1688. the Opportunity of acquainting the King of the extream Danger he was in; telling him, with that Good Ad Liberty which refults from a hearty and generous vice given Affection, that if the Meafures His Majefty bad bi King James therto follow'd were not speedily alter'd, it would be Chetwood. impoffible for him to pass another Christmas in Eng. Cherwood. land. The King was fo far from being offended

by Mr.

at it, that he encourag'd Mr. Chetwood to proceed by giving him his Word, that he would never call him to Account for any thing he should fay, and as a further Pledge, gave him his Royal Hand to kifs. Thereupon Mr. Chetwood difcours'd the Matter more at large, and, with Tears in his Eyes, laid before His Majefty the general Difcontents, which by his extended Converfation he had obferv'd among the Nobility, the Gentry and the Citizens; and because the King gave him to underftand, that he had a Fleet and an Army, of which he thought himself fecure, Mr. Chetwood told him, That the Fleet was not free from Murmurings; and as for the Army, that he ought not to depend upon it, there being scarce an Officer that was not either related to, or influenc'd by, a Nobleman, a Gentleman, or a Citizen, over and above the natural Tenderness which all Englishmen, in what Station foever, had for their Laws, Liberties and Religion. The King was mov'd by this Difcourfe, and refolving to call a Parliament, gave Orders to Sir William Villars, and Nine or Ten other Perfons that were then about him, immediately to go down and make Intereft in their Rendred Countries. Father Petre being inform'd of what neffectual had pafs'd in private with the King, declar'd that by Father Mr. Chetwood was a dangerous Perfon, and must

not be admitted to His Majefty's Prefence, and prevail'd with the King to alter his Refolution, which he forefaw would have ruin'd all the Projects of the Popish Cabal. The next Day Mr. Chetwood went to the King's Supper, little regarding the Confeffor's Anger, (of which he had already Notice given him by the Bifhop of Chefter) and was much furpriz'd to find fo fudden an Alteration in His Majefty, who turning to him, told

him, That those who would have him call a Parlia- 1688. ment at that time, either wish'd him ill, or did not. understand the State of his Affairs. Mr. Chetwood took the Hint, and prefently after retired to his Country Seat. Upon the Prince of Orange's landing,King James call'd to Mind the Advice and Prediction of Mr. Chetwood; who, by this time, being return'd to Court, to wait his Courfe before Her Royal Highness, His Majefty fent for him, and told him that he muft go down with him to Salisbury; when Mr. Chetwood came there, he found the Chappel at the Bishop's House poffefs'd by the Popish Chaplains. Upon which he made Applications to the King, and defir'd Leave to withdraw, as being refolv'd not to officiate any where but in the Chappel: After fome Difpute, the Papifts remov'd, and the Chappel was crowded Morning and Afternoon with Perfons of the beft Note; and when Mr. Chetwood appear'd in publick, he was attended with a numerous Train of Officers, and encourag'd by the Acclamations of the Soldiers, who vow'd they would ftand by him and the Church of England. The King being then fenfible of his wrong Measures, and how neceffary it was for him, at leaft to feign an Affection for the establish'd Religion, remov❜d Sir Jonathan Trelawny from the Bishoprick of Bristol to Exeter, and gave Briftol to Mr. Chetwood; who feeing the Times very unquiet, never firr'd afterwards in that Affair.

To return to the King. His Majefty having left The King London on Saturday, arriv'd at Salisbury on Monday comes to Night, and was complimented by fuch Officers of Salisbury, the Army as were moft devoted to him, who all Oct. 19. express'd their Abhorrence of the Defection of the Lord Cornbury, which nevertheless was approv'd by a great many. The next Day the King going to view part of his Army which quarter'd Eight Miles from Salisbury, his Nofe fell a-bleeding in fo violent a manner, that nothing could ftop it but the breathing one of his Veins, which hindred his Majefty from going the next Day to Warminster, the most advanc'd Poft of his Army. The fame

Day

1688. Day moft of the chief Officers, and even some of thole who difapprov'd the Lord Cornbury's Action, apply'd themfelves to the Earl of Feversham, defiring him to affure His Majefty, That upon any Occafion they would be ready to fpill the last Drop of their Blood in bis Service; but that they could not in Confcience fight against a Prince, who was come over with no other Defign than to procure the Calling of a free Parliament, for the Security of their Religion and Liberties. By this the King understood how little he was to depend upon his Army; and the Lord Feverfham, who firongly fufpected the Lord Churchill, earneftly conjur'd His Majefty to have him fecur'd: Which the King however would never confent to. The Earl's Sufpicions prov'd to be The Lord well grounded, for the next Day the Lord Chur. Churchill chill, who commanded a Brigade of about 5000 goes over to Men, went over to His Highness with as many the Prince, as were willing to follow him; amongst whom

were the Duke of Grafton, Colonel Barklai, and Four or Five Captains of his Regiment of Dragoons. This Defection extreamly furpriz'd the King, the Lord Churchill being a Perfon on whom he had beftow'd diftinguishing Favours, and whom he had rais'd to be a Lieutenant-General, a Captain of a Troop of Life-Guards, and a Gentleman of his Bed-Chamber. To aggravate his late Action, 'twas reported that he had laid a Defign, with Colonel Kirk, who commanded at Warminster, to carry off the King to the Prince of Orange, which was prevented by His Majefties bleeding at the Nofe. But this Report was altogether false; and as for his Lordship's going over to the Prince, his abandoning thofe great Advantages he enjoy'd under King James, and his firm Adherence ever fince to the true Intereft of England, are invincible Proofs, that he follow'd t nothing but the inviolable Di Churchill's &tates of his Confcience, and a neceffary Concern for Letter to Religion, (which no Man can oppose) and with which K. James. he was inftructed, nothing ought to come in Competi

+ Lord

tion. Thus King James being deferted by his 'beft Friends, and befides, falfly alarm'd, as if Duke Schamberg was marching with all speed to fight

him, he left Salisbury in great Precipitation, and 1688. on his way to Windfor had ftill the Mortification

25.

to fee himself forfaken at Andover by His Royal Prince Highness Prince George of Denmark, and by the George Duke of Ormond; the firft of whom wrote a Letter and the to His Majelty, wherein, with an Heart full of Grief, Duke of be told him what Prudence would not permit him to Ormond fay to his Face, viz. That whilft the restless Spirits leave the of the Enemies of the Reformed Religion, back'd King, Nov, by the cruel Zeal and prevailing Power of France, justly alarm'd and united all the Proteftant Princes of Christendom, and engag'd them in fo vaft an Expence for the Support of it; how could be act fo degenerous and mean a part as to refuse his Concurrence with i fuch worthy Endeavours, for the difabufing His Majefty, by the Re-inforcement of thofe Laws, and Reeftablishment of that Government, on which alone de pended the well-being of His Majesty, and of the Proteftant Religion in Europe? Before the King left Salisbury, feeing he could not leffen the Prince of Orange's Party by open Force, he had Recourfe to Mildness and Clemency, publishing a Pardon Nov. 22. to all those that had joined with His Highness, provided they would return to their Obedience within the space of Twenty Days.

*

In the mean Time the Prince of Orange's Association Troops encreas'd daily by the Defertion of the at Exeter. King's Forces; and whilft His Majefties Intereft was weaken'd by Difcord, his Highness's Party was ftrengthened by an Affociation, drawn up and figned by all the Lords and Gentlemen that join'd him at Exeter, "for the Defence of the Pro

teftant Religion, and for the Maintaining the "ancient Government, and the Laws and Li"berties of England, Scotland and Ireland: Where"by they did engage to Almighty God, to his "Highness the Prince of Orange, and to them

felves, to ftick firm to this Caufe, and to 66 one another in Defence thereof, and never to "depart from it, until their Religion, Laws and Liberties were fo far fecured to them, in a "Free Parliament, that they fhould be no more "in Danger of falling into Popery and Slave

66

Upon

1688.

leaves

Skirmish

Upon the News of King James being come to Salisbury, the Prince of Orange march'd out The Prince of Exeter with his Army, leaving only Sir John Guyer with his new-rais'd Regiment to Guard Exeter. that City; and his Van-guard advancing towards Sherburn, a Party of King James's Horfe that were coming into the Town, retreated back to Sarum. About the fame Time, there happen'd a Skirmish at Wincaunton between a Detachment of 70 Horfe, and 50 Dragoons and Grenadiers caunton, of the Royal Army, Commanded by Glifford, Nov. 20. Sarsfield and Webb, and 25 of the Prince of Orange's Men, Commanded by one Cambel, a Lieutenant in Mackay's Regiment. Notwithftanding the Inequality of Numbers, the latter fought with that undaunted Bravery, that they maintain'd their Ground for a confiderable while ; and when they were like to be over-power'd, a Mil that happen'd to come that Way, afarm'd the King's Party, telling them he had overtaken a ftrong Detachment of the Prince's Army, who were juft entring the Town; whereupon they retreated in great Confufion, leaving feveral of their Men kill'd, and Cornet Webb wounded. This fmall Action ftruck a Terror into the Minds of King James's Army, who were otherwife little inclin'd to fighting: And befides, it was every where magnified fo much above the real Truth, that it clearly fhew'd how much Men with'd the Profperity of the Prince's Arms. His Highness was foon after inform'd of His Majefties retiring to London, and the broken Remains of his Army to Reading; which being confirm'd by Prince George and the Duke of Ormond, who join'd him at Sherbourn-Caftle, His Highness march'd with all his Noble and Numerous Attendance into the City of Salisbury, where he was receiv'd with particular Demonftrations of Joy and Refpect. The Defection of the Army was not the only Several Misfortune that alarm'd the Court. The Dutch Countries. Fleet was got into Plimouth, which Town the Earl of Bath had beforehand fecur'd for the Prince of Orange, and caus'd his Declaration to be publickly

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