duke of Queensberry at
one time despaired of succeeding, and being in con
tinual apprehension for his life, expressed a desire of
adjouniing the Parliaraent, until by time and good ma
nagement he should be able to remove those diflficulties
-AI M 2

.532 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, that then seemed to be insurmountable. But the Lord
Treasurer Godolphin, Avho foresaw that the raeasure

1706. Avould be entirely lost by delay, and was no judge of the
difficulties, insisted upon his proceeding. It was at this
jDeriod that he remitted the money, and gave directions
for having forces ready at a call, both in England and
Ireland. At length the Scottish Parliament approved
and ratified all the articles of the union, with some
small A^ariation. They then prepared an act for regu
lating the election of the sixteen peers and forty-five
commoners to represent Scotland in the British Par
liament. This being- touched with the sceptre, the
three estates jJroceeded to elect their representatives.
The remaining part of the session Avas employed in
making regulations concerning the coin, in examining
the accounts of the African company, and providing for
the due application of the equivalent, which was scandal
ously misapplied. On the twenty-fifth day of March the
commissioner adjourned the Parliament, after having,
in a short speech, taken notice of the honour they had
acquired in concluding an affair of such importance to
tlieir country. Having thus accomplished the great
purpose of the court, he set out for London, in the neigh
bourhood of which he was met by above forty noblemen
in their coaches, and about four hundred gentlemen on
horseback. Next day he Avaited upon the queen at
Kensiugton, from Avhom he met Avith a very gracious
reception. Perhaps there is not another instance upon
record of a ministry's having carried a point of this
importance against such a violent torrent of opposition,
and contrary to the general sense and inclination of a
Avhole exasperated people. The Scots were persuaded
that their trade would be destroyed, their nation op
pressed, and their country ruined, in consequence ofthe
union with England; and indeed their opinion was
supported by very plausible arguments. The majority
of both nations believed that the treaty would pro
duce violent convulsions, or, at best, prove ineffectual.
But Ave now see it has been attended with none of
the calamities that Avere prognosticated ; that it quietly
took effect, and fully answered all the purposes for
which it was intended. Hence we may learn, that

ANNE. 533
many great difficulties are surraounted, because they chap.
are not seen by those who direct the execution of.

any great project ; and that raany scheraes, which 1706.
theory deeras irapracticable, will yet succeed in the
experiraent. The English Parliaraent asserabUng on the third day Proceed-
of Deceraber, the queen in her speech to both Houses, ESh*^
congratulated thera on the glorious successes ofher arms. Parliament.
She desired the Coramons Avould grant such supplies as
mightenablehertoimprovetheadvantagesof this success
ful carapaign. She told them that the treaty of union, as
concluded by the coraraissioners of both kingdoras, was
at that tirae under the consideration of the Scottish
Parliament ; and she recommended despatch in the
public affairs, that both friends and enemies might be
convinced of the firraness and vigour of their proceed
ings. The Parliaraent was perfectly well disposed to
coraply with all her majesty's requests. Warra ad
dresses were presented by both Houses. Then they
proceeded to the consideration of the supply, and hav
ing exarained the estiraates in less than a week, voted
near six millions for the service of the ensuing year.
Nevertheless, in examining the accounts, some objections
arose. They found that the extraordinarysupplies for the
support of King Charles of Spain amounted to eight hun
dred thousand pounds more than the sums provided by
Parliaraent. Sorae members argued that very ill con
sequences raight ensue, if a rainistry could thus run the
nation in debt, and expect the Parliaraent should pay
the raoney. The courtiers answered, that if any thing
had been raised without necessity, or ill applied, it was
reasonable that those who were in fault should be
punished ; but as this expense Avas incurred to iraprove
advantages, at a tirae when the occasion could not be
communicated to Parliaraent, the ministry was rather
to be applauded for their zeal than condemned for
their Uberality. The question being put, the majority
voted that those sums had been expended for the pre
servation of the Duke of Savoy, for the interest of King
Chai-les against the coraraon enemy, and for the safety
and honour of the nation. When the speaker pre
sented the money bills, he told her, that as the glo-

534 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, rious victory obtained by the Duke of Marlborough at
' RamiUies was fought before it could be supposed the
1706. armies were in the field, so that it was no less sur
prising that the Coramons had granted supplies to her
majesty before the enemy could well know that the Par
Uament was sitting. The general was again honoured
with the thanks of both Houses. The Lords, in an
address, besought the queen to settle his honours on
his posterity. An Act was passed for this purpose ; and
in pursuance of another address from the Comraons,
a pension of five thousand pounds out of the post oflSce
was settled upon hira and his descendants. The Lords
and Coramons having adjourned themselves to the last
day of Deceraber, the queen closed the year with tri
umphal processions. As the standards and colours
taken at Blenheim had been placed in Westminster-
hall, so now those that had been brought from the field
of RamiUies were put up in Guildhall, as trophies of
that victory. About this tirae the Earls of Kent, Lind
sey, and Kingston, were raised to the rank of mar
quises. The Lords Wharton, Paulet, Godolphin, and
Cholraondeley, were created earls. Lord Walden, son
and heir apparent to the Earl of Suffolk, obtained the
title of Earl of Bindon : the Lord Keeper CoAvper, and
Sir Thoraas Pelhara, were ennobled as barons.
The Com- The Parliament being assembled after their short
p-oveXthe rcccss, the Earl of Nottingham raoved for an address to
articles of the quecu, desiring her raajesty would order the pro
ceedings of the coraraissioners for the union, as well as
those of the Scottish Parliament on the said subject, to
be laid before them. He was seconded by the 'Duke
of Buckingham and the Earl of Rochester ; and an
swered by the Earl of Godolphin, who told them they
needed not doubt but that her majesty would commu
nicate those proceedings,, as soon as the Scottish Par
liament should have discussed the subject of the union.
The Lords Wharton, Somers, and HaUfax observed,
that it was for the honour of the nation that the treaty
of union should first come ratified from the Parliaraent
of Scotland ; and that then, and not before, it would
be a proper time for the Lords to take it into considera
tion. On the twenty-eighth day of January, the queen

ANNE. 535
in person told both Houses that the treaty of union, chap.
with sorae additions and alterations, was ratified by an .

act of the Scottish Parliaraent ; that she had ordered it 1706,
to be laid before thera ; and hoped it would raeet with
their concurrence and approbation. She desired the
Comraons would provide for the payment of the equi
valent, in case the treaty should be approved. She
observed to both Houses, that now they had an oppor
tunity of putting the last hand to a happy union of the
two kingdoms ; and that she should look upon it as
a particular happiness, if this great work, which had been
so often attempted without success, could be brought to
perfection in her reign. When the Comraons forraed
themselves into a committee of the whole House, to
deliberate on the articles of the union, and the Scottish
act of ratification, the tory party, which was very weak
in that assembly, began to start sorae objections. Sir
John Packington disapproved of thisincorporatingunion,
which he likened to a raarriage with a woraan against
her consent. He said it was an union carried on by
corruption and bribery Arithin doors, by force and vio
lence without ; that the promoters of it had basely be
trayed their trust, in giving up their independent con-^
stitution, and he would leave it to the judgment of the
House to consider whether or no raen of such prin
ciples were fit to be adraitted into their House of Re
presentatives. He observed that her raajesty, by the
coronation oath, was obliged to maintain the church of
England as by law established ; and likewise bound by
the same oath to defend the presbyterian kirk of Scot
land in one and the sarae kingdora. Now, said he,
after this union is in force, who shall administer this
oath to her raajesty? It is not the business of the Scots,
who are incapable of it, and no well-wishers to the
church of England. It is then only the part of the
bishops to do it ; and cau it be supposed that those re
verend persons will or can act a thing so contrary to
their oavu order and institution, as thus to proraote the
establishraent ofthe presbyterian church governraent in
the united kingdom ? He added, that the church of
England being established jure divino, and the Scots
pretending that the kirk was aXmjure divino, he could

536 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, not tell how two nations that clashed in so essential an
^^- article could unite : he, therefore, thought it proper to
1706. consult the Convocation about this critical point. A
motion was raade that the first article of the treaty,
which implies a peremptory agreement to an incorpo
rating union, should be postponed; and that the House
should proceed to the consideration of the terms of the
intended union contained in the other articles. This
proposal being rejected, some tory members quitted the
House ; and all the articles were examined and ap
proved without further opposition. The whigs were so
eager in the prosecution of this point, that they pro
ceeded in a very superficial manner, and with such pre
cipitation as furnished their enemies with a plausible
pretence to affirm, that they had not considered the
treaty with the coolness and deliberation which an affair
of this importance required.
The Lords Before the Lords began to investigate the articles of
for the se- the uuion, they, at the instance of the Archbishop of
curity of Canterbury, brought in a bill for the security of the
of England, churcli of England, to be inserted as a fundaraental
and essential part -of that treaty. It passed through
both Houses without opposition, and received the royal
Arguments assoiit. Ou the fifteenth day of February, the debates
"het^cies' concerning the union began in the House of Lords,
of union, the quecu being present, and the Bishop of Sarum
chairman of the coraraittee. The Earls of Rochester,
Anglesey, and Nottinghara, argued against the union ;
as did the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Lord Haversham,
in a premeditated harangue, said the question was,
whether two nations independent in their sovereignties,
that had their distinct laws and interests, their different
forms of worship, church-government, and order, should
be united into one kingdom ? He supposed it an union
made up of so raany raisraatched pieces, of such jarring,
incongruous ingredients, that should it ever take effect,
it would carry the necessary consequences of a standing
power and force, to keep thera fi-ora falling asunder and
breaking in pieces every raoment. He repeated what
had been said by Lord Bacon, that an unity pieced up
by direct adraission of contrarieties in the fundaraental
points of it, is like the toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image.

ANNE. 537
which were made of iron and clay, they may cleave toge- ^hap.
ther, but would never incorporate. He dissented frorathe "
union for the sake of the good old EngUsh constitution, 1706.
in which he dreaded some alteration from the additional
weight of sixty-one Scottish raerabers, and these too
returned by a Scottish privy-council. He took notice,
that above one hundred Scottish peers, and as raany
coraraoners, were excluded from sitting and voting in
ParUament, though they had as much right of inherit
ance to sit there, as an English peer had of sitting in
the ParUament of England. He expressed his appre
hension of this precedent ; and asked what security any
peer of England had for his right and privilege of
peerage, which those lords had not. He said, if the
bishops would weaken their own cause, so far as to give
up the two great points of episcopal ordination and con
firmation ; if they would approve and ratify the act for
securing the presbyterian church-government in Scot
land, as the true protestant religion and purity of wor
ship ; they must give up that which had been contended
for between them and the presbyterians for thirty years,
and been defended by the greatest and raost learned
raen in the church of England. He objected to the
exempting articles, by which heritable offices and su
periorities were reserved. He affirmed that the union
was contrary to the sense of the Scottish nation : that
the murraurs of the people had been so loud as to fill
the whole kingdora ; and so bold as to reach even to the
doors of the Parliaraent : that the Parliaraent itself had
suspended their beloved clause in the act of security
for arraing the people : that the governraent had issued
a proclaraation pardoning all slaughter, bloodshed, and
mairaing, coraraitted upon those who should be found
in tumults. From these circurastances he concluded,
that the Scottish nation was averse to an incorporating
union, which he looked upon as one of the most dan
gerous experiments to both nations. Lords North and
Grey complained of the small and unequal proportion
of the land-tax imposed upon Scotland. The Earl of
Nottinghara said it was highly unreasonable that the
Scots, who were by the treaty let into all the branches
of the English trade, and paid so little towards the ex-

538 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, pense of the government, should moreover have such a
' round sum by way of equivalent. The same topics were
1706. insisted upon by the Lords North and Grey, Guernsey,
Granville, Stawell, and Abingdon. The Earl of Not
tingham, after having opposed every article separately,
concluded with words to this effect : " As Sir John
Maynard said to the late king at the Revolution, that
having buried all his conteraporaries in Westrainster-
hall, he was afraid, if his raajesty had not come in that
very juncture of time, he might have likewise outlived
the very laws ; so, if this union do pass, as I have no
reason to doubt but it will, I raay justly affirra I have
outlived all the laws, and the very constitution of Eng
land : I, therefore, pray to God to avert the dire effects
which raay probably ensue from such an incorporating
union."
Which, These arguments and objections were answered by
arTcon-' ^^0 Lord Treasurer Godolphin, the Earls of Sunder-
firmed by land aud Wliartou, the Lords Townshend, Halifax, and
Uament. ' Somers, the Bishops of Oxford, Norwich, and Sarura.
They observed, that such an iraportant raeasure could
not be effected without sorae inconveniences ; but that
these ought to be borne, in consideration of the great
ness of the advantage : that the chief dangers to which
the church was exposed arose from France and popery ;
and this union would effectually secure it against these
evils : that Scotland lay on the weakest side of Eng
land, which could not be defended but by an expensive
army. Should a war break out between the two nations,
and Scotland be conquered, yet even in that case it
would be necessary to keep it under with a standing
array, which any enterprising prince raight model for
his ambitious purposes, and, joining with the Scots, en
slave his English dominions : that any union after a
conquest would be corapulsive, consequently of short
duration ; whereas, now it was voluntary, it would be
lasting: that with regard to ecclesiastical affairs, all
heats and aniraosities raight beaUayed by soft and gentle
manageraent. The cantons of Switzerland, though
they professed different religions, were yet united in
one general body ; and the diet of Germany was com
posed of princes and states, araong whom three dif-

ANNE. 539
ferent persuasions prevaUed ; so that two sorts of dis- chap.
cipline might very well subsist under one legislature.

If there was any danger on either side, it threatened 1706.
the Scots rauch raore than the English, as five hundred
and thirteen raerabers could certainly be too hard for
forty-five ; and in the House of Lords, six-and-twenty
bishops would always preponderate against sixteen
peers from Scotland. Notwithstanding all the oppo
sition made by the lords of the tory interest, every
article was approved by a great majority, though not
without a good number of protestations ; and a bill of ra
tification was prepared in the Lower House by Sir Simon
Harcourt, the solicitor general, in such an artful raanner
as to prevent all debates. All the articles, as they Bumet.
passed in Scotland, were recited by way of preamble, qJ^cv.
together with the acts made in both Parliaraents for the Torcy.
security of the several churches ; and in conclusion peuq^eres.
there was one clause, by which the whole was ratified Hist, of
and enacted into a law. By this contrivance, those who HUtory'of
were desirous of starting new diflSculties found thera- '¥^"}'^
selves disabled from pursuing their design. They could borough.
not object to the recital, which was barely matter of j^°p"°^°J^
fact ; and they had not strength suflScient to oppose the of Mari-
general enacting clause. On the other hand, the whigs LoTtot.
promoted it with such zeal that it passed by a majority Ker.
of one hundred and fourteen, before the others had re- vor^e.
collected theraselves frora the surprise which the struc
ture of the bill had occasioned. It raade its way through
the House of Lords with equal despatch ; and, when it
received the royal sanction, the queen expressed the
utraost satisfaction. She said she did not doubt but it
would be remembered and spoken of hereafter, to the
honour of those who had been instrumental in bringing
it to such a happy conclusion. She desired that her
subjects of both kingdoms should from henceforward
behave with all possible respect and kindness towards one
another, that so it raight appear to all the world they
had hearts disposed to becorae one people.
As the act of union did not take place tUl the first ^U; p°^;.
of May, a great nuraber of traders in both kingdoras ment re-
resdved to make advantage of this interval. The Eng- J;;^^^ .
lish proposed to export into Scotland such commo-tion.

540 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
^LX^' ^i^i^s ^^ entitled thera to a drawback, with a view to
,  '.  bring thera back after the first of May. The Scots, on
1707. the other hand, as their duties were much lower than
those in England, intended to import great quantities
of wine, brandy, and other merchandise, which they
could sell at a greater advantage in England after the
union, when there would be a free intercourse between
the two nations. Sorae of the ministers had embarked
in this fraudulent design, which alarraed the raerchants
of England to such a degree, that they presented a re
monstrance to the Commons. Resolutions Avere im
mediately taken in the House against these practices,
and a bill was prepared ; but the Lords apprehending
that it in some raeasure infringed the articles of the
union, and that it might give umbrage to the Scottish
nation, it was dropped. The frauds had been in a good
measure prevented by the previous resolutions of the
House ; and the first day of May was now at hand ; so
that the bill was thought unnecessary. On the twenty-
fourth day of April the queen prorogued the Parlia
ment, after having given them to understand that she
would continue by proclamation the Lords and Com
mons already assembled, as members in the first British
Parliament on the part of England, pursuant to the
powers vested in her bythe acts of ParUament of both
kingdoras ratifying the treaty of union. The Parlia
raent was accordingly revived by proclaraation, and
another issued to convoke the first Parliaraent of
Great Britain for the twenty-third day of October.
The Scots repaired to London, where they were well
received by the queen, who bestowed the title of duke
on the Earls of Roxburgh and Montrose. She likewise
granted a coraraission for a new privy council in that
kingdora, to be in force till the next session of Parlia
ment, that the nation might not be disgusted by too
sudden an alteration of outward appearances. The first
of May was appointed as a day of public thanksgiving ;
and congratulatory addresses were sent up from all parts
of England : but the university of Oxford prepared no
corapliraent ; and the Scots were wholly silent on this
occasion. In the course of this session the Coramons, in an

ANNE. 541
address to the queen, desired she would re-settle the chap.
islands of St. Christopher's andNevis intheWest Indies, ^^'

which had been ravaged by the enemy. They likeArise 1707.
resolved, that an humble address should be presented
to her raajesty, praying she would concert measures for
suppressing a body of pirates who had made a settle
raent on the island of Madagascar, as also for recover
ing and preserving the ancient possessions, trade, and
fishery of Newfoundland. The French refugees like
wise delivered a reraonstrance to the queen, recapitu
lating the benefits which the persecuted Protestants in
France had reaped from the assistance of her royal pro
genitors, acknowledging their own happiness in living
under her gentle government, among a people by whom
they had been so kindly entertained when driven from
their native country ; and imploring her majesty's in
terposition and good offices in favour of their distressed
and persecuted brethren abroad. She graciously re
ceived this address, declaring, she had always great
corapassion for the unhappy circumstances of the Pro
testants in France : that she would communicate her
thoughts on this subject to her allies; and she expressed
her hope that such measures might be taken as should
effectuaUy ansAver the intent of their petition. In the The queen
month of May she granted an audience to an ambas- dienceto a
sador extraordinary from the Czar of Muscovy, who de- Muscovite
,. 11, /.!• , , • • 1- ambassador.
livered a letter from his master, containing complaints
of King Augustus, who had maltreated the Russian
troops sent to his assistance, concluded a dishonourable
peace with Charles King of Sweden, without the knoAv-
ledge of his allies, and surrendered Count Patkul, the
Muscovite rainister, as a deserter, to the Swedish mon
arch, contrary to the law of nations, and even to the
practice of barbarians. He therefore desired her
Britannic majesty would use her good oflSces for the
enlargeraent of the count and the other Russian pri
soners detained at Stockholra ; and that she would take
into her protection the reraains of the Russian auxili
aries upon the Rhine, that they raight either enter into
the service of the allies, or be at liberty to return in
safety to their oavu country. The queen actually in
terposed in behalf of Patkul; but her intercession

542 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, proved ineffectual, and that unhappy minister was put
' to death with all the circumstances of wanton barbarity.
1707. As many severe and sarcastic writings had lately ap
peared, in which the whigs and ministry were reviled,
and reflections hinted to the prejudice of the queen's
person, the government resolved to make examples of
the authors and pubUshers of these licentious produc
tions. Dr. Joseph Browne was twice pilloried for a copy
of verses, entitled " The Country Parson's Advice to
the Lord Keeper," and a letter which he afterwards wrote
to Mr. Secretary Harley. WUUara Stephens, rector of
Sutton in Surrey, underwent the sarae sentence, as
author of a pamphlet, called " A Letter to the Author
of the Memorial of the Church of England." Edward
Ward was fined and set in the pillory for having written
a burlesque poem on the times, under the title of " Hu
dibras Redivivus ;" and the sarae punishment was in
flicted upon William Pittes, author of a performance,
entitled " The Case of the Church of England's Me
morial fairly stated."
Proceed- The Lowor House of Convocation still continued to
Toration. ' Wrangle with their superiors ; and though they joined
the Upper House in a congratulatory address to the
queen on the success ofher arms, they resolved to make
application to the Coramons against the union. The
queen being apprised of their design, desired the arch
bishop to prorogue them for three weeks, before the ex
piration of which the act of union had passed in Par
liament. The Lower House delivered a representation
to the bishops, in which they aflSrmed no such proro
gation had ever been ordered during the session of Par
liaraent. The bishops found in their records seven or
eight precedents of such prorogations, and above thirty
instances of the Convocation having sat sometimes be
fore, and soraetiraes after, a session of Parliament; nay,
soraetiraes even when the Parharaent was dissolved.
The queen, inforraed of these proceedings, wrote a
letter to the archbishop, intiraating that she looked
upon the Lower House as guilty of an invasion of her
royal supreraacy ; and that, if any thing of the sarae
nature should be atterapted for the future, she would
use such means for punishing offenders as the law war-

ANNE. 543

ranted. The prolocutor absenting hiraself from the ^^i;^-
Convocation, the archbishop pronounced sentence of.

contumacy against him. The Lower House, in a pro- 1707.
testation, declared this sentence unlawful and altogether
null. Nevertheless, the prolocutor made a full submis
sion, with which the archbishop was satisfied, and the
sentence was repealed. About this period the Earl of
Sunderland was appointed one ofthe secretaries of state
in the room of Sir Charles Hedges. This change was
not effected without great opposition from Harley, who
was in his heart an eneray to the Duke of Marlborough
and all his adherents ; and had already, by his secret
intrigues, raade considerable progress in a scherae for
superseding the influence of the duchess.
The French king at this juncture seeraed to be en- threatened
tirely abandoned by his forraer good fortune. He had with total
sustained such a nuraber of successive defeats as had ™'"-
drained his kingdora of people, and his treasury was
alraost exhausted. He endeavoured to support the
credit of his government by issuing mint-bills, in iraita
tion of the bank-notes of England ; but notwithstanding
all his precautions, they passed at a discount of three-
and-fifty per cent. The lands lay uncultivated ; the
raanufactures could be no longer carried on ; and the
subjects perished with famine. The allies, on the other
hand, seemed to prosper in every quarter. They had
becorae raasters of the greatest part of the Netherlands,
in consequence of the victory at RamiUies : the array of
King Charles was considerably reinforced : a scherae
was forraed for the conquest of Toulon, by the troops
of the eraperor and the Duke of Savoy, supplied with a
large sura of money by Queen Anne, and assisted by
the combined fleets of England and Holland, under the
command of Sir Cloudesley Shovel. In a word, France
seemed to be reduced to the verge of destruction, frora
which nothing in all probability could have saved her
but the jealousy and misconduct of the confederates.
Louis, by virtue of his capitulation with the emperor in
Italy, was enabled to send such reinforceraents into
Spain as turned the fortune of the war in that country ;
whUe the distractions in the council of King Charles
prevented that unanimity and concurrence, without

544 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, which no success can be expected. The Earl of Peterr
" borough declared against an offensive war, on account
1707. of the difficulty of finding subsistence in Castile ; and
advised Charles to trust to the expedition against Tou
lon. This opinion he sent from Italy, to which he had
withdrawn.
The allies Charles, however, was persuaded to penetrate once
at Almanza. more to Madrid, and give battle to the eneray wherever
they should appear. On the thirteenth day of March
the army was asserabled at Caudela, to the number of
sixteen thousand men, under the auspices of the Mar
quis das Minas, to whora the Earl of Galway was second
in command. They raarched towards Yecla, and under
took the siege of Vilena ; but, having received intelli
gence that the Duke of Berwick was in the neighbour
hood, they advanced on the fourteenth day of April in
four colurans towards the town of Almanza, where the
enemy were drawn up in order of battle, their number
being considerably superior to that of the confederates.
The battle began about two in the afternoon, and the
whole front of each array was fully engaged. The
EngUsh and Dutch squadrons on the left, sustained by
the Portuguese horse of the second line, were over
powered after a gallant resistance. The centre, consist
ing chiefly of battalions from Great Britain and Hol
land, obliged the enemy to give way, and drove their
first upon their second line : but the Portuguese cavahy
on the right being broken at the first charge, their
foot betook themselves to flight ; so that the English
and Dutch troops, being left naked on the flanks, were
surrounded and attacked on every side. In this dread
ful emergency they formed themselves into a square,
and retired from the field of battle. By this tirae the
men were quite spent with fatigue, and all their ammu
nition exhausted : they were ignorant of the country,
abandoned by their horse, destitute of provision, and
cut off frora all hope of supply. Moved by these dis
mal considerations, they capitulated, and surrendered
themselves prisoners of war, to the amount of thirteen
battalions. The Portuguese, and part of the English
horse, with the infantry that guarded the baggage,
retreated to Alcira, where they were joined by the Earl

ANNE. 545

of Galway, with about five-and-twenty hundred dra- *^?^''*'
goons which he had brought fi-om the field of battle.

About three thousand men of the allied array were 1707.
killed upon the spot, and araong that number Brigadier
Killigrew, with many officers of distinction. The Earl
of Galway, who charged in person at the head of Guis
card's dragoons, received two deep cuts in the face.
The Marquis das Minas was run through the arm, and
saw his concubine, who fought in the habit of an Ama
zon, killed by his side : the Lords Tyrawley, Mark Ker,
and Colonel Clayton, were wounded ; all their artiUery,
together with a hundred and twenty colours aud stand
ards, and about ten thousand men, were taken, so that
no victory could be raore coraplete ; yet it Avas not pur
chased without the loss of tAvo thousand raen slain in
the action, including some officers of eminence. The
Duke of Berwick, Avho coraraanded the troops of King
Philip, acquired a great addition of fame by his conduct
and behaviour before and during the engagement ; but
his authority was superseded by the Duke of Orleans,
who arrived in the army immediately after the battle.
This prince seemed to entertain sorae private views of
his own ; for he took no effectual step to iraprove the
victory. He began a private negotiation with the Earl
of Galway, during which the two arraies lay inactive on
the banks of the Cinca ; and he concluded the carapaign
with the siege of Lerida, which was surrendered by ca
pitulation on the second day of Noveraber : then the
troops on both sides Avent into Avinter quarters. The
Earl of Galway and the Marquis das Minas erabarked
at Barcelona for Lisbon, and General Carpenter re
mained commander of the English forces quartered in
Catalonia, which was now the only part of Spain that
remained to King Charles.
The attempt upon Toulon by the Duke of Savoy and ^J'^'^^'=J=^^'-
Prince Eugene might have succeeded, if the eraperor, upon t"S-
notwithstanding the repeated reraonstrances of the raa- lo"-
ritime powers, had not divided his army in Italy, by
detaching a considerable body through the ecclesiastical
state towards Naples, of which he took possession with
out any difficulty. Besides, ten thousand recruits, de
stined for the imperial forces in Italy, were detained in
VOL. L N N

546 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Germany, from an apprehension of the King of Sweden,
" who remained in Saxony, and seemed to be upon very
1707. indifferent terms with the emperor. With the assist
ance ofthe English and Dutch fleets, the Duke of Savoy
and Prince Eugene passed the Var'' on the eleventh
day of July, at the head of an army of thirty thousand
men, and marched directly towards Toulon, whither the
artillery and ammunition were conveyed on board of
the combined squadrons. The French king was ex
tremely alarmed at this atterapt, as five thousand pieces
of cannon, vast magazines, and the best part of his fleet,
were in the harbour of Toulon, and ran the greatest risk
of being entirely taken or destroyed. The whole king
dom of France was filled with consternation when they
found their enemies were in the bosom of theu country.
The monarch resolved to leave no stone unturned for
the relief of the place, and his subjects exerted them
selves in a very extraordinary manner for its preserva
tion. The nobility of the adjacent provinces armed
their servants and tenants, at the head of whom they
marched into the city : they coined their plate, and
pawned their jewels for money to pay the workmen em
ployed upon the fortifications ; and such industry was
used, that in a few days the town and harbour, which
bad been greatly neglected, were put in a good posture
of defence. The allies took possession of the eminences
that commanded the city, and the ordnance being
landed, erected batteries. From these they began to
cannonade and bombard the city, while the fleet at
tacked and reduced two forts at the entrance of the
Mole, and co-operated in the siege with their great g-uns
and bomb-ketches. The garrison was nuraerous, and
defended the place with great vigour. They sunk ships
'' This passage was effected, to the astonishment of the French, who thought the
works they had raised on that river were impregnable. The honour of the enter
prise was in a great measure owing to the gallantry of Sir John Norris and the En
glish seamen. That brave officer, embarking in boats with six hundred sailors and
marines, entered the river, and were rowed within musket-shot of the enemy's works,
where they made such a vigorous and unexpected attack, that the French were im
mediately driven from part of their intrenchments ; then Sir John landed with his
men, clambered over the works, that were deemed inaccessible, and attacking the
defendants sword in hand, compelled them to fly with the utmost precipitation.
This detachment was sustained by Sir Cloudesley Shovel in person. The Duke
of Savoy, taking advantage of the enemy's consternation, passed the river almost
without opposition.

ANNE. 547
in the entrance to tiie Mole ; they kept up a prodigious ^^^''•
fire frora the ramparts ; they made desperate sallies, and '
even drove the besiegers from one of their posts Avith 1707.
great slaughter. The French king, alarraed at this de
sign of his enemies, ordered troops to march towards
Toulon from aU parts of his dominions. He counter-
raanded the forces that were on their route to improve
the victory of Almanza: a great part of the array under
Villars on the Rhine was detached to Provence, and the
court of Versailles declared that the Duke of Burgundy
should raarch at the head of a strong army to the relief
of Toulon. The Duke of Savoy being apprised of these
preparations, seeing .no hope of reducing the place, and
being apprehensive that his passage would be inter
cepted, resolved to abandon his enterprise. The artil
lery being re-embarked, with the sick and wounded, he
decamped in the night, under favour of a terrible bom
bardment and cannonading fi-om the English fleet, and
retreated to his own country without molestation".
Then he undertook the reduction of Suza, the garrison
of which surrendered at discretion. By this conquest
he not only secured the key to his own dorainions, but
also opened to hiraself a free passage into Dauphine.
Sir Cloudesley Shovel having left a squadron with ^ gl,°"^^"
Sir Thoraas Dilkes for the Mediterranean service, set wrecked on
sail for England with the rest of the fleet, and was in ^'^g'^ijf ^
soundings on the twenty-second day of October. About Weakness
eight o'clock at night his own ship, the Association, pero'j^onThe
struck upon the rocks of Scilly, and perished with every Upper
person on board. This was likewise the fate of the "^'
Eagle and the Roraney : the Firebrand was dashed in
pieces on the rocks ; but the captain and four-and-
twenty men saved theraselves in the boat : the Phoenix
was driven on shore : the Royal Anne was saved by the
presence of raind and uncoraraon dexterity of Sir
George Byng and his officers : the St. George, cora
manded by Lord Dursley, struck upon the rocks, but a
wave set her afloat again. The admiral's body, being
° Had the Duke of Savoy marched vpith expedition from the Var, he would have
found Toulon defenceless ; but he lingered in such a manner as gives reason to be
lieve he was not hearty in the enterprise ; and his operations were retarded by a.
difference between him and his kinsman Prince Eugene.
N N 2

548 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP- cast ashore, was stripped and buried in the sand ; but
___!__ afterwards discovered and brought into Plymouth, from
1707. Avhence it was conveyed to London, and interred in
Westminster-abbey. Sir Cloudesley Shovel was born
of mean parentage in the county of Suffolk ; but raised
himself to the chief coramand at sea by his industry, ,
A'alour, skill, and integrity. On the Upper Rhine the
allies were unprosperous''. The Prince of Baden was
dead, and the German army so inconsiderable, that it
could not defend the lines of Buhl against the Mareschal
de Villars, Avho broke through this Avork, esteemed the
rampart of Germany, reduced Ra.stadt, defeated a body
of horse, laid the duchy of Wirtemberg under contri
bution, took Stutgard and Sch orndorf ; and routed three
thousand Germans intrenched at Lorch, under the
command of General Janus, AA'ho was made prisoner.
In all probability, this active officer would have made
¦' In the month of May three ships of the line, namely, the Royal Oak, of se
venty-six guns, commanded by Commodore Baron Wylde ; the Grafton, of seventy
guns. Captain Edward Acton ; and the Hampton Court, of seventy guns. Captain
George Clements, sailed as convoy to the West India and Portugal fleet of merchant
ships, amounting to five-and-fifty sail. They fell in with the Dunkirk squadron,
consisting of ten ships of war, one frigate, and four privateers, under the command
of M. de Fovbin. A furious action immediately ensued, and noti'. ithstanding the
vast disproportion in point of number, was maintained by the English commodore
with great gallantry, until Captain Acton was killed. Captain Clements mortally
wounded, and the Grafton and Hampton Court were taken, after having sunk the
Salisbury, at that time in the hands ofthe French: then the commodore, having
eleven feet water in his hold, disengaged himself from the enemy, by whom he had
been surrounded, and ran his ship aground near Dungenesse ; but she afterwards
floated, and he brought her safe into the Downs. In the mean time the French
frigate and privateers made prize of twenty-one English merchant ships of great
value, which, with the Grafton and Hampton Court, Forbin conveyed in triumph to
Dunkirk. In July the same active officer took fifteen ships belonging to the Russian
company, off the coast of Lapland. In September he joined another squadrdn fitted
out at Brest under the command of the celebrated M. du Guai Trouin, and these
attacked, off' the Lizard, the convoy ofthe Portugal fleet, consisting ofthe Cum
berland, Captain Richard Edwards, of eighty guns; the Devonshire, of eighty ; t)ie
Royal Oak, of seventy-six ; the Chester and Ruby, of fifty guns each. Though the
French squadron did not fall short of twelve sail of the line, the Enghsh captains
maintained the action for many hours with surprising valour. At length the De
vonshire was obliged to yield to superior nurabers ; the Cumberland blew up ; the
Chester and Ruby were taken ; the Royal Oak fought her way through the midst
of her enemies, and arrived safe in the harbour of Kinsale ; and the Lisbon fleet
saved themselves by making the best of their way during the engagement. Since
the battle off Malaga, the French king had never dared to keep the sea with a large
fleet, but carried on a kind of piratical war of this sort in order to distress the trade
of England. He was the more encouraged to pursue these measures, by the cor
respondence which his ministers carried on with some wretches belonging to the
Admiralty and the other offices, who basely betrayed their country in transmitting
to Fiance such intelligence concerning the convoys appointed for the protection of
commerce, as enabled the enemy to attack them at advantage. In the couree of this
year, the French fishery, stages, ships, and vessels in Newfoundland were taken,
burned, and destroyed, by Captain .joiin Underdown, of the Falkland.

ANNE. .549
great progress towards the restoration of the Elector of chap.
Bavaria, had not he been obliged to stop in the raiddle

of his career, in consequence of his army's being dirai- 1707.
nished by sending off detachraents to Provence. The
imperial army retired towards Hailbron, and the com
mand of it was, at the request of the emperor and
allies, assumed by the Elector of Hanover, who restored
military discipline, and acted with uncomraon prudence
and circumspection ; but he had not force sufficient to
undertake any enterprise of importance.
Inthe month of April, the Duke of Marlborough set interview
out from the Hague for Leipsick, with a letter from the lOnTof
queen to Charles XII. of Sweden, AA-hose designs Avere Sweden and
still so mysterious, that the confederates could not help Maribo-
being alarraed at his being in the heart of Germany. The ""st-
duke was pitched upon as the most proper ambassador ;
to soothe his vanity and penetrate into his real inten
tion". He found this original character, not simple,
but sordid in his appearance and economy, savage in his
deportment, ferocious, illiterate, stubborn, implacable,
and reserved. The English general assailed him on
the side of his vanity, the only part by which he was
accessible. " Sire," said he, " I present to your ma
jesty a letter, not from the chancery, but from the heart
of the queen my raistress, and written vrith her oavu
hand. Had not her sex prevented her from taking so
long a journey, she would have crossed the sea to see a
prince admired by the whole universe. I esteem myself
happy in having the honour of assuring your majesty of
my regard ; and I should think it a great happiness, if
my affairs would allow me, to learn under so great a
general as your majesty what I want to know in the art
of war." Charles was pleased with this overstrained
compliraent, which seeras to have been calculated for a
raAv, unintelligent barbarian, unacquainted Avitli the
characters of raankind. He professed particular vene
ration for Queen Anne, as Avell as for the person of
' AVhen the duke arrived in his coach at the quarters of Count Piper, of whom
he had demanded an audience, he was given to understaitd that the count was busy,
and obliged to wait half an hour before the Swedish minister came down to receive
him. When he appeared at last, the duke alighted from his coach, put on his hat,
passed the count without saluting him, and went aside to the wall, where, having
staid some time, he returned, and accosted him with the most polite address.

550 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, lier ambassador, and declared he would take no steps
' to the prejudice of the grand alliance. Nevertheless,
1707. the sincerity of this declaration has been questioned.
The French court is said to have gained over his mi
nister. Count Piper, to their interest. Certain it is,
he industriously sought occasion to quarrel with the
emperor, and treated him with great insolence, until he
subraitted to all his demands. The treaty being con
cluded upon the terms he thought proper to impose,
he had no longer the least shadow of pretence to con
tinue his disputes with the court of Vienna, and there
fore began his march for Poland, which was by this time
overrun by the Czar of Muscovy.
ram'aign '^'^^ Duko of Marlborougli returning frora Saxony,
in the Ne- assembled the allied army at Anderlach, near Brussels,
theriands. ^]jq^^^ ^]^q middle of May; and, understanding thatthe
Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Vendome, who
coraraanded the French forces, had quitted their lines,
he advanced to Soignies, with a design to engage them
in the plain of Fleurus. But receiving certain intelli
gence that the enemy were greatly superior to the allies
in number, by the help of drafts from all the garrisons,
he retreated towards Brussels, and took post at Mildert,
while the French advanced to Gerablours. Both armies
lay inactive until the enemy sent off a large detachment
towards Provence. Then the Duke of Marlborough
and General D'Auverquerque resolved to attack them
in their fortified camp at Gemblours. But they re
treated with such celerity frora one post to another,
that the confederates could not corae up with them until
they were safely encamped with their right at Pont-
a-Tresin, and their left under the cannon of Lisle, co
vered with the river Schelde, and secured by intrench
ments. The allies chose their camp at Helchin, and
foraged under the cannon of Tournay, within a league
ofthe eneray ; but nothing could induce thera to hazard
an engageraent; and both arraies went into winter
quarters in the latter end of October. The Duke of
Marlborough set out for Franckfort, where he conferred
with the Electors of Mentz, Hanover, and Palatine,
about the operations of the next carapaign : then he re
turned to the Hague, and having concerted the neces-

ANNE. 551

sary raeasures with the deputies of the States-General, '"^^ ^'
erabarked for England in the beginning of November.

The queen's private favour was now shifted to a new 1707.
object. The Duchess of Marlborough was supplanted Hai-ify J^e
^ins to lomi
by Mrs. Masham, her own kinsworaan, whom she had a ^arty
rescued frora indigence and obscurity. This favourite ^^^e"^^
succeeded to that ascendancy over the raind of her so- Maribo-
vereign which the'duchess had forraerly possessed. She ™"^'*"
was raore hurable, pliable, and obliging, than her first
patroness, who had played the tyrant, and thwarted the
queen in sorae of her most respected maxiras. Her
raajesty's prepossession in favour of the tories and high
churchraen was no longer insolently conderaned and
violently opposed. The new confidante conforraed to
all her prejudices, and encouraged all her designs with
assent and approbation. In political intrigues she acted
as associate, or rather auxiliary, to Mr. Secretary Har
ley, who had insinuated hiraself into the queen's good
graces, and deterrained to sap the credit of the Duke of
Marlborough and the Earl of Godolphin. His aira was
to unite the tory interest under his own auspices, and
expel the whigs from the advantages they possessed
under the government. His chief coadjutor in this
scheme was Henry St. John, afterwards Lord Boling
broke, a man of warm imagination and elegant taste,
penetrating, eloquent, arabitious, and enterprising,
whose talents were rather specious than solid, and whose
principles were loose and fluctuating. He was at first
contented to act in an inferior capacity, subservient to
the designs of the secretary ; but when he understood
the full extent of his own parts and influence, he was
fired with the arabition of eclipsing his principal, and
frora the sphere of his minister raised himself to the
character of his rival. These politicians, with the assist
ance of Sir Simon Harcourt, a colleague of uncomraon
ability and credit, exerted their endeavours to rally and
reconcile the disunited tories, who were given to under
stand that the queen could no longer bear the tyranny
of the whigs : that she had been always a friend in her
heart to the tory and high-church party ; and that she
Avould now exhibit manifest proof of her inclination.
She accordingly bestowed the bishopricks of Chester and

552 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. Exeter upon Sir William DaAves and Dr. Blackall, who,
' though otherAA-ise of unblemished charactei-s, had openly
1707. condemned the Revolution.
The nation The people iu general 'began to be sick of the Avhig
tentedwith uiiuistrv, Avhom they had forraerly caressed. To thera
the whig they imputed the burdens under AA'hich they groaned ;
minis ry. ijup^jgjjg wliicli they had hitherto been animated to
bear by the pomji of triumph and uninterrupted suc
cess. At present they Avere discouraged by the battle
of Almanza, the miscan-iage of the expedition against
Toulon, the loss of Sir Cloudesley Shovel, and the fate
of four ships of the line, destroyed or taken by a squa
dron under the command of ^lessieurs Forbin and Du
Guai Trouin, tAvo of the most enterprising sea-officers
in the French sei-A'ice. No neAv adAantage had been
obtained in the Netherlands : France, instead of sink
ing under the AAeight of the confederac)-, seeraed to rise
Avith fresh vigour frora every overthrow : the English
traders had lately sustained repeated losses for want of
proper convoys ; the coin of the nation was visibly di
minished, and the public credit began to decline. The
tories did not fail to inculcate and exaggerate these
causes of discontent, aud the ministry were too remiss
in taking proper steps for the satisfaction of the nation.
Instead of soothing by gentle measures, and equal ad
ministration, the Scots, who had expressed such aversion
to the union, they treated them in such a manner as
served to exasperate the spirits of that people. A stop
was put to tlieir Avhole commerce for tAvo raonths before
it Avas diverted into the new channel. Three months
elapsed before the equivalent Avas remitted to that king
dom, aud it was afterwards applied to the most shame
ful partiality. Seizures of wines and other merchandise
imported from thence into England Avere made in all the
northern parts Avith an affectation of severity and dis
dain; so that the generality of the Scottish nation
loudly exclaimed against the union and the govern
ment. The Jacobites Avere again in commotion. They
held conferences : they maintained a correspondence
with the court of St. Germain's : a great number of
the most rigid Avhigs entered so far into their measures
as to think a revolution Avas absolutely uecessary to re-

ANNE. 553
trieve the liberties, independence, and comraerce of their ^^^^'
country : the pretender's birthday was publi cly celebrated

in many dift'erent parts of the kingdom; and every 1707.
thing seemed to portend an universal revolt. Ireland
continued quiet under the administration of the Earl of
Pembroke, whom the queen had appointed lord-lieu
tenant of that kingdom. A Parliament having met at
Dublin in the mouth of July, presented an address of
congratulation to her majesty on the late union of the
two kingdoms. The Comraons having inspected the
^public accounts, resolved, that the kingdom had been
put to excessive charge, by means of great arrears of
rent returned by tlie late trustees, as due out of the
forfeited estates, which returns Avere false and unjust ;
and, that an humble representation should be laid be
fore her majesty on this subject. They passed another
laudable resolution in favour of their own manufac
tures. They granted the necessary supplies, and having
finished several bills for the royal assent, were pro
rogued on the twenty-ninth day of October.
It was on the twenty-third of the same month that ^l^^^J °^
the first Parliaraent of Great Britain assembled at West- British
minster, when the queen, in her speech to both Houses, p^''^^"'-
palliated the raiscarriages in Provence and in Spain ; re
presented the necessity of raaking further efforts against
the coraraon enemy ; and exhorted them to be upon
their guard against those who endeavoured to sow jea
lousies in the commonwealth. The Commons, in their
address, expressed the continuance of their former zeal
and deA'otion to her raajesty's governraent ; but in the
House of Lords, the Earl of Wharton expatiated upon
the scarcity of raoney, the decay of trade, and the mis
management of the navy. He was seconded by Lord
Somers, and the leaders ofthe tory party, who proposed
that, previous to every measure, they should consider
the state of the nation. The design of Wharton and
Somers Avas to raise the Earl of Orford once more to the
head of the Admiralty ; and the tories, who did not
perceive their drift, hoped, in the course of the inquiry,
to fix the blame of all mismanagement upon the whig
ministers. A day being fixed for this examination, the
House received a petition frora the sheriffs and mer-

554 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, chants of London, complaining of great losses by sea, for
 ^ want of cruisers and convoys ; and these coraplaints
1707. were proved by witnesses. The report was sent to the
lord-admiral, Avho answered all the articles separately:
then the tories moved for an address, in which the
blarae of the raiscarriages raight be laid upon the rai
nistry and cabinet council ; but the raotion was over
ruled : the queen was presented with a bare representa
tion of the facts, and desired that she would take the
proper measures for preventing such evils for the future.
The Commons made some progress in an inquiry of the
same nature ; and brought in a bill for the better se
curing the trade of the kingdora. They cheerfully
granted the supplies for the service of the ensuing year.
They prepared another bill for repealing the Scottish act
of security, and that about peace and war, which had
excited such jealousy in the English nation. They
resolved, that there should be but one privy-council in
the kingdom of Great Britain: that the militia of Scot
land should be put on the sarae footing Arith that of
England : that the poAvers of the justices of the peace
should be the same through the whole island : that the
lords of justiciary in Scotland should go circuits twice
in the year : that the A^Tits for electing Scottish mera
bers to serve in the House of Commons should be
directed, and returns made, in the same manner as
practised in England. An act being formed on these
resolutions, they brought in a bill for preserving the
trade Avith Portugal : then they considered the state of
the war in Spain.
Inquiry into Whcu the qucen passed these bills, she recommended
the war in ^^ augmentation in the aids and auxiliaries granted to
Spain. the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy. This in
timation produced a debate in the House of Lords on
the affairs of Spain. The services of the Earl of Peter
borough Avere extolled by the Earl of Rochester and
Lord Haversham, Avho levelled some oblique reflections
at the Earl of Galway. Several lords enlarged upon
the necessity of carrying on the war until King Charles
should be fully established upon the throne of Spain.
The Earl of Peterborough said they ought to contribute
nine shillings in the pound rather than raake peace on

ANNE. 555
any other terras : he declared himself ready to return chap.
to Spain, and serve even under the Earl of Galway. "
The Earl of Rochester repeated a maxira of the old 1707.
Duke of Schoraberg, that attacking France in the Ne
therlands was like taking a bull by the horns. He
therefore proposed that the allies should stand on the
defensive in Flanders, and detach from thence fifteen or
twenty thousand men into Catalonia. He was seconded
by the Earl of Nottingham ; but warraly opposed by the
Duke of Marlborough, who urged, that the great towns
in Brabant which he had conquered could not be pre
served without a considerable nuraber of raen ; and that
if the French should gain any advantage in Flanders
frora their superiority in point of nuraber, the discon
tented party in Holland, which was very numerous, and
bore with irapatience the burden of the war, would not
fail crying aloud for peace. Being challenged by Ro
chester to show how troops could be procured for the
service of Italy and Spain, he assured the House that
measures had been already concerted with the emperor
for forraing an array of forty thousand men under the
Duke of Savoy, for sending powerful succours to King
Charles. This declaration finished the debate, which
issued in an affectionate address to her raajesty. The
Lords resolved, that no peace could be safe and honour
able for her raajesty and her allies, if Spain and the
Spanish West Indies were suffered to continue in the
power of the House of Bourbon. They presented an
address, in which they desired she would press the
emperor to send powerful succours to Spain, under the
comraand of Prince Eugene, with all possible expedition,
to raake good his contract with the Duke of Savoy,
and strengthen the array on the Rhine, which was now
happily put under the conduct of that wise and valiant
prince, the Elector of Hanover. The Coramons con
curred in this remonstrance, in consequence of Avhich
the queen desired the emperor to bestoAV the command
in Spain upon Prince Eugene. The court of Vienna,
however, did not comply Avith this request ; but sent
thither Count Staremberg, who, of all the German
generals, Avas next to the prince in railitary reputation.
The Coramons uoav proceeded to consider of ways and

556 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, means, and actually established funds for raising the
supply, which amounted to the enormous sum of six

1707. millions.
Gregg, a j^^ ^}jjg period Mr. Harley's character incurred sus-
clerk, m ths
secretary's piciou, from the treachery of William Gregg, an
t^tedfn'a hiferjor clerk in his office, who was detected in a cor-
coirespond- rcspondonce with Monsieur Chamillard, the French
Uie^French king's minister. When his practices were detected he
ministry, made au ample confession, and, pleading guilty to his
indictment at the Old Bailey, was condemned to death
for high treason. At the same time, John Bara and
' Alexander Valiere were committed to Newgate for cor
responding with the enemy; and Claude Baude, se
cretary to the Duke of Savoy's minister, was, at the
request of his master, apprehended for traitorous prac
tices against her majesty and her government. A com
mittee of seven lords being appointed to examine these
delinquents, made a report to the House, which Avas
communicated to the queen in an address, iraporting,
that Gregg had discovered secrets of state to the French
minister : that Alexander Valiere and John Bara had
managed a correspondence with the governors and com
missaries of Calais and Boulogne ; and, in all probability,
discovered to the enemy the stations of the British
cruisers, the strength of their convoys, and the tiraes at
which the merchant ships proceeded on their voyages:
that all the papers in the office of Mr. Secretary Harley
had been for a considerable time exposed to the view of
the meanest clerks ; and that the perusal of all the
letters to and from the French prisoners had been chiefly
trusted to Gregg, a person of a very suspicious character,
and known to be extremely indigent. The queen
granted a reprieve to this man, in hope of his making
some important discovery; but he really knew nothingof
consequence to the nation. He AA"as an indigent Scot,
Avho had been employed as a spy in his own country,
and now offered his services to Chamillard, vA-ith a view
of being rewarded for his treachery ; but he Avas dis
covered before he had reaped {iny fruits from his cor
respondence. As he had no secrets of importance to
impart, he Avas executed at Tyburn, AA-here he delivered
a paper to the sheriff', in Avhicli he declared Mr. Harley

ANNE. 557
entirely ignorant of all his treasonable connexions, chap.
notwithstanding some endeavours that were made to

engage hira in an accusation of that rainister. 1707.
The queen had refused to adrait the Earl of Peter- Harley re-
borough into her presence, until he should have vin- e^ioj^
dicated his conduct, of which King Charles had cora- ™ents.
plained in divers letters. He was eagerly desirous of
a parliaraentary inquiry. His railitary proceedings, his
negotiations, his disposal of the remittances, Avere taken
into consideration by both Houses ; but he produced
such a number of witnesses and original papers to jus
tify every transaction, that his character triumphed in
the inquiry, which was dropped before it produced any
resolution in Parliaraent. Then they took cognizance
of the state of affairs in Spain, and found there had
been a great deficiency iu the English troops at the
battle of Alraanza. This, however, was explained so
rauch to their satisfaction, that they voted an address to
the queen, thanking her for having taken measures to
restore the affairs in Spain, and provide foreign troops
for that service. The bill for rendering the union
more coraplete met with a vigorous opposition in the
House of Lords from the court party, on account of
the clause enacting, that, after the first of May, there
should be but one privy-council in the kingdom of
Great Britain. The ministry, finding it was strenuously
supported by all the tories, and a considerable number
of the other faction, would have compromised the dif
ference, by proposing that the privy-council of Scotland
should continue to the first day of October. They
hinted this expedient, in hope of being able to influence
the ensuing elections ; but their design being palpable,
the motion was overruled, and the bill received the
royal assent : a court of exchequer, however, was erected
in Scotland upon the raodel of that in England. The
execution of Gregg, and the examination of Valiere and
Bara, who had acted as smugglers to the coast of France,
under the protection of Harley, to whom they engaged
for intelligence, affected the credit of that rainister, Avho
was reviled and traduced by the eraissaries of the whig
party. The Duke of Marlborough and the Earl of
Godolphin, being apprised of his secret practices Avith

558

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. IX.
1707.

The pre
tender em
barks at
Dunkirk
for Scot
land.

Mrs. Masham, wrote to the queen that they could serve
her no longer, should Mr. Harley continue in the post
of secretary. Being suraraoned to the cabinet council,
they waited on her in person, and expostulated on the
same subject. She endeavoured to appease their re
sentment with soft persuasion, which had no effect ; and
when they retired from court, to the astonishment of
all the spectators, she repaired in person to the council.
There Mr. Secretary Harley began to explain the cause
of their meeting, which was some circumstance relating
to foreign affairs. The Duke of Somerset said he did
not see how they could deliberate on such matters while
the general and treasurer were absent : the other raera
bers observed a sullen silence ; so that the council broke
up, and the queen found herself in danger of being aban
doned by her ministers. Next day her majesty sent for
the Duke of Marlborough, and told hira that Harley
should immediately resign his office, which was conferred
upon Mr. Henry Boyle, chancellor of the exchequer :
but she deeply resented the deportment ofthe duke and
the Earl of Godolphin, frora whora she entirely vrith-
drew her confldence. Sir Simon Harcourt, attorney-
general. Sir Thomas Mansel, comptroller of the house
hold, and Mr. St. John, relinquished their several posts
upon the disgrace of Harley.
The kingdom was at this period alarraed Arith a
threatened invasion frora France. The court of St.
Gerraain's had sent over one Colonel Hook with cre
dentials to Scotland, to learn the situation, number,
and ability of the pretender's friends in that country.
This minister, by his misconduct, produced a division
among the Scottish Jacobites. Being a creature of the
Duke of Perth, he attached himself wholly to the Duke
of Athol, and those other zealous partisans who were
bent upon receiving the pretender Avithout conditions ;
and he neglected the Duke of Hamilton, the earl-mare-
schal, and other adherents of that house, who adopted
the more moderate principles avoAved by the Earl of
Middleton. At his return to France, he made such
a favourable report of the disposition and power of the
Scottish nation, that Louis resolved to equip an arma
ment, and send over the pretender to that kingdom.

ANNE. 559
His pretence was to establish that prince on the throne *^?x^-
of his ancestors ; but his real aim was to raake a diver-  '. 
sion frora the Netherlands, and excite a revolt in Great 1707.
Britain, which should hinder Queen Anne from exert
ing herself against France on the continent. He began
to make preparations for this expedition at Dunkirk,
Avhere a squadron was assembled under the command
of the Chevalier de Fourbin ; and a body of land forces
were embarked with Monsieur de Gace, afterwards
known by the appellation of the Mareschal de Mati-
gnon.- The pretender, who had assuraed the name of
the CheA-alier de St. George, was furnished with services
of gold and silver plate, sumptuous tents, rich clothes
for his life-guards, splendid liveries, and all sorts of ne
cessaries even to profusion. Louis at parting presented
hira with a sword studded with valuable diaraonds, and
repeated what he had forraerly said to this adventurer's
father : " He hoped he should never see hira again."
The pope contributed to the expense of this expedition,
and accoramodated him with divers religious inscrip
tions, which were wrought upon his colours and stand
ards. Queen Anne being informed of these prepara
tions, and the design of the French monarch, commu
nicated to the Coraraons the advices which she had
received frora Holland and the Netherlands touching
the destination ofthe Dunkirk armament : both Houses
concurred in an address, assuring her they would assist
her majesty with their lives and fortunes against the
pretended Prince of Wales, and all her other eneraies.
Then they passed a bill, enacting, that the oath of ab
juration should be tendered to all persons, and such as
refused to take it should be in the condition of convicted
recusants. By another, they suspended the habeas
corpus act till October, with relation to persons appre
hended by the governraent on suspicion of treasonable
practices. The pretender and his adherents were pro
clairaed traitors and rebels ; and a bill was passed, dis
charging the clans of Scotland frora all vassalage to those
chiefe who should take up arms against her majesty.
Transports were hired to bring over ten British bat
talions frora Ostend : a large fleet being equipped with
incredible diligence, sailed frora Deal towards Dunkirk,

560 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, under the conduct of Sir John Leake, Sir George Byng,
_ and Lord Dursley. The French imagined that Leake

1707. had sailed to Lisbon, and that Britain was unprovided
of ships of war ; so that they were amazed and con
founded when this fleet appeared off Mardyke : a stop
was iraraediately put to the embarkation of their troops :
frequent expresses were despatched to Paris : the
Count de Fourbin represented to the French king the
little probability of succeeding in this enterprise, and
the danger that would attend the attempt ; but he re
ceived positive orders to embark the forces, and set
sail Avith the first favourable wind.
His design The British fleet being forced from their station by
is e eate . gg.ygj.g -vyeathor on the fourteenth day of March, the
French squadron sailed on the seventeenth from the
road of Dunkirk ; but the Avind shifting, it anchored in
NeAvport-pits till the nineteenth in the evening, when
they set sail again with a fair breeze, steering their
course for Scotland. Sir George Byng having received
advice of their departure, from an Ostend vessel sent
out for that purpose by Major-General Cadogan, gave
chase to the enemy, after haviug detached a squadron,
under Admiral Baker, to convoy the troops that were
embarked at Ostend for England. On the tenth day
of March, the Queen went to the House of Peers, where,
in a speech to both Houses, she told them that the
French fleet had sailed ; that Sir George Byng was in
pursuit of thera ; and that ten battalions of her troops
were expected every day in England. This intimation
was followed bytAvo very warm addresses frora the Lords
and Commons, in which they repeated their assurances
of standing by her against all her enemies. They ex
horted her to persevere in supporting the comraon cause,
notwithstanding this petty attempt to disturb her do
minions ; and levelled some severe insinuations against
thosewho endeavoured to foment jealousies betweenher
majesty and her most faithful servants. Addresses on
the same occasion were sent up from different parts of
the kingdom ; so that the queen seeraed to look Arith
conterapt upon the designs of the eneray. Several re
giraents of foot, with some squadrons of cavalry, began
their march for Scotland : the Earl of Leven, com-

ANNE. 561

mander-in-chief of the forces in that country, and governor chap.
of the castle of Edinburgh, hastened thither to put that

IX.

fortress in a posture of defence, and to make the pro- 1707.
per dispositions to oppose the pretender at his landing.
But the vigilance of Sir George Byng rendered all these
precautions unnecessary. He sailed directly to the Frith
of Edinburgh, where he arrived alraost as soon as the
enemy, who immediately took the advantage of a land
breeze, and bore away with all the sail they could carry.
The English adrairal gave chase ; and the Salisbury,
one of their ships, was boarded and taken. At night
Monsieur de Fourbin altered his course, so that next
day they were out of reach of the English squadron.
The pretender desired they would proceed to the north
ward, and land hira at Inverness, and Foubin seeraed
willing to gratify his request ; but the Avind changing,
and blowing in their teeth with great violence, he re
presented the danger of attempting to prosecute the
voyage ; and, with the consent of the Chevalier de St.
George and his general, returned to Dunkirk, after
having been tossed about a Avhole month in very tem
pestuous Aveather. In the raean tirae. Sir George Byng
sailed up to Leith road, where he received the freedora
of the city of Edinburgh in a golden box, as a testiraony
of gratitude for his having delivered thera frora the
dreadful apprehensions under which they laboured.
Certain it is, the pretender could not have chosen a Sta.teofthe
J. 11 I. -1. j; 1- 1 i nation at
more favourable opportunity for raaking a descent upon that period.
Scotland. The people in general were disaffected to
the governraent on account of the union : the regular
troops under Leven did not exceed five-and-twenty
hundred men, and even great part of these would in all
probability have joined the invader : the castle of Edin
burgh was destitute of ammunition, and would in all
appearance have surrendered at the first sumraons; in
which case the Jacobites raust have been raasters of the
equivalent raoney lodged in that fortress : a good nura
ber of Dutch ships loaded Avith cannon, small arras,
ammunition, and a large sura of raoney, had been driven
on shore in the shire of Angus, where they would have
been seized by the friends of the pretender, had the
French troops" been landed; and all the adherents of
VOL. I. 0 0

562

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. IX.
1707.

Burchet. Hare.
Boyer.Lockhart. Feuquieres.Daniel. Hist, of
the Duke of
Marlbo
rough. Conduct of
the Duchess
of Marlbo
rough. Friend.
Burchet. Tindai.Lives of
the Admi
rals. Voltaire.

that house were ready to appear in arms. In England,
such a deraand was made upon the bank, by those who
favoured the invasion, and those who dreaded a revolu
tion, that the public credit seemed to be in danger.
The Commons resolved, that whoever designedly en
deavoured to destroy or lessen the public credit, espe
cially at a time when the kingdom was threatened with
an invasion, was guilty of a high crime and misdemean
our, and an enemy to her majesty and the kingdom.
The lord treasurer signified to the directors of the bank
that her majesty would allow, for six months, an interest
of six per cent, upon their bills, which was double the
usual rate; and considerable sums of raoney were offered
to thera by this nobleraan, as well as by the Dukes of
Marlborough, Newcastle, and Soraerset. The French,
Dutch, and Jewish raerchants, whose interest was in a
peculiar manner connected with the safety of the bank,
exerted themselves for its support ; and the directors,
having called in twenty per cent, upon their capital
stock, w^ere enabled to answer all the deraands of the
timorous and disaffected. All the noblemen and persons
of distinction in Scotland, suspected of an attachraent to
the court of St. Germain's, were apprehended, and
either imprisoned in the castle of Edinburgh, or brought
up to London, to be confined in the Tower or in Noav-
gate. Among these was the Duke of Hamilton, who
found means to raake his peace with the whig minis
ters ; and, in a little tirae, the other prisoners were ad
mitted to bail '.
' Three camisars, or protestants, from the Cevennois, having made their escape,
and repaired to London, acquired about this time the appellation of French pro
phets, from their enthusiastic gesticulations, effusions, and convulsions ; and even
formed a sect of their countrymen. The French refugees, scandalized at their
behaviour, and authorized by the Bishop of London, as superior of the French
congregations, resolved to inquire into the mission of these pretended prophets,
whose names were Elias Manon, John Cavalier, and Durand Fage. They were
declared impostors and counterfeits. Notwithstanding this decision, which was
confirmed by the bishops, they continued their assemblies in Soho, under the
countenance of Sir Richard Bulkley and John Lacy. They reviled the ministers
of the established church ; they denounced judgments against the city of London,
and the whole British nation ; and published their predictions, composed of unin
telligible jargon. Then they were prosecuted at the expense of the French
churches, as disturbers of the public peace, and false prophets. They were
sentenced to pay a fine of twenty marks each, and stand twice on a scaffold, with
papers on their breasts denoting their offence ; a sentence which was executed
accordingly at Charing-cross and the Royal Exchange.
In the course of this year, Mr. Stanhope, who was resident from the queen at the
court of Charles, concluded a treaty of commerce with this monarch, which would

ANNE. 563

On the first day of April, the Parliaraent was pro- chap.
rogued, and afterwards dissolved by proclaraation. Writs ^^'

were issued out for new elections, together with a pro- 1708.
claraation, coraraanding all the peers of North Britain Pariiament
to asserable at Holyrood-house in Edinburgh, on the ^'^^°^''^^'
seventeenth day of June, to elect sixteen peers to re
present them in the ensuing British Parliament, pur
suant to the twenty-second article ofthe treaty of union.
After the dissolution of the Parliament, the Lords Grif
fin, Clermont, two sons of the Earl of Middleton, and
several Scottish and Irish oflficers, who had been taken
on board the SaUsbury, were brought to London, and
imprisoned in the Tower, or in Newgate. Lord Griffin
being attainted by outlawry, for high treason committed
in the reign of King WUUara, was brought to the bar
of the court of King's Bench, and a rule made for his
execution; but he was reprieved from month to raonth,
until he died of a natural death in prison. The privy-
council of Scotland was dissolved; the Duke of Queens
berry was created a British peer, by the title of Baron
of Rippon, Marquis of Beverley, and Duke of Dover ;
and the office of secretary at war, vacant by the resigna
tion of Henry St. John, was bestowed upon Robert
Walpole, a gentleraan who had rendered himself con
siderable in the House of Comraons, and whose conduct
we shall have occasion to raention raore at large in the
sequel. About the same tirae, a proclaraation AA'as
issued for distributing prizes, in certain proportions,
to the different officers and searaen of the royal navy ;
a regulation that still prevails.
The French king, npt at all discouraged by the mis- TheFrench
carriage of his projected invasion, resolved to improve Ghent and
the advantages he had gained on the continent during ^™g«^-
have proved extremely advantageous to Great Britain, had he been firmly esta
blished on the throne of Spain. It was stipulated that the English merchants
should enjoy the privilege of importing all kinds of merchandise from the coast of
Barbary into the maritime places of Spain, without paying any higher duty than
if that merchandise had been the produce of Great Britain ; and that even these
duties should not be paid till six months after the merchandise should be landed
and sold, the merchants giving security for the customs. It was agreed that the
whole commerce of the Spanish West Indies should be carried on by a joint com
pany of Spanish and British raerchants ; and in the interim, as the greater part
of that country was in the hands of Philip, his competitor consented that the
British subjects should trade freely in all the ports of the West Indies with ten
ships of five hundred tons each, under such convoy as her Britannic majesty
should think fit to appoint.
o o2

564 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, the last campaign, and indeed he made efforts that were
' altogether incredible, considering the consumptive state
1708. of his finances ^. He assembled a prodigious army in
the Netherlands, under the coraraand of the Duke of
Burgundy, assisted by Vendorae, and accorapanied by
the Duke of Berry and the Chevalier de St. George.
The Elector of Bavaria Avas destined to the coramand
of the troops upon the Rhine, AA'here he was seconded
by the Duke of BerAvick ; and the Mareschal de ViUe-
roy was sent to conduct the forces in Dauphine.
About the latter end of March, the Duke of Marl
borough repaired to the Hague, where he was met by
, Prince Eugene; these tAvo celebrated generals con
ferred with the Pensionary Heinsius, and the deputies of
the States-General. Then they made an excursion to
Hanover, Avhere they prevailed upon the elector to be
satisfied Avith acting upon the defensive in his command
on the Rhine, and spare part of his forces, that the con
federates might be enabled to make vigorous efforts in
the Netherlands. The prince proceeded to Vienna,
and the duke immediately returned to Flanders, where
he assembled the army toAvards the latter end of May.
On the tAA'enty-fifth day of that month, the Duke de
Vendome inarched to Soignies, and posted himself
within three leagues of the confederates, Avho were en
camped at Billinghen and Halle. The Duke of Mai-1-
borough having received intelligence that the enemy
'^ Before fhe opening of the campaign, a \ei'y daring enteiprise was formed by one
Colonel Queintern, a partisan in the imperial army. This man laid a scheme for
carrying off' the Dauphin of France from the court of Vei'sailles. He selected thirty
men of approved valour for this undertaking. He procured passes for them, and they
rendezvoused in the neighbourhood of Paris. On the twenty-fourth day of March,
in the evening, he and his accomplices stopped a coach and six, with the king's
liveries, and arrested the pei-son who was in it, on the supposition of his being a
prince ofthe blood. It was, however, M. de Berringhen, the king's first equerry.
This officer they mounted on a spare hoi-se, and set out for the Low Countries : but,
being little acquainted with the roads, they did not reach Chantilly till next morn
ing, wlien they heard the toxen, or alarm-bell, and thence concluded that detach
ments were sent out in pursuit of them. Nevertheless, they proceeded boldly, and
would certainly have carried the point, had not Queintern halted three hours for the
refi'eshmcnt of his prisoner, who complained of his being indisposed. He likewise
procured a chaise, and ordered the back of it to be loweredfor his convenience. These
acts of humanity retarded him so much, that he was overtaken by a detachment of
horse at Ham, within three horn's' ride of a place of safety. Finding himself sur
rounded, he Ihought proper to surrender, and M. de Berringhen treated him with
great generosity, for the civilities he had experienced at his hands. He caiTied him
back to Versailles, and lodged him in his own apartments. M.idame de Berringhen
made him a considerable present; and the king ordered him and his companions
to be discharged, on account of the courage and humanity they had displayed.

ANNE. 565
were on their raarch by Bois-Seigneur-Isaac to Braine- ^?x^-
la-Leuwe, concluded their intention was to take post on "
the banks of the Dude, to hinder the allies frora 1708.
passing that river, and to occupy Louvaine. He, there
fore, coraraanded the array to march all night, and on
the third day of June encamped at Terbank, General
D'Auverquerque fixing his quarters in the suburbs of
Louvaiiie, while the French advanced no farther than
Genap and Braine-la-Leuwe. As they were raore nu
merous than the confederates, and headed by a prince
of the blood, the generals of the allies at first expected
that they would hazard a battle; but their scheme Avas to
retrieve bystratagem the places they had lost in Flanders.
The Elector of Bavaria had rendered himself extremely
popular in the great towns : the Count de Bergeyck,
who had considerable interest araong them, was devoted
to the house of Bourbon : the inhabitants of the great
cities were naturally inconstant and mutinous, and par
ticularly dissatisfied with the Dutch governraent. The
French generals resolved to profit by these circum
stances. A detachment of their troops, under the
Brigadiers La Faille and Pasteur, surprised the city of
Ghent, in AA-hich there was no garrison ; at the same
time the Count de la Motte, with a strong body of
forces, appeared before Bruges, which was surrendered
to hira without opposition : then he raade a fruitless
attempt upon Damme, and marched to the little fort of
Plassendahl, Avhich he took by assault. The Duke of
Marlborough was no sooner apprised of the enemy's
having, sent a strong detachraent towards Tubize, than
he marched from Terbank, passed the canal, and en
camped at Anderlech. The French crossed the Senne
at Halle and Tubize, and the allies resolved to attack
them next raorning ; but the enemy passed the Dender
in the night with great expedition ; and the Duke of
Marlborough next day encamped at Asche, AA-here he
was joined by Prince Eugene, who had marched Avith a
considerable reinforcement of Germans from the I\Io-
selle. The enemy understanding that this general was
on his raarch, deterrained to reduce Oudenai-de, the
only pass on the Schelde possessed by the confederates ;
and invested it on the ninth day of July, hoping to sub-

566 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, due it before the allies could be reinforced. The Duke
' of Marlborough was iraraediately in raotion, and raade
1708. a surprising raarch frora Asche, as far as Herselingen,
where he was joined by the reinforceraent. Then he
took possession of the strong camp at Lessines, which
the French had intended to occupy, in order to cover
the siege of Oudenarde.
They are Thus disappointed, the French generals altered thdr
Oudenarde. resolution, abandoned Oudenarde, and began to pass
the Schelde at Gavre. The two generals of the con
federates were bent upon bringing thera to an engage
ment. Cadogan was sent with sixteen battalions and
eight squadrons to repair the roads, and throw bridges
over the Schelde below Oudenarde. The army was in
motion at eight o'clock, and marched with such expedi
tion, that by two in the afternoon the horse had reached
the bridges over which Cadogan and his detachment
were passing. The eneray had posted seven battalions
in the village of Heynera, situated on the banks of the
Schelde, and the French household troops were drawn
up in order of battle on the adjacent plain, opposite to
a body of troops under Major-General Rantzaw, who
were posted behind a rivulet that ran into the river.
The Duke de Vendorae intended to attack the confe
derates when one half of their array should have passed
the Schelde ; but he was thwarted by the Duke of Bur
gundy, who seemed to be perplexed and irresolute.
This prince had ordered the troops to halt in their march
to Gavre, as if he had not jet forraed any resolution ;
and now he recalled the squadrons frora the plain, deter
rained to avoid a battle. Vendorae reraonstrated
against this conduct, and the dispute continued till
three in the afternoon, when the greater part of the
allied array had passed the Schelde without opposition.
Then the Duke of Burgundy declared for an engage
raent, and Vendorae subraitted to his opinion with great
reluctance, as the opportunity was now lost, and the
army unformed. Major-General Griraaldi was ordered
to attack Rantzaw with the horse of the king's house
hold, who, finding the rivulet raarshy, refused to charge,
and retired to the right. Meanwhile Cadogan attacked
the village of Heynera, Avhich he took with three ofthe

ANNE. 567
seven battalions by which it Avas guarded. Rantzaw, chap.
passing the rivulet, advanced into the plain, and drove "
before hira several squadrons of the eneray. In this 1708.
attack the Electoral Prince of Hanover, his late ma
jesty George II. charged at the head of Bulau's dra
goons with great intrepidity. His horse was shot under
him, and Colonel Laschky killed by his side. Divers
French regiments were entirely broken, and a good
number of officers and standards fell into the hands of
the Hanoverians. The confederates continued still
passing the river; but few or none of the infantry
were come up till five in the afternoon, when the Duke
of Argyle arrived with twenty battalions, which iraraedi
ately sustained a vigorous assault from the eneray. By
this time the French were drawn up in order of battle ;
and the allies being formed as they passed the river,
both arraies were engaged through the whole extent of
their lines about seven in the evening. Europe had not
for many years produced two such noble arinies : above
one hundred general officers appeared in the field, and
two hundred and fifty colonels fought at the head of
their respective regiraents. The number of the French
exceeded that of the allies by twelve thousand : but
their generals were divided, their forces ill-disposed,
and the raen dispirited by the uninterrupted success of
their adversaries. They seemed from the beginning
averse to an engagement, and acted in hurry and trepi
dation. Nevertheless, the action was raaintained until
General D'Auverquerque and Count Tilly, who cora
manded on the left of the allies, obliged the right of the
enemy to give ground, and the Prince of Orange with
Count Oxienstern attacked them in flank with the
Dutch infantry. Then they began to give way, and re
tired in great confusion. The -Duke de Vendome,
alighting from his horse, rallied the broken battalions,
called the officers by narae, conjured thera to maintain
the honour of their country, and animated the men with
his voice and example. But notwithstanding all his
endeavours, they were forced back among the enclosures
in great confusion. Some regiraents were cut in pieces ;
others desired to capitulate ; and if the darkness had

568 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, not interposed, their whole army would have been ruined.
' The night coraing on, so that it becarae irapossible to
1708. distinguish friends from enemies, the two generals or
dered the troops to cease firing, and the eneray took
this opportunity of escaping by the road which leads
frora Oudenarde to Ghent. The Duke de Vendome
seeing the French forces flying in the utraost terror and
precipitation, forraed a rear-guard of about five-and-
twenty squadrons, and as many battalions, with AA'hich
he secured the retreat. To this precaution the safety
of the army was entirely owing ; for at daybreak the
Duke of Marlborough sent a large detachraent of horse
and foot, under the Lieutenant-Generals Bulau and
Lumley, to pursue the fugitives ; but the hedges and
ditches that skirted the road Avere lined Avith the French
grenadiers in such a manner, that the cavalry could not
form, and they were obliged to desist. The French
reached Ghent about eight in the raorning, and march
ing through the city, encamped at Lovendegen ou the
canal. There they thought proper to cast up intrench
ments, upon which they planted their artillei-y, which
they had left at Gavi-e with their heavy baggage. About
three thousand were slain on the field of battle ; two
thousand deserted; and about seven thousand were
taken, including a great number of officers, together
with ten pieces of cannon, above a hundred standards
and colours, and four thousand horses. The loss of the
allies did not araount to two thousand raen ; nor was
one officer of distinction killed on their side during the
whole engagement''. After the confederates had rested
two days on the field of battle, a detachment was or
dered to level the French lines between Ypres and the
Lys : another was sent to raise contributions as far as
Arras : they ravaged the country, and struck terror
even into the city of Paris. While the allies plundered
the province of Picardy, a detachment frora the French
army, under the Chevalier de Rozeu, made an irrup
tion into Dutch Flanders, broke through the lines of
¦^ Among the officei-s who were engaged in this battle, old General D'Auver
querque and the Duke of Argyle distinguished themselves by the most extraordi
nary valour and activity.

ANNE. 569
Bervliet, which had been left unguarded, and made a ^^^^'
descent upon the island of Cadsandt, which they laid .

under contribution. 1708.
The generals of the allies now undertook an enter- The allies
prise, which, in the opinion of the French generals, '"^^^ '^ ^'
savoured of rashness and inconsiderate self-sufficiency.
This was the siege of Lisle, the strongest town in Flan
ders, provided with all necessaries, store of araraunition,
and a garrison reinforced with one-and-twenty battalions
of the best troops in France, coraraanded by Mareschal
de Boufflers in person. But these were not the prin
cipal difficulties which the allies encountered. The
enemy had cut off the comraunication between them
and their magazines at Antwerp and Sas-Fan-Ghent ;
so that they were obliged to bring their convoys frora
Ostend along a narrow causeway, exposed to the attack
of an array more nuraerous than that with which they
sat down before Lisle. On the thirteenth of August
it was invested on one side by Prince Eugene, and on
the other by the Prince of Orange-Nassau, Stadtholder
of Friesland; while the Duke of Marlborough en
camped at Helchin, to cover the siege. The trenches
were opened on the twenty-second day of August, and
carried on with that vigour and alacrity which is always
inspired by victory and success. The Dukes of Bur
gundy and Vendorae being now joined by the Duke of
Berwick, resolved, if possible, to relieve the place ; and
made several marches and counter-raarches for this pur
pose. Marlborough being apprised of their intention,-
marched out of his Unes to give them battle, being re
inforced by a considerable body of troops from the siege,
including Augustus King of Poland, and the Landgrave
of Hesse, as volunteers ; but the enemy declined an en
gagement, and the allies returned to their camp, which
they fortified Avith an intrenchment. On the seventh
day of September, the besiegers took by assault the
counterscarp of Lisle, after an obstinate action, in which
they lost a thousand men. The French generals con
tinued to hover about the camp of the confederates,
which they actually cannonaded; and the Duke of
Marlborough again forraed his array in order of battle ;
but their design Avas only to harass the allies with con-

570 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, tinual alarms, and interrupt the operations of the siege.
 L_ They endeavoured to surprise the town of Aeth, by
1708. means of a secret correspondence with the inhabitants;
but the conspiracy was discovered before it took effect.
Then they cut off all coraraunication between the be
siegers and the Schelde, the banks of which they for
tified with strong intrenchments, and a prodigious num
ber of cannon ; so that now all the stores and neces
saries were sent to the camp of the confederates from
Ostend. On the twenty-first day of September, Prince
Eugene, who was in the trenches, seeing the troops
driven by the eneray frora a lodgeraent they had raade
on the counterscarp of the Tenaille, rallied and led
them back to the charge ; but being wounded over the
left eye Avith a musket-shot, he was obliged to retire,
and for sorae days the Duke of Marlborough sustained
the whole coramand, both in the siege and of. the co
vering army. On the twenty-third the Tenaille Avas
storraed, and a lodgement made along the covered way.
Mareschal Boufflers having found means to inform the
Duke de Vendome that his aramunition was almost ex
pended, this general detached the Chevalier de Luxera
bourg, with a body of horse and dragoons, to supply
the place vrith gunpowder, every man carrying a bag of
forty pounds upon the crupper. They were discovered
in passing through the camp of the allies, and pursued
to the barrier of the town, into which about three hun
dred were adraitted; but a great nuraber were killed by
the confederates, or raiserably destroyed by the explo
sion of the powder which they carried.
They de- The ucxt atterapt of the French generals was to in-
body 0^^^ tercept a convoy frora Ostend. The Count de la Motte
French raarchod frora Ghent, with about two-and-twenty thou-
Wynen- saiid mou, to attack this convoy, which was guarded by
TheEiector ^^-^ thousaud of the allies, coraraanded by Major-General
of Bavaria Webb. This officor raade such an adrairable disposi-
Brusseis ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ wood of Wyueudalo, and received the eneray
with such a close fire, that, after a very warra action,
that lasted two hours, they retired in the utraost con
fusion, notwithstanding their great superiority in num
bers, leaving six thousand men killed upon the field of
battle ; the loss of the allies not exceeding nine hun-

ANNE. 571
dred and twelve officers and soldiers. This was the chap.
most honourable exploit perforraed during the whole "
war, and of such consequence to the confederates, that 1708.
if the convoy had been taken, the siege raust have been
raised. The Duke de Vendome ordered the dikes be
tween Bruges and Newport to be cut, so as to lay the
whole country under water, in hopes of destroying the
communication between Ostend and the camp of the
confederates ; and after a regular siege, he took Colonel
Caulfield, and a body of British troops posted in the
viUage of Leffinghen, by whose raeans the convoys had
been forwarded to the Duke of Marlborough. On the
twenty-second of October, Mareschal Boufflers desired
to capitulate for the town of Lisle : next day the articles
were signed : on the twenty-fifth the allies took pos
session of the place, and the mareschal retired into the
citadel with the reraains of his garrison, which, frora
twelve thousand, was reduced to less than the half of
that number. A negotiation was begun for the surrender
of the citadel ; but Boufflers made such extravagant de
mands as were rejected with disdain. HostiUties were
renewed on the twenty-ninth day ofthe month ; andthe
Earl of Stair was detached to provide corn for the army
in the districts of Furnes and Dixrauyde. During these
transactions, Veldt-Mareschal D'Auverquerque died at
Rousselaer, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, after
having, in above thirty carapaigns, exhibited innume
rable proofs of uncomraon courage, ability, and rao
deration. The Duke de Vendorae did not despair of
obliging the confederates to abandon their enterprise :
the French ministers at Rorae and Venice publicly de
clared the allied array was cooped up in such a manner,
that it must either raise the siege or be famished. The
Elector of Bavaria, with a detachraent of ten thousand
raen, raarched to Brussels, and attacked the counterscarp
with incredible fury ; but was repulsed by the garrison,
under the comraand of General Paschal, and retired
with precipitation, when he understood that the Duke
of Marlborough was in motion to relieve the place.
This nobleman and Prince Eugene no sooner under
stood the danger to which Brussels was exposed, than
they raarched A\ith the covering army to the Schelde,

572 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, -vvrhich they passed in pontoons without opposition, not-
 '.  withstanding the formidable works which the French
1708. had raised. They now abandoned them with precipi
tation, to the surprise of the confederates, who had laid
their account with the loss of a thousand men in the
attack. Having passed the river between Eskenaffe
and Hauterive, as well as at other places, they marched
to Oudenarde, where they received intelligence that
the elector had retreated. Then Prince Eugene re
turned to Lisle, and the Duke of Marlborough pro
ceeded to Brussels, where he was received with joy and
acclamation. He afterAvards took post at Oudenarde,
so as to maintain a communication with Prince Eugene.
Lisle sur- ^he besicgers having made lodgements and raised
Ghent ' batteries on the second counterscarp of the citadel, sent
taken, and ^ message to Boufflcrs, intimating, that if he would sur-
abandoned. render before the opening of the batteries, he should
have an honourable capitulation ; othervrise he and his
garrison must be made prisoners of war. He chose to
avoid the last part ofthe alternative : hostages were ex
changed on the eighth day of December, and the arti
cles signed on the tenth : when the mareschal and his
garrison marched out with the honours of war, and were
conducted to Douay. In this great enterprise, spirit
and perseverance raade amends for want of foresight and
skill, which was flagrant on the side of the confederates ;
yet their success Avas owing in a great measure to the
iraprovidence and raisconduct of the besieged. The
French generals never dreamed that the allies would
attempt any thing of consequence after the reduction of
Lisle, considering the advanced season of the year, aud
therefore they re turned to Paris, after having distributed
their army into winter quarters. But their indefati
gable antagonists were determined to strike another
stroke of iraportance before their forces should separate.
On the twentieth day of Deceraber they invested the
city of Ghent on all sides ; and on the thirtieth, Avhen
the batteries were ready to open, the Count de la Motte,
who coraraanded the garrison, desired to capitulate.
On the third day of the next raonth he raarched out
with thirty battalions and sixteen squadrons, which were
conducted to Tournay ; while the Duke of Argyle, with

ANNE. 573
six British battalions, took possession of the town and ^^^^•
citadel. Then the enemy abandoned Bruges, Plas-  — —
sendahl, and Leffinghen ; and the generals of the allies, 1708.
haring settled the plan of Avinter quarters, repaired to
Holland, leaving the forces under the coraraand of
Count Tilly. The French king Avas confounded and
disraayed at these conquests in the Netherlands. Nor
was he easy on the side of Dauphine : in spite of all the
vigilance and activity of Villars, the Duke of Savoy
raade himself master of the important fortresses of
Exilles, La Perouse, the valley of St. IMartiu, and
Fenestrells ; so that by the end of the campaign he had
secured a barrier to his own frontiers, and opened a way
into the French provinces, after having made a diver
sion iu favour of King Charles, by obliging the enemy
to send a strong detachraent fi-ora Rousillou to the
assistance of Villars.
The carapaign in Catalonia A^as productive of a great ^"^morca
event. Count Guide de Stareraberg arrived at Bai-ce- by General
lona on the last day of April ; but the imperial troops Stanhope.
brought from Italy by Admiral Leake did not laud in
time to reUeve Tortosa, Avhich the Duke of Orleans be
sieged and took, together with Denia, the garrison of
Avhich were made prisoners of Avar, contrary to the
articles of capitulation. These losses, however, were
abundantly raade up to the allies by the conquest of
Sardinia aud jMinorca. Sir John Leake having taken
on board a handful of troojis, under the conduct of the
Mai-quis D'Alconzel, set sail for Cagliari, and sura
raoned the viceroy to subrait to King Charles. As
he did not send an imraediate answer, the admiral
began to bombard the city, and the inhabitants com
pelled hira to surrender at discretion. The greater part
of the garrison inlisted themselves in the service of
Charles. The deputies of the states being assembled by
the IMarquis D'Alconzel, acknowledged that prince as
their sovereign, aud agreed to furnish his army Avith
thirty thousand sacks of corn, which Avere accordingly
transported to Catalonia, where there Avas a great
scarcity of provision. Major-General Stanhope having
planned the conquest of JNIinorca, and concerted vA'ith
the admiral the raeasures necessary to put it in execu-

574 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, tion, obtained from Count Staremberg a few battalions
 L_ of Spaniards, Italians, and Portuguese : at the head of
1708. these he embarked at Barcelona with a fine train of
British artillery, accompanied by Brigadier Wade and
Colonel Petit, an engineer of great reputation. They
landed on the island, about ten miles from St. Philip's
fort, on the twenty-sixth of August, Arith about eight
hundred raarines, which augmented their number to
about three thousand. Next day they erected bat
teries; and General Stanhope ordered a number of
arrows to be shot into a place, to which papers were
affixed, written in the Spanish and French languages,
containing threats that all the gan-ison should be sent
to the mines if they would not surrender before the
batteries were finished. The garrison consisted of a
thousand Spaniards and six hundred French raarines,
commanded by Colonel la Jonquire, who imagined that •
the number of the besiegers amounted to at least ten
thousand, so artfully had they been drawn up in sight
of the eneray. The batteries began to play, and
in a little time demolished four towers that served as
outworks to the fort : then they raade a breach in the
outward wall, through which Brigadier Wade, at the
head of the grenadiers, storraed a redoubt with such ex
traordinary valour as struck the besieged with conster
nation. On the second or third day they thought
proper to beat a parley, and capitulate, on condition
that they should march out with the honours of war :
that the Spaniards should be transported to Murcia,and
the French to Toulon. These last, however, Avere
detained by way of reprisal for the garrison of Denia.
The Spanish governor was so mortified when he learned
the real number of the besiegers, that on his arrival at
Murcia he threw himself out of a windoAV in despair, and
was killed upon the spot. La Jonquire AA'as confined for
life, and all the French officers incurred their raaster's
displeasure. Fort St. Philip being thus reduced, to
the amazement of all Europe, and the garrison of Fort
ForneUes having surrendered themselves prisoners to
the Adrairals Leake and Whitaker, the inhabitants
gladly subraitted to the English government, for King
Philip had oppressed and deprived thera of their pri-

ANNE. 575
yileges ; General Stanhope appointed Colonel Petit go- chap.
vernor of Fort St. Philip, and deputy-governor of the '
whole island. After this iraportant conquest he re- 1708.
turned to the array in Spain, where an unsuccessful
atterapt to surprise Tortosa finished the operations of
the carapaign.
The British fleet not only contributed to the reduc- Rupture
tion of Minorca, but likewise overawed the pope, who poprand*^
had endeavoured to form a league of the princes in "'^ ^™-
Italy against the emperor. This pontiff had raanifested ^^^°^'
his partiality to the house of Bourbon in such a palpable
manner, that his imperial majesty ordered Monsieur
de Bonneval to march with the troops that were in
Italy, reinforced by those belonging to the Duke of
Modena, and invade the duchy of Ferrara. He ac
cordingly took possession of Coraachio and some other
places, pretending they were allodial estates belonging
to the Duke of Modena, and fiefs of the emperor, to
which the holy see had no lawful claira. The Viceroy
of Naples was forbid to rerait any money to Rome :
and the council of the kingdora drew up a long merao
rial containing the pretensions of his catholic raajesty,
which struck at the very foundation of the pope's tera-
poral power. His holiness A\rote a long remonstrance
to the eraperor on the injustice of those proceedings,
and declared that he Avould assert his cause though he
should lose his life in the contest. He forthwith began
to raise an array, and revived a plan of forming a league
among the princes and states of Italy for their mu
tual defence. Sir John Leake had received orders to
bombard Civita Vecchia, in resentraent for the pope's
haring countenanced the pretender's expedition to
Great Britain : but as the eraperor and Duke of Savoy
hoped to effect an accoraraodation with the court of
Rorae, they prevailed upon the English adrairal to
suspend hostilities until they should have tried the
method of negotiation. The Marquis de Prie, a Pied-
raontese nobleraan, was sent as arabassador to Rorae ;
but the pope would not receive him in that quality.
Elated with the promises of France, he set the emperor
at defiance; and his troops having surprised a body
of iraperialists, were so barbarous as to cut thera all in

576 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, pieces. The Duke of Savoy having ended the cam-
paign. the troops of the eraperor, AA-hich had served
1708. under that prince, Avere ordered to raarch into the
papal territories, and drove the forces of his holiness
before them, without any regard to number. Bologna
capitulated ; and Rome began to trerable with the ap
prehension of being once more sacked by a German
army. Then the pope's courage failed ; he was glad to
admit the Marquis de Prie as envoy from the emperor.
He consented to disband his new levies ; to accomrao
date the imperial troops Arith winter quarters in the
papal territories ; to grant the investiture of Naples to
King Charles ; and to allow at all times a passage to
the imperial troops through his dorainions. On the
Upper Rhine the electors of Bavaria and Hanover were
so weak, that they could not undertake any thing of
consequence against each other. In Hungary the dis
putes still continued between the eraperor and the
malecontents. Poland was at length delivered from the
oppression exercised by the King of Sweden, who
marched into the Ukraine against the Czar of Muscovy,
notwithstanding the submission with Avhich that mo
narch endeavoured to appease his indignation. During
the course of this year the English merchants sustained
no considerable losses by sea : the cruisers were judi
ciously stationed, and the trade was regularly supplied
Avith convoys. In the West Indies, Coraraodore Wager
destroyed the admiral of the galleons, and took the
rear-admiral on the coast of Carthagena. Had the
officers of his squadron done their duty, the greatest
part of the fleet would have fallen into his hands. At
his return to Jamaica tAvo of his captains Avere tried by
a court-raartial, and dismissed from the service.
Death of The court of England was about this time not a
Geor|eof httle disquictod by the consequences of an outrage
Denmark, committed on the person of the Count de Matueof, the
Muscovite ambassador. He Avas publicly arrested at
the suit of a laceraan, and maltreated by the bailiffs,
Avho dragged him to prison, where he continued until
he was bailed by the Earl of Feversham. Incensed at
this insult, he demanded redress of the government,
and Avas seconded in his remonstrances by the ministers

ANNE. 577
of the eraperor, the King of Prussia, and several other chap.
foreign potentates. The queen expressed uncoramon

indignation against the authors of this violence, Avho 1708.
were immediately apprehended, and orders were given
to prosecute thera with the utraost severity of the law.
Matueof repeated his coraplaints with gi-eat acriraony;
and Mr. Secretary Boyle assured hira, in the queen's
name, that he should have araple satisfaction. NotAvith-
standing this assurance, he deraanded a pass for himself
and family; refused the ordinary presents at his de
parture; and retired to Holland. Frora thence he
transmitted a meraorial, with a letter frora the czar to
the queen, insisting upon her punishing AA-ith death all
the persons concerned in violating the law of nations
upon the person of his arabassador. Such punishraent
being altogether inconsistent with the laws of England,
the queen and her ministry were extremely perplexed,
and held several councils, to deliberate upon the raea
sures proper to be taken on such an occasion. On the
twenty-eighth day of October, Prince George of Den
mark died of an asthma and dropsy, with which he had
been long afflicted. He was a prince of an amiable rather
than a shining character, brave, good-natured, raodest,
and huraane, but devoid of great talents and arabition.
He had always lived in harraony with the queen, who,
during the whole term of their union, and especially
in his last illness, approved herself a pattern of conjugal
truth and tenderness. At his death the Earl of Pem
broke was created lord high adrairal, the Earl of Whar
ton proraoted to the governraent of Ireland, and Lord
Somers appointed president of the council. Notwith
standing these promotions of the Avhig noblemen, the
Duke of Marlborough declined apace in his credit with
the queen, avIio privately consulted and reposed her
chief confidence in Mr. Harley, though he had no
visible concern in the adrainistration.
The new Parliaraent, in which the whig interest still p^^^j^^^^j
preponderated, was assembled on the sixteenth day of assembled.
Noveraber, when they were given to understand, by a
coraraission under the great seal, that the Archbishop
of Canterbury, the chanceUor, the lord treasurer, the
lord steward, and the master of the horse, were ap-
VOL. 1. P P

578 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, pointed to represent the person of her majesty, whom
decency would not permit to appear in the House so

1708. soon after the death of her consort. Sir Richard
Onslow being chosen Speaker of the Lower House with
the queen's approbation, the chancellor, in a speech to
both Houses, recoraraended the vigorous prosecution
of the war, telling thera her raajesty hoped they would
enable her to make a considerable augmentation for pre
serving and improving the advantages which the alUes
had gained in the Netherlands : that she desired they
would prepare such bills as might confirm and render
the union effectual ; and that if they Avould propose
means for the advancement of trade and manufacture,
she would take pleasure in enacting such provisions.
Both Houses having presented addresses of condolence
and congratulation, on the death of Prince George,
and the success of her majesty's arras during the last
campaign, the Comraons took cognizance of contro
verted elections, which were decided with sharaeful
partiality for the whig faction. Then they proceeded
to consider the different branches of the supply: they
approved of an augraentation of ten thousand raen,
which was judged necessary for the more vigorous pro
secution of the war; and they voted above seven rail
lions for the service of the ensuing year. The bank
agreed to circulate two raillions five hundred thousand
pounds in exchequer bills for the governraent, on con
dition that the term of their continuance should be pro
longed for one-and-twenty years ; and that their stock
of two millions two hundred and one thousand one
hundred and seventy-one pounds should be doubled
by a new subscription. The two-thirds subsidy was
appropriated for the interest of the money raised by
this expedient.
Naturahza- Great debates having arisen about Scottish elections,
the House considered the petitions and representations
that were delivered, touching the incapacity of the
eldest sons of Scottish peers excluded frora sitting in
the Parliament of Great Britain. Counsel being heard
upon the subject, that incapacity was confirmed, and
new writs were issued, that new members raight be
elected for the shires of Aberdeen and Linlithgow, in

ANNE. .579
the roora of WiUiara, Lord Haddo, and Jaraes, Lord chap.
Johnstown. Petitions were likewise presented to the ^^'
House of Lords by sorae Scottish peers, concerning 1708.
their right of voting, and signing proxies. After warm
debates, the House, upon a division, determined that
a Scottish lord, created a peer of Great Britain, should
no longer retain his vote in Scotland ; and that the
nobleraen who were in the castle of Edinburgh had a
right to sign proxies, after having taken the oaths to
the governraent. The Scottish peers and commoners
that sat in the British Parliament were divided into
two factions. The Duke of Queensberry was in great
credit with the queen and the lord treasurer, by whose
interest he was appointed secretary of state for Scot
land. His influence in elections was so great, that all
offices in that kingdom were bestowed according to his
recomraendation. He was opposed by the Dukes of Ha
milton, Montrose, and Roxburgh, who were supported
by the Earl of Sunderland and Lord Somers ; so that
the whole interest in that country was engrossed by
one or other raeraber of the rainistry. A bill for a ge
neral naturalization of all protestants was brought into
the House, and notwithstanding violent opposition from
the tories, both among the Lords and Comraons, was
enacted into a law. The whigs argued for this bill, as
a raeasure that would encourage industry, improve trade
and manufacture, and repair the waste of men which
the war had occasioned : but one of their chief raotives
was to throw an addition of foreigners into the balance
against the landed interest. The tories pleaded that a
conflux of aliens raight prove dangerous to the consti
tution : that they would retain a fondness for their na^
tive countries, and, in tiraes of war, act as spies and
eneraies: that they would insinuate theraselves into
places of trust and profit ; become merabers of Parlia
ment ; and by frequent intermarriages contribute to the
extinction of the English race : that they would add to
the nuraber of the poor, already so expensive ; and
share the bread of the labourers and tradesmen of
England. An inquiry being set on foot in both Houses con- A=^f
cerninsr the late intended invasion of Scotland, Lord
^ pp2

580

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP. IX.
1708.

Burnet. Daniel. Hist, of
the Duke
of Marl
borough. Mil. Hist.

Haversham and the other tory members endeavoured to
demonstrate, that proper jjrecautions had not been taken
for the security of that kingdom, even after the ministry
had received undoubted intelligence of the pretender's
design : that since the attempt had miscarried, raany
persons of quality had been apprehended, and severely
used by the government, on pretended suspicion of high
treason ; though, in all probability, the aira of the mi
nistry, in confining those persons, Avas to remove all
possibility of their opposing the court at the ensuing
elections for raerabers of ParUament. These assertions
were supported by many incon tested facts and shrewd
arguments, notwithstanding which, the majority were so
little disposed to find fault, that the inquiry issued in a
joint address to the queen, containing resolutions, that
tiraely and effectual care had been taken to disappoint
the designs of her majesty's enemies, both at home and
abroad. A bill, however, Avas brought into the House
of Lords, under the title of " An Act for improving the
Union of the tAvo Kingdoras." It related to trials for
treason iu Scotland, which by this laAV Avere regulated
according to the manner of proceeding in England,
Arith some small variation. The Scottish members op
posed it as an encroachment upontheform of their laws;
and they Avere joined by those who had laid it doAvn as
a maxim to oppose all the court measures : nevertheless,
the bill passed through both Houses, and received the
royal assent. Yet in order to sAveeten this unpalatable
medicine, the queen consented to an act of grace, by
which all treasons Avere pardoned, except those com
mitted on the high seas : an exception levelled at those
who had embarked with the pretender. Major-General
Webb, Avho had been defrauded of his due houour, in a
partial representation ofthe battle of Wynendale, trans
mitted by Cardonnel, secretary to the Duke of Marl
borough, Avas now thanked by the House of Commons
for the great and eminent services Avliich he had per
formed in that engagement. This motion was raade by
the tories ; and the whigs did not fail to procure a com
pliment of the same nature to the Duke of Marlborough,
even before he returned to England. When the news
of Ghent's being taken arrived, the Lords and Com-

ANNE. 581
mons congratulated the queen on this last effort of a chap.
glorious carapaign ; and the duke, at his arrival, was '^-
thanked, in the narae of the Peers, by the lord chan- 1708.
cellor. As he was supposed to have brought over pro- xindai.
posals of peace, the two Houses, in an address, desired Conduct of
the queen would insist on the demolition of Dunkirk, of^M^u ^^'
which was a nest of pirates that infested the ocean, and torougii-
did infinite prejudice to the commerce of England. Qumcey?^'
The queen promised to coraply with their request. But ^',™^ °^*^
she was not a little surprised at the next address they Hare!"^^''
presented, hurably entreating, that she would have such Voitaire.
indulgence to the hearty desires of her subjects, as to
entertain thoughts of a second raarriage. She told them,
that the provision she had made for the protestant suc
cession would always be a proof how rauch she had at
heart the future happiness of the kingdora ; but the
subject of this address was of such a nature, that she
was persuaded they did not expect a particular answer.
The laws having been found insufficient to punish Disputes
capitally the authors of the insult offered to the Mus- Muscovite
covite arabassador, a bill was brought into the House of ambassador
Coraraons for preserving the privileges of ambassadors mS"'
and other foreign ministers, and passed through both
Houses; as did another, to prevent the laying of wagers
relating to the public, a practice Avhich had been carried
to a degree of infatuation, and by which many unwary
persons fell a sacrifice to crafty adventurers. On the 1709.
fourteenth day of March the Coraraons voted the sura
of one hundred and three thousand two hundred and
three pounds for the relief of the inhabitants of Nevis
and St. Christopher's, Avho had suffered by the late in
vasion ; and on the twenty-first day of April the Parlia
ment was prorogued. The Muscovite ambassador con
tinued to write expostulatory letters to Mr. Secretary
Boyle, who at last oAvned that the laws of the king
dom did not admit of such punishraent as he demanded.
An informg.tion Avas tried in the court of King's Bench
for her majesty against Thomas Morton, laceraan, and
thirteen other persons concerned in the insult, of which
they were found guilty ; and the special matter of the
privileges of ambassadors Avas to be argued next terai
before the judges. Meanwhile, the queen, by A\ay of

582 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP, satisfaction to the czar, condescended to make solemn
excuses by her ambassador, to repair Matueof's honour

1709. by a letter, and inderanify him for all his costs and da
raages : concessions with which the czar and his ambas
sador declared themselves well satisfied. The Convo
cation had been suraraoned, chosen, and returned with
the new Parliaraent ; but as the old spirit was supposed
to prevail in the Lower House, the queen, by Avrit to the
archbishop, ordered hira to prorogue it frora time to
time, until the session of Parliament was finished.

END OF VOL. I.

O. WoodfaU and Son, Printers, Angel Court, Skinner Street, London.

J^,,l'! 't^"rit«7(y i .^It,' . •

mmfh '
>slil 'f

lii!trsr.

^\',\i i ^

jM

If
\tWku '
; I iv»i>4'
!'• illii
:'- iM '5- •'
li'j iP M^v . .