jesty, humbly to desire, that he would be pleased to cause directions to be given to the proper officers for preparing a scaffold in Westminster Hall, for the trial of Robert earl torious jacobites, who by this time had got together at Bath, in order to head the intended insurrection in Somersetshire, were extremely alarmed at the coming down of the King's mes pitation, in a very stormy night. Sir William Wyndham, being pursued by the proclamation, and several messengers, thought a clergyman's habit the best disguise, and ordered one of his servants to write a letter to a gentleman in Surrey, desiring him to give his master refuge in his house; or, if he would not venture so far, to get him a lodging in the minister's house, where he would come in a habit, that would bespeak him respect from a clergyman. This Scaffold ordered to be erected for the Earl of Orford's Trial.] The same day, the Lords sent a message to acquaint the Commons, That their lordships having addressed his mamade his escape; and colonel Huske, a captain in the foot-guards, was sent down with a messenger to apprehend sir William Wyndham, at his house in Somersetshire, where they arrived between four and five in the morning.sengers, and left that place with great preciThe door being opened, they appeared to be in haste to see sir William; but the porter told them, he was in bed, and could not yet be spoke with. The colonel told him, he came express, and the person with him had a packet of letters of such consequence, that his master must needs be immediately informed of it, This convinced the man, and sir William presently leaped out of bed, and came in bis gown to the colonel, who told him, he was his prisoner, the messenger, at the same time, shew-letter being brought to the gentleman's house ing the badge of his office. Sir William said, he readily submitted, but desired no noise might be made to frighten his lady, who was with child. Then they entered a chamber, where the colonel seeing sir William's coat and waiscoat lie, told him, he had orders to seize all his papers; and that he must take leave to search his pockets, wherein he found a bundle of papers, which he secured. Sir William would have diverted him, by offering him very frankly the keys of his escrutoire, to search; but the colonel happened to secure the most important papers, as he had reason to guess, by the great disorder and confusion in sir William's looks, when he took the bundle out of his waistcoat pocket. Sir William desired the colonel to stay till seven o'clock, and he would order his own coach and six horses to be ready, which would carry them all; telling the colonel, he would only go in, and put on his cloaths, and take leave of his lady, and then would waitnied he knew any thing of a plot. However, on him. Out of deference to that lady's noble relations, who, besides their high rank, had deserved it by their zeal and affection for the present government, the colonel had particular directions to use him.with decorum, and readily complied with his request, looking on it as his parole to return: but he soon found himself mistaken in the person, whose honour he had trusted to; for, though the colonel had caused two doors of sir William's bed-chamber to be secured, yet, there being a third, he made his escape through it. The colonel, having directed the messenger to stay at the house till further orders, returned with speed to London, to acquaint the government with what had passed; whereupon the King in council thought fit to sign a proclamation, with a reward of 1,000l. for apprehending sir William. "One of the papers found in sir William's pocket was said to be a list of the principal persons, who had joined in an association to lavour an Invasion, and to advance the Pretender to the throne; which association was transmitted to him by the lord Lansdown. Be that as it will, it is certain a great many no while he was abroad, his lady opened it; and being frightened with the thought of the dan ger, which her husband might incur in harbouring a person charged with treason, she thought fit to send it to the earl of Aylesford, who failed not immediately to communicate it to the government. Sir William rightly judging, by the iniscarriage of the letter, that he could hardly escape, thought it prudent to surrender himself. In order to which, having crossed the Thames near Thistleworth, he went first to Sion-house, belonging to the duke of Somerset, his fatherin-law, and, coming from thence to London the 3d of October, he put himself into the hands of the earl of Hertford, his brother-in-law, captain of one of the troops of life-guards; who having given notice of it to Mr. Secretary Stanhope, a messenger was sent to take sir William into custody. Three days after, he was examined at the council board, where he flatly de an order was made for his commitment to the Tower. It was then strongly reported, the duke of Somerset offered to be his bail; which the council did not think fit to accept. But whether the duke bore this denial impatiently, and expressed some resentment upon it too warmly, it is certain, he was removed from his place of Master of the Horse." Tindal. "The following anecdote, relating to the arrest of sir William Wyndham, places lord Townshend's firmness of character in a conspicuous point of view. It was communicated to me by his grandson lord Sydney. When the intelligence that sir William Wyndham was concerned in a projected rising in favour of the Pretender, was laid before the cabinet, the duke of Somerset, anxious that his son-in-law, sir William Wyndham, should not be taken into custody, offered to be responsible for him. The ministers were inclined to give way, for fear of offending a person of the duke's consequence, who, besides his situation of Master of the Horse, had great influence with the Whigs. The king was present. The proofs against sir William Wyndham were so strong, that lord Townshend of Oxford and earl Mortimer, who now stands impeached by this House of high treason and other high crimes and misdemeanors, his majesty had been graciously pleased to say, "He would give directions to the proper officers pursuant to the said Address." The Speaker's Speech to the King, on presenting the Money Bills.] The same day, the king went to the House of Peers, and the Commons attending, the Speaker, upon presenting the Money Bills, made the following Speech to his majesty : "Most gracious Sovereign; "Your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the knights, citizens, and burgesses in parliament assembled, have now finished the supplies granted to your majesty for the service of this present year. Your Commons had much sooner offered these supplies to your majesty, had not their zeal for your majesty's service, and the duty they owe to their country, led them into inquiries which have drawn this session to an unusual length. "But your Commons could not see, without the utmost indignation, the glories of her late majesty's reigu tarnished by a treacherous cessation of arms; the faith of treaties violated, that ancient probity, for which the English nation had been justly renowned throughout all ages, exposed to scorn and contempt; and the trade of the kingdom given up by insidious and precarious treaties of commerce, whilst the people, amused with new worlds explored, were contented to see the most advantageous branches of their commerce in Europe lost, or betrayed. "Such was the condition of this kingdom, when it pleased the divine Providence to call your majesty to the throne of your ancestors, under whose auspicious reign your Commons with pleasure beheld the glories of the Plantagenets (your majesty's royal ancestors) revive; and have an unbounded prospect of the continuance of this happiness, even to the latest posterity, in a race of princes lineally descended from your majesty. "And that nothing might be wanting on the part of your Commons, to establish your majesty's throne on solid and lasting foundations, they have applied themselves, with unwearied diligence, to vindicate the honour of the British nation, and to restore a mutual confidence between this kingdom and its ancient and faithful deemed it necessary that government should not appear afraid to arrest such an offender, let his rank or connexions be what they might, and moved accordingly to have him taken into custody. Near ten minutes passed in silence before any one ventured to agree with him; when at last, two or three rose at the same moment to second him, and the arrest was decreed. As the king retired into his closet, he took hold of lord Townshend's hand, and said, You have done me a great service to'day," Coxe's Walpole. ment. "It was not to be expected, but that the enemies to the nation's peace, would use their utmost endeavours to obstruct your Commous in these inquiries; but despairing of any success in the representative body of the kingdom, they fomented tumults among the dregs of the people at home, and spirited up the Pretender to an Invasion from abroad. This gave your faithful Commons fresh opportunities of shewing their affection to your majesty's person, and their fidelity to your government, by their unanimous concurrence in granting such supplies as were sufficient to disappoint the one, and by their passing such laws as were necessary to suppress the other; and, in every respect, to express their abhorrence of a popish Pretender, concerning whom, nothing remains unsuspected but his bigotry to superstition, and his hatred to our holy religion; for the advancements of which your majesty has expressed your pious care, by recommending to your Commons the providing maintenance for the ministers, who are to officiate in the new churches. This your Commons readily complied with, trusting, that the prayers there offered to the Almighty, will bring down a blessing on all your majesty's undertakings: and not doubting, but that the doctrines there taught, will be a means to secure the quiet of your kingdoms, and the obedience of your people. "The revenue set apart for the uses of the civil government, your Commons found so much intangled with mortgages and anticipations, that what remained, was far from being sufficient to support the honour and dignity of the crown: this your Commons took into serious consideration, and being truly sensible, that on your majesty's greatness the happiness of your subjects entirely depends, they have put the civil revenues into the same state, in which they were granted to your majesty's glorious predecessor, king William, of immortal memory: and thereby enabled your majesty to make an ample provision for the Prince of Wales, whose heroic virtues are the best security of your majesty's throne, as his other personal endowments are the joy of all your faithful subjects. "I should but ill discharge the trust reposed in me by the Commons, did I not lay before your majesty, with what cheerfulness they received your majesty's gracious intentions for her royal highness the Princess; and with how much readiness and unanimity they enabled your majesty to settle a revenue suitable to the dignity of a princess, whose piety, and steady adherence to the Protestant Religion, is the glory of the present age, and will be the admi. ration of all future generations. May it please your majesty; The bills which the Commons have prepared to complete the supplies for this year's service, and for the other purposes I have mentioned, are severally | intitled, 1. An Act to enable his najesty to ⚫ settle a Revenue for supporting the dignity of 'her royal highness, &c.-2. An Act for enlarging the capital stock and yearly fund of the 'South Sea Company, &c.-S. An Act for 'making provision for the Ministers of the fifty 'new Churches, &c.' Which they with all humility now present to your majesty for your royal assent." After this, his majesty gave the royal assent to the three Bills before mentioned, as also to six more public, and to nine private bills. The Kings Speech at the Adjournment.] Then his majesty was pleased to declare from the throne, that he had ordered the Lord Chancellor to deliver his majesty's Speech to both houses of parliament, in his majesty's name and words, which he did accordingly, as follows: "My Lords and Gentlemen; "I am persuaded you are all by this time very desirous of some recess, and that it cannot be deferred longer, without great inconvenience to your private affairs. "But before I part with you, I must return you my most sincere thanks for your having finished, with so much wisdom and unanimity, what I recommended to your care; and particularly I must thank you, gentlemen of the House of Commons, for the provision you have made, as well for the support of the honour and dignity of the crown, as for the other necessary occasions of the public; especially for your having done it by means so little burthensome to my people; which, I assure you, recommends the supplies to me above any other circumstance whatsoever. "My Lords and Gentlemen; "The open and declared rebellion, which is now actually begun in Scotland, must convince all, who do not wish to see us given up into the hands of a popish Pretender, of the dangers to which we have been, and are still exposed. vading us, or raising a rebellion, had he not been encouraged by the success his emissaries and adherents have already had in stirring up riots and tumults, and by the farther hopes they entertain for raising insurrections in many parts of my kingdoms. "The endeavouring to persuade my people, that the church of England is in danger under my government, has been the main artifice employed in carrying on this wicked and traitorous design. This insinuation, after the solemn assurances I have given, and my having laid hold on all opportunities, to do every thing that may tend to the advantage of the church of England, is both unjust and ungrateful: Nor can I believe so groundless and malicious, a calumny can make any impression upon the minds of my faithful subjects, or that they can be so far misled as to think the church of England is to be secured by setting a popish Pretender on the throne. "My Lords and Gentlemen; "The proofs this parliament has given of their unshaken duty and affection' to me, and of their love and zeal for the interest of their country, will recommend you to the good opinion and esteem of all who have their religion and liberty truly at heart, and has laid a lasting obligation upon me; and I question not, but by your farther assistance in the several countries to which you are going, with the blessing of Almighty God, who has so frequently interposed in favour of this nation, I shall be able to disappoint and defeat the designs of our enemies. "Our meeting again to do business early in the next winter will be useful on many accounts; particularly, that the sitting of parliaments may be again brought into that season of the year which is most convenient, and that as little delay may be given as is possible to your judicial proceedings: And I shall, at present, give such orders to my Lord Chancellor, as may not put it long out of my power to meet you, on any sudden occasion.” Then the Lord Chancelior, having received directions from his majesty, returned to his place; and said, "I thought it incumbent upon me, to give you the earliest notice of the designs of our enemies, and I cannot sufficiently coinmend the zeal and dispatch with which you impowered me, at a time when the nation was in so naked and defenceless a condition, to make such pre- "My lords and gentlemen; It is his ma parations as I should think necessary for our se-jesty's royal will and pleasure, that both Houses curity. You shall have no reason to repent of should forthwith severally adjourn themselves the trust and confidence you repose in me, to Thursday the 6th of October next." which I shall never use to any other end than for the protection and welfare of my people. "It was scarce to be imagined, that any of my protestant subjects, who have known and enjoyed the benefits of our excellent constitution, and have heard of the great dangers they were wonderfully delivered from by the happy Revolution, should, by any arts and management, be drawn into measures that must at once destroy their religion and liberties, and subject them to popery and arbitrary power; but such has been our misfortune, that too many of my people have been deluded, and made instrumental to the Pretender's designs, who had never dared to think of in October 6. The parliament being met at Westminster pursuant to their last adjournment, Mr. Secretary Stanhope acquainted the House, That it was the King's pleasure, that the parliament should be adjourned for a fortnight; and therefore desired that the House would adjourn itself until the 20th of October; which the House did accordingly. October 20. Mr. Secretary Stanhope acquainted the House with his majesty's pleasure, that the parliament be adjourned until the 5th of November. Upon which the Commons adjourned themselves to that day, and afterwards to November 21st, and then to December 14, at his majesty's desire. December 14. The Commons ordered, That "I did hope, that the detecting and sir Edward Northey be added to the Commit-preventing the designed insurrections in some tee of Secrecy, in the room of sir Richard parts of the kingdom, and the defeating in Onslow, bart. who had accepted the place others, those who had taken up arrns against me, of one of the tellers of his majesty's exchequer, would have put an end to this rebellion; but it and was not rechosen. It was ordered like- is plain that our enemies, animated by some wise, That Mr. Speaker do write circular let- secret hopes of assistance, are still endeavourters to all the Sheriffs of the kingdom, to sum- ing to support this desperate undertaking; and mon the members in their respective counties the Pretender, as I have reason to believe, is to attend the service of the House upon the 9th now landed in Scotland. of January: After which Mr. Secretary Stanhope acquainted the House, that he had a message from his majesty to this House, signed by his majesty, which he delivered to Mr. Speaker, as follows, viz. business." Then the House accordingly adjourned till Monday the 9th of January. The King's Speech to both Houses respecting the Rebellion.] January 9, 1716. The Parliament being met at Westminster, the king went to the House of Peers, and the Commons be ing sent for up, and attending, the lord Chancellor read his majesty's Speech to both Houses, as follows: "My Lords and Gentlemen; "The zeal and affection to my government, and the vigilant care for the safety of the nation, which you have shewn in your respective Counties, have not only fully answered my expectations, but give me assurances that you are met together resolved to act with a spirit becoming a time of common danger, and with such a vigour, as will end in the confusion of all those who have openly engaged in this Rebellion, and in the shame and reproach of such as by secret and malicious insinuations, have fomented, or by an avowed indifference encouraged this traiterous enterprize. "It is, I doubt not, a great satisfaction to you to have observed, that the powers you entrusted me with for the preservation of the public safety, have been employed in the most proper and effectual manner, and made strictly subservient to those purposes only for which you intended them; and you must have had the pleasure to reflect with me, that as the measures taken for our defence, have been just and necessary, so it has pleased the divine Providence to bless them with a series of suitable success: and I cannot but take this opportunity of doing justice to the officers and soldiers of the army, whose brave and faithful discharge of their duty, has disappointed our enemies, and contributed so much to the safety of the nation. "It is however with pleasure I can acquaint you, that notwithstanding these intestine commotions, Great Britain has, in some measure, recovered its influence and reputation abroad. The treaty for setting the barrier for the Netherlands is now fully concluded between the guaranty: the king of Spain has agreed to a emperor and the States General, under my treaty, by which that valuable branch of our commerce will be delivered from the new impositions and hardships, to which it was subjected by the late treaties; and will stand settled, for the future, on a foot more advantageous and certain than it ever did in the most flourishing time of any of my predecessors; and the treaty for renewing all former alliances between the crown of Great Britain and the States General is brought very near to its conclusion. "Gentlemen of the House of Commons; "I must rely on your affection to me, and your care and concern for the safety of the nation, to grant me such supplies as may enable me to restore, and to secure, the peace of the kingdom; and I will order estimates of the necessary expences to be laid before you. "Among the many unavoidable ill consequences of this rebellion, none affects me more sensibly than that extraordinary burden, which it has and must create to my faithful subjects: to ease them as far as lies in my power, I take this tirst opportunity of declaring, That I will freely give up all the estates that shall become forfeited to the crown by this rebellion, to be applied towards defraying the extraordinary expence incurred on this occasion. "My Lords and Gentlemen; "It is a matter of the greatest uneasiness to me, that the first years of my reign, the whole course of which I wished to have transmitted to posterity, distinguished by the fair and endearing marks of peace and clemency, should be clouded and overcast with so unnatural a rebellion; which, however inpotent and unsuccessful a due care may render it in all other respects, does most sensibly afflict me, by the calamities it has brought on many of my faithful subjects, and by those indispensable returns of severity, which their sufferings, and the public safety, do most justly call for. Under this concern, my greatest comfort is, that I cannot reproach myself with having given the least provocation to that spirit of discontent and calumny that has been let loose against me; or at least the pretence for kindling the flame of this Rebellion. "Let those whose fatal counsels laid the foundation of all these mischiefs, and those whose private discontents and disappointments, disguised under false pretences, have betrayed great numbers of deluded people into their own destruction, answer for the miseries in which they have involved their fellow-subjects. I question not, but that, with the continuance of God's blessing, who alone is able to form good out of evil, and with the cheerfal assistance of my parliament, we shall, in a short time, see this rebellion end, not only in restoring the tranquillity of my government, but in procuring a firm and lasting establishment of that excellent constitution in church and state, which it was manifestly designed to subvert; and that this open and flagrant attempt in favour of Popery, will abolish all other distinctions among us, but of such as are zealous assertors of the liberties of their country, the present establishment, and the Protestant religion, and of such as are endeavouring to subject the nation to the revenge and tyranny of a Popish Pretender." The Lords' Address thereon.] The Lords agreed upon the following Address: "Most Gracious Sovereign; "We, your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Lords spiritual and temporal in parliament assembled, do return our most unfeigned thanks to your majesty, for your most gracious speech from the throne; and do, with great joy, lay hold of this opportunity to congratulate your majesty on the successes with which it has pleased Almighty God to bless your majesty's arins and counsels, against the rebels. "We are so truly sensible of the happiness which the nation enjoys under your majesty's government, that we should be wanting to our own interest, as well as to the duty we owe to your majesty, did we not exert ourselves with the utmost spirit and vigour in the present time of danger to the confusion of all such as are either actors or abettors in the present wicked and unnatural rebellion, and to the reproach of those who affect to appear lukewarm or indifferent in the cause of their king and country. "Our satisfaction, in observing the just and wise use of that power with which the parliament entrusted your majesty in this great conjuncture, can be equalled by nothing but our joy for those remarkable successes which have been the natural consequences of it. last effort for disturbing the peace of your majesty's reign. "We are highly sensible of the security and honour which redounds to the nation, by the treaty for settling the barrier in the Netherlands under your majesty's guarranty; and of the advantages which will accrue to your subjects, by the treaty of commerce with Spain; and by the negociations which are now on foot, for the renewing of all alliances with the anci ent and faithful friends of this kingdom, the States General. "It is with equal pleasure and astonishment, that we see your majesty has been able, in a time of intestine troubles, to recover, in a great measure, the reputation and commerce of the British nation; and that you have gained more advantageous terms of trade for your subjects, than what were procured by any of your royal predecessors, who had so much fairer opportunities of demanding them. "We want words to express our gratitude to your majesty for your gracious and unparalleled resolution, to give up all the estates, that shall become forfeited by the rebellion, to the use of the public and promise ourselves that all your faithful subjects, will, with great cheerfulness, do their part towards enabling you to restore and secure the peace of the kingdom, to which your majesty contributes in so generous a manner, out of the profits inherent to your crown and royal dignity. "That endearing tenderness and clemency, which your majesty expresses towards all your subjects, very much aggravates the guilt of those, who have taken up arms, against so good and gracious a sovereign; and we cannot think, without the utmost horror, of those who rebel against a prince of so much goodness, or spread falshoods and calumnies against your sacred person, at the same time that you are studying to advance their welfare and happiness. "We cannot desire a greater instance of this your majesty's affection to your people, than the sense which your majesty expresses of those, whose evil counsels laid the foundation of all our mischiefs, and whose self interested views, have deluded such numbers of unwary men into their own destruction. "We heartily pray Almighty God, that he may grant your majesty a long and happy reign over us, and bless your endeavours with success, for the procting of a firm and lasting esta blishment of our excellent constitution in Church and State. And as we shall always "We cannot sufficiently praise the fidelity oppose the attempts of such men, as would suband bravery which your army have shewn on ject the nation to the revenge and tyranny of this occasion; and assure ourselves, that all a popish Pretender; so we shall always value your faithful subjects, who are influenced by beyond any honours or titles we can enjoy, the the same principles of honour and duty, will character of being faithful subjects to your mabe as active, in their several stations, to pro-jesty, zealous assertors of the liberties of our mote the service of your majesty, and the country, the present establishment, and the safety of the public. Protestant Religion." "The landing of the Pretender in Scotland will only serve to animate this our zeal for your majesty; and we doubt not but it will prove his VOL, VII. The King's Answer.] January 11. The King returned the following Answer thereto : |