THE POPULAR

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

BY

CHARLES KNIGHT.

VOLUME V.

FROM THE REIGN OF WILLIAM III. TO GEORGE II.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.-A.D. 1694 to A.D. 1696.

Extreme grief of William.-Parliamentary Corruption.-War in the Netherlands.-Siege

of Namur by the Allies.-Namur taken.-William's reception in England. State of

the Currency.-A new Parliament.-Measures for a new Coinage.-Trials for Trea-

son regulated by Law.-The Assassination Plot.

Page 13-32

CHAPTER II.-A.D. 1696 to A.D. 1698.

-

William in the Netherlands.-His Financial Embarrassments.-Great Crisis of Com-

mercial Difficulty.-Revival of Credit. The New Currency established.-Attainder

of Sir John Fenwick.-Negotiations for Peace.-The Peace of Ryswick.-Opening

of St. Paul's Cathedral.-Parliament. Reduction of the Army. Dangers of an

insufficient Force.-The East India Company.-Statute against Socinians.-Reforma-

tion of Manners.-Societies for Promoting Christian Knowledge and for the Propa-

gation of the Gospel.-Licentiousness of the Stage.-Embassy to France.-French

Embassy to England.-Czar of Muscovy in England.

CHAPTER III.-A.D. 1698 to A.D. 1700.

33-54

Commercial Policy of England.-System of Prohibition.-Restrictions upon the trade of

Ireland. Restrictions upon the trade of Scotland.-Scotch spirit of Commercial

Adventure.-African and Indian Company.-Scotch Colony at Darien.

CHAPTER IV.-A.D. 1698 to A.D. 1699.

55-70

Question of the Succession to the Crown of Spain.-The Partition Treaties.-Negotia-

tions at Loo.-Correspondence of the king with his ministers.-First Partition Treaty

signed. The new Parliament.-The troops disbanded.-William's mortification.-A

rash resolve, and a calmer judgment.-The Dutch guards dismissed. Penal law

against Catholics.-Portland and Albemarle.-Admiral Rooke in the Baltic.-Policy

of Louis the Fourteenth.

71-87

CHAPTER V.-A.D. 1700 to A.D. 1702.

A Tory administration.-Death of the duke of Gloucester.-The electress Sophia of

Hanover.-Death of the king of Spain.-Will of Charles, which Louis accepts.-

The new Parliament.-The king asks assistance for the States.-The Act of Settle-

ment.-Impeachment of Somers and other Whigs.-The Kentish Petition.--The

Legion Memorial.—The Great Alliance formed by William.--Death of king James.

-Louis declares the son of James king of England.--William opens his last Parlia-

ment. His accident.--His message on the Union.--Death of William the Third.--

Note: The Act of Settlement.

Page 88-110

CHAPTER VI.-A.D. 1702 to A.D. 1703.

Accession of queen Anne. Her declaration to the Privy Council.-Parliament continues

sitting. Preponderance of Tories.-Marlborough sent as envoy to the States-Gen-

eral. War declared.-Marlborough's first Campaign.-Expedition to Cadiz.-Vigo.

-New Parliament.-Tory majority.-Bill against Occasional Conformity.-Defoe's

Shortest Way with the Dissenters.-Marlborough created a Duke.-Revolt in the

Cévennes. -Marlborough's second Campaign.-The Methuen Treaty with Portugal.

-Occasional Conformity Bill again rejected by the Lords.-Aylesbury Election Case.

-The Great Storm.-Oaths of Witnesses.-Queen Anne's Bounty.-Touching for

the Evil.-May-Poles.

111-130

CHAPTER VII.-A.D. 1704.

Difficulties of recruiting the English army.-The Campaign of 1704.-Marlborough's

secret plan of operations.-His march along the Rhine.-Arrives at the Danube.—

Battle of the Schellenberg.-Devastation of Bavaria-Junction of the French and

Bavarian armies.-The battle of Blenheim.-Results of the victory. Subsequent

operations of the Campaign.-Marlborough returns to England.-Honours and

Rewards. Party Conflicts.-Parliament dissolved.

CHAPTER VIII.-A.D. 1704 to A.D. 1706.

131-150

The War in Spain.-Expedition to Catalonia.-Gibraltar taken by Sir George Rooke and

the Prince of Darmstadt.-Sea-fight off Malaga.-Siege of Gibraltar by the Spaniards.

-Expedition to Spain under Peterborough.-Siege of Barcelona.-Peterborough sur-

prises Montjouich.-Barceloan taken.-Peterborough's rapid successes in Valencia.—

Philip V. besieges Barcelona. It is relieved.-The Allies enter Madrid. Supineness

of the Austrian king. Disgust of Peterborough-He leaves Spain.-Prince Eugene

drives the French out of Italy. "

151-163

CHAPTER IX.-A.D. 1705 to A.D. 1706,

Marlborough's Campaign of 1705.-His disappointment and anxieties.-He forces the

French lines. Retreat of the French under Villeroy.-New Parliament.-State of

Parties. The Regency Bill.-Cry of the Church in danger.-Marlborough's Cam-

paign of 1706 in the Netherlands.-The French and Bavarian armies under Villeroy

pass the Dyle.-The battle of Ramilies.-Results of the Victory.

164-175