WILLIAM AND MARY. 1688-1701. plaining, That the intent of the late act of number by ballot; but Rochester himself parliament, for reversing the judgment on being elected, refused to act: the others the quo warranto, was frustrated by some followed his example, and the bill passed doubtful expression; so that the old alder- without alteration. On the fifth day of Janthe king put an end to the session Inen elected by commission under the late uary, king's great seal still acted by virtue of with a speech, in which he thanked them that authority: that Sir Thomas Pilkington for the repeated instances they had exhibitHe told them, it was high time was not duly returned as mayor by the ed of their affection to his person and govcommon-hall: and, that he and the alder-ernment. men had imposed Mr. Leonard Robinson for him to embark for Holland; recomupon them as chamberlain, though another mended unanimity; and assured them of person was duly elected into that office: his particular favor and protection. Then that divers members of the common-council lord chief baron Atkins signified his majeswere illegally excluded, and others, duly ty's pleasure, that the two houses should elected, were refused admittance. They adjourn themselves to the thirty-first day THE KING'S VOYAGE TO HOLLAND. specified other grievances, and petitioned of March (3). for relief. Pilkington and his associates unWILLIAM, having settled the affairs of dertook to prove that those allegations were either false or frivolous; and presented the the nation, set out for Margate on the sixth petition as a contrivance of the jacobites, day of January; but the ship in which he to disturb the peace of the city, that the proposed to embark being detained by an supply might be retarded, and the govern- easterly wind and hard frost, he returned ment distressed. In the late panic which to Kensington. On the sixteenth, however, overspread the nation, the whigs had ap- he embarked at Gravesend with a numerpeared to be the moneyed men, and sub-ous retinue, and set sail for Holland, under scribed largely for the security of the set- convoy of twelve ships of war, commanded tlement they had made, while the tories by admiral Rooke. Next day, being informkept aloof with a suspicious caution. For ed by a fisherman that he was within a this reason the court now interposed its in- league and a half of Goree, he quitted the fluence in such a manner, that little or no yacht, and went into an open boat, attended by the duke of Ormond, the earls of Devonregard was paid to their remonstrance. ATTEMPT AGAINST CAERMARTHEN. shire, Dorset, Portland, and Monmouth, with THE marquis of Caermarthen, lord presi- Auverquerque, and Zuylestein. Instead of dent, who was at the head of the tory in- landing immediately, they lost sight of the terest in the ministry, and had acquired fleet, and, night coming on, were exposed, great credit with the king and queen, now in very severe weather, to the danger of fell under the displeasure of the opposite the enemy and the sea, which ran very faction; and they resolved, if possible, to high, for eighteen hours, during which the revive his old impeachment. The earl of king and all his attendants were drenched Shrewsbury, and thirteen other leading with sea-water. When the sailors expressed A com- their apprehensions of perishing, the king men, had engaged in this design. mittee of lords was appointed to examine asked if they were afraid to die in his comprecedents, and inquire whether impeach-pany? At day-break, he landed on the isle ments continued in statu quo from parlia- of Goree, where he took some refreshment ment to parliament. Several such prece- in a fisherman's hut; then he committed dents were reported; and violent debates himself to the boat again, and was conveyed ensued: but the marquis eluded the ven- to the shore in the neighborhood of Maesgeance of his enemies, in consequence of landsluys. A deputation of the States re"Whether the ceived him at Hounslardyke: about six in the following question: earls of Salisbury and Peterborough, who the evening he arrived at the Hague, where had been impeached in the former parlia- he was immediately complimented by the ment, for being reconciled to the church of States-general, the States of Holland, the Rome, shall be discharged from their bail?" council of state, the other colleges, and the The house resolved in the affirmative, and foreign ministers. He afterwards, at the several lords entered a protest. The com- request of the magistrates, made his public mons having finished a bill for appointing entry with surprising magnificence; and commissioners to take and state the public the Dutch celebrated his arrival with bonaccounts, and having chosen the commis- fires, illuminations, and other marks of tusioners from among their own members, multuous joy. He assisted at their different sent it up to the house of lords. There the assemblies; informed them of his successes earl of Rochester moved, That they should in England and Ireland; and assured them add some of their number to those of the of his constant zeal and affection for his commons: they accordingly chose an equal native country. HE ASSISTS AT A CONGRESS. accompanied by the Dauphin, the dukes of Ar a solemn congress of the confederate Orleans and Chartres. The garrison conprinces, he represented, in a set speech, sisted of about six thousand men, comthe dangers to which they were exposed manded by the prince of Bergue: but the from the power and ambition of France; besiegers carried on their works with such and the necessity of acting with vigor and rapidity as they could not withstand. King dispatch. He declared he would spare William no sooner understood that the neither his credit, forces nor person, in con- place was invested, than he ordered prince curring with their measures; and that in Waldeck to assemble the army, determinthe spring he would come at the head of ed to march against the enemy in person. his troops to fulfil his engagements. They Fifty thousand men were soon collected at forthwith resolved to employ two hundred Halle, near Brussels: but when he went and twenty-two thousand men against thither, he found the Spaniards had neFrance in the ensuing campaign. The glected to provide carriages, and other neproportions of the different princes and cessaries for the expedition. Meanwhile, States were regulated; and the king of the burghers of Mons, seeing their town in England agreed to furnish twenty thousand. danger of being utterly destroyed by the He supplied the duke of Savoy so liberally, bombs and cannon of the enemy, pressed that his affairs soon assumed a more prom- the governor to capitulate, and even threatising aspect. The plan of operations was ened to introduce the besiegers: so that he settled, and they transacted their affairs was forced to comply, and obtained very with such harmony, that no dispute inter- honorable conditions. William, being aprupted their deliberations. In the begin- prized of this event, returned to the Hague, ning of March, immediately after the con- embarked for England, and arrived at gress broke up, the siege of Mons was Whitehall on the thirteenth day of undertaken by the French king in person, April (4). Kennet. 1 Burnet. Belcarres. NOTES TO CHAPTER II. service was provided for, 3 In this year the English planters repossessed themselves of part of the Island of St. Christopher, from which they bad been driven by the French. 4 A few days before his arrival, great part of the palace of Whitehall was consumed by fire, through the negligence of a female servant. WILLIAM AND MARY. 1688-1701. CHAPTER III. 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 honorable Capitulation-Twelve thousand Irish Catholics are transported to France-Meeting of the English Parliament-Discontent of the NationTransactions in Parliament-Disputes concerning the Bill for regulating Trials in Cases of High Treason-The English and Dutch Fleets worsted by the French in an Engagement off Beachy-head-The King disobliges the Presbyterians of Scotland-The earl of Breadalbane undertakes for the Submission of the Highlanders-Massacre of Glencoe-Preparations for a Descent upon England-Declaration of King James-Efforts of his Friends in England-Precautions taken by the Queen for the Defence of the Nation-Admiral Russel puts to Sea-He obtains a complete Victory over the French Fleet off La 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 WilliamThe Allies are defeated at Steenkirk-Extravagant rejoicings in France on Account of this Victory-Conspiracy against the Life of King William, hatched by the French Ministry-Miscarriage of a Design upon Dunkirk-The Campaign is inactive on the Rhine and in Hungary-The Duke of Savoy invades Dauphine -The Duke of Hanover created an Elector of the Empire. of their majesties king William and queen A CONSPIRACY. A CONSPIRACY against the government Mary; and their trials were hurried on, had been lately discovered. In the latter without any regard to their petitions for end of December, the master of a vessel delay. Lord Preston alleged, in his defence, who lived at Barking, in Essex, informed that the treasons charged upon him were the marquis of Caermarthen, that his wife not committed in the county of Middlesex, had let out one of his boats to carry over as laid in the indictment; that none of the some persons to France; and that they would witnesses declared he had any concern in embark on the thirteenth day of the month. hiring the vessel; that the papers were not This intelligence being communicated to found upon him; that there ought to be two the king and council, an order was sent to credible witnesses to every fact, whereas captain Billop, to watch the motion of the the whole proof against him rested on similvessel, and secure the passengers. He ac- itude of hands, and mere supposition. He cordingly boarded her at Gravesend, and was, nevertheless, found guilty. Ashton befound in the hold lord Preston, Mr. Ashton, haved with great intrepidity and composure. a servant of the late queen, and one Elliot. He owned his purpose of going to France, He likewise seized a bundle of papers, some in pursuance of a promise he had made to of which were scarce intelligible; among general Worden, who, on his death-bed, the rest. two letters, supposed to be written conjured him to go thither, and finish some by Turner, bishop of Ely, to king James affairs of consequence which he had left and his queen, under fictitious names. The there depending; as well as with a view to whole amounted to an invitation to the recover a considerable sum of money due French king, to assist king James in re-to himself. He denied that he was privy to ascending the throne upon certain conditions, the contents of the papers found upon him: while William should be absent from the he complained of his having been denied kingdom; but the scheme was ill laid, and time to prepare for his trial; and called countenanced but by a very few persons of several persons to prove him a Protestant Consideration, among whom the chiefs were of exemplary piety and irreproachable the earl of Clarendon, the bishop of Ely, morals. These circumstances had no weight lord Preston, his brother, Mr. Graham, and with the court. He was browbeaten by the Penn, the famous Quaker. Notwithstanding bench, and found guilty by the jury, as he the outcries which had been made against had the papers in his custody; yet there the severities of the late government, Pres- was no privity proved, and the whig party ton, and his accomplice Ashton, were tried themselves had often expressly declared, at the Old Bailey for compassing the death that of all sorts of evidence that of finding papers in a person's possession is the weak- warm it by argument and declamation. The est, because no man can secure himself press groaned with the efforts of their from such danger. Ashton suffered with learning and resentment; and every essay equal courage and decorum. In a paper was answered by their opponents. The which he delivered to the sheriff, he owned nonjurors affirmed, that Christianity was a his attachment to king James; he witness- doctrine of the cross; that no pretence ed to the birth of the prince of Wales; whatever could justify an insurrection denied his knowledge of the contents of the against the sovereign; that the primitive papers that were committed to his charge; Christians thought it their indispensable complained of the hard measure he had duty to be passive under every invasion of met with from the judges and the jury, but their rights; and, that nonresistance was forgave them in the sight of heaven (1). the doctrine of the English church, confirmThis man was celebrated by the nonjurors ed by all the sanctions that could be derived as a martyr to loyalty; and they boldly from the laws of God and man. The other affirmed, that his chief crime in the eyes of party not only supported the natural rights the government, was his having among his of mankind, and explained the use that baggage an account of such evidence as might be made of the doctrine of nonresistwould have been convincing to all the ance, in exciting fresh commotions, but they world, concerning the birth of the prince also argued, that if passive obedience was of Wales, which, by a great number of right in any instance, it was conclusively so people, was believed suppositious (2). Lord with regard to the present government; for Preston obtained a pardon; Elliot was not the obedience required by scripture was tried, because no evidence appeared against indiscriminate, "The powers that be, are him the earl of Clarendon was sent to the ordained of God-let every soul be subject to Tower, where he remained some months, the higher powers." From these texts they and he was afterwards confined to his own inferred, that the new oaths ought to be house in the country: an indulgence, which taken without scruple; and that those who he owed to the consanguinity with the refused them, concealed party under the queen, who was his first cousin. The bishop cloak of conscience. On the other hand, the of Ely, Graham, and Penn, absconded; and fallacy and treachery of this argument were a proclamation was issued for apprehending demonstrated. They said, it levelled all disthem as traitors. tinctions of justice and duty; that those THE KING FILLS UP THE BISHOPRICS. who taught such doctrines, attached themTHIS prelate's being concerned in a con- selves solely to possession, however unjustly spiracy, furnished the king with a plausible acquired; that if twenty different usurpers pretence for filling up the vacant bishoprics. should succeed one another, they would The deprived bishops had been given to recognize the last, notwithstanding the alunderstand that an act of parliament night legiance they had so solemnly sworn to his be obtained to excuse them from taking the predecessor, like the fawning spaniel that. caths, provided they would perform their followed the thief who mounted his master's episcopal functions: but, as they declined horse, after having murdered the right this expedient, the king resolved to fill up owner. They also denied the justice of a their places at his return from Holland. lay-deprivation, and with respect to churchAccordingly, the archbishopric of Canterbu-government started the same distinctions ry was conferred upon Dr. Tillotson (3), one "De jure and de facto," which they had of the most learned, moderate, and virtuous formerly made in the civil administration. ecclesiastics of the age, who did not accept They had even recourse to all the bitterness of this promotion without great reluctance, of invective against Tillotson and the new because he foresaw that he should be ex- bishops, whom they reviled as intruders posed to the slander and malevolence of and usurpers: their acrimony was chiefly that party which espoused the cause of his directed against Dr. Sherlock, who had been predecessor. The other vacant sees were one of the most violent sticklers against given to divines of unblemished character; the revolution, but thought proper to take and the public in general seemed very well the oaths upon the retreat of king James satisfied with this exertion of the king's su- from Ireland. They branded him as an apospremacy. The deprived bishops at first tate, who had betrayed his cause, and pubaffected all the meekness of resignation. lished a review of his whole conduct, which They remembered those shouts of popular proved a severe satire upon his character. approbation, by which they had been ani- Their attacks upon individuals were minmated in the persecution they suffered under gled with their vengeance against the govthe late government; and they hoped the ernment; and indeed the great aim of their same cordial would support them in their divines, as well as of their politicians, was present affliction: but, finding the nation to sap the foundation of the new settlement. cold in their concern, they determined to In order to alienate the minds of the people WILLIAM AND MARY. 1688-1701. AFFAIRS OF SCOTLAND. from the interests of the reigning prince, enemies of the government; and the earl they ridiculed his character: inveighed of Home, with Sir Peter Fraser and Sir against his measures: they accused him of Eneas Macpherson, were apprehended and CAMPAIGN IN FLANDERS. sacrificing the concerns of England to the imprisoned. advantage of his native country; and drew THE king, having settled the operations invidious comparisons between the wealth, the trade, the taxes, of the last and of the of the ensuing campaign in Ireland, where present reign. To frustrate these efforts of general Ginckel exercised the supreme the malcontents, the court employed their command, manned his fleet by dint of pressengines to answer and recriminate; all ing sailors, to the incredible annoyance of sorts of informers were encouraged and commerce: then, leaving the queen as becaressed in a proclamation issued against fore at the helm of government in England, papists, and other disaffected persons, all he returned to Holland, accompanied by lord magistrates were enjoined to make search, Sidney, secretary of state, the earls of and apprehend those who should, by sedi- Marlborough and Portland, and began to tious discourses and libels, presume to de- make preparations for taking the field in fame the government. Thus the revolution- person. On the thirteenth day of May, the ers commenced the professed enemies of duke of Luxembourg having passed the those very arts and practices which had Scheld at the head of a large army, took enabled them to bring their scheme to per- possession of Halle, and gave it up to plunder, in sight of the confederates, who were fection. obliged to throw up intrenchments for their THE Presbyterians in Scotland acted preservation. At the same time the marwith such folly, violence, and tyranny, as quis de Boufflers, with a considerable body rendered them equally odious and con- of forces, intrenched himself before Liege, temptible. The transactions in their general with a view to bombard that city. In the assembly were carried on with such peevish- beginning of June, king William took upon ness, partiality, and injustice, that the king himself the command of the allied army, dissolved it by an act of state, and convoked by this time reinforced in such a manner, another for the month of November in the as to be superior to the enemy. He forthfollowing year. The episcopal party prom- with detached the count de Tilly, with ten ised to enter heartily into the interests of thousand men, to the relief of Liege, which the new government, to keep the High- was already reduced to ruins and desolation landers quiet, and induce the clergy to ac- by the bombs, bullets, and repeated attacks knowledge and serve king William, provid- of Boufflers, who now thought proper to reed he would balance the power of Melvill treat to Dinant. Tilly, having thus raised and his partisans, in such a manner as would the siege, and thrown a body of troops into secure them from violence and oppression; Huy, rejoined the confederate army, which provided the episcopal ministers should be had been augmented ever since his deparpermitted to perform their functions among ture with six thousand men from Brandenthose people by whom they were beloved; burgh, and ten thousand Hessians, comand that such of them as were willing to manded by the landgrave in person. Such mix with the Presbyterians in their judica- was the vigilance of Luxembourg, that tories, should be admitted without any se- William could not avail himself of his vere imposition in point of opinion. The superiority. In vain he exhausted his inking, who was extremely disgusted at the vention in marches, counter-marches, and Presbyterians, relished the proposal: and stratagems, to bring on a general engage young Dalrymple, son of lord Stair, was ment: the French marshal avoided it with appointed joint secretary of state with Mel- such dexterity, as baffled all his endeavors. vill. He undertook to bring over the ma- In the course of this campaign, the two jority of the jacobites, and a great number armies twice confronted each other: but of them took the oaths: but at the same they were situated in such a manner, that time they maintained a correspondence with neither could begin the attack without a the court of St. Germains, by the conniv- manifest disadvantage. While the king lay ance of which they submitted to William, encamped at Court-sur-heure, a soldier, corthat they might be in a condition to serve rupted by the enemy, set fire to the fusees James the more effectually. The Scottish of several bombs, the explosion of which parliament was adjourned by proclamation might have blown up the whole magazine, to the sixteenth day of September. Precau- and produced infinite confusion in the army, tions were taken to prevent any dangerous had not the mischief been prevented by the communication with the continent: a com- courage of the men who guarded the artilmittee was appointed to put the kingdom in lery; even while the fusees were burning, a posture of defence; to exercise the they disengaged the wagons from the line, powers of the regency, in securing the and overturned them down the side of a |