A C. they had taken against the Reftoration of the 1674. Prince of Orange, and fent their Deputies to his Highness to acknowledge him for their Stadtholder in the Name of the Province. Elburgh upon the South Sea, Campen in Overyfel, and Hattem were alfo quitted by the French, as was Steenwick and Weppel by the Munfterians.

A Decree of the States Ge

neral con

In Confideration of this great and unexpected turn of Affairs, which was entirely owing to the Wisdom, Conduct and Valor of the Prince of Orange, the States General, to Teftifie how fenfible they were of the Services he had done the Republick, not only Confirm'd the High-Office of Stadtholder of the Provinces of Holland and WestFrizeland, in the Perfon of his Highness during Life, but fettled it likewife upon the Heirs Male of his Body, Born in Lawful Wedlock, by a Decree, dated Febr. 2. 1674. not to be left out in this Place, as being a Monument erected to his Highnefs's Honour.

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Having taken into Deliberation, by way of Refumption, what the Lord's Deputies of the City of Haerlem propos'd to the Affembly the ftituting 23d of January laft paft, Whether it would not the Prince "be Expedient that the Charge of Stadtholder, and of Orange" Captain and Admiral General of the Provinces of Hereditary Holland and Weft Frizeland, and Captain and AdStadthol "miral General of the United Provinces, fhould de"scend upon the Heirs Male of his Highness the "Prince of Orange, Begotten in Lawful Marriage, "as by the Rolls of the fame Date, more amply

der.

may appear. We, the Body and Nobility, and "the Deputies of the Cities, in the Name, and "on the Behalf of the Burghers and Commonality "of the faid Cities, have Declar'd, and do De"clare by thefe Prefents, That having deliberate"ly confidered the State and Conftitution of the "Government of thefe Countrys, as it was in former times, by the Bleffing of God, under the "moft Illuftrious Princes of Orange, of Glorious $6 Memory, his Highness's Predeceffors, and whatever has befallen this Republick, tor thefe Twenty Three or Twenty Four Years laft paft, till now,

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46 we have obferv'd this Republick has been af A. C "flicted with feveral Calamities and Difafters, 1674 66 as well Domestick as Foreign, ever since the fad "and unfortunate Year 1650. That as to our "Foreign Calamities, we have never been withour Wars, or fears of Wars: More particularly one moft dreadful War between the Kingdom "of England and thefe States, which fhook the ve86 ry Foundations of the Government of thefe Countries, fo that hardly it has recover'd Wealth

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ever fince the faid War; and another against "the Crown of Portugal, in the Year 1656, and "1658, and 1659, and another occafion'd by the "Intereft of the Northern Crowns. That in the "Year 1664 they had another new War with the "King of Great Britain, and now this prefent War $6 more fad and fatal than all the reft. And that "during the whole Courfe of the faid War, this Republick has been conftrain'd to fuffer many "Affronts from her Neighbours. to whom the "was before a Terror. That as to our Domestick "Affairs, we have been overwheln'd with Inte"ftine Divifions and Factions. That from the "Year 1650, to the Year 1660, feveral Members

26

of this Republick have had a particular Averfi"on to the Perfon of the prefent Prince of Orange, "the only Son of that Illuftrious Family; and "that others on the contrary have zealoufl main"tain'd, that the faid Prince ought not to be un

66

gratefully abandon'd. That the King of Great "Britain being recall'd to the Government of his "Dominions, and pailing thro' these Countries, in "order to his Embarking for England, this Republick Teftify'd, as well to His Majesty, as

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to the Princess Royal and Dowager, that they "would take particular Care of the Intereft and "Education of his Highnefs, and to Reftore him "to the Dignities which his Illuftrious Ancestors

of glorious Memory, had enjoy'd. But that af"ter the Death of the faid Princefs Royal, all 66 good Will, and Affection towards his Highness "was loft, and no farther Notice taken of him, fill of late, that fome Care was taken of his E

D3

“duca

5

4. 14

1674.

A. C. "ducation, and that at length towards the end of "1671, or 1672, great Contefts arofe about the "Election of his Highness to be Captain Gene"ral of the Militia of this Country. That we "have found by fad Experience, that the faid "Inteftine Divifions and Factions have given an "Occafion to the Enemies of this Republick to "Affront us every Moment, as knowing well that "they render us uncapable to mind our own "Defence, by the Violation of the Union which "laid the Foundation of this Republick, and which "God has fo miraculously Bleffed. And that the "differences which arofe every Day about the E"lection of a Captain General of the Militia, and "the Difcords which happen'd among the Prin"cipal Members of this Republick were the Oc"cafions that retarded and hindred the Deliberations and Refolutions, which of Neceffity ought "to have been taken, to repel Foreign Force, and make us fpend in idle Dilputes,that precious time, "which ought to have been better Husbanded.

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ઃઃ

That the faid Divifions were the Reafon, that "toward the Year 1671, when the King of France openly Declar'd that he would make a War a66 gainft this Country, we confum'd whole Months "together in Deliberating about the Election of a Čaptain General, and whether to pitch upon the Perfon of his Highness, which time ought "to have been spent in providing for the Defence "of the State. And that for the fame Reafon it was, that the King of France invaded this Coun.. try by Force of Arms, in the Year 1672. and "reduc'd us to the laft Extremities and Hazard of "total Ruin. That therefore the Lords, the "States of Holland, have deem'd it neceffary, as "the only Expedient that they can imagine or hope for, abfolutely to pluck up by the Roots the Occafions of the faid Factions and Divifions, to prevent their falling any more into Misfortunes and Miferies to which they have hitherto been expos'd, and on the other fide, to "acknowledge the great Services which the most "Illuftrious Houfe of Orange has from time to

..

'

૯.

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"time

"time perform'd for the Prefervation and Eftablish- A. C. "ment of this Republick. For thefe Reafons the 1674. "Lords of the Body of the Nobility, as alfo the

..

..

Deputies of the Cities, have unanimously Con"ferr'd, and by thefe Prefents do confer in the "Name, and on the Behalf of the Burghers and Commonality of the faid Cities upon his High"nefs and his Heirs Male, Begotten in Lawful "Matrimony, the Charge of Stadtholder, Captain "and Admiral General of the Provinces of Hol"land and Weft Frizeland, with all the Dignities, "Preheminences, Prerogatives, Rights and Priviledges, thereto belonging without any Exception or Refervation, in as ample and in the "fame manner, as the fame Charge is at prefent executed by his Highnefs And confequently, "that after the Deceafe of his faid Highnefs (to "whom nevertheless the States of Holland with a long and happy Life, in all Health and Pro

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perity) the faid Charge of Stadtholder, Captain "and Admiral General of the Provinces of Hol"land and Weft-Frizeland, with all the Dignities, "Preheminences, Prerogatives, Rights and Privi"ledges thereunto belonging, without any Excep "tion or Refervation, fhall devolve and defcend 66 upon his Heirs Male, Begotten in Lawful Wed"lock. In purluance of which Refolution, the "faid Lords of the Body of the Nobility have or"der'd Letters Patents to be drawn up, and fealed with the Great Seal of the faid Provinces.

The fame Day alfo the States of Zealand conferred the fame Dignities upon his Highnefs, and Declar'd him withall Chief Hereditary Nobleman of their Province.

It was now high time to deliver the United Provinces from thofe Confufions and Disorders which the French had Occafion'd in the Government. To effect this, the Prince went to Utrecht, and having Affembled the States, his Highnefs fetiled the Government of that Province upon the Ancient Foot; and chofe new Members to Compofe the Body of the Nobility and Magiftracy. In return of this Care, the States of Utrecht Confer

red upon his Highness the Hereditary Charge of 1674. Stadtholder of their Province.

A. C

About this time, after two Summers spent in a Avances War between England and Holland, with feveral towards a Engagements at Sea, but no Decifive Action; both Peace be Parties began to enter upon Thoughts, and indeed Neceflities of a Peace. The Nations had been at

tweeen

ana Hol

land.

England War without being Angry, and the Quarrel had been thought on both fides, rather of the Minifters than the People's. The Dutch believ'd it at first intended only against De-Wit's Faction, in favour of the Prince of Orange; and in England fome laid it to the Corruption of the Ministers by the Money of France; and fome who pretended to think deeper, laid it to deeper Defigns. The Lord Clifford's Violence in beginning it gave an ill Air in general; and the Difufe of Parliaments, a cruel Maim in the chief Sinews of War.

The Subfidies from France bore no Proportion to the Charge of the English Fleet: And the Naval Strength of England feem'd rather leffen'd than encreas'd by the Conjunction of that of France. The English Seamen Fought without Heart, and were more afraid of their Friends than their Enemies; and the Discontents were fo great at Land, that the Affembling of the Militia to defend the Coafts, was thought as Dangerous as an Invafion. But that which most preft his Britannick Majefty to the Thoughts of a Peace, was the Refolution of Spain to Declare War with England, as they had done already with France, in favour of Holland, unless the Peace were fuddenly made, which would have been fuch a Blow to the English Trade, as could not eafily have been fenc'd: So as the Neceffity of this Conjuncture was only kept off by the Honour of the Alliance with France. However, that Crown being not able to furnish Supplies enough to carry on the War without a Parliament, could not oppofe the calling one upon this Occafion. When the Parliament met, tho' they feem'd willing to give the King Money, yet it was to make the Peace with Holland, and not to Carry on the War: And upon his Majefty's de

mand