Anno Dom. 1674.
PEace being now concluded between the English and the Dutch, this Year was not memorable for much at home.
*The first motion of the Court this Moneth, was to Windsor, where the Earl of Mulgrave was Install'd Knight of the Garter.
*This Moneth also, the King, by his Embassador the Lord Lockhart, offer'd his Mediation between the King of France and the Queen of Spain, to com∣pose the differences betwixt them.
And to the end he might be no way concern'd in their differences, by pub∣lick Proclamation forbid any of his Subjects to enter into the Service of any forrain Prince.
*He also set forth a Proclamation, forbidding the broaching and uttering false and scandalous News, as also against any that should talk impertinently of the Government or the Governours.
Page 599In May,* Sir Lionel Ienkins and Sir Ioseph Williamson return'd to London from Cologne.
Who were followed into England by the Baron de Reed, Van Benninghen, and Van Haren, Extraordinary Embassadors from the States of Holland.
In Iune, came a strict Proclamation against the Jesuites and Friests, Com∣manding their discovery and apprehension, and promising five pounds for every one that should be discovered and taken.
Toward the beginning of September, upon Resignation of the Duke of Buckingham,* the Duke of M•nmouth was made Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The Ceremony was performed with all its circumstances, at Wor∣cester-house in London.
Not long after, the Right Honourable the Earl of St. Albans, having re∣sign'd into his Majesty's Hands the Staff of Office of Lord-Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold, his Majesty was pleas'd to give it to the Right Honou∣rable the Earl of Arlington,* in recompence of his long and faithful Services, and particularly for having performed to his Majesties satisfaction for the space of twelve years, the Offi•e of Principal Secretary of State, which his Majesty was pleas'd to con•er at the same time upon the Right Honourable Sir Ioseph Williamson Knight,* one of the Clerks then of his Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council, for his long and faithful service in the said Office under Sir Edward Nicholas, and the Earl of Arlington; and in his place Philip Lloyd Esq was sworn one of the Clerks of the Privy-Council.
Upon the 22 of September, his Majesty was pleas'd to cause a Proclamation to be published for the further prorogation of the Parliament, from the 10th of November till the 13th of April ensuing.
In the beginning of December,* the Earls of Ossory and Arlington, together with the Heer Odike, not long before Extraordinary Embassador in England, arrived at the Hagne, where they went to pay their Respects to the Prince of Orange.
About the same time was concluded, between his Majesties Commissioners and those of the States General of the Vnited Provinces,* a Treaty Marine for all parts of the World, in pursuance of the 8th and 9th Articles of the late Treaty of Peace made at Westminster the February before, and was after ratifi'd by the States in the beginning of February following.
Presently after, His Majesty having been graciously pleased to Translate the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Crew Bishop of Oxford,* and Clerk of the Closet to his Majesty, to the Sea of Durham, made choice of the Honourable Dr. Compton, Brother to the Right Honourable the Earl of Northampton, to succeed in his place.*
Toward the middle of December, His Majesty having been pleased at his entertainment at Guild-Hall, when Sir Robert Viner was newly Lord-Mayor of the City, graciously and freely to condescend to the acceptance of the Freedom of London, in the Chamberlains Office, from the Hands of Sir Thomas Player Chamberlain, beyond the Example of any of his Predecessors; The said Sir Robert Viner Lord-Mayor thereupon, having first obtained his Majesties leave, presented his Majesty, in the Name of the City, with the Co∣py of the Freedom, in a large square Box of Massie Gold, the Seal of the Freedom hanging at it enclosed in a Box of Gold set all over with large Dia∣monds.
Toward the beginning of Ianuary, Her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Daughter,* Christen'd at St. Iames's by the Bishop of Durham, by the Name of Catherina Laura; the Duke of Monmouth being God-father, and the Lady Mary and the Lady Anne God-mothers.
The Term begining at the latter end of Ianuary,* Sir Francis North the King's Attorney-General was sworn Lord Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas, in the room of Sir Iohn Vaughan deceased.
In the beginning of February, his Majesty caused several Orders and Reso∣lutions concerning Papists to be publish'd:
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- That the Conviction of Popish Recusants should be encouraged, quickned, and made Effectual.
- That no Person, of what Condition or Quality soever, should presume to say Mass in any part of this Kingdom.
- That all Persons born within His Majesties Dominions, being in Orders by Authority deriv'd from the Church of Rome, should depart the Kingdom by a short time prefix'd.
- That none of His Majesties Subjects should presume to send their Children to be Educated in any Popish Colledges or Seminaries, upon a strict Penalty.
- That none of his Majesties Subjects being Popists, or so reputed, should presume to come into His Majesties Presence, into White▪Hall, St. James's, or any place where His Majesties Court should be.
- And Lastly, That care should be taken for the suppression of Conventicles.
Forrein Affairs, 1674.
The first thing that presented it self of most Importance beyond Sea this Year, was, that the King of France gave order to quit all his Conquests in the Netherlands belonging to the States of Holland, except Maestricht.
The States also, to be rid of so great a trouble as the Bishop of Munsteri, makes Peace with him; the Baron D' Issola signing the Articles on the behalf of the Emperor. The chief Articles whereof were, That the Bishop should re∣store all places taken during the War: That the Treaty of Cleves should be punctually observ'd: And that the King of Spain and the Emperor should be War∣ranters for the Observance.
And now for the better support of the Prince of Oranges Dignity, the Dutch East-India Company unanimously resolv'd to give Him and his Heirs Male after him, Three in the Hundred of all that their gains, upon the di∣vision.
And then having secur'd themselves from Munster, they made an agree∣ment with Lunenburgh, to keep 14000 Men in the Service of the States, they paying him such a certain Sum.
About this time also, the difference between the King of France and the State of Genoa were wholly Reconcil'd, by the Mediation of the King of England.
But on the other side, the King of France continues his German War; so that Besancon the chief City of Franche Compte falls into his hands, being rendred upon ordinary Articles, after a short Siege; Nor did the Ciradel hold out much longer.
The next Town Besiegd was Dole, which not being able to withstand the Fortune of the French Arms, yielded it self. After which, Solines and Castle St. Anne being taken, made the Conquest of Franche Compte compleat.
About the middle of Iune was fought the Battle of Sanzeime, between the Marshal Turenne and the Imperialists, wherein the Imperialists being far less in Number, had the worst; It was fought from Nine in the Morning till Night, when the Imperialists finding themselves over-powr'd, retir'd in very good order, leaving behind about 2000 Men. Nor was the loss of the French less considerable: for they lost a great many common Soldiers, but more Com∣manders.
A little before this, the Dutch had taken the Island of Normantier from the French, where they destroy'd a great deal of Corn; but not long after quit∣ted, it upon Agreement made with the Inhabitants, and the Religio•s Order of Cistertians in that Island, to pay them 14000 Crowns in four Months; and for their security, taking with them the Abbot and some of the Principal Islan∣ders. After that, they approach'd Bell Isle, intending to have made a de∣scent there; but the Castle upon the Island was too well provided for their En∣tertainment.
Page 601In August was tought the Battle, or rather Notable Skirmish, call'd the Bat∣tle of Seneff, between the Prince of Conde and the Confederates, Imperialists, Dutch, and Spaniards; in sho•t thus: That the Confederates Army being up∣on their March toward a place call'd Binch, the French tell upon the Rear, and forcing them to Retreat through a narrow way, which they could only pass in Files, put them into great Confusion: upon this, the French soon became Masters of the Baggag• and Cannon; when the Prince of Orange, and af∣ter that the Germans, came and engaged the Enemy, so that the Fight continu∣ed till Night, and then the French were forc'd to retreat to their Camp; and the Prince of Orange and the Imperialists remain'd Masters of the Field. The Prince of Orange was in great danger, having been long Engag'd with the Enemy. Several Officers of Quality were slain on both sides: among the rest, on the Prince of Orange's part, Sir Walter Vane Major-General to the Prince having bravely behav'd himself, was shot in the back and knee, of which he dyed soon after; and of 32 Colonels of the Dutch Army, 26 were either Kill'd or Wounded, the stress of the Fight lying upon them. Many Common Soul∣diers were slain on both sides, though the greatest Number was reported to be lost by the French, being said to be above 3000, and many more confide∣rable Officers than upon the Dutch side.
The next Attempt of the Prince of Orange and the Confederates was up∣on Oudenard, to which they had laid a •ormal Siege; but they were soon disturb'd by the Prince of Conde, upon whose Approach and Resolution to fall upon them, the Confederates drew off and marched toward Ghent.
In November, Graves a strong Town Besieg'd by the Dutch, was after a rough Siege, and many Assaults, retaken from the French. The Garrison con∣sisting of 1600 Foot, a•d 400 Horse, marching out upon Composition.
And now the Army of the Confederates, and the French under Turenne, lying near one another, produc'd some considerable Action, though their wary Commanders would not put all to the push; nor was the Victory fully de∣termin'd by the grandest of their peformances
In the first place, 4000 French Horse, most of them the Troops of the King's Houshold, Commanded by Monsieur Montauban, fell upon some Munster Troops, and a Regiment of Imperial Cuirassiers, who guarded a certain Passage; and with the suddainness of the Attack, put the Imperialists into disorder: but Caprara's Regiment, that of the Prince of Lorain, and some others, coming to their Assistance, they gave a stop to the Enemy, till such time as other Lorain-Regiments came in: the Fight was sharply maintain'd on both sides, but at last the French were forc'd to retire, the slaughter being great on both sides, but greatest on the French; and among the rest, Mountauban himself was taken Prisoner.
The next was an Engagement between the Gross Bodies of both Armies: for Turenne Advancing toward Colmar, found the Confederates drawn up in Battalia, readily attending his coming. The Fight was bloody and tedious, and many of the French Commanders were slain, but more common Souldiers of the Imperialists side; but Night coming on, all Action ceased: However, the French continued in Arms all Night, expecting to have renew'd the Fight next Morning; but when the Imperialists perceiv'd that, they retreated in great Disorder to Schlestadt, and repassed the Rhine at Strasburgh. Turrenne made himself Master of Colmar, and sent Provisions to Brisa•; which together with his keeping the Field, were the Reasons that the French concluded them∣selves the Victors, and sung Te Deum for their success at Paris. On the other side, the Imperialists took themselves to be Conquerours, because their loss was no greater.
In Flanders there was nothing remarkable, only the change of the Go∣vernour. For Monterey being call'd home, the Duke de Villa Hermosa was sent to succeed him.
