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him he had great News, viz. Cheatteau Ranard with 30 Men of War, and 22 Galleons, was arrived at Vigo. This Gentleman was fent by the Imperial Minifters at Lisbon, with Letters to the Prince of Hefe Darmstadt and Mr. Methuen, both which Gentlemen were on Board the Fleet, but were before this failed for Lisbon. Mr. Beavoir concealed this, leaft the Gentleman hould have declined going with im, fo he got on Board, and haring imparted the News to the Capain of the Pembroke, and the rest of he Captains that were there, it vas refolved that the Admiral be nformed of it. Accordingly Capain Hardy in the Pembroke fet out find the Fleet, which on the 6th f October he came up with, and ent on board the Admiral to give im the News. Sir George Rook as very well pleased, and fent it amediately to the Dutch Admiral, eclaring it was his Opinion that hey should all fet Sail for Vigo. ind a Council of War being called, was agreed that his Advice fhould followed. Accordingly the Fleet ent their Courfe that way, and dvice being brought that Sir CloudShovel lay off Cape Finisterre, Meffage was fent to him to join e Fleet at Vigo. On the 11th ey came to an Anchor before the 'lace, and on the 12th, pursuant the Refolutions taken the Night efore in a Council of War, the uke of Ormond with 2,500 Men

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The French Admiral had in the ean Time taken Care to draw the ips as high up the River as poffie, whereby the Access to them as ftopt by Forts on the Shore, and trong Boom laid across the River. was neceflary for the Forces to arch over craggy Mountains, bere they could come to attack efe Forts, and a Body of 8,000

Spaniards appeared to oppofe them. But thefe fkirmished but faintly, and retired as ours came up; wherefore the Grenadiers advanced, and took a Platform with 38 Pieces of Cannon, which being made ufe of by the Regiments that feconded them, the Tower which the Enemies pretended to defend, was foon taken. The Fleet at the fame time attacked the Boom, which by the Weight of divers Men of War running against it at once, they

broke, and then encountred the French Fleet. The Fire was thick on all Hands, for the Land Forces on Shore, in making themselves Mafters of the feveral Platforms; and the Men of War in the River engaging the French, which were all large Ships; made it a terrible Action for fome time. At last the Confederates prevail'd, and the French Admiral faw his Affairs fo desperate, that he fet Fire to his own Ship, and ordered the Captains under his Command to do the like. Eight French Men of War were burnt, 4 French and 3 Spanish Men of War funk, 6 French Men of War taken, 9 Spani Galleons taken, and 4 funk. And all this glorious Victory was gained with little Lofs on the Confederate Side; no Ship was loft, and except on board the Torbay (who lay on board the French Admiral a great while) and the Vice Admiral of the Dutch, but few Men were killed, and but 5 of the English Ships befides the Torbay received any Damage. the Landmen, 2 Lieutenants and 40 Soldiers were flain; and 3 Colonels, another Officer, and 30 Soldiers wounded: 400 French were taken Prifoners, and a Booty gained which was of inconceivable Value, for this Spanish Flota was acknowledged to be the richest that had come to Europe for many Years Ff3

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paft;

A. D.. 1702.

1702.

A. D. paft; and altho' 14 Millions of Pieces of Eight had been carried afhore it was computed that 6 Millions more remained on Board, befides a vast quantity of rich Goods, when our Fleet attacked them.

It was again propofed by the Duke of Ormond to winter in Spain, to which purpofe his Grace offered to take the Town of Vigo, where they might lie in fafety all the Winter, if a competent Number of Shipping were left with them. But the Admiral declaring that he could not leave above 5 or 6 Frigates, nor afford the Army above two Months Provifion, that Defign was laid afide, and the Duke of Ormend led the Forces on Board, and on the 19th fet Sail with Sir George Rook and Vice-Admiral Hepon, and 10 more Men of War, for England, where they arrived the 7th of November. The reft of the Fleet remained behind to conduct home the Prizes, one whereof a rich Galleon was loft by running upon a Rock., It must be remembred that Captain Hardy, who brought Sir George Rock the firft News of the Galleons being in Vigo, was fent Exprefs with the Lord Shanon, and brought the first News of the Victory to the Queen, who made him a Prefent of 1,000 Guineas, and conferred upon him the Honour of Knighthood.

And now having informed our Reader of all Foreign Tranfations, wherein England was concerned, we return home to fpeak of the Proceedings in Parliament. On the 20th of October the Parliament affembled, and the Commons being come up to the Houfe of Lords, the Lord Keeper declared it was her Majefty's Pleasure that they proceed to the Choice of a Speaker; being therefore returned to their Houle they elected Robert Harley, Efq; to that Office, who being prefented the next Day, her Majefly made a

Speech to both Houses, wherein he afked their Affillance in carrying on the War, and defired the Commcas to provide proper Supplies, decaring that thofe given lait Year had proved deficient, altho' her Majetty had given in the Hundred Thoufand Pounds fhe promifed, to make them up; fhe took Notice of the Affection and Refpect she had seen in her Subjects during her late Progrefs, defired the Houfe to infpect the Publick Accounts, and decla.ed her Concern at the difappointment at Cadiz. And concluded with he preflions of her Affections to the Church of England.

Both Houfes addreffed her Mas fty in moft Loyal and Af Clone Terms, to thank her for this Gracious Speech, and to congratulat her Majefty upon the Success of ret Arms under the Conduct of the Duske of Marlborough, who, faid the Commons, has fignally retrieved the ancient Honour and Glory of the Erglih Nation.

This Expreffion gave Offence, as making a Reflection upon Kig William, and therefore the Word maintained was propos'd instead of retrieved in the Houfe, but refund by a vaft Majority.

On the 30th of October the Conmons refolved, that 40,000 Seamet be the Complement for the Servicest the next Year. And that 129,314be raised for the Ordinary of Navy. And on the 6th of Nery ber voted, that 50,000 Men bere Proportion of Land Forces to s Conjunction with the Allies the ra Year in the War againft Fran: And at the fame time they vend 350,000 7. for Guards and Garr including 6,000 Landmen to Board the Fleet, and 70.973 the Ordnance for Land Servier Three Days after the locte ved, That 833,826 1. be granted the Land Forces, and 51,843

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the Queen's Proportion of Subfidies to the Allies. And afterwards, nuary the 5th, they voted an Aug. mentation of 10,000 Foreigners to be hired for the Service of the next Year. In all 3,994,136 Z.

November the 12th being by her Majefty appointed a Day of Thankfgiving to Almighty God for the great Succefs this Year, Her Maefty paid her Devotions at the Cahedral Church of St. Paul, Lontan, being attended by both Houfes of Parliament, all the Officers of State and the Foreign Minifters, nd waited upon by the Lord-Mayr of London, who in a Crimson Velvet Gown received her Majefty t Temple Bar, and having prefented he City Sword, received it back, and arried it before her, the Aldermen nd Sheriffs accompanying the Mayr, and all the Liveries placed in talls on each fide the Street, togeher with the feveral Regiments of 'rained-Bands, made a Lane all the way. The Service was performed ith moft exquifite Mufick by the wo Choirs of the Queen's Chael and St. Paul's. The Sermon was reached by the Bishop of Exeter, nd the whole performed with great der and Devotion.

About this Time the Prize from igo came home, Sir Cloudfley Shovel ook 110 Brafs Guns at Vigo out of he Batteries and Ships, burnt what hips were run afhore, and could ot be got off, and then fet Sail for Ingland, where he arrived the 25th f October with part of the Fleet, nd a Week after the reft with the 'rizes, except the Galleon loft at ea, as we have faid, were brought n by Sir Stafford Fairborn. Both Houfes of Parliament gave their Thanks to the Duke of Ormond and Sir George Rook. As they did alfo to he Earl of Marlborough, who return. ed from his Campaign foon after.

This Seffion lafted long, by reafon of the Variety of Bufinefs that came before them, and the long Debates upon Occafion of the Ditferences between the two Houfes upon the Subje&t of the Occafional Conformity Bill, and fome other Points.

To omit the lefs momentous, fuch as the Cenfure paffed in the Houfe of Commons against the Bifhop of Worcester for having concerned himself in Sir John Packington's Election; the Enquiry into the Bufinefs of Cadiz by the Lords, wherein Sir George Rook was honourably acquitted; the Cenfuring of De Foe's Pamphlet called, The Shortest way with the Diffenters, and other Things. The Bufinefs tranfacted this Seffion were, 1. A Provifion for raifing the Money granted to her Majefty. 2. Eftablishing a Revenue upon Prince George. 3. Making divers wholfome Laws. 4. Debating upon a Bill against Occafional Conformity. And 5. Infpecting the Reports of Commiffioners for ftating the Publick Accounts.

1. The Ways and Means for raifing a Supply were, A Land-Tax of 4 s. in the Pound. Duty upon Malt. &c. Duty on Coals. ities at 15 Years Purchafe, for 89 Years. And a Subfidy.

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2. Her Majefty having intimated to the Houfes, that there was but flender Provifion for the Prince of Denmark, in cafe fhe happened to die before him, and being withheld herfelf by the Act for fettling her Revenue, from making any Settlement upon him. recommended it to their Confideration, which the Houfe unanimoufly acquiefced in, and accordingly on the ift of December they voted, that 100,000 1. per Annum be fettled upon his Royal Highnefs, in cafe he furvive her Majefty. Which was duly enacted. Ff4 3. Ine

A. D. 1702.

A. D.

3. The Publick Bills enacted this 1702. Seffion, befides what have been already mentioned, were 24 in Number. Among which the most confiderable were, an Act for continuing the Commiffioners for ftating the Debt due to the Army. An Act for advancing the Sale of the forfeited Eftates in Ireland. An Act for enlarging the Time for taking the Abjuration. An At for Commiffioners to fate the Publick Accounts. An At for finishing St. Paul's Cathedral. An Act for making the River Cham Navigable. An Act against Felons,

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4. The Laws having provided that no Perfon fhould hold any Of fice or Employment in Corporations, as well as in the State, without teftifying themselves to be of the Church of England, by receiving the Sacrament according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, it had been a Cuftom feveral Years pat, for Diffenters to come for once to Church, and take the Sacrament, if it were neceffary to qualify them for holding an Office; but as this feemed to be a Prevarication with God and Religion, it was a Practice which gave great Offence, and was condemned by fuch Diffenters themfelves, as were confcientious and pi

ous.

It was therefore thought reafonable that a Law might pass to prevent this evil Custom. Accordingly a Bill was brought into the Houfe of Commons, to prevent Occafional Conformity. The Purport whereof was, That any Perfon, having an Office or Imployment, afterwards reforting to Conventicles or Religious Meetings in other Manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England, fhall forfeit the Sum of 500 and five Pounds for every Day that fuch Perfon fhall continue in fuch Office or Employment, after having been prefent at fuch

Conventicle. And shall be dik. bled from holding fuch Office, or receiving any Benefit thereby. And fhall afterwards for ever be incapa ble of holding any Office in Eng. land till he fhall have conftantly con formed to the Church of England without being prefent at any Con venticle for one whole Year, ard fhall have taken the Sacrament thre times in that Year, whereof be fhall make Oath in publick Count And upon fecond Offence after fach Qualifications, he thall incur double Penalties, forfeit his Office, and be afterwards incapable of enjoying any Office till he hath conformed for three Years. This Bill patted the Houfe of Commons, and being fent up to the Lords, divers Amend ments were there made to it. The principal whereof were, viz.

That the Penalty fhould be incur red by being prefent at any religious Meeting, where the Queen and Princefs Sophia be not prayed for.

They altered the Penalty, redacing it to 20 . only, wherect one Third to the Queen, one Third to the Poor, and one Third to the Informer.

The Lords alfo left out the whee incapacitating Clauses which began And shall afterwards be for ever 18capacitated, &c.

And they added thefe, viz. Th no Perfon fhall fuffer by this A unless Information be given agai him in ten Days time, and he be profecuted within three Months af ter the Offence. That no Differter fhall be compellable to hold arr Office, for which he cannot be qualifyed without taking the Sacrane That this Act shall not extend to the University Churches for the publick Sermon or Lecture being preached without reading the Com mon Prayer, but that the ancient Ufage there may continue. That no Perfon fhall incur the Penaties

of this Act by going to the French or Dutch Churches eftablished here by Authority. That this A&t fhall not affect the Governors of any Hofpitals, or the Affiftants of Corporations, or Work houfes erected for relieving and employing the Poor. And that fuch Governors fhall be exempt from the Penalties of the Teft A&t.

Thefe Amendments and Additions made by the Lords were refused by the Commons; which produced Conferences and Free Conferences divers Times, but to no Purpofe; for both Sides adhering to their Opinions, the Bill was loft. The Arguments used by both Sides were afterwards printed by Order of the Houfe of Lords, to which we muft refer the Readers who defire more Particulars.

5. The Commiffiones for stating the Publick Accounts, having reported their Obfervations, it occafioned many fevere Votes of the Houfe of Commons against Charles Earl of Hallifax, who was at that time Auditor of the Exchequer. But the House of Lords took that Matter into Confideration, and examined all the Papers and Perfons concerned, and in an Addrefs to her Majetty, reprefented that Matter fo, as entirely to acquit that Lord of any Manner of Blame. This, as alfo their Examination of the Applications of all the Publick Moneys during the whole Reign of King William, having been printed, we must refer the Reader to that Account.

The Commons were difpleafed at the Lords Proceedings on the Publick Accounts, and refused to permit the Commiffioners to attend that Houfe, as defired. Which being likely to produce a new Controverfy, the Queen fent to the Houfe of Lords to dispatch what they had be

fore them, and two Days after they had delivered their Address, Feb. 27, her Majefty came to the Houfe, and having given the Royal Affent to the Bills, made a Speech, and then the Parliament was prorogued to the 22d of April.

Publick Events omitted in carrying on the Thread of Difcourfe upon the Parliament, were as follow:

On the 2d of December, her Majefty was pleased to create the Earl of Marlborough a Duke of this Kingdom, and to fettle a Penfion of 5000l. per Ann. upon him out of the Poft Office: Which fhe intimated to the Houfe of Commons, and wifh'd it might be perpetuated. But the House excufed themselves, and the Queen withdrew her Request.

The Queen having, pursuant to the Acts of Parliament in both Kingdoms, nominated Commiffioners to treat of an Union between England and Scotland, thofe Commif fioners met the 22d of October, and adjusted Preliminaries, and on the 14th of December being af fembled, her Majefty came to them, and made a Speech in these Words:

1

My Lords,

AM fo fully perfuaded, that an Union of the Tavo Kingdoms will prove the Happiness of both, and render this Ifland more formidable than it has been in Ages past, that I wish this Treaty may be brought to a good and Speedy Conclufion. I am come to know what Progress you have made in it; and 1 do affure you, nothing shall be wanting on my Part to bring it to Perfection.

The Scots made their Demands, and the English gave them an Answer, the Particulars whereof are too large

for

A. D. 1702.

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