The late history of Europe being a narration of all remarkable actions and other various affairs, both civil and military, that have happened in the several kingdoms and republicks : from the Treaty at Nimiguen in anno 1676 to the conclusion of the late peace at Res-Wick in September 1697 : which makes up a history of one and twenty years : accuratly and succinctly abridg'd / by Captain David Kennendy.

SECT. 4.

[Sect. 4] Soon after this King James is inform∣ed more certainly of the preparations in Holland and that the design was against him, * 1.1 and believed it so. And now began to turn Car in pan, declaring in Council on the 2d. of October, that he would re∣store the Charter of London, and on the 5th. de∣clared that he would dissolve the Commission for Ecclesiastical Causes:* 1.2 And impowers the Bishop of Winchester to resettle all the Affairs of Magdalen Colledge, but hearing of the disaster of the Dutch Fleet at Sea, he recalled that Commission, and hear∣ing afterward of their approach, he renewed it again, so sickle was he, and so at last the said Bi∣shop perfected that business.

The Wind continued for three Weeks still at west, and in London, the question every Morning was, have we a Protestant Wind yet, and a Sea∣man cursed openly, the Dragon on Bow steeple, for turning his Head, where his Tayle should be.

But about the latter end of October the Wind came Easterly,* 1.3 and the Dutch Fleet (consisting of near five hundred Saile, whereof there were fifty one Men of War, and eighteen Fire Ships) came with a fair Gale upon the English Coast, and Landed all safe at Torbay, the 5th. of November.

And in a short time, the Princes Army was en∣creased by the Junction of diverse persons of good quality with him: And soon after his Declaration was published. Which was dated at the Hague the 10th of October 1688.* 1.4 The substance whereof was a Relation of the Subversion and Violation of all the Laws of England both in Church and State, all which he imputed to the Kings Evil Councellors, which

disorders could not possibly be rectified, nor Affairs regulated, but by a lawful and Free Parliament; the calling and sitting whereof, was the main cause of his coming to England.

The Declaration being very large, and withal supposing it well known to all intelligent observing persons, I thought the transcribing of it unnecessary.

* 1.5About the same time, The Prince wrote a Letter to all the Protestant Officers in the Kings Army, laying before them their Error in joining with a Popish party and their dauger, if they persisted, and earnestly invited them to concurr with him for pre∣servation of the Protestant Religion, and freedom and Priviledges of the Subjects.

This Letter did very much influence most of those to whom it was directed: About the midle of November, the Lord Delamare came to the Prince with a considerable ••arty.

* 1.6Before the Prince left Exeter, there was an Asso∣ciation drawn and Sworn to by all the Noble••en, and Gentlemen then present, for a close adherence to the Prince of Oran••e and to one another an pro∣secuting of that work they now engaged in, and for avengeing the Princes Death, if done, by any barbarous indirect means.

* 1.7On the 20th. of November, a Skirmish happened at Win••anton, between eighty Horse and Dragoons, Commanded by Sarsfield, and thirty of the Princes Horse, Commanded by one Campbel where (not∣withstanding the inequality of the Number) the for∣mer were defeated, which much daunted King James's Army, and as much encouraged the other party.

* 1.8On the 22d. of November, The Nobility and Gentry assembled at Nottingham, delaring their just greivances in eight material points, and implying many moe, indefinitly, Associate and bind themselves, much to the same purpose as these at Exeter had done.

The Nobility about the King labour earnestly to perswade him to call a free Parliament but he con∣tinued inexorable;* 1.9 On which, the Duke of Graston, the Lord Churchil, and several other Noblemen, lest him, and went over to the Prince then as Sher∣b••••••, And on the 25th, of November, Prince George, the Duke of Ormond, and Sir George Hewet fol∣lowed them. Before Prince George went off, he wrote to the King a very pertinent Letter for his Excuse. as did also the Lord Churchil: and Princess Ann, withdrawing privatly from London (after the Princes departure) left a very passionate Letter to the Queen, begging her Majesties pardon for leaving the City, without her leave, and waiting upon her.

* 1.10The 26. of November, the King returns to Lon∣don, and Issu••s writes for a free Parliament to sit the 15, of January; but this was too late, for by this time the Nation was generally in such a fer∣ment, as nothing he could either do or promise, would appease them.

The Prince of Orange understanding that most of the considerable Cities and Towns in England had complyed, published (as was said another Declaration at She••burne Castle, the 28. of November. But it appeared soon after (by the Princes disowning it) that this Declaration was contrived by some private person, who had put his name to it, to give it Au∣thority.

The main purport of the Declaration was, a strict order to all Magistrates, both in the Cities and Countrey, to disarme and secure all Papists; and tho this was a bold and presumptuous attempt of a private person, yet it happened to have very good effects.

* 1.11The Prince of Orange being at Windsor, the King sends ••a••••••sax, Nottingham, and Godolphine to him,

desiring him to make what proposals he thought necessary for sitting of the Parliament, and for their security while they sat.* 1.12 They return the next day with seven Proposals, which were so unsatisfying to the King as that night he left London, and went to, Rochester.

Before he went, he wrote to the Lord Feversham, Exhorting him and all the Officers to continue him in their Loyal Principles, but gives him no orders for any Action.

On Receipt of which Letter, Feversham disbands his Forces, being about Four thousand, and present∣ly after, acquaints the Prince therewith, by a Letter.

* 1.13On the 16 of December, the King returns to London, being advised and invited thereto, by some Lords. On the 17. at twelve at Night, he re∣ceives a Letter from the Prince, advising his remov∣al to Ham,* 1.14 but he inclining rather to go to Rochester, moves that to the Prince who assented, and so on the 18. he goes thither, accompanyed with the Earl of Arran and some others.

That same day the Prince came to St. James's, innumerable Acclamations,* 1.15 Bells and Bon-fires, sig∣nifying how welcome a Guest he was to London.

* 1.16On the 23 of December, the King Embarked at Dover for France, the Queen Landing there, the 10th. Before he went, he left a Letter written with his own hand, declaring his Reasons for leaving the Kingdom, desiring it might be published, which was done.

At St. James's, about Sixty Peers Sign'd an As∣sociation, and meeting with the Commons at West∣minster, on the 25. of December, they Sign and pre∣sent an Address to the Prince, desiring him to take upon him the Administration of Affairs both Civil and Military, till the Meeting of a Conven∣tion the 22d. of January, which he agreed to.

And so we conclude this Year with the Death of one of the most generous and bravest Princes in Eu∣rope,* 1.17* 1.18 the Elector of Brandenburg, who dyed the 10. of May, the Sixty Ninth Year of his Age.

Notes

• * 1.1

  England
• * 1.2

  King James allarm'd
• * 1.3

  Prince of Orange lands at Torbay
• * 1.4

  His Decla∣ration pu∣blished
• * 1.5

  Prince of Orange writes to the Prote∣stant Offi∣cers in En∣gland.
• * 1.6

  Associati∣on at Exe∣ter
• * 1.7

  The 1st. Bloodshed
• * 1.8

  Associ••••i∣on a•• Not∣••ingham
• * 1.9

  Prince George, Dukes of Graslon and Or∣mond, and other Nobles go to the Prince
• * 1.10

  The King comes to London
• * 1.11

  Proposals by the King to the Prince
• * 1.12

  The King leavs Lon∣don
• * 1.13

  Returning the 16 of December
• * 1.14

  Goes to Rochester
• * 1.15

  The Prince comes to London
• * 1.16

  King James and the Queen go to France
• * 1.17

  An. 1689
• * 1.18

  Elector of Branden∣burg his Death.