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THE

HISTORY

Of K I N G

W^ THIRn

I 1. ^ ^ ,rrra i r ■ . ' m r

In III. Parts.

"*«^

Vol. III.

ynum Hiftori^ OinSy miufqae Finis ^. Ucilius, qu^ ek V^ricate CbUigtttlr.

^^ • ^Mci^nus, deCttifirik. Miftori£.

Honeftt FaQis Veritas fuffidt. M». »^ fp/^ nd Tadf.

LQ N DC N:

PrJoted for A*t(fper^ at tbe fi/^cit-Bex in tlecifiree^ ; K Coggm^, in the Inner 'TemfU^L^m ; and f^, Afvwattb.el»«JfiQCar»Wi/,MDCCIlI» "

#»

•• .• •• f

mmm^m

i<— — ^— laifc— I— ^M^wJi ■ I

«

To the Right Honbtinble

Charles Montague^

Earl of

MANCHESTER.

My terJt

SHOULD I Write the liiftory of King WILLIAM in any other Coun- try but EMglanJ, I would not be Ibllkitous to prooue it a ProteAion ; For that HEROICK MONARCH has Efta- blUh'd his Fame on ib folid a Foundation,' as to need no other Prop to fu^port it felf abroad t But as*tis Amazing to think, that there ihould be a Set of Men amongft us* who malicioufly endeavour to darken the Memory of the GREAT DELIVERER oftfaelb Nations, and the Amercer of the Ixiboties of l^repe ; So this Melancholy ^Rftfledion, makes an Addrefs of ^is Na« furcflQQe^y» here.

272012

The dedication.

Now, My LotJ, this pan of King Wjt^ LlAM's Hiftocy does naturally claim the Patfooage of the Noble family ol Menta" gue I For the Great Things they have done for that Prince, and that Prince for them* have fuch an intimate Relation, that I could not omit either, wiriiout being inju' rious to both.

It is your Utuftrious Family, My Lmit that fupported his Jacc Majefty's Govern* menc againft the open AiliruUs, and fecrec Underminings of the Difafieifled ; and that WCM nearto^at » cad to that fatalDiSer- cace, which cbM* the MifearIiages^odle^ Reigns, had crept into the Nation, of a diftindt Intereft between KING and PEO- PLE; by advifing nothing either Dcroga* Cory xxi die jpfl ^er^gative d the one, or cncroaf hiag on thp Lawful Rights and Li- berties of the other-

But, My Ijtrdi w^ difei!^ fltte in this Addiefs, to yout LORDSHIP, IS, (hat beftdts che Praiiies you Me- rit aad «i0Qy, in Coiwnoa wuh your noble Relatioss, ^issl^ »x€ others njow {>«• cuJiKly due to yo\x LOftDSHtfi in whom bis'isEe Mi^jefty cepos'd the ^e9«eft Confidence, whei> be tcufled to yOMf Pi:H' dence and Ability, the Managemenc «fk*a Itiecreft in the raoH Politick Coutt ^JEV' rope i and that too in the mqft lQrit«e«l jundure of his wlwle Reign. Fori wi^onl it Sfoy be obfexv'd, Tbas cite firfl EmbaCTy King

The T)edicatiom

king WItLJAifitnt to France was an Eiit- baJj^ of Splcndor|tke SecondofGonmlimefKt hat yourSy My Lord^ was an Embafly of Bu^- fineu : And this Negotiation you carried oa with foeli indefatigable Watchfulness pro^ found Caution, admirable Addirefe, and becoming Dignity, as thereby to prpveoc the ill eftedts of the Partition-Treaty, and of the late King of Spain\ Will j and keep the formidable Power of France at a ftand, till the reft of Chriftendbm, and particularly our Allies, the t>utch, were in a Capacity to (top its Career.

And what does eminently diftinguilh your LO RD S Hi P's Embafly, is the moil convincing Inftance it gave the World, of that perfed Union and good Correfpondencc which his Majefty had fet- tled between England and Holland ; For it is remarkable. That the Dutch Ambaflador at Paris^ being, by Sicknefs, incapacitated to difcharge his Office, your LORDSHIP manag*d the Affairs %i the two Nations^ with^ual Applaufe |n both ; and to the entire Satisfaction of your Royal Mafter, Significantly expreft by his Naming your LORDSHIP one of his Principal Secreta- ries of State, immediately upon your Re« turn from France^

Thefe Services to your Frince and Com- trj. My Lord^ and thefe Marks of Fa- vour received from Him, have determine me to Addcefs this Part of his lace Maje-

fty'i

The 'Dedication,

fly's Hiftory to youc Loidfliip : la which however I may have fuoceeded, I ilnll think my feif extreamly happy, diat they have given me ah Occafion of being known to your Lordflup, and of Publiih- ing to the World with how much RefpeA ana V enetation I am.

Your LORDSHIP'S moil Obedient and molt Faithful

Humble Servantjl

•.I ;' •.

;> i C

THE

PREFACE

HEH.E is my third ^nd kfi Volume of King William'^ Hifiwy^ which! could not Publifi fooneTj iy reafm of the great Variety of Matters of taS it contains J and the Nicety of the Circwnftances that attend them ^ toth which have made me feel the freight and Difficulty of mjf Vndertaki^^ » ^^d abnojt detert^dmefirom furjuingit.

It fnufi he confeft that as tU Seven laR fears qf King WmiamV K^ign, are tie hifieS part of his Life; f$ they ate the mofi ProblematicaT: Jinean^ fucb as have afforded mofi Mttter of Contention between his Friends and his Btfmies. The memorable Siege ofii%^ tnuf ; the Clandefiine Treaty between France andSai^ V07 ; the Affafpnati^ Plot ; the Interviews between th9 EarlofVortmid and Al^i^^iir Bouffiers^ and' the 'Ne-^ gotiatians at Ryfwick ; Portlands EmbaJJ) to France^ and the Treaties of Partition^ are Paffages which be^ ffeak e^ery Bodfs Attention ; and which neverthelefs have been hitherto but imperfehly and confufedly related: On the other hand^ the Lancafl)irc plot ; the^ Trial of Sir John Fenwick ; the Hammer of ^c^ining the Mo^ i%eyi ihe Dssbanding the Army j the BreSi^g a New £aft-Ihdia Company ; the f^fun^tion of the Forfeited Ejiates in Irelapd ; t^e Impeachments and Profecution ^ fever at Lards i The Jkt^les between the Court and Coufitry-Parties i the difoarding t^e Old, and chufing 4 fiew MimRry^ with many other incidents^ areTranf-^ jaBions^ which as they did^ (andfiill do^ in feme mes^ure) divide the whole Nation^ fo thty cannot hut create 0 gr^af deaf ef mMt ie 4fyithfi(l ^^orian 5 wi$ mites

The PREFACE.

^ifon the ffot , and is funounJed fy tbofc thai bavif been the Principal ABors in fho/e Proceedings. I ne^J itot tet the l(^ader that I have us'd ail the Preeautians imaginable not IQ O&nd, wbilft I endeavenr to In^ ftn^ : For hovf I have manned Ms arduous Affair ^mufi be left to his candid Deqifipn,

Some of my Friends would have ferhaded me to animadvert upon a Book^ ^^Itled^ The ^ife of mSiam III. late King of England, and Pnnce of Orange^ which, indeed, is but an undigefted Abric^. mem of my twofirft Volwnes^ with feme whole Pam- phlets relating to the Disbanding of the Army ; the Soits Settlement at Darien \^nd other luterpolations; tfthat feature, ill tackM together, to m^k.e up the Volume. 9ut I think^ it unnecejfarj to tak^ any fwr^ iher lioticeof it : For true Judges will eafifyfind the Difference, between that Hiftory a^ mine j and as for fuch as will fujjir themfelves to be imposed upon^ J^on^ tent fnyfeiftOfcU them, what a firewd l^upcio from, the Pope, at Paris, was repeating to Crowds rflgnarane People, that kneefd andvap'dfor his SenediBion : QJd I

vnir pECipfbEciPUTUR.

ADDENDA

To the Secpnd Vohmt.

ONthejothofif^ri/, 1*94: The King create^ the Marquis of Qamkrthen^ Dukc oF teeds\ The Earl of Bedford was made Majfquis of Tavi- fiocK* an^ ^'^^ diBedfQrd\ The Earl of Dw^w^/^'V*, Marquis tAHartingtoin^ and Duke ot Dev^finre'. The Earl of Clare, Marquis of Cla^e, and DuK:eo|N«ij- taflle^ and the Lord Vifcouni: Newort^ taxl 01 Srad- ford, ' M

At tbc 4me TmtCbitries MmtagHt, ff<li oacoV Ant eommiffioncfs of the Treafivy was im^ Cb^' fellor and \tad«t-Tttafiircr of the J&»e^«^««r,

" /

1

imm

THE

REIGN

OF

King WILLIAM

The THIRD.

•

THE Death of Qjjem Mary oeafion'd an A. C univcrfal Sorrow, buc aflpeded King U^U i6af. Ham in a more particular manner. His yyy^^ Majefty, of a firm unfliaken Heroe, became ^^a, tf now a tender, loving Husband, who melted into Q^gin Ma* Tears, and abandonVl himfelf to all the Tran(p ^rcs ty*/ Oi«iii^ and Weaknefles of an inconfblable AfHi£lion. And indeed, his Lofi leem*d to jufiinr his Griei, fince he not only muft henceforward fuftain alone the Weight of Affairs, but remain more expos'd to ;the Contradidion and Attempts ofhis Enemies at hofaie; againft which he was partly fecur'd, by the AfFcctioa wnich even a ereat many of the Malecontents bore to that Princels; both upon account, of her creac Virtues, and as being a Nativf^ and Daughfew to King James. However, af this fatal Accidenc did con(i^ derably heighten the Boldnefs, and raiie the Hopes of the PlHwefted, io did it wonderfully unite the '' Bbb • Hearts

^

2 , The Reign of King

A. C. Hearts and Minds of all thofe, that had concurr'd in

1695;. the prefent Secclemenc ; who apprehending the Re-

^^f%^(encmenc oFche Abdicated Monarch, refol^d to vca^

ture their All to prevent his Reftoration. ThePrincefs Next to King fPiUiamj the Death of the Qpeen Anne </ wasmoft feelingly lamented by her Royal Sifter, I>enintrk*5clie Princc(s Anne of Dcnmnrkj, who upon this (ad oc- jiffliBtm. cafion, forgot the ftvere Ufiige that had obliged her to leave the Court, and to live in anobfcure Retire- ment, more like a private Perfon in Difgrace, than the Heir apparent to the Ctown. Her Royal H5gh- nefs's RJtentment being quite drown'd in ner Grief, If Lettir^^ wrote a Letter to the King, "Wherein fhe rdvir, Wil-'* '^Sg'd his Majefty's favourable Acceptance of her *'* fincere and hearty Sorrow, for his great Afflifti- ^ on, in the Lois of the Queen ; and did afliire his '* Majefty, fhe was as fenfibly troubled with this ** Misfortune, as if fhe had never been fb unhappy ** as to fall under her Dilpleaftre. Her .Higbnefi ** did likewilc carneftly dcfire his Majefty to give •* her leave to wait upon Him, as loon as it could be, ^' with no Inconveniency to Hiril, and without dan- "ger of encreafing his Affliftion, that fhe might " have an opportunity her fcif, not only of repeat- ** ing this, but alluring his Majefty, of her real In- •* tendon, to omit no occafion of giving him con- •* ftant Proofs of her fincere Refpe£k, and Concern •* for his Perfbnal Intereft. This generous Conde- fcention in her Royal Highnefi was extrcamly well received by the King ; and his Grace, the new Arch- bifliop of Canterbury, laying hold on this favourable Opportunity to reconcile the Royal Family, repre^ fcrited to his Majefty both her Royal Highnefi's, and her Royal Confort, Prince George of Denmarl^s Prudent and Loyal Conduft, during their Recels from Court ; Urging, that, by their Intereft, they might have given his Majefty ^confiderable Diftur- bance, but that they were fo far from any (iich De- jQgn, That thofe Members of either Houfe of Par- liaixient, who had Places under their HighnefTes, had always appeared foremofl in promoting his Ma<* Jefty*s Intereli. Thefe Reaibns, together with th6 Princefi's Letter work'd fo powerfidly on the King,

that

WILLIAM /i&^ Thirl 3

that hi3 Majefty, as a Mark of his Favour and Affec- C. A Itipn^did immediately prefent her Royal Highne(s with 1 6^^. inoftofthelateQueea's Jewels J and hie Sorrow forv.*orv-/ the lofsof fo.good a Wife, was afterwards much allc- the Royal viated by the Reconcilement ot fo kind a Sifter. . family re*

The Qiicen having lain (bmetirae in State in her concii\d, Bed-Chamber ^tlVhifehalty her Funeral was per- ^^* %«/»*' formed. onthe fthday of Marcb^ withfuch Magni-f!''^ ficence, as cxprefi'd the great Affe6lion which this'y^*^^ Rich and Powerful Nation had for that Incompara-^ ble Princefs^ Not only her Majefty's Houlhold Servants, but all the Judges, Serjeants at Lam^ Lor4 ^ayor and Aldermen of the City of London^ and, which rais'd tjiat Mournful Pomp to the higheft Pitch of Splendor, both Houfes of Parliament at- tended the Royal Corps from Pi^tntehaU to fVeftmin* fier- Abbey J where the Arch-bifliop of Canterbury preachM a Funeral Oration, in Honour of her late Majefty's Blcfled and Piou« Memory.

The pafling the long- wifli'd-for Bill, /or the fre- ProceedingT guent Meeting of Parliaments^ before Queen Marfs l» Paha'^ Death ; and even before her being taken ill, was the ^^^: moft lucky Hit of King iVtlliamh Politicks, finoe thereby he difpell'd the Jealoufieswhidinot only his Enemies, but alfb many of his Friends began tio cmeriain of the prefent Parliament ; whereas had he jiot given his Afient to that A£t, till after the Queen's Death, People had not failed to lay that^ he hi4 been forc'd to it by the neceffity of his Affairs.

The Commons thus (atisfied, went unanimoufly about the Supply, and other important Affairs. Qa * the lath oi January it was ordcr'd. That a State aftke J^enue^ with the Loans^ Debts and Charges tbereufcn ; andlikewife an Account ^the Eftablijhmenty Charge and Bxfence <jf the Civil-Li fi^ Jhould be laid before the Houfe^ by the CommiJJioners of the Treafuryl and tJxfe for Taking and Stating thefublick^ Accounts. The fiid State ami Account havmg been communicat«d to the Commons, and by tbcm examin'd, T/^ Biil for Graming to his Majejly an Aid of four Shillings in tjje Pound was brought into form, and anotbe^r Bill tack'd to it. For applying the Tearly Sum of jcpop Pounds^ for fiwt Tutrj^ mt fifthn Duties arijmg, bj an Aci fif

' ■ ' ^ B a this

V

[

4 Thi^ Reign 0/ King

A-. C, this frefeni Stjjhn of Parliament^ tor Gr^ntmgto t^^ 169J. MajeftiesaSubfidy ofTunnage and Poundage, &c« K^Y^^ Theie two Bills, thus made into one, were read the third time, paft, and lent up to the Lords on the 7th o( February ; and by their Lordfliips fent hade without any Amendments, on the Eleventh of the \tBspMft faid Month. The fame. day the King went to the Fc}>. lUh.UppCT Hoiile, and gave his AlTentboth to that, and to two otjicr Afts, via^. One for Exempting Ajx)- thecaries from' ferving upon Juries^ and other Parijb and iVard'Offces ; and another,/0r S^^baktUng the Town ' of Wzrwtck^ 'and for detertninifig Differences touching Hdufes burnt or demolijh^dj iy ^afon of the late dread- ful Fire there. Accowt f Towards the beginning of this Sefiion of Parlia- tbeLtLn^*^^^ the Popijh Lancafhire Gentlemen, tnftead of Ihire BhtJ^^'^'^i^^^ Stars for their late Deliverance; and 'acknowledging the Lenity and Mercy of the pre- fent Government, endcavour'dto repreftnt the legal Profecution of Ibme of their Party, as a State-Trick, and the Contrivance of (bme Courtiers to enrich themlelves by the Ruin of others \ and (ubmittcd the whole Matter to the Examination of the Houfe of Commons. I (hall give a faithful and brief ac count of their Defign to fubvert the Govenunenr, and of the Proceedings againft them, and then leave my Reader to judge, what Reafen they had to rai/e ' (iich loud Claniours. tuntVD/« On the ijthofyi/wtf, 1694. or\t hunt made bis ffiim. Difcovcry, and depos'd before Sir John Trenchard^ Secretary of State, That he foUow^d the late Kjng James ' into France, and thence into Ireland ; That from Ire- land he xoasfent into England, with CommiJJions from his faidMajeJiy to certain Gentlemen in Lancafhire, Che- lhire,'OC. toraife War againft Kjng William and U^cn Mary ; TAtf/ he and^Georgt Wilfon his Guide^ delivered thofe- CommiJJions to whom they were direBed \ Wit £/ir Names he mentioned in his Narrative. That at the inftance and proper Cofts of thofe Gentlemen $o ^ Tohom he had delivered CommiJJions ^ he bought Arms, and

lifted andfubfifted many for the Service of the late Kjng Jaibes, in order to an Invafion and InfurreSion in that Country i That be was twice font by tbojfi Gentlemen ^to

- • France

#

^

#

f I

!

W Ittl AM theThir^ ^

I^rance fp the late Kl^g^ ^ofigmfy their jf{ea4ine/s, and f^^ Q^ y^eceive his further Commands ; and that when he was in • if q^ ^ Z^ondotiy befides his Employment of biding 4rmsj and lifiinz Soldiers^ he helfdfcme Jacobites over to France, sindjecur^d others who came from thence y who^ all of them ^ ^old him^ that generally 5iVjohn Friend^ fumijh*d Mo» 'neyfor thoje Expeditions^ and f aid Subjijience-Money to phem as Soldiers, This Eviclence was confirmed by the Teftimony of George Wilfon^ who guided an4 aC fitted Lunt in the delivery of King Jamesh Comtfrif. £on$, and by the Depohtions and j^davits of jevc- ralPerfons, Cfome at great diftance from, and ptter Strangers to one another^ all agreeing «in the^^noft material Circumftances! of the Lanea^ire Con- spiracy.

The Governiqent,, being fully inform'd of, the Plot, Warranrsf were iffued out to fcize thc'Con- fpirators, and tho'', for the greater (ecrecy, the Names pf the Offenders were not put into the War- rants at the Secretary's Office, by thofe that drevar the Warrants, but were afterwards put in by the 3ecrctaries thenifelves, yet by fome treacherous Correfpondence, the Lancajhire Gentlemen had No- tice given them of all Proceedings at London^ Thereupon they bjimt' their CommilCons, buried their Arrps, ana . other Warlike !^quipage, under Ground, and moft of them .fled from their tjabi- tations ; however, ihrp', the. extraordinary Care and Diligence of Captain Baker^ and others, em- ployed in that Service, fome of the Plotters were apprehended, and Arms enough found to convince the World, that there was a finifter Defign on Foot againft the Government. There was like- wife found in Mr. Standijh's Clofet, at; the (earch made at Standi/k-Hall^ on the,i6th of July 1694. the Draught of a Remonftrance or Declaration, , to be Printed and PubliQied atKing^^m^/s Landl- iflg, which according to Mr. Crosby^ Papers, and Mr. Ihbinfon's Depohtions, was to be attempted very Ipee^lily. \.

As inany of the Pejrfons accufed, as could t^e Apprehended, being brought up to London^ and ex- amined, were, foiqe of them, committed to the J B bbs Tower^

\

6 the Rel%n of King

A. C. Tjtp^, and others to Nervgate^ where they conti-

1595. nued about a Month. During this time, their

Vfi^^VN^ Friends and SolUcitors exerted all their Skill and

Diligence to take ofF the King's Evidence, both by

* This VMS* ottering theni large Sums of Money ; and, that

attefled by failing, by finding out Perfons^ who would repre-

hir. Ba- (ent the King's Witnefles under heinous Chara-

ker, Mr/, filers, that the Jury might give no Credit to their

Hcarft, I)epofitions. Many Pcrfbns were pradifed upon,

^^' V/*'*^^^ o^ whicih refus'd % bale an A6lion ; but o-

Brown ' — ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ Importunities, and Promifes of

0nd Mrs, ^^^&^ Rewards were prevail'd with to defame the

flliot. King's Evidences, both at Manchefier^ and in the

Parliament Houfe. But that which raifid the great

Clamour againft the Difcovery of the Plot, was the

gaining one Taffe^ (alias Thomas O Mullen) an I^Uh"

man^ to the other fide, which happened in this

manner.

In December 169 J. Lunt came out of France^ and being (as he afterwards pretended ) troubled Jn Conlcience^ for having engagM in the barbarous Defign of Aflaflinating the King, ^ he refblved to atone for that Crime, by discovering all he knew th it had been a6i:ed5 or was then Plotting againll His M^jefty. His coming ov^r was made known to Mr, Tnffcy a familiar Acquaintance of Lunt*% Wife, and who was reprefented to Lum as a Per- (ba that had done fbme confiderable Service to the Publick. To him Lunt's Wife had told, That her Husband was lately come out o( France'^ which made Taffe^, who pretended to be Zealous for the GovemmcOt, enquire how Matters flood at St* Qermains ? Adding, That if Lunt could Difcovef any thing that might be ferviceable to their Ma- je(ties, he would introduce hioi to a Perfbn that Would receive his Information, Lunt gives Credit * to Taffcy (hews his willingnefi to make a Difcove- ry, and thereupon Taffe brings him to the Earl of Bcllamont^ and vouches for his Honeftyt After his ^iOrdlhip had beard Lunt's Relation, he Command- ed him to wait" oty him ^ain [in two or three Days ; which Lunt^ obeying, and his Lordfhip be, ing (bu^ewbat ijidilpo^'d, fee (eftt Lunf With a Let-

WILLIAM thenirJ. 7

tcr to Sir John Trenchard. Taffe accompanied him A. C thitber, and Mx. Secretary^ hearing what Lmt had itf^j*. to difcover, firft lent hira into J^fwr, and after- wards commanded him to put his Depofitions in- to Writing, and bring them to him. Lunt per* formed it : Taffe heard all the Information read ; aggravated the Crimes, and appeared the moft for- ward of any to have th^ Perfons accufcd, brought to Juftice; and pretending to be ferviceable in knowing the Country and People there, he went down into Lancajhlre^ with Mr. Aaron Smithy aiid Mr. Ba^er^ and affifted the King's Meffengerg iH (earching at Standifh-Hally and other Places.

Tdffe mewed ah extraordinary Zeal in His Ma- jefty's Service, but might have been much more uftful than he was, in finding concealed Arms and Perfons, if he had made njore ufcofhis Head and lefi of his Fingers. The Managers of that Aftair and the King's Meflengers, quickly perceiving his pilfering Pradifts to be very injurious to the In- habitants, and no left (candalous to themfelves, were forced to have a$ watchtul an Eye upon him, as the Bufinefe they were employed m ; tho* not- #ithftanding all their Care, he committed fome egregious Felonies. Soon after he came to London^ he waited on the Lord BeHamonf, gave his Lord- (hip ah Account what Perfons and Arms I^ad beei> fcizcd, that (everal Gentlemen had made their e- Icapes, and that others abfconded to fccure thenS felves ; whereupon the Lord IlkHamonp asked Taffe : Ifthiswasthe Bufiuefs Lunt had diftovered? TaJ^' anlwercd it was, and that Ijunt was the main E- vidence of the Confpiracy ; was very well known at the rcfpe6Mye Places he had mention'd in his Depofitions, and had done greater Service at his being there, if the Lanca/hire Gentlemen had not receiv'd Notice from London of their coming, tea Days before they came' to Standifh-HaU. This Ac- count being given to the Lord BelUmont^ Taffe addreft himfelf to Mr. Aaron Smithy and Captain Bak^^ for^ the Reward of his Service j but finding himfelf flighted and reprimanded for his fcanda- low Behaviour j he grew* Angry, and rcfolved to

p 4 reyenge

8 ; The Rel^n of King

A* C iewrigt kimfelf upon the Government^ even to 1^95. the foiling of the Plot. The Friends, Relati- ons and SolIicMrs of the PrilcNiers were no feoner acquainted with his Defign, but the Bargain was ftruck, and his Terms agreed to ; Twenty Pounds IS paid him in Hand, with Afliirance, (as was a£* terwards Sworn in the Houle of Lords) of a good Annuity for Life, to be fettled in Lancajhire ; and leaft he fhould cool, he is immediately fent into the 0)untry to be their 0>unter-Evidence, when the Trials mould commence at Nfanchefter.

Having thus gained Tdffe^ and got from unwary Lunf the Names of the King's Witnefjes, and thp whole Matter of the Evidet^ce, the next Attempt for (hamming the whole Plot, was engaging Fer^ gnfm to write in Defence of the LdncMfhire Gen-^ tlemcn, and to a(perlc their Accufers ; and this Stratagem had fiich a notable EfFeft, that the Po- fijh Mob at Manchefierj animated by Reading F^r- gufon^s Paper, Cwhicn was almoft in every Hand in that Country) had refolved to prevent the Tri- ^s ot the Prilbners, by ftoning the King's Eviden- ces to Death ; but tho/e that knew they would be acquitted, prcvaiPd with the Mob to forbear the Execution of that inhumane Relolution till the Trials were end^d. And indeed no (boner was the TTrial over, and the Witncflfes leaving the Tov/n, but the Mob endeavoured to ftone them to Death ; and in iuch a violent and tumultous manner, that not only the Witnefles, but a Gen- tleman of Coun(el for the King, the King's Profe- cutor, and the King's Clerk in ^ the Crowp Office very narrowly efcaped with their Lives. Tfff Lan- The Trials began an Mambefier the 1 6th of Oflftf- cafliir* her 1694, where the King's Evidence proved, Gentlr.men That the Priforier^ 4^ the Bar had received Commifi j^v V at ji^^ from the late Jf^ng James, ta raife War againfl Manche- ^jjg prefent Governpient, and to that end had bough Iter. jirms^ lifted and fubfiSted Soldiers at their omt

Charge, &c 'Tis affirmed that Sir IV. TV. (tho* then one of the Councel for the King) endeavour- ed to baffle and confound the King's Wimeflcs, htj asking them feverat. frivolo^js C^eftions, byt

failing

\VlhhI AM the fhir J, ^

fidling in that^ he required Lunt to point at the A« G* fevem Piilbners by Name. In doing this, Lunt 169 i. happened to poinc.at a wrong Man, which mi- Vt^ysO ftafcc might h6 occafion'd hjr the Crowd. How- ever this I gratified the Popifh Mob, and railed a loud Laugh : But xheir Mirth continued not longi - for another of the Judges commanding Lunt to touch and name all the accufed Gentlemen with the Cryers Staff, he named them all right.

Wimeflcs were afterwards produced ror the Pri* loners, but nothing was alledg'd by them, that could invalid^e the King's Evidence, favingXij^'s Teftimony, who boldly declared: That there was no truth iu the fretended Plot, the whole being a villainous Contrivance between him/elf and Lunt j which (ingle Declaration, without any_ Oath, out- weighed the Teftimonies of^the Ten pofitive Wit^ nefles for the King ; and thereupon Sir ^ fV. the chief Manager o([ the TriaL refiifed any more of the King's Evidence to be heard, and thus ^^ ^^ the PrUbners were Acquitted, and the ScSion matted. ended.

Sir^ py. being returned to London, reprefent- ed the Plot as a wicked and horrible Contrivance, whereupon the Government, in Abhorrence oF iiich a Fa6t, immediately orderM the Wirneffcs to be profecuted for a Confpiracy againfl: the Lives ^ and Eftates of the Lancajhire and Chejhire Gentle- men. This^ ftrange Turn being given, many of the wifer fort of thow that were Friends to the ac- cu&d Gentlemen, and dreaded the Coniequence of a furdier inquiiy, advii^f}; them to fit down

auietly, and leave it to the IGfovemment to punifh tieir Accuiers, if they (aw fit '; but fome Lawyers over-ruled this Advice, and fo the Lancajhire and Chejhire Gentlemen brought * the Affair into the* Nov, aa, Houie of Commons. '^94- *

While this Bufineis was depending, (everal Wit* nclTes were procured againft the King^s Evidences 10 Parliament, by down-right Bribery, and bv telling them they were nmi to be put to their Oaths, and therefboe not being in Danger of Per* fUfy, t^ight £ifely and cotifidently tell dl the Sto*

m

10 The Reign of King

A. ^. rics that were dilated, to them. Indife(9:; means 1 695 . were alfo iifed to afpcrfe the £arl of Macclesfield^ at that time ^rd Lieutenant oi the County of Lancajhire^ who for being a profeft Friena to the Government, the §4cotites thoughtyOfConlcquence, yas their mortal Enemy:

The Houfe of Commons after feveral Hearings, RriSt Examinations, and long Debates, which con-< * tinned at the (everal appointed times, the fpace of Elcren Weeks \ Oh fVeJnefday the 6th of Februarj ; *' Proceeded farther in reading the Informations ** and Papers deliver^ into the Houfe by Mr. -44- *^ ton Smithy touching the late Koceedings and ** Trials in Lanc^ire and ihe/hire. Mr. ^ Lunt^s Information was read thro* ; as alC> Mr. •* pyHlfon's and Mr. ff'ombeU's Informations, and o- " ther Papers delivered into the Houfe by Mr. Aa- yotes •/ ** ron Smithy were likewife read : among which wttre t hi Houfe '^feveral printed Papers, Wncrcupon the Houfe ef Com^ «t ^^^ |.Q the following Relblutions ; F/r/?,That there ^eUU '"/• " ^^^ appear to the Houfe, That there wasfufficient /I/Lanct-*' ^^^^^^ f^^ ^^* Profecution and Trials of the Geiu fliirc riot. " ^i^^» ^^ Manchefter. And Secondly, That upon '''the Informations and Examinations before this •* Houfe, it did appear. That there was a dangerous ** Plot carried on againif the Kjng and Government. At the feme time the Commons ordered an k6k ck the pretended Parliament of Ireland^ held in the Year 1689. K^eo^ni:i(ing the late King James, and two Proclamations of the Abdicated Monafth, to be burnt by the Hands of the Common* Hang- man. BeCoes this, th|^ Honourable Aflembly, at ter an CVder frwi tne Houfe, that Mr. Standijh of Standi/h'Hall in Lanca/hire fliould be taken into Cuftody, and their Meileticer reporting, he was not to be found, . Addreft the King to Iffiie out his Royal Proclamation for his Apprchenfion.

This Di/appointment in the Houfe ofCoaunons was no fmm Morttficatioa to the 3ac»bitei^ J^}^ Hopes o( better Succefe, they lay their Compiaiat aUb before the Houfe of Peers, where after £x^ amifiipg 9m^ Witocflesi aad many Dcboce^ had,

W I LLl A U the third, ii

the Qjieftion being put, Whether the G&vemment had A. Ci fujScient Caufe to Profecute the Lancafliire and Che- \6^f;. ihire Gentlemen ? Ic was carried in the Affirmative. U^"^%| The accufcd Gentlemen had better Succefe at the next Lancajler AiCzes, (Auguft 169 f.) where they brought on Trials upon an Information of Perjifry agaiml Lunt^ TVotnball and Wilfon^ Three of thd King*s Witnefles, who were all found Guilty : and afterwards indited for a Conipiracy againft the Lives and Eftares of the Lancajhire Gentlemen. But the latter refufing to furnifh the King's Attorney and SoUicitor.General with Wirneffes to prove the pretended Perjuries, the Prcrfecutfon was let fall, and Lttwf, TVomball and IVtlfon dilcharged.

The Lancajhire Bufinefs had inade a great Nolle, /^•^^^^/"jpi but this Seflion of Parliament is principally re- '« ^^rliom roarkable for their ftri6l Inquiry into Bribery ; and^'^J*" the timely Check they gave to the (candalousandf^^T *'^* moft dangerous Corruption, which had lately '* tainted, not only the Agents ot the Army, and ftveral Members of the Houfe of Commons, but alfb the Sp — of that Aimft Affcmbly , and had crept into his Majcfty's rrivj.Council. In the Account of thefe corrupt Praftifts, the Reader will find mention made of the exorbitant SumsofTeUj^ nay, of Fifty Thoufand Pounds; tho' at the firft, the Payment of that petty Sum of Ten Pounds, or leis, had certainly prevented this Difcoveryj* ' the Rife whereof wa$ from the juft Complaint 01 fome Inhabitants at ^oyfton^ agamft Abufes of Of- ficers and Soldiers, in e^a6Hng Subfiftencc Money. This * coming by Petition before the Houfe of#j^ Commons, and the Petitiotiers, and aUb Mn Tra- ' '' cy Pauncefort^ Agent of Colonel Haftin^s\ Regi- ment, and the Officers complained of, being heard ^nd examin'd, it was unanimoufly f Refolved, Thatfj^^ j,^ the Officers and Soldiers of the Army Demanding and ExaSing Suhjijlence- Money in their Quarters^ or upon x

their March is Arbitrary and Illegal^ and a great Vio^ * iation of the lights and Liberties of the SubjeS ;^ y, and thereupon Ordered, 7hat the CommiJJtoners for^^' "*^ t^l^ing and fiating the Pnhlic\ Accomfti^ do lay ^tf-fort^Sv fore thf Houfe their Obfervationf of the Abufes and iUf. jaceaunt

: li 'Tfhc Ret^n of King .

Ji> C* PrdHifes conmined by the Agents of the Regiments of .;t69y. fhe Amyi j and that the f aid Agent Pauncefort [hould ]L^i\d forthwith lay before the Roufe a particular Accompt of * all the Moneys received by hjm from the Earl of

Ranelaugh, and the times offuch J^ceiftSyJince the iJSth of May lafi • and how he had Paid the fa;me^ and when^ and ta wbomj and what remai^e4 in his fiends. , /

, Puriiiant to this order, |^, Harley^ firom the Com- miiiioners for Taking and Stating the Publick Ac^ 0) Jan. compts, (a) prefentedto the Houie tbdr Obferva^ ^$fb* cions of the ill Praftices commicted by the Agents ; which, being taken into . Confideration, and Mr. (h) Jtm. Tr4C7Jp4ii»cir/(?r^ upon bringing in his Account, (^J $ptk» .. .examin'd, as alio Colonel Haftings, Major Monteaf, 1 and Ibme other Officers and Agents; it wasre-

. (blv'd by the Houfe, IChat Agent Tracy Paunce-^ W fort,/<?r negleBing to pay the Subfijience-Money to the

f)0icers4nd Soldiers that Quartered at Royfton^ having Moneys in his Hands to do the fame ^ be tal^en into the I Cujiody of the Serjeant at Arms, attending the Houfe^

About a Fortnight after Mr. Tracy Pauncefort was (#) F«b. again YO cxaminy, and refufing to Anfwer to ft- %ttk yergl Qiieftions, tho* requir'd upon pain of being Proceeded againft with the utmoft Rigour and Se-. verity, it was unanitnouflyrelblv'd, T64f by his Ob- fiinate ^fufaij to Anfwer to a Matter of Fa^t d^rnanded of him by the Houfe, he had violated the Privilege^ and Contemned the Authority of the Houje, and the fun- damental Conftitution theratf, for which Offence be was immediately Committed Prifoner to the Tower, On the I ph of February^ Mr. Tracy Pauncefort peti- . . tion'd the Commons for his Difcharge, but being

again examih'dvahd not giving (atisfa6);ory Anfwers, he was renjanded back to the Place of his Con- finement. ' " His Brother, yit. ^dward Pauncefortj'WSiS ne«*

' brought upon the Stage, who being Summoned, and

(d) Feb. (<f) Examm'd by the Houfe, it was refolv'4 That[ ifth. he for contriving to Cheat' Colonel Hz&ings^ s Regiment <?f yoo Guineas', and for giving a Bribe to obtain the Kif^s Bounty, be takpt into the Cuftody of the Serjeant 4i Arms^ attending the Moufe. . Then imnaediately

■ - ' ^ follbw'f

WILLIAM the ThirJ. 13

followed iMr. H^-y G-y,.^ Member of tbeHoufe, A. C. in whofe cafe, upon Confideration of the foremen- 169^. tiorfdObferVaiions, it was the lame day refolv'd, W^^S^ .That ha for taking a Bribe of aoo Guineas^ be Commit* UdPfifiner to tbeTo^er.

Hereupon^ for Redrefi of the notorious Abufes, M PraAices, and intolerable Exaftions of the Colonels and their Agents,, upon the inferior Officers (^j ^^^^^ and Common-Soldiers, the Houfe agreed (e) upon ^^th. The an humble Reprefentation to the King, wherein, cowwoifx " they laid before his Majefty, That the Grievance Reprefen- " of raifmg' Money, under Pretence of SubftJlence^f^Jion to .*' (which is fuch a Violation of the Liberty artd '^' f »r ** Property of the Subjefts; was in a great Meafure, ^Vj^ij •" occafion'd by the undue Praftices of fbme of Ae j^^^^^ "Agents, the Particulars of which they ^^gg'^of ^Jr^ ** leave to lay before his Majcfty. in order to the»^, *' more effcaual preventing the like Mifcarriag^s •' for the future : They reprefented, L That Ibme ** of the Agents had detained the Money due to " the Soldiers, in their Hands, and made pfe of it ** for their own Advantage, inftead of immediately " applying it to Uic Subfiltencc of the Officers and " Soldiers, for whom they were entrufted. II. That *' by their intolerable Ejcaftions, and great Extor- " tiofls, upon the Officers and Soldiers, for paying *' Money, by way of Advance, aikl by their charg- " ing more for the difcount of Tallies, thandiey •^ aftually paid ; it appeared. That thpfc who ferv'd •• in his Majeffy's Armies, notwithftanding, they ** had a greater Pay, than is given in any other *' part of the World ; they were yet reduced to in- ^' conveniencies and Extremities, which ought not " to be put uponthofe, who venture their Lives "for the Honour and Safety. of the Nation. IIL ** That in particular, Colonel HaJUngs had compelled ** Ibnae Officers of his Regiments, to take their *< Cloachsfrom hini at Extravagant Rates, by G»nr ^^ fining a^d Thrj^atning thofe that would notcom- ** ply therewith ; by which, the Authority that ** might be neceflary to be lodged in the Colonel, ^* over the inCerior Officers, in fome cafes, wa&mif V" appli'd, and extended (6 as to promote a private

Advantage

i€ €(

14 The Rezgn of King /

A. C. ^ ^d^antage of his own, without any regard to x4$f. *^ his Majefty^s Service, or to the Diicipline oT "the Arnnr, IV. That Colonel Haftings\ Agenc ^' had prelum'd fraudulently to detain ^ 00 Guine^is *' out of a Bounty, given by his Majefty, to the •• Officers of that Regiment, under Pretence of ^ giving them as a Bribe to obtain the fame, to the ' EHIhooor ol his Majefty, and Injury totheOffi> cers : And had taken two Fence per Pound out of. the Money due to the Officers and Soldiers j for which Dedu£kion, there being no Warrant, the CoUonel, whofe Servant the Agent is, was anjfwe- rable. V. That Colonel Haftings^s Agent had re fiifedor negle<^ed to give an Account of the Pay due to the Captains of his Regiment, and their ^' Companies, which tended, apparently, to the de- ^^traucUng the OflScers and Soldiers. VI. That ^^ fome of the Agents afiumM to themfelves, the li* berty of making great Deduftions ^ which fince they knew not how to juftify, they endeavoured •* to cover, by putting them under the Ihelter of the ** uncertain Head of Comingenciei^ which gave them *' the better Opportunity of hiding the Frauds and " Abufes, that would otherwife be more liable to « be deteded. Vll. That Colonel Haftings had dif- *' charged an Enfign, by putting another into his **Room, contrary to the true Difcipline of an > ^VArmy ; from which the Colonels have no Right *' to exempt themfclvcs, to enlarge their own AU- •* thority.to the Prejudice of his Majefty 's Service, ^*and or the Othcers that ferve under them. VIIL That Colonel Haftings had taken Money for the recommending to Commands in his Regi« " ment, to the great Difcouragement oi the Officers ** who were to ferve in his Majefty 's Armies, who ought to be (ucb asde(erv*d their Commands, and not (iich as paid tor them. Which things they moft humbly reprefented to his Majefty, in Con- fidence of having them redrels'd by hb Majefty's . Juftice and Wildora. (/) March This f^ftefentation being prefented (f) to the ^thJkisMa^Ykxng by the whole Houfe, his Majefty was pleas'd jtfifs jtum CO Aniwer, Tihat hf muld cmfid^r i>, an4 $akp all Cm hit. - ^ fojfihk

, WILLI AM the third. ; j^

pofphk to have the Grievances B^edrefs^d. Accordingly f^ q CJoloncl Haftings was immediately Calhier'd, and his kJo/ Regiment given to Sir John Jacob^ his Lieutenant v^^yN^ Colonel.

Sometime * before the King, in Council, was«pg^ ,g^ pleas'd to order the chief, Officers of the Army to meet twice a Week, ( v/j{. every Wednefday and Sa^ turday ) at the great Chamber at the Horfe Guards at PVhiteball^ to receive and examine all Informati-