Ann. C. ture their lives in the defence of her undoubted rights, and 1692. the liberty and religion of their Country. : 19-- 23. June 7. 10. July 23. 24. The English fleet is joined by that of the Dutch. The English and Dutch fleets thus united, under the command of Admiral Ruffel, are engaged by the French fleet under Admiral Tourville: The French are entirely defeated, and driven to their own coafts; and at Cherbourg, La Hogue, &c. no less than 21 of their largest men of war are burnt and deftroyed; among the reft, the Roya Sun, being the Admiral's fhip, of 104 guns. On the fide of the English, Rear-Admiral Carter and Captain Haftings are killed. A dreadful earthquake happens at Jamaica, whereby Port Royal is almoft entirely ruined. A fham-plot, contrived by one Robert Young and Stephen Blackhead, against the Earls of Salisbury and Marl borough, Dr. Sprat Bishop of Rochester, and others, is dif covered. King William advances, with the Confederate army, to the relief of Namur, befteged by King Lewis XIV. in perfon, but doth not fucceed. Troops are embarked at Portsmouth, on purpose to retaliate the late intended French invafion: A few days after they return back to England, for reafons unknown. The battle of Steenkirk is fought, between the Confede rates commanded by King William in perfon, and the French by the Duke of Luxemburgh. The Confederates are forced to retreat, with the lofs of Lieutenant-General Mackay, Sir John Lanier, Sir Robert Douglas, the Earl of Angus; above 2000 men killed, and 3000 wounded or made prifoners. Of the French were killed, the Prince of Turenne, with 2000 fokliers, and near as many wounded. The plot for murdering King William being carried our Aug. 3. this year by Grandval, and Dumont, and another affociate 15. named Leifdale; Grandval is discovered, and taken, and being tried and found guilty, is hanged, drawn and quartered. At his death, he accufed the Marquifs of Barbefieux, and even Lewis XIV. himself, of being privy to the design.. Le Chevalier de Millevoix, one of the Elector of Bavaria's domeftics, is hanged for giving the French intelligence of King William's motions. Ambrun in Dauphiné is taken by the Duke of Savoys who is prevailed upon by King William to restore the Vau dois to their liberties. Απ An earthquake happens in England, which was alfo felt Ann. C. on feveral parts of the Continent. 1692. King William returns to Loo, leaving the command of Sept. 8. the Confederate army to the Elector of Bavaria. 27. He lands at Yarmouth from Holland, and arrives at Ken- Oct. 28. fington two days after. The Parliament in Ireland makes an act, for recognition of their Majesties undoubted title to the Crown of that Kingdom. The Parliament meets; and the King mentions, in his Nov. 4. speech, that it was abfolutely neceffary to maintain as great a force at sea and land, as the year before; and that he intended a descent on France. The Negroes in Barbadoes confpire to destroy their Mafters the English, for which many of them are executed. About this time there was a great famine in France. The Commons return their thanks to Admiral Ruffl, for his great conduct and courage in the late victory at fea. They vote about 5,000,000 for the charges of the war the enfuing year. 11. 15. Captain Richard Hill, in company with Charles Lord Dec. 9. Mobun, kills William Mountford, a player; for which the Lord Mohun was tried by his Peers, on the 31st of January following, &c. and acquitted. Sir John Trevor, Speaker of the Houfe of Commons, and firft Commiffioner of the Great Seal, is made Mafter of the Rolls, in the room of Henry Powle Efq; deceafed. This year the Duke of Hanover is created Elector of Brunswick, and Great-Marshal of the Empire. 30. 1692-3. An act is paffed for granting to his Majefty four fhil- Jan. 29. lings in the pound upon land, to be raised in one year, which was the first time fo great a charge was ever laid upon lands. A Pamphlet intituled King William and Queen Mary Conquerors, and Bifhop Burnet's Paftoral Letter, wherein the fame notion of Conqueft was recommended, are ordered by the Houfe of Commons to be burnt. The King paffes an act for certain rates and duties of excife upon beer, ale, &c. but he refufes the Royal affent to a bill for the frequent calling and meeting of Parli aments. Admiral Ruffel is laid afide, and the chief command of C the 21. 26. Ann. C. the fleet is put into the hands of Henry Killegrew, Efq; 1692.3. Sir Ralph Delaval, and Sir Cloudefly Shovel. Feb. 8. George Rooke Efq; is appointed Vice-Admiral of the Red; George Lord Berkley Vice-Admiral of the Blue; Colonel Matthew Aylmer Rear-Admiral of the Red; and Reg. 5. Captain David Mitchel Rear-Admiral of the Blue. 16. Mar. 14. 23. 24. King William comes to Portsmouth, in order to fee the men of war at Spithead, and confers the honour of knighthood on George Rooke Efq; After having given the Royal affent to feveral bills, his Majefty thanks the Houfe of Commons for the fupplies they had given him, and promises, they should be applied to fuch fervices as might be for the honour and intereft of England. Then the Parliament is prorogued to the 2d of May. Sir John Somers Attorney-General, is fworn Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal; and Sir John Trenchard one of the principal Secretaries of State. Sir John Lowther, Bart. Henry Priestman, Efq; Anthony Lord Viscount Falkland, Robert Auften, Efq; Sir Robert Rich, Bart. Henry Killegrew Efq; and Sir Ralph Delaval, Knight, are appointed Commiffioners of the Admiralty. And Edward Ruffel, Efq; Treafurer of their Majesties Chamber. King William goes from Kenfington to Harwich in his 1693. way to Holland, but the winds being contrary, he returns 31. 30. April. May 21. June 3. 16. home the 28th. He embarks at Gravefend, and on the 2d of April arrives at the Hague, from whence he goes to Loo. Six hundred Proteftant families, who were come from Edward Ward Efq; is appointed Attorney-General. The French take Heidelberg, and entirely deftroy it, as they had before deftroyed Spire, Manheim, Frankendale, and other towns in the Palatinate. The Imperial Hussars meet with a French party, and cut them all in pieces, except two; who are fent back to the French army, to let them know, it was because they had burnt Heidelberg, and massacred the inhabitants. Admiral Rooke, with twenty-three men of war, having under his convoy about four hundred fail of Merchantfhips bound for the Mediterranean, is attacked, off Cape St. |