ter. That Irish Papifts were lifted among Recruits. That Protections were granted to Irish Papifts. That Outlawries were revers'd. That forfeited Estates were lett at under Rates. That there were great Embezlements in the Stores and in the forfeited Eftates. And that Additions were made to the Articles of Limerick, whereby the Irish Papifts were encouraged, and the English Intereft weaken'd. Which Abufes they prayed might be redrefs'd, and that no Grant might be made of the forfeited Eftates, till that Matter could be fettled in Parliament. They also prayed that the Articles of Limerick, with the Additional Articles, might be laid before them. The King gave them a Gracious Answer, and foon after put an End to the Seffion. For, On the 14th of March his Majefy came to the Houfe, paffed the Tax Bills, a Bill for appointing Commiffioners to flate the Publick Accounts, and 18 other Publick Acts. And made a Speech, and then the Parliament was prorogued to the 2d of May. In this Interval of the Sitting of the Parliament, the Events without Doors of publick Notice were, On the 30th of Dec. Sir John Trevor was made Mafter of the Rolls. On the 24th of February the chief Command of the Fleet was taken out of the Hands of Admiral Ruffel, and given to Mr. Killigrew, Sir Ralph Delaval, and Sir Cloudfley Shovel in joint Commiffion. And on the 8th of February Mr. Rook was made Vice Admiral of the Red, Lord Berkley Vice Admiral of the Blue, Colonel Aylmer Rear Admiral of the Red, and Mr. Mitchel Rear Admiral of the Blue. The Lord Mohun was brought to Trial January 30th before his Peers for the Murther of Mr. Mountford the Player, of which he was Febru. ary the 4th acquitted. On the 23d of March Sir John Trenchard was made Secretary of State, in the Place of the Earl of Nottingham. And the Cuftody of the Great Seal was on the fame Day given to Sir John Summers, at that Time Attorney General. A new Commiffion of the Admiralty allo paffed, whereby that Charge was given to Sir John Lowther, Henry Priefman, Efq; Lord Falkland, Robert Auften, Efq; Sir Robert Rich, Henry Killegrew, Efq; and Sir Ralph Delaval. On the 31st of March the King fet out for Halland, where he arrived the 2d of April. This Summer was unfortunate to the Confederates on all Sides; and first to us by Sea. The English and Dutch Fleet being joined, they fet fail to the Weftward with a very numerous Fleet of Merchant Men bound for the Streights, which failed under their Convoy. They failed all in Company to a certain Latitude, as their Órders directed, and then Sir George Rook with a Squadron of 23 Men of War parted off to convoy the Merchant Men. Being arrived within 60 Leagues of Cape St. Vincent, June 15th, they difcover'd the French Fleet. The Merchant Ships were ordered to make the best of their Way to the Streights, while the Men of War lay behind to cover them. In the Evening the French came up with the Stern-moft, and took three Dutch Men of War, who had engaged Eleven French. The Merchant Men making off to Shoar, the Enemy followed them, and gave opportunity to thofe Ships which lay to Windward to escape. Sir George Rook with the Men of War and fome Merchant Men got fafe to Ireland, but the Turkey Fleet sun A. D. 1692. A. D. running into Gibralter were all ei- In Germany the French took He delberg, fet both City and Caftle on Fire, and miferably ravaged the Palatinate. 1693, ther taken, burnt, or funk. The Lofs was great, for befides 50 Merchant Ships deftroyed, the French took 29, befides two Dutch Men of War taken by Tourville and D'Etrees, and an English Man of War, and a rich Pinnace burnt. In Flanders, Huy was taken by the French, July 23d. And foon after the Duke of Luxenburg, who commanded an Army much more numerous than the Confederates, attacked the King in his Camp at Neerbefpin near Landen. On July the 28th was fought the terrible Battle of Landen, wherein after much Bravery on the Confederates fide, the French obtained the Victory, and the Confederates were forced to leave behind them 60 Pieces of Cannon and 9 Mortars, befides 6,000 Men, who fell in the Battle, and in the Retreat; for a fmall River that lay behind them, whofe oppofite Bank was fteep, expofed them to a double Danger, of Drowning and the Enemies Fire. The Enemy did not acknowledge the Lofs of above 2,000 Men, but for their Honour they ought to have confeffed more, fince if their Lofs was not greater, they were ftupid to lie ftill for 15 Days together, and give the Confederates leave to recruit, which by the Junction of a Body of fresh Troops under the Duke of Wirtemberg, who had forced the French Lines in Flanders, and lay levying Contributious in the Enemies Country at the time this Battle was fought, the Army was so restored as to be able to make Head against the French all the Summer, but were not however itrong enough to raife the Siege of Charleroy, which the French fat down before on the 10th of September, and after a Siege of 23 Days took it by Capitulation. In Savoy, a Battle was fought at Marfiglia, wherein after an obitinate Combat the French got the Victory. In England, the Lord Capel, Sir Cyril Wyche, and William Duncomb, Efq; were appointed Lords Juftices in Ireland, and fet out the 10.h of July on their Journey thither. The Lord Sidney being recalled, who at his Return was made Mafter of the Ordnance. That Lord had acquired fome Ill-will in Ireland by infifting too pofitively on the King's Power of prefenting Draughts of Bills to the Parliament, whereby the Parliament's Power would be reduced to a Negative Vexe only; but they infifted on their Right of forming the Draughts, and have fince enjoyed it unconte ftably. The Earl of Bellamont and Sir James Hamilton exhibited Complaints to the Queen against the Lord Coning by and Sir Charles Perter late Juftices in Ireland, which were referred to the Privy Council, but the Accufers declining to appear the Matter fell. On the 30th of October the King arrived at London from Holland, and on the 6th of November appointed Mr. Ruffel to refume his Place of Admiral of the Fleet. November 7. The Parliament alfembled: To whom the King recommended an Increase of our Forces by Sea and Land, which the Confederates had already refolved on. The Houfe of Commons voted, That they would support their Majefties and their Governmen". And chearfully agreed with his Majefty's Propofal of Augmentation; for on the 25th of November they voted that Two Millions fhould be the Throne; and therefore the next A. D. Day voted, that whoever advised 1693. the King not to give the Royal Af-t fent to that Act, was an Enemy to their Majefties and the Kingdom. And by the Expoftulatory Reprefentation concerning the ancient Ufage in paffing Acts, alledged, there were few Inftances in former Reigns, where the Royal Affent had been refused to fuch Bills as both Houses pafs'd, and where that Affent had been with held by private Infinuations, without Advice of the PrivyCouncil, it had been attended with great Inconveniencies. railed for the Service of the Navy for the Year 1694, befides 500,000l. for paying Arrears of Wages to Seamen. They voted alfo, that the Army for the Service of the Year 1694 fhould confift of 83,122 Men, and that 2,530,5827. be raised for maintaining them; which was raifed by a Land Tax of 4 s. in the Pound; by a Lottery of one Million; and by erecting the Bank one Million and two hundred thoufand Pounds; by Annuities; by a quarterly Poll; by a Stamp Duty; and by Licenfing Hackney Coaches: Which produced the Sums they were given for; but by Expences, Difcounts, Lofs on Guineas, &c. a Deficiency arofe of 177,5301 The Houfe took into Confideraion the Disappointment at Sea, and voted November 17th, that there had been treacherous Mifmanagement in the Miscarriage of the Turkey Fleet. They blamed the Grand Fleet for not accompanying Sir George Rook; and when it was alledged that they were not fufficiently Victualled, after Examination into that, it was voted, That there was fufficient on board the main Fleet to have convoyed the Merchant Ships out of Danger. And afterwards, on December 6, it was voted, That the Admirals, by not fending into Brest for Intelligence, before they left the Streights Squadron, were guilty of a high Breach of Truft, to the great Lols and Difhonour of the Nation. On the 25th of January the King came to the Houfe, and paffed the A&t for the Land Tax, but refufed a Bill for free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, which, as we told you laft Year, ftopt in the Houfe of Lords; but now having paffed both Houses, the Commons refented much that it was topt at An Act paffed this Seffion for paying the Debts due to the Orphans of London. The East India Company having obtained a new Charter from the King, Petitions were prefented to the Commons against it; this put the House upon examining into that Matter, which it feems appeared fo difagreeable, that on January the 19th they voted, that all the Subjects of England have equal Right to trade to the EastIndies, till prohibited by Act of Parliament. The Earl of Bellamont prefented Articles to the House against the Lord Coningsby, and Sir Charles Porter, but upon Examination and Confideration of the Circumftances of Affairs in Ireland, they were dif miffed. The Parliament having gone through all the publick Bufinefs be fore them, the King came to the House on the 25th of April, and paffed the Acts that were ready. And having made a Speech, the Parliament was prorogued. In November this Year, Captain Bembow, with a Squadron of Men of War, and new invented BombVeffels, fail'd to St. Malo, and bombarded it four Days fucceffively, but with no great Effect. On A. D. On the 24th of November, Dr. 1694. Sanderoft, the depriv'd Archbishop of Canterbury, departed this Life. On the 31st of December, Prince Lewis of Baden arrived in England. was lodged in Whitehall, and entertained by the King and Nobility with great Honour till his Return on February 14. And now again the Turkey Fleet fuffered a Misfortune. Sir Francis Wheeler, with a good Squadron of Men of War, was their Convoy, which fecured them from the Enemy, but the Elements could not be contended with, for on the 17th of February a terrible Storm overtook them in the Mouth of the Streights, foon after they failed from Gibraltar, for the Levant, which continued two Days fucceffively, and made miferable Destruction in the Fleet. Sir Francis's own Ship foundered, and he and all his Men were loft; four of the Turkey Ships, one for Leghorn, and one for Venice, were all driven afhoar, and the Men loft, together with three Dutch Ships richly laden, who had the fame Fate. The reft made a Shift to get into Ports, but in very bad Condition. On the 25th of April, the King conferred the Title of Duke upon the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Marquis of Carmarthen, by the Style of Duke of Leeds, and the Earl of Devonshire; the Title of Marquis on the Earl of Mulgrave, by the Style of Marquis of Normandy. And foon after the Lord Sidney was made Earl of Rumney, and Henry Herbert, Efq; Baron Herbert of Cherbury. The Lord Falkland (against whom a Complaint was made in Parliament about a Bounty received from the Crown,) Mr. Killigrew, and Sir Ralph Delaval, were turned out of. the Commiffion of the Admiralty; and Admiral Ruffel and Sir John Houblon, put in their Places. A new In the Month of June "this Year, This Summer proved a Time of Action at Sea; the main French Fleet indeed escaped us, but the Alarm we gave their Ceafts, and the Damage we did their Towns, was a Matter of great Trouble to the Enemy. The English Fleet being joined by the Dutch, were early at Sea, and ftood over for the French Coaft, with Intention to block up the French Fleet in Breft, but could not effect that, nor bring them to Battle, for the French avoided En gagement, and made the best of their Way for the Streights. The Admiral therefore fent out Detachments; one under Captain Pic kard put into Berthaume Bay, and burnt or funk 35 Merchant Ships, Another under Lieutenant General Talmash for the Land Service, and the Lord Berkley as Sea Commander made an Attempt upon Breft. On the 5th of June they failed from the Fleet, and on the 7th anchored in Camaret Bay. So many Ships as were neceffary drew in near the Shore, and General Talmah with the Well-boats of 900 Men, landed, but made nothing of it; the Marquifs of Carmarthen brought the Boats off after the Lofs of many Men, but General Talmah loft his Life in the Attempt. But the Lord Berkley had better Succefs at Dieppe, whither he fail'd, and threw in 1000 Bombs, which fet the Town on Fire in feveral Places, and frighted the People fo entirely, that if he had been fenfible of it, the Town had been taken. From thence they went to Havre de Grace, where Bembow threw in at least 300 Bombs more, and did confiderable Damage; but the Weather proving bad, he was forced to draw off. And then the whole Fleet failed to Cadiz, where they lay all the Summer, and protected Spain, which the French had Intention to have used roughly this Campaign. The Prince and Bishop of Liege dying this Summer, the French endeavoured to get the Cardinal de Bouillon elected, but could not effect it, for by the Intereft of the Confederates, Prince Clement of Bavaria, already Elector of Cologne by the fame Intereft, obtained to be elected along with the Great Mafter of the Teutonick Order; who alfo had fuch a Number of Votes as to claim the Election; but he foon after dying, the Archbishop of Cologne's Election was confirmed by the Pope. In Flanders, the Confederates had this Campaign a gallant Army, and were fo far fuperior to the Enemy, that befides putting them to their Shifts all the Year to defend their Country, they were able to take the Town and Caftle of Huy, and keep the French at a Distance in Defence of their own Country. In Catalonia the French had great Success this Campaign, they took Palamos, Gironne, and Oftalrick, and would have befieged Barcelona, if the Neighbourhood of our Fleet had not prevented. Admiral Ruffel was now able to contend the Dominion of the Mediterranean Sea, and forced the French to hide themfelves in Thoulon all the reft of the Time of the War. Nothing happen'd very confiderable this Campaign either in Piedmont or in Germany. And fo we will difmifs the Story of Foreign Affairs. The King returned to England on the 9th of November, and met his Parliament on the 12th. His Majefty in his Speech mentioned the good Succefs at Sea, and the happy Profpect at Land; advifed effectual Provifion for the War, and recommended a Law for encouraging Seamen. The Houfes adjourned to the 19th, and being reaffembled, the firft Thing the Commons went about was the Bill for frequent calling and meeting of Parliaments: A Law which they, having been twice difappointed in, were become the more earnest for now. The Tenor of that Bill was, that the Parliament should affemble and be allowed to fit and do Bufinefs every Year, and that no Parliament fhould last above three Years, but be re-chofen at the End of that Term. This Bill foon paffed both Houfes, and received the Royal Affent on the 14th of December. On which Day the King alfo paffed an Act for continuing the Tonnage and Poundage for five Years, which was made a Fund of Credit for 1,250,000 for the Service A. D. 1694. |