dying king against William and the emperor, and prevailed on him to leave the whole Spanish monarchy to the duke of Anjou, second son of the dauphin. The king of Spain was also induced to send a strong remonstrance against the interference of king William in the affairs of the Spanish monarchy to Mr. Stanhope, the English minister at Madrid. Similar remonstrances were presented for form to the ministers of France and Holland. The Spanish minister in London, Canales, was ordered to present a still stronger remonstrance to the lords-justices in London, on which the court of Spain informed them that his Spanish majesty would take the necessary measures himself for the succession of his crown; adding that if these proceedings, these machinations, and projects were not speedily put an end to, there would undoubtedly commence a terrible war, in which the English, who had felt what innovations and the last war had brought upon them, would have the worst of it. Canales, who had a high personal resentment against William, who had forbidden him the court for the insolence of appearing covered, announced haughtily that on the meeting of parliament he should appeal to it against the king's proceedings.
No sooner was this paper transmitted to Loo, than William sent orders to the Spanish ambassador to quit England in eighteen days, and during that period to confine himself to his house. He was informed that no communication whatever would be received from him or any of his servants. Mr. Stanhope was instructed at the court of Madrid to complain of this conduct of Canales as an attempt to excite sedition in the kingdom by appealing to the people and parliament against the king. Mr. Stanhope was then instructed to cease all diplomatic intercourse with the court and to return home. The Spanish court, on its part, justified the act of its minister, and Mr. Stanhope took his leave. The Spanish ambassador at the Hague delivered a similar memorial to that delivered in London, which the States-General refused to read. Under these circumstances William returned to England about the middle of October.
The temper of his people had not improved during his absence. The tories were bent on driving every whig from office. They even now compelled the lately all-powerful Montague to resign his seat at the treasury board as well as the chancellorship of the exchequer. Montague was well aware of the humour of the present house of commons, and anticipated an attack on his two offices by his resignation. Lord Tankerville, formerly lord Grey of Werk, took his place at the treasury, and one Smith, another member of that board, became chancellor. At the same time William gave the office of lord chamberlain to the duke of Shrewsbury, vacant since the retirement of Sunderland. Besides Shrewsbury, there remained no other whig in office except Somers, and the tories were at this moment endeavouring to spring a mine under his feet.
William met his parliament on the 16th of November. He addressed them with much studied care to avoid topics of offence, but he found it impossible. He recommended them to take further measures, both by sea and land, for the safety of the kingdom, to punish unlawful and clandestine trading, and to devise, if possible, measures for the employment of the poor. He expressed his resolution to discourage vice, and declared that he would do anything in his power towards the welfare of the nation. "And to conclude," he said, "since our aims are only for the general good, let us act with confidence in each other; which will not fail, with God's blessing, to make me a happy king, and you a great and flourishing people."
The very words, "let us act with confidence," roused up this captious parliament. They sent him a remonstrance instead of an address of thanks, complaining of there being some who endeavoured to sow distrust and dissension betwixt them and the king. It was in vain that William protested that this supposition was totally unfounded, and that if any should presume to bring to him any calumnies against his faithful commons, he would treat them as his worst enemies, they were unappeased. They wanted, in fact, occasion to drive Somers from his councils, and they soon found a plea.
During the war, piracy had grown to a great height upon the coasts of North America, and the colonists were themselves deep in it. Lord Bellamont, the governor of New York, had recommended that a man-of-war should be sent to clear the pirates away; but the admiralty objected that they had not sailors enough to spare for such a service. It was then determined by the lord-chancellor Somers, the duke of Shrewsbury, the earls of Romney, Orford, and Bellamont, with a few private individuals, to send out a vessel at their own expense. This the king approved of, and promised to contribute one-half of the expense, and stipulated for one-tenth of the profits. Besides the usual letters of marque given to privateers, the captain was furnished with a warrant under the great seal, authorising him to make war on the pirates and the French, both in those and other seas. Unfortunately, this commission was given to a man who was himself a notorious pirate—one captain Kydd, whose fame still lives on the American coasts, and is the theme of popular ballads. He is supposed to have been a native of Greenock, in Scotland, but had been long resident in America, and now happened to be in London. He was a capital sailor, and was probably selected on the principle of setting a thief to catch a thief. He was put in command of the "Adventure Galley," of thirty guns, which was well manned. Kydd was no sooner in possession of this vessel than he acquainted his men with his design to load it with silver and gold whenever he could lay hands on it, and promised his crew a plentiful share. He sailed from Plymouth in April, 1696, and arrived in New York in July. There he made up his crew to one hundred and fifty-five men, and instead of clearing the coasts, as ordered, sailed away for the East Indies, to lie in wait for the Mocha fleet. On the coast of Malabar he plundered many vessels of various nations, Indians, Moors, and Christians. He practised all the license of the old buccaneers, torturing his prisoners to make them discover their wealth. He landed on the coasts of India, burning the villages and murdering the inhabitants. He was pursued by the Portuguese with two vessels, but he beat them off and escaped. He took the Quedagh merchantman, for the ransom of which the captain offered in vain thirty thousand rupees. For the seizure of this vessel Kydd was tried in 1701 and hanged. At this time, however, he returned to America loaded with wealth, and also with the
