Memoirs of the court of England from ... 1688 to the death of George the second - John Heneage Jesse - Google Knihy

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CONTENTS

OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

KING WILLIAM III.

Preliminary remarks. - League of Utrecht formed by the

Netherlands in 1579.. Character and constitution of that

League.-William of Nassau, first Prince of Orange, appointed

its head by the title of Stadtholder. His character. - His

assassination in 1584. - His son, Prince Maurice, succeeds

to the office of Stadtholder, and is successful against the

Spaniards. His death. Succeeded by his younger brother,

Henry Frederick. - Acknowledgment by Spain of the indepen-

dence of the United Provinces. Character of William the

Second, fourth Stadtholder. - Abolition of that office.-Prince

William Henry, son of William the Second, afterwards William

the Third of England, born in 1650. Nephew to Kings

Charles the Second and James the Second. - His early

studies. Sir William Temple's favourable opinion of his

capacity. Visits England in his twentieth year, and is en-

tertained by the University of Oxford. Probable motives

of his visit. — Entertaining anecdote. - Charles the Second's

distrust of William, and the latter's politic conduct while in

England.League between France and England against the

States of Holland.

The Dutch Republic ill-prepared to resist the forces of

France and England. Speedily overrun by the French

troops. Increasing unpopularity of the Pensionary, John De

Witt, and the Republican party. - Appointments of Captain

and Admiral-General conferred upon William by the unani-

mous voice of the States. His early success against the

French. Popular insurrections in the principal Dutch towns.

- The office of Stadtholder revived and conferred on William.

Cruel massacre of the De Witts at the Hague in 1672.

Interesting particulars relative to that frightful tragedy.-

Marked improvement in the state of affairs in Holland. At-

tempt by France and England to inveigle the young Stadt-

holder into a treaty injurious to the interests of his country.

His noble conduct on the occasion. His successful campaign

against the troops of Louis the Fourteenth. Treaty of peace

between the French and the Dutch signed in February 1674.-

Office of Stadtholder settled in perpetuity on William and his

descendants. Anecdote of William and Count Starenburg. -

War renewed between France and Holland. - Personal bravery

of William at the battle of Seneffe.-Receives a severe wound

at the siege of Maestricht.

General desire of the Dutch for peace.

William's opposi-

tion to it. Commencement of the campaign of 1677, and

defeat of William at the battle of Mount-Cassel. His master-

ly retreat. His second visit to England in order to demand

the hand of the Princess Mary, daughter of James, Duke of

York. His conversation with Sir William Temple at the

Hague on this subject. -Introduced to the Princess at White-

hall, and is much pleased with her manners and person.

Charles the Second's fruitless endeavours to win over Wil-

liam to his interests and those of France. Marriage of Wil-

liam and Mary in 1677.

Defeat of the French at St. Denis.

-The States agree to a treaty of peace with Louis the Four-

teenth, to the great vexation of William. Renewal of hostili-

ties, and final treaty at Ratisbon. - Invitation to William to

invade England. By whom signed.- Opposition of interests

and religion between William and James the Second.. Wil-

liam's vigorous but secret preparations for the invasion of

England. - Louis the Fourteenth penetrates his designs and

writes to James the Second on the subject. The latter's

shock on receiving the intelligence. Confidence of the Dutch

in William. — Anecdote of a Dutch Jew of Amsterdam.

William obtains a loan from the Pope.- Anxiety of the citi-

zens of London respecting the invasion.

address to the States.

William's farewell

Embarkation of William and his troops at Helvoetsluys.

Dispersion of the fleet by a storm.-Ships refitted, and William

again sets sail for England. Arrival of the fleet at Torbay.

-William lands on the anniversary of the Gunpowder-Plot.

Anecdote from Burnet. March of the Dutch troops to

Exeter. William enters that city at the head of a mag-

nificent procession. Coldly received by the people, and

greatly disheartened. Sir Edward Seymour, the Earl of

Abingdon, and other influential personages join his stand-

ard. Movement in favour of William gradually spreads.

Joined by Lord Cornbury, son of Hyde, Earl of Claren-

don. The father's anguish on the occasion, and subse-

quent flight to the invader.- Lord Churchill, afterwards

the great Duke of Marlborough, joins William. - Anecdote

of Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham.- Royal army encamped

at Salisbury. James the Second retires with a portion of

them to London, and is closely followed by William. Anec-

dote of William, James's secret flight from Whitehall.

Discovered, and brought back to London. Conducted by

a Dutch guard to Rochester, and ultimately embarks for

William takes up his abode in St. James's Palace.—Interest-

ing details respecting the celebrated Lord Craven. Wil-

liam receives the congratulations of the Bishops, and several

official bodies. Anecdote of Mr. Serjeant Maynard.-

"Exeter Association," and refusal of Lord Wharton to sign

it. - French Ambassador ordered to quit London. - A free

Parliament summoned. Cautious and phlegmatic conduct of

William. - Parliamentary discussions, and resolution that a

Catholic is virtually incapable of wearing the Crown. - Vote

that the Throne is vacant, carried up to the House of Lords

by the grandson of Hampden. - Differences of opinion in the

Houses of Lords and Commons. - - William's conduct on this

occasion. — Ultimate decision in favour of his being called to

the Throne. Proclamation of William and Mary as King and

Queen of England. Their coronation in Westminster Abbey.

James the Second lands at Kinsale, in Ireland. En-

thusiastically received in Dublin. - Lays siege to London-

derry. William goes over to Ireland, accompanied by the

Prince of Denmark. Anecdotes of William. Battle of the

Boyne, and William's narrow escape.
Anecdote of General

Hamilton. Death of Marshal Schomberg.

Victories of Wil-

liam in Ireland. Siege of Limerick. William returns to

England. His disappointments. — Dismissal of his Dutch

Guard. His notions of royal prerogative. - Anecdote of

William and Lord Rochester.

Character and habits of the Scottish Highlanders. — Lord

Dundee's opposition to William.—Sketch of his character.

Anecdote of Lord Dundee. Battle of Killicrankie, and death

of Dundee. Epitaph on him by Dr. Pitcairn. — Flight of the

survivors of his army to France, and their subsequent suffer-

ings. Their daring in battle. They are ultimately disband-

ed. - Unsettled state of the Highlands. Lord Breadalbane's

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