4 Fac. II.

This Petition was prefented to his Majefty 4.D.1688. on Wednesday the 17th of November, by the two Archbishops, and the Bishops of Ely and Rochefter: To whom he anfwered, That what they asked him, he himfelf moft paffionately defired; That therefore he promifed them, on the Faith of a King, that he would have a Parliament, and fuch a one as they asked for, as foon as ever the Pr. of Orange had quitted this Realm: But, in the mean time, it was not poffible the Parliament fhould be free, while an Enemy was in the Kingdom, and could make a Return of near a hundred Voices.

his Officers.

The fame Day the King fet out for Salif bury, having firft fent for the Duke of Grafton, the Lord Churchill, Colonel Trelawney, Colonel Kirk, and other Officers of the Army; to whom it is faid he delivered himfelf to this Purpofe; viz. According to the Lords Pe- The King's "tition, I have engaged my Royal Word to Speech to call a Free Parliament, as foon as ever the "Prince of Orange has quitted the Kingdom; "and am refolved to do all that lies in my Power to quiet the Minds of my People, by fecuring their Religion, Laws, and Li"berties. If you defire any thing more, I am ready to grant it. But if, after all this, any of you is not fatisfied, let him declare "himfelf: I am willing to grant Paffes to all "fuch as have a Mind to go over to the Prince of Orange, and fpare them the Shame "of deferting their lawful Sovereign." the fame time his Majefty recommended the Care of the City to the Lord Mayor; telling him, he left a fufficient Number of Troops for their Defence; That upon any Exigence Aaa 2

At

he

A.D.1688. he should apply himself to the Privy-Coun4Jac. II. cil; affuring him, that if he returned victorious, he would pun&ually perform what he had already promifed, for the Security of their Religion and Liberties.

The King goes to Salisbury.

He is de

the Duke

of Grafton,

Ormond,

and the

The King arriving at Salisbury the 19th, the next Day the principal Officers of the Army which was affembled in that Neighbourhood, 'tis faid, defired the General, che Earl of Feversham, to represent to his Majefty, That upon any Occafion they would be ready to fpill the last Drop of their Blood in his Service; yet 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.

Immediately after, the Duke of Grafton, ferred by the Lord Churchill, and feveral other Officers, deferted over to the Prince: Whereupon his L. Church Majefty finding there was no relying upon his bill, D. of Troops, after he had publifhed a Proclamation, promifing a Pardon to all his Subjects Prince of who had taken up Arms, if they would return Denmark. to their Duty, fet out for London; but was deferted alfo on the Way thither by the Prince of Denmark, and the Duke of Ormond; The King And when he arrived at Whitehall, he underftood that the Princess of Denmark left the Town the Night before.

returns to

London.

L. Church

ter.

The Lord Churchill, when he deferted the bill's Let- King, left a Letter behind him; wherein he tells his Majefty, That nothing could have induced him to abandon fo indulgent a Prince, but the inviolable Di&ates of his Confcience, and a Concern for his Religion; with which nothing ought to ftand in Competition.

The

The Prince of Denmark alfo fent a Letter A.D.1688. to his Majefty at his going off, to excufe his leaving him; and urges his Religion as the 4 Fac. II.

only Caufe; which, if it was not the moft The Prince justifiable, would not (he faid) be made the of Den moft fuperiour Pretence.

mark's

Letter.

The Princess of Denmark, in a Letter fhe The Prinleft for the Queen at her Departure from cefs's LetWhitehall, fays, The Prince did not leave the ter. King with any other Defign, than to use all poffible Means for his Prefervation; and that the followed him for no other End: She faw the general Falling off of the Nobility and Gentry, who avowed to have no other End than to prevail with the King to fecure their Religion, which they faw fo much in Danger by the violent Councils of Priests; who, to promote their own Religion, did not care to what Danger they expofed the King: She was fully perfuaded, that the Prince of Orange defigned the King's Safety; and hoped all things might be compofed by the Calling of a Parliament.

The Prince of Orange receiving Advice of The Prince of Orange the King's Return towards London, advanced advances to with his Army to Salisbury; into which City Salisbury. he made a magnificent Entry, attended by the Prince of Denmark, the Dukes of Ormond, Grafton, and a fine Appearance of English Nobility and Gentry. At the fame time the InfurrecKing was informed that the Earl of Danby tions in his had fecured the City and County of York for the Prince; the Duke of Norfolk, the City of Norwich; and other Noblemen and Gentlemen, Bristol, Chefter, Darby, Nottingham, &c. and, in short, that the whole Kingdom almoft

Favour.

was

for a Parliament.

He fends

to treat with the

4.D.1688. was in Arms for the Prince, while his own Troops deferted over to him every Day. 4 Fac. II. In this Diftrefs the King affembled the The King Lords about Town, and defired their Advice: iffues Writs Who propofed the Calling a Free Parliament, the Granting a Pardon to those who had joined the Prince of Orange, the Deputing fome Lords to treat with his Highnefs, and to difmifs all Papifts from Publick Employments; With which his Majefty in a great Measure complied; for on the 28th of November he declared in Council, That he would call a Free Parliament to meet on the 15th of January; and the Lord Chancellor was ordered to iffue out Writs accordingly: Sir Edward Hales, Lieutenant of the Tower, being a Papift, was difplaced, and fucceeded by Colonel Bevil Skelton; and the Marquis of Halifax, the Earl of Nottingham, and the Lord Godolphin, were fent to treat with the Prince; from whom they obtained feveral Propofitions, the Subftance whereof were, That a Parliament fhould be called; that no unqualified Perfon fhould be in Office; that the Tower of London fhould be put into the Hands of the City; that the Fleet and Strong Towns should be commanded by Proteftants; and that Part of the Publick Revenues fhould be affigned for the Payment of the Prince's Army; and that neither Army fhould come within twenty Miles of London during the Sitting of the Parliament; but that the King and Prince might be there, or at fome little Distance, with an equal Number of Guards: Which Terms, in the Circumftances the King was, were better, it feems, than he expected; and he had determined to comply with them: But the

Prince of
Orange.

The

Prince's Propofitions.

4 Fac. II.

them.

His Letter

Popish Party, dreading nothing fo much as 4.D.1688. the Meeting of a Parliament, where they were confcious they should be rendered incapable of ever having any Share in the Adminiftration again, and perhaps punished for their Attempts to fubvert the Government, and the Etablished Religion, prevailed on the King to leave the Nation, and endeavour to restore himself by the Power of France: Where- The King upon having fent away the Queen and Prince fends away in a dark Night to Gravefend, where they and Prince, the Queen embarked for France, he followed them him- and atfelf the next Night in Difguife, accompanied tempts to by Sir Edward Hales, Mr. Sheldon, and Mr. follow Lebadie: He left a Letter behind him for his General the Earl of Feversham; wherein he to the Earl fays, If he could have relied upon all his of FeverTroops, he should not have been driven to fham. that Extremity; and would at least have had one Blow for it: But though he knew there were many brave Men in his Army, both Officers and Soldiers, yet he and the other Generals had reprefented, it was no way advifable to venture himself at their Head, or thinking to fight the Prince of Orange with them: He thanked the General therefore, and all the Officers that had been true to him; and hoped they would ftill retain the fame Fidelity, though he could not expect they should expofe themfelves, by refifting a foreign Army, and a poifoned Nation; and cautioned them, not to enter into any Affociations against him.

liament

The King alfo had ordered all the Writs The Writs to be burnt that were iffued out for Calling a for a ParParliament; and a Caveat to be entered a- recalled. gainst making ufe of thofe that were out:

And