1688. him but fmall Encouragement to ftay; and at the

fame Time his Majefty affur'd Ronquillo, he had much rather entertain a good Correfpondence with Holland, than be thought to have a ftrict Alliance with France. Thereupon the Spanish Ambaffador took his Leave, hugging himself with the Success of his Audience, though 'tis certain that S

contributed much more than he to the Refufal of the French King's Offers, which fome of the Popib Cabal were for accepting. Bonrepos finding his Mafter's Officioufnefs ill receiv'd, fet out for France on the 4th of September.

Things being at this pafs, the English Envoy at the Haque was order'd to Demand of the States General what they meant by their great and furprifing Warlike Preparations both by Sea and Land, at that Time of the Year, when all Operations, efpecially thofe at Sea, ufe to ceafe? To which the States made Anfwer, that they arm'd in Imitation of his Britannick Majefty, and might with more Reason Demand an Eclaircifment about the Alliances he was lately enter'd into. This bold Anfwer, which at another Time might have occafion'd a Rupture, was now left without Reply: However as it encreas'd the Sufpicions of an Invafion, fo all imaginable Methods were taken to provide against it. The Chief Ports, and particularly Portfmouth and Hull, the two Keys of England, were put into Popish Hands, and the Garifons fo modell'd, that the Majority were Papilis.

The French Court was both furpriz'd and concern'd at the Miscarriage of Monfieur Bonrepas's Negotiation: Skelton was over and over teaz'd by People, who expoftulated with him his Mafter's not following his Advice. It happen'd one Day that Monfieur de Croiffy being in earnest Difcourfe with Mr. Skelton' concerning the then State of Affairs in England, Skelton anfwer'd, He had no further Orders, and durft not intermeddle any more; but added withal, that he believ'd if the moft Chriftian King would direct his Ambaffador at the Eague, to declare to the States how nearly he interelted himself in the Affairs of his Britannick

Ma

Majefty, and threatned to Attack them, in Cafe 1688. they attempted any thing against him, that he would quickly put a Stop to their Preparations, and thereby break the Measures both of the Prince of Orange, and of the Proteftant Cabals in England. Mr. de Croiffy took the Hint presently, and no fooner acquainted the King with it, but he fent Orders to the Count D' Avaux to declare to the States, Count That the fincere Defire the King, his Mafter, D'Avaux "had to maintain the Tranquility of Europe, Memorial "would not fuffer His Majefty to fee the great

33

66

to the

States,

1688.

Preparations for War, both by Sea and Land, Sept. 9. "made by their Lordships, without taking the "Measures, that Prudence, (the continual Com"panion of all his Actions) infpired him with, to prevent the Mifchiefs thefe Warlike Preparations would certainly draw after them. And although the King, being perfuaded of the Wifdom of their Counfels, could not imagine that a free State fhould fo eafily refolve to take up "Arms, and to kindle a War, which at the pre"fent Juncture could not but be fatal to all "Christendom; Nevertheless His Majefty could not "believe their Lordships would engage themselves "in fo great Expences, both at Home and Abroad, 66 to entertain in Pay fo many Foreign Troops, to CG put to Sea fo numerous a Fleet fo late in the "Year, and to prepare fo great Magazines, if they had not a Defign form'd, anfwerable to the greatness of these Preparations. That all these "Circumftances enclin'd the King, his Mafter, to 66 believe with Reason, that this arming threatned England, wherefore His Majefty had Command66 ed him to declare to them, on his Part, that the "Ties of Friendship and Alliance between him 66 and the King of Great-Britain, would oblige "him not only to Affift him, but alfo to look on "the firft Act of Hoftility that should be com66 mitted by their Troops, or their Fleet, againft His Majefty of Great-Britain, to be a manifeft Rupture of the Peace with his Crown.

66

66

66

1688.

The States-General not only return'd no Anfwer to the French Memorial, but chargd the Heer Ion'd Van Citters, their Ambaffador, to complain thereby king of to the Court of England; whereupon a Council Janes, was held, wherein it was refolv'd to Difown Count D Avaux's Proceedings. This Resolution the Earl of Middleton. Secretary of State, immediately communicated to Mr. Van Citters; the King's Mi. nitters at the Hague, Bruffels, and Madrid, were order d to Declare, that the French Memorial was prefented without either His Majefties Knowledge or Apprehenfion; Skelton was recall'd, and was no fooner arriv'd, but he was committed Prifoner to the Tower for trefpailing his Inftructions, and committed difcovering his Matter's Secrets. About this Time the Dauphin of France began his Campaign in the Palatinate, and laid the Siege to Philipsburgh.

Skelton

to the Tower.

King James, that he might put the greater Confidence in his Troops, thought fit to fill them with as many Papifts as could be procur'd; and accordingly feveral Irish Officers and Soldiers were put into the Duke of Berwick's Regiment. This was vigorously oppos'd by the Lieutenant Colonel Beaumont, and other Officers; the former in the Name of the reft, declaring to the Duke, That he was defir'd by thofe Gentlemen (with whofe Sence be concurr'd) to inform his Grace, That they did not think it confiftent with their Honours, to have Foreigners impofed upon them, without being complain'd of, that their Companies were weak, or Orders had been fent to recruit them; not doubting but if fuch Orders had been given, they that first, in very ill Times, rais'd them Hundreds, could eafily now have made them according to the King's Complement. Therefore they humbly petition'd they might have Leave to fill up their Companies with fuch Men of this Nation they should judge moft fuitable for the King's Service, and to Support their Honours or otherwife that they might be permit ted, with all imaginable Duty and Respect, to lay down their Commiffions. An Account of this (as alfo of a Serjeant and Eighteen private Sentinels leaving their Colours upon the fame Score) was forthwith tranfmitted to His Majefty, then at Wind

for,

The Mayor

for, who fearing the fpreading of this Example, 1688. immediately commanded a Party of Horse down to Portsmouth, to bring up into Cuftody Lieutenant Colonel Beaumont, Captain Pafton, and Four other Proteftant Captains; and a Court-Martial was appointed to officers proceed against 'em as Mutineers. If the French cashier'd, Ambaffador's Memorial had not come in that Sept. 10. very Morning, to fhew the Danger the Popish Party 1688. was in, fome of thefe Officers would, in all Probability, have loft their Lives: But now the Court was contented to cafhier 'em. About a Month beof Scarbofore another Captain that was quarter'd at Scar- rough borough, caus'd the Mayor of that Town, tho' a tofs'd in a Man devoted to the Court, to be tofs'd in a Blan- Blanket, ket by his Soldiers, for being fawcy to him; which Aug. 12. Indignity the King did not think fit to punish at 1688. this Juncture. For now the Whispers of the Prince of Orange's coming began to revive the Spirits of the Nation; infomuch, that the Bishops of Ely, Bristol, and Rochester, caution'd the People of their Dioceffes from the very Pulpit, against the Repeal of the Penal Laws and Tefts, in the ensuing Parliament.

The King having by this time receiv'd fo many concurring Advices from the Hague, as amounted to a moral Demonftration of the Prince of Orange's Defigns, the fitting out of the Fleet was carried on with redoubled Diligence; Commiffions were giving out for augmenting the Army; Orders difpatch'd to Tyrconnel for fending over whole Regiments out of Ireland; and Barillon the French Ambaffador made a Propofal, which those who wish'd well to the Prince were in great Fear the Court fhould accept; viz. that France should abandon the Defign of befieging Philipsburgh, and carry the War into Holland. Four or Five of the Council approv❜d this Overture, but others warmly oppos'd it, alledging, That fuch a Violation of former Treaties with Holland would be fufficient to raise the Clamours of the whole Nation,and to alienate the Minds of all the English Proteftants from His Majefty This Suggestion being moft plaufible, did not mifs of its Effect: For it must be observ'd,

that

1688. that thofe who favour'd the Prince's Expedition had been very induftrious in fpreading a Report, that the Dutch Armament was only defign'd to hinder the French from landing in England, where in Pursuance of a fecret Treaty made with King James, they were to extirpate the Proteftant Religion. To dilipate the Jealoufies of the People, a *Sept. 21. Proclamation was iffued out, importing, That His Majesty having already fignified his Pleafure to call a Parliament, left those whofe Right it was to chufe Members, thould lye under any Prejudice and Mistakes, thro' the Artifices of difaffected Perfons, he thought fit to declare, That it was his Royal Purpofe to endeavour a legal Establishment of an Univerfal Liberty of ConScience for all his Subjects; That it was alfo bis Refolution inviolably to preferve the Church of England, by fuch a Confirmation of the feveral Acts of Uniformity, that they should never be alter'd any other Ways than by repealing the feveral Clauses, which inflict Penalties upon Perfons not promoted, or to be promoted to any Ecclefiaftick Benefices within the Meaning of the faid Acts, for exercifing their Religion, contrary to the Purport of the faid Acts of Uniformity: And that for the further fecuring, not only the Church of England, but the Proteftant Religion in general, He was willing the Roman Catholicks should remain incapable to be Members of the House of Commons, whereby thofe Fears and Apprehenfions would be remov'd, which many Perfons had had, That the Legislative Authority would be ingrofs'd by them, and turn'd against Proteftants. This Proclamation was fo ambiguoufly worded as to the Repeal of the Penal Laws, the Confirming the Acts of Uniformity, and the Excluding of the Papifts from the lower Houfe only, that it occafion'd feveral Difputes, and had but little Effect.

Upon the Arrival of the Marquis of Albyville's Steward, who brought certain News of the embarking of feveral Regiments on board the Dutch Fleet, the Command of the Army was first offer'd to the Count de Roye, an experienc'd French General, and an Exile for his Religion, upon whose excufing of himself, it was beftow'd on the Earl of