A. C.

We fhould now mention the Campaign in Cata1692. lonia, but the French having attempted nothing on that fide, by reafon their Forces were fufficiently diverted another way, and the Spaniards having donc as little, becaufe of their ufual Supinity and Weakness, we fhall pafs on to fome other Occur

Earth

rences.

(c) On the 7th of June a moft terrible Earthquake in quake fhook the Ifland of America in the West-Indies, Jamaica, and almoft entirely ruin'd the Town of Port-Royal, June 7. the best of all the English Plantations, and the great Mart on that part of the World; infomuch, that befides the Damages, no lefs than 1500 Perfons perifh'd in it. About two Months after an EarthAnd in quake was alfo felt in (d) England, particularly in England, London, and upon the Continent. The King was Sept. 8. then in his Camp, at Dinner, in and old decay'd Houfe, which fhaking very much, and every one apprehending it was ready to fall, His Majefty, with much ado, was prevail'd with to rife from the Table, to go out of the Houfe; but the Surprize was foon over. Not many Days after Her Majefty Sept. 13.iflued out (e) two Proclamations, the one (f) for f Procla- the better difcovery of Seditious Libellers; and the mmation as other (g) for the discovery and apprehending of Highwaymen, and for a Reward of Forty Pounds for every

gainst Li

bellers: And a. Such Offender, to the Difcoverers; which Encouragegain Highment occafion'd the taking of many of thofe Robwaymen. bers, who about this time very much infefted the Roads of this Kingdom.

h Mr.

Death.

About the beginning of this Year (b) died Robert Boyle's Boyle Efq; an Englife-man of Illuftrious Birth, but more remarkable for being the most famous experimental Philofopher thefe latter Ages have produc'd; and whofe deep Knowledge of Nature was fo far from being tainted with Atheism, the common DifHis Ex- ftemper of Men of refin'd Speculation, (i) that all emplary his Life was a continued Example of Goodnefs and Piety. Piety; and at his Death he left the Foundation of a Monthly Sermon to convince Atheists, Deifts, Jews, &c. of their Errors. This Year was alfo fatal (k) to P. Waldeck, an able,but unfortunate General. Neither ought we to forget, that this Year the Duke of

k Prince Waldeck

dies.

Hannover,

Hannover, a Proteftant Prince, was, through King A. C. Willam's Intereft, advanc'd to be an Elector of the 1692. Empire, and thereby a (1) Ninth Electorate was

Conftituted.

Ninth E

About this time one Robert Young was committed to 'ectorate. Newgate till he difcharg d a Fine impos'd upon him; and one Henry Pearfon a Prifoner in the fame Place for Debt perceivingYoung to be very expert in Counterfeiting Hands, told him, that if he could contrive

on the Bi

a (m) Sham-Plot, and father it upon the Earls ofm ShamMarlborough, and Salisbury, the Bishop of Rochester, Plut faand fome others, he might foon have Money enough ther'd upto pay his Fine. Young being in very low Circum-hop of Roftances gladly accepted the Propofal, but told Pear-chefter, fon nothing could be done in that matter till he was and others. releas'd, which in a fhort time was effected. As foon as Pearfon was at Liberty, he employ'd one Stephen Blackhead to carry Letters between himself and Young. By a certain Stratagem Young happen'd to fee the Earl of Marlborough's Hand, which he counterfeited fo cunningly, that it was very difficult to difcern the true from the falfe. Afterwards he drew up an Affociation, and affixt to it the Hands of the Earls of Marlborough and Salisbury, as alfo Sir Bafil Firebrefs's, the Bishop of Rochester's, and the Lord Cornbury's, which two laft were writ by an other hand. And that the more Credit might be given to this pretended Plot, Young forg'd feveral Letters in the Name of the Lord Marlborough, fuppofed to be directed to himfelf, which Blackhead us'd to bring to him again. In the Month of April, Blackhead went three times to the Bifhop of Rochefter's Houfe at Bromley, upon a fham Errand from a fuppos'd Divinity Doctor, but with no other intent than to convey the forg'd Affociation into a fecret Place, where it was afterwards found by the King's Meffengers; who upon Information given by Young against that Reverend Prelate,came firft to fecure his Perfon, and then to fearch his Houfe. His Lordfhip. was fome days under Confinement;but upon a strictn The Sham Examination (2) of the whole matter before the Plot dif cover'd, Council, and the confronting of Blackhead with June 10.

Young,

A. C. Young, the Forgery was evidently difcover'd, and his 1692. Lorthips Innocence made manifeft.

in (0) Scotland enjoying now a perfect TranquilliAffairs ty, the Parliament of that Kingdom was very zeaof Scot- lous and forward to contribute new Levies for the land. fupport of their Majefties Government. And as ? And Ire-for (p) Ireland, the Lord Sydney, Lord Lieutenant land, of that Kingdom, fo manag'd Affairs, that the (g) q The Par Parliament there made an Act not only of Recognimeets there tion of their Majefties undoubted Title to that Crown, 0&o. and another for Encouragement of Proteftant Strangers to fettle in that Kingdom; but one alfo for grant

liament

5.

ing to their Majesties the Sum of 70000 Pounds, by an Additional Duty of Excife upon Beer, Ale, and oAnd is ther Liquors. After which (r) they were ProroProrogued, gued.

r

Nov. 3.

t The Lord

The King having fettled Affairs in Holland, Embark'd there on the 15th of October, and on the K. Wil 18th fafely (s) Landed at Yarmouth. On the 29th Jiam lands the Queen met him at Newhall, and the fame Day in Eng- their Majefties went to Kensington through the City, land, amidst the loud Acclamations of rejoycing MultiO&o. 18. tudes. Two Days after (t) the Lord Mayor, AlMayor, Aldermen and Recorder of London attended his Madermen,&c jefty, both to congratulate his happy Return, and of London exprefs their steady Refolution to fupport his Gowait upon vernment, to the utmost of their Power. At the the King, fame time the Recorder, in the Name of the Lord O&o. 22. Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs, befought His Majefty to honour the City with his Prefence at Dinner upon the Lord Mayor's Day at Guildhall, which His Majefty was pleas'd to accept; and as a Mark of his Favour His Majefty confer'd the Honour of Knighthood upon Salathiel Lovell, Serjeant at Law, Procla their Recorder. The fame (u) Day a Proclamation mation for was iffued out for a publick Thanksgiving to God Thanksgi Almighty for the Prefervation of their Majefties and their Government, against the Defigns of their open and fecret Enemies; particularly for the late fignal Victory at Sea against the French Fleet, and for the Majefties Difappointment of the barbarous Confpiracy, for Guildhal taking away his Majefty's Life by Affaflination. On the (x) 29th of the fame Month their Majesties, at

a publick

ving.

x Their

Dine at

O8o. 29.

tended

tended by all the Great Officers of the Court, a A. C. numerous Train of Nobility and Gentry, the Jud. 1692. ges, and the Ladies of the chiefeft Quality, were magnificently entertain'd at Dinner at the Guildhall, by Sir John Fleet, Lord Mayor Elect for the Year enfuing; upon which occafion His Majefty confer'd the Honour of (y) Knighthood on Sir John Wildy Several Perfons man, Sir William Gore, Sir James Houblon, Alder." men; Sir Leonard Robinson, Chamberlain; Sir Rowland Ainfworth, Sir William Scowen, Sir Jofiah Child, and Sir John Foach. The fame Honour was confer'd fome Days before on Thomas Trevor Efq; their Majefties Sollicitor General.

Knighted

About this time feveral French Refugees, ftudious to promote the Intereft of England, and to weaken France by impairing her Manufactures, together with fome English Merchants, () form'd the Royal Lu-z The Roy String Company, and being fupported by the Pro- al Luftring tection of the Earl of Pembroke, whom they chofe Company their Governor, obtain'd a Patent from His Majefty, fettled, whereby they were reputed a Body Politick, ha. ving the full and fole Priviledge for the making of Luftrings and Alamodes in England. On the 26th of October this Patent was read in a full Committee, at their Houfe in Austin-Friars, at which time the Company was farther affur'd by their Governour, of their Majefties Pleafure in this Undertaking, to fuch a degree, that all other Encouragements might be expected for the promoting of it.

meets,

Upon the (4) 4th Day of November the Parliaa The Par ment being met at Westminster, His Majefty went to the Houfe of Peers, and made a Speech to both) Houfes; wherein he first of all (b) thank'd them Nov. 4. for the great Supplies they had given him for the The King's Profecution of this War; hoping, by their Advice Speech to and Affistance, which had never fail'd him, to take both Houses 'fuch Measures as might be moft proper for fuppor

.

ting their common Interest against the excelfive 'Power of France. He next told them,how great reafon they had to rejoice in the happy Victory they had obtain'd at Sea, wishing the Succefs ar Land had been anfwerable to it: Though, he was fure,his own Subjects had fo remarkable a fhare in both,

that

6

A. C. that their Bravery and Courage muft ever be re1691. membred to their Honour. Afterwards He made them fenfible, That as the French were repairing their 'Loffes at Sea with great Diligence, and did defign to augment their Land-Forces confiderably, against the next Campaign, fo it was abfolutely neceflary, for this Nation's Safety, that at least as great a Force be maintain'd at Sea and Land, as they had the laft Year; and therefore he ask'd a Supply fuitable to fo great an occation, of the Gentlemen ' of the Houfe of Commons; Exprefling at the fame 'time his Affliction, that fo heavy a charge upon his People could not be avoided, without expofing themfelves to inevitable Ruin and Deftruction. And because the inconvenience of fending out of the Kingdom great Sums of Money for the Payment of the Troops abroad, was very confiderable, and that He wifh'd it could be remedied; He told them, That if they could fuggeft to him any 'Methods for the fupport of them, which might leffen this Inconvenience, He fhould be ready to receive them with all the Satisfaction imaginable. He then acquainted them, That none could defire more than He did, that a Defcent fhould be made into France; and therefore, notwithstanding the difappointment of that Defign this laft Summer, He intended to attempt it the next Year, with a much more confiderable Force; and that as foon as He fhould be enabled, all poffible Care and Application fhould be ufed towards it. And upon this occafion He took notice of that Signal Deliverance, which, by the Providence of God, they receiv'd the laft Spring, to the Difappointment and Confufion of their Enemies Defigns and Expectations. This, faid He, has fufficiently fhewn us how much we are expos'd to the Attempts of France, while that King is in a Condition to make 'them. Let us therefore improve the Advantage' we have at this time, of being join'd with moft of the Princes and States of Europe, against fo dangerous an Enemy: In this, furely, all Men will agree, who have any Love for their Country, or any Zeal for Religion: I cannot therefore dubt

6

⚫ but