It may not be a mifs to remark, that the King at this Time made ufe of his Negative Voice to a Bill for afcertaining the Commiffions and Salaries of the Judges.

These other Events were the only remarkable ones this Year, namely, November the 10th at Night, a Fire happen'd in the Royal Palace at Kenfington, which did much Mifchief, but was fupprefs'd before it came to the Royal Apartment. November the 25th, Doctor Tennifon, Minister of St. Martin's, was nominated to the See of Lincoln, in the room of Doctor Barlow deceafed. On the 20th of February General Ginkle was created Earl of Athlone. On the 1ft of March the Earl of Pembroke was made Lordkeeper of the Privy Seal, Sir Edaward Seymour and Mr. Montague were made Commiffioners of the Treasury, in Place of Sir John Lowther and Mr. Pelham: The Loid Cornwallis was made Commiffioner of the Admiralty. And on the 3d of March, the Lord Sidney was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. On the 19th of March, Thomas Coningsby, Efq; was made a Baron of Ireland; and Sir Henry Capel a Baron of England.

The King embark'd the 5th of March, and arriv'd the next Day in Holland. And towards the End of the fame Month the Queen Dowager departed from England to go into Portugal by the Way of France, where the fafely arrived, and remained the reft of her Life, much honour'd in that Kingdom.

Sir Rowland Gwin, at that Time Treasurer of the Chamber to the Queen, having spoken reflecting Words against the Lord Sidney, he was (April 7.) queftion'd before the Queen and Council, where not be ing able to justify what he had faid, it was declared that the faid Words

were groundless and fcandalous, and Sir Rowland was turned out of his Place.

The Partifans for King Jam were ftill busy in Plotting his Return, which they were now more than ever in hopes of, by reason that the French King gave fo much into it, as to lend that Prince 30,000 Men, with Affurance that the Nomber fhould be doubled, if neceffary. This Force King James led to the Sea Coast of Normandy, and was ready to put on board, when our Fleet by a moft fignal Victory over the French prevented it. But firt his Letters to certain Privy Coun fellors and other Perfons of Qua lity, inviting them over to be Wit neffes of the Birth of a Child his Queen then was pregnant with, and his Declaration inviting his Subjects to return to their Obedi ence, and promifing Pardon with the Exceptions under-mentioned: were fent over to England, and delivered to the proper Perfons. The large Exceptions in the general Pa don fufficiently fhewed the Strength of his Hopes, fince fo many Pu fons of known Worth could not be denied his Favour with lefs Views than abfolute Conqueft. The Pe fons excepted were, The Duke c Ormond, the Marquifs of Winches the Earls of Sunderland, Bath, Da by, and Nottingham; the Lords Na port, Delamere, Wiltshire, Celeb Cornbury, Dunblain, and Cour the Bifhops of London and St. A Sir Robert Howard, Sir John W Sir Samuel Grimfton, Sir Stea Fox, Sir George Treby, Sir Beki Da well, Sir James Oxenden; Dr lotfon, and Dr. Gilbert Burnet; F cis Ruffel, Richard Levison, and fr Trenchard, Efquires; Charia De comb; all thofe who had offer dignities to him at Feverfeam; who as Judges, Jury - mes,

There was a fhew of a Defcent on France from England this Summer, a Body of Forces under the Command of the Duke of Leinfter (fince Schomberg) being fhipped off at Portsmouth for that purpofe; but whatever put a stop to it, they returned, without failing further than the Place they were ordered to open their Orders at.

In Flanders Things went but ill this Summer, The French King came himself to take Namur, before which Place he opened Trenches the 29th of May, took the lower Town the 5th of June, Fort Coehorn on the 22d of June, and the Caftle was furrendred the ft of July. King William marched on the 3d of June with an Army to its Relief, but was watched fo well by the Duke of Luxenburg, who covered the Siege with 70,000 Men, and was fo disfavoured by bad Weather, that after he had pofted his Army on the Mebagn, and ordered the Pontons for palling it, he was fain to defift.

The French King, after the taking Kamur, left the Army under the Command of Luxemburg, and returned to Versailles. That General encamped in an advantageous Poft between Enghien and Steenkirk, where King William refolved to attack him.

On Sunday August the 3d, the Battle of Steenkirk was fough, wherein the Confederate Army ad ed with great Bravery, the Ex lib efpecially performed Wonders. After great Difficulties were got o ver in advancing through Wood and Defiles, they fired for tWO Hours together upon the Enemy, with fuch Order and Courage that, the French could not ftand it, bet deferted one of their Batteries of Cannon, which Colonel Warp took, and the whole French Atmy were near deserting their Camp. when for want of Reinforcement, which Count Solmes was by t peated Orders commanded to fend in, our Men were not able to fo low the Blow, for the Foot being a Mile in the Rear, and in ma king two much hafte to come up threw themselves into Disorder, and the Van-Guard being attacked by 30 Battalions, and a fresh Body of Dragoons brought in by Bou they were forced to retreat, which with the coming on of the Nig left the French the Poffeffion of t Field, and fome of our Cannon, with many Prisoners.

This Battle may be called fat, fince it loft us those brave Officers, Major General Mackay, Sir Fr Lanier, Sir Robert Douglas, Earl of Angus, and many other, who were killed in it, befides 2,00 Soldiers killed, and 3,000 word or taken. On the French S the Prince de Turene, the Marq de Bellefonds, the Marquis Tilladet, Brigadier Stoupa, Marquifs Fiimacon, and feveri Perfons of Diftinction, with 2,0 private Soldiers were killed. T afterwards difcovered that Luxe burg received Information of that paffed in our Army, by Hand of one Millevoix, a Docc tick of the Duke of Bavaria,

t

which, as it most probably chang'd the Fortune of the Day, the Author could not be fufficiently punish'd for. He was hang'd on a Tree foon after, and the Army retreated in excellent Order, without the least Disturbance from the Enemy.

Boufflers foon after bombarded Charleroy. And on the other Side the English Forces with the Duke of Leinfter commanded upon the intended Expedition, being at their Return fent over to Flanders, landd at Oftend on the 18th of Septemer, and took the two Towns of Furmes and Dixmuyde.

But another Affair, which hapened in Flanders this Summer, leferves our Notice. The French Court had for a long Time in ulged it felf in an Opinion, that t was lawful to take away the Life f King William by any means that night effect it. And therefore Chaaillard himself, their prime Miifter of State, did not difdain to reat with one Granvale, who last Campaign undertook to affaffinate im. What he could not effect hen, the fame Man was now a ain attempting, and had affocia ed to him for it two Perfons, naned Leefedeal and Du-Mont, who vere to have stabbed the King at a Convenient Opportunity, and then o have fled to a Body of Luxemurg's Army, who under the Comnand of Monfieur Chamlay and Colonel Parker (an Englishman, ho had been in all their Defigns gainst the King's Life) were to dvance to receive him. But it leafed God to touch the Hearts of is two Accomplices with ComJunction, and they having difcover d the Thing, Granvale was feized It Eyndenhoven, and brought to Frial, where, being convicted, he was executed Auguft the 13th, and

at his Death confefs'd the whole, and acknowledged his Guilt.

The Duke of Savoy this Campaign invaded Dauphine, and took the City of Embrun, where he found 20 Pieces of Cannon, 20,000 Crowns in Gold of the French King's Money, which with 40,000 Livres Contribution from the City, and large Contributions from all the neighbouring Towns, he brought off; and had carried his Arnis much farther, if he had not unhappily fallen Sick of the Small-Pox, which was followed by an Ague, and hindered all farther Martial Operation on his fide.

In Germany the French had the better, for tho' they took no Towns this Campaign, they furprized a Party of 4,000 Horfe commanded by the Duke of Wirtemberg, whereof they killed 1,000, and took that Prince Prifoner, and afterwards liv'd at Difcretion in his Country.

On the 7th of June this Year happen'd that dreadful Earthquake at Jamaica, which overthrew almoft the whole Town of Port Royal, fwallow'd up 1500 Perfons; and a vaft Quantity of Merchandize in the Warehouses. On the 8th of September following a Shock of Earthquake was felt here in England, and Flanders, and France, but it was, bleffed be God, not violent enough to do much harm.

It was in this Year that the Duke of Hanover was by the Emperor conftituted an Elector of the Empire, and thereby a ninth Voice made in the Electoral College.

It was this Summer alfo, that one Robert Young, a villainous Fellow, counterfeited the Hands of the Lord Marlborough, the Bishop of Rochester, and others, to an Inftrument in the Natute of an Affociation against the Government, and then having lodg'd that and

Bb 4

fome

A. D. fome other fuch fort of Papers in 1692. the Bishop of Rochester's Houfe, went and informed against him; the Papers being accordingly found by the King's Meflenger, who was fent to fearch the Houfe, his Lordship for the Prefent underwent fome Cenfure, but the Roguery was happily detected, and the Bishop's Innocence made plain.

In Scotland and Ireland all was quiet this Summer.

The King returned from Holland, and arrived at London, October the 19th. Both their Majefties did the City the Honour to dine at the Guildhall on the Lord Mayor's Day this Year.

On the 14th of November the Parliament met, and his Majefty made a Speech to them, wherein he mention'd the Victory at Sea, wifhing the fortune had been as good at Land, and applauded the Courage of the English. Advised a Provilion for the War as large as before, and intimated a Defign to invade France. The Commons thanked his Majefty by an Addrefs for his Gracious Speech, and the Queen for her excellent Government. The House alfo gave their Thanks by the Speaker to Admiral Ruffel, for his Conduct and Courage in the late Victory. Some Exceptions indeed were made to his Conduct, as if the Victory might have been carry'd farther, and Enquiry was made into the Stoppage of the intended Defcent, but after ftrict Examination of all Parties, the Admiral was by Vote fully quitted.

On the 15th of November, a Motion being made for a Supply, it was unanimoufly agreed to, and on the 2d of December was voted for the Navy 1,926,516 7. and on the 10th, for the Army 2,090,5631. To raife which Money a Land Tax of 45. in the Pound was granted.

A Fund of 100,000l. per Annum out of the Excife, to pay Annuities to Perfons that should advance One Million of Pounds to the Service of the War, and Additional Impofitions, and a Review of the Poll. All which did not raife the Sum voted by 545,596 1.

Several Bills of publick Nature, that were order'd to be brought in this Seffion, did not pafs into Acts, viz. A Bill for Regulating Triak in Cafes of Treason. A Bill for fatisfying the Debts due to the Orphans of London. A Bill for better Prefervation of their Majefties Per fons. A Bill to afcertain the Fees of Officers of Justice. A Bill for free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, whereby feveral Perfons in Offices were to be excluded. A Bill for the frequent calling and meeting of Parliaments. Which laft paffed both Houses, but was ftopped at the Throne on the 20th of January, when the King pared the Land Tax.

The

A Complaint being made in the Houfe against a Pamphlet, intited, King William and Queen Mary CoRquerors, it was order'd to be burst, as was alfo a Pamphlet written by the Bishop of Sarum, intitled, 4 Paftoral Letter, wherein the fame Doctrine was maintained. Lords alfo taking that Matter in Confideration, paffed a Refolution, That fuch Affertion is inconfinert with the Principles on which thi Government is founded, and te ed to the Subverfion of the Right of the People.

Complaints from Ireland being laid before the Houfe of Commors, they prefented an Addrefs to the King on the 9th of March, where in they fet forth Abules and M. managements in that Kingdo Complaining that the Protestant Subjects were expofed to free Qu