of both Nations, of the Prefervation of the Proteftant Religion, and of the Liberty of Europe; that for that Reason, they have always endeavour'd to cultivate and improve that good Intelligence and Union, and will still endeavour to do it on this Occafion: That remembering full well the Engagements they have enter'd into by the Treaty of mutual Guaranty, for the Maintenance of the Succeffion in the Proteftant Line of the most Serene House of Brunswick, they are also refolv'd to perform the fame; and, in order thereto, to take all Measures that fhall be judg'd neceffary. That he, the Earl of Strafford, may be affur'd, that these are the true Sentiments of their High Mighcineffes, and he may give these Affurances to the Regents of Great Britain, during his Majefty's Abe fence; their High Mightineffes wishing, as much as any Men in England can do, that his Electoral Highness of Brunswick, to whom the Succeffion to the Crown is devolv'd, and who is already proclaim'd King, may, without Oppofition, quickly enjoy the Poffeffion of his Kingdoms; and that they will contribute thereto all that shall be in their Power; hoping to find in the Friendship and Affection of his prefent Majelty, what they have loft by the Death of the Queen of most glorions Memory; of whose Affection and Friendship for this Republick, they have had Proofs on feveral Occafions.

That, moreover, their High Might ineffes will readily continue to acknowledge the Earl of Strafford, in Quality of Embaffador of the Crown of Great Britain.

And an Extract of this prefent Refolution fhall be put into the Hands of the said Earl of Strafford.

The Night before, after the Arrival of Baron de Bothmar's Secretary with the News of the Death of the Queen of Great Britain, Monfieur Klingraeff, Refident of Hanover, prefented to the States General a Memorial, with a Letter from King George, which was lodg'd in his Hands eventualiter, that is, to be in a readiness if there should be occafion; by which his Majefty requir'd of the States, the Performance of their Guaranty of his Succeffion to the Crown of Great Britain; and which was the Result of a prudent Forecast, in order to baffle any finifter Defign to defeat the faid Succeffion, which the Modellers of the New Barrier-Treaty might have had in View, when in the 14th Article of it they ftipulated, That the States General fhould, at the Request of her Royal Majefty, or (after her Deceafe) of the next Heir, born of her Body,

or (on Failure thereof) of the next Proteftant Heir, who fhould, at that Time, have a Title to, and poffefs the Crown, by Virtue of the Acts and Statutes of Great Britain, and not otherwife, furnish the Succours, to make good the Guaranty, concerning the Succeffion to the Crown of Great Britain." (A) The States General affembled upon it that very Night; and the next Day came to the following Refolucion:

An Extract from the Regifter of the Refolutions of the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands.

Mercurii die, 15 Augufti, 1714.

N the Affembly to Day, a Memorial was read, prefented by M. Klingraff, Refident of his Electoral Highnefs of Brunswick Lunenbourg, now King of Great Britain, who with it deliver'd likewife to their High Might ineffes a Letter from his faid Electoral Highnefs, by which they are defir'd in the prefent Occurrence of the Decease of the Queen of Great Britain, to perform their Guaranty, purfuant to the Treaty concluded between her Majefty of glorious Memory, and this State.

Which being taken into Deliberation, 'tis thought fit and refoly'd, that Anfwer fhall be return'd to his faid Electoral Highness, now his Majesty of Great Britain, iz. That as foon as their High Might ineffes were inform'd of the Sickness and Death of her faid Majefty of Great Britain, of glorious Memory, they immediately bethought themfelves of the Engagements they had enter'd into, for the Guaranty of the Succeflion to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant Line, fo as it is fettled by Acts of Parliament; that at the fame Time they confider'd with themfelves, not only how much it concerns the Kingdoms of Great Britain, that the Settlement of

the

(A) Similiter que Domini Ordines Generales, requifitione facta ex Parte Regia Sue Majeftatis, aut poft Obitam ipfius, HÆREDIS PROXIMI EX ILLA NATI, aut iifdem deficientibus, Succefforis Proximi Proteftantis, qui Titulum & Coronam tunc temporis habuerit, Virtute Actorum Statutorumque Magne Britanniæ,& NON ALITER, auxilia Subminiftrabunt ad præftandam ipforum Fidejuffionem, five Guarantiam fuper Succeffionem ad Coronam Magne Bri fanniæ, &f.

the Succeflion in the Proteftant Line fhould have entire Effect, but alfo how deeply the Proteftant Religion, the Safety of this State, and the Liberty of all Europe are interested therein; that therefore they unanimously refolv'd to perform their Engagements, and to execute all that by the Treaty of mutual Guaranty they have promis'd; whereto they are the more readily induc'd by the firm Affurance which his Majefty in the faid Letter is pleas'd to give them of his Good-will towards this State: That as they receiv'd the Acccount of the Death of her faid Majefty with Grief, fo it was very acceptable News to them, that his Electoral Highness, as the next Heir in the Proteftant Line, was inftantly proclaim'd King, by the unanimous Advice of the Council, and with the Acclamations of the People: That they moft heartily congratulate his Majefty thereupon, and with him all farther happy Succeffes in a profperous Reign: That from this good Beginning, they hope his Majefty will take peaceable Poffeffion of his Dominions, without any OppoLition: That nevertheless, their High Mightineffes are willing and ready to perform their Engagements, and to take all proper Measures with his Majefty for that End: That it being likely his Majefty will fpeedily go for England, their High Mightineffes will be very glad if his Majefty will pleafe to take his Journey through they Do minions; that they will endeavour to facilitate his Majefty's Paffage with all that is in their Power; and that they will at all Times fhew the high Efteem they have for his Majefty's Perfon and Friendship, and that they have his Interefts as much at Heart as their own.

Which Answer, with a Copy thereof, fhall be put into the Hands of the Refident M. Klingraff, that he may fend the Original to his Majefty, and at the fame Time have a Reply to his own Memorial: Likewife a Copy of this Refolution of their High Mightinelles, together with the faid propos'd Anfwer, fhall be deliver'd to M. Van Borelen, the High Mightineffes Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Great Britain, who is at prefent here, to ferve for his Inftruction, and for his giving the like Affurance to the Regency in England on his Arrival there.

On the 16th of Auguß, N. S. this Refolution, with a Letter conformable to it, to King George, was deliver'd to the Refident of Hanover; and, at the fame Time, their High Mightineffes difpatch'd Letters to the States of the

D 4

feveral

feveral Provinces, defiring them, forthwith to provide the neceffary Funds for fitting out a ftrong Squadron of Men of War; of which Twelve, which were said to be defign'd for the Baltick, were almost ready to put to

Sea.

On the 18th, the Earl of Strafford, Embaffador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, notify'd to the Penfionary of Holland the Death of the late Queen, and the Acceflion of his Majelly King George to the Crown of Great Britain. Two Days after, his Excellency made the fame Notification to the President of the Affembly of the States General; upon which he receiv'd the ufual Vifits and Complements of Condoleance and Congratulation from the Prefident, and chief Members of that Reput lick. The fame Night, the Earl of Strafford receiv'd two Expreffes by his Majefty's Meffengers; one from Hanover, with a Letter from the King, directing him to continue to take Care of his Majesty's Affairs at the Hague; the other Messenger came from London; and his Excellency immediately fent him forward, with fome Difpatches for the King.

About the Middle of August, the Count de Tarouca, Embaffador Plenipotentiary of Portugal, in a Conference with the States Deputies, notify'd to them, the favourable Declaration which the Lords Regents of Great Britain had caus'd to be made to Monfieur de Bruciado, the Portugueze Envoy at London, viz. That Spain fhould be oblig'd to conclude Peace immediately with the Crown of Poringal, or that in Cafe of Refufal, his Portuguese Majefty might depend upon being affifted by the Crown of Great Britain, conformably to the Treaty of defenfive Alliance between those two Crowns. This Declaration having been reported to the States General, their High Mighti neffes caus'd Affurances to be given to the Portugueze Minifter, That they would readily concur in all Measures, his Britannick Majefty might judge proper to be taken for obliging Spain to agree with Portugal on fair and juft Conditions of Peace.'

6

On the 28th of Auguft, in the Morning, the Earl of Strafford receiv'd a Letter from the King by a Messenger, and two Days after, his Excellency made the following Speech to the States General.

High

High and Mighty Lords,

HE unwritten Embassador Extraordinary and Pleni

Tpotentiary of his Britannick Majesty, and one of the

Lords Juftices of his Majefty's Kingdoms during his Ab fence, represents to your High Might ineffes, that the King his Mafter has receiv'd, with all poffible Marks of Satisfaction, your High Mighrineffes Anfwer to the Speech, made by him the faid Embassador to your Deputies for foreign Affairs on the 15th Inftant; and that his Majefty has order'd him to return you his Thanks for the Readiness and Affection with which your High Mighti neffes have declar'd your Refolution to fulfil your Guaranty for fupporting the Proteftant Succeffion: And tho' his Majefty never doubted of the Friendship and Exactitude of this Republick, in accomplishing all their Engagements relating to him; yet the Difpatch and Affection with which you have done it, has even furpafs'd his Expecta

tion.

Your High Might ineffes have thereby engag' the Friendship of a King, which cannot but be very advantageous to you, as well in regard to the Neighbourhood and Powerfulness of his Kingdoms and States, as with respect to his Majesty's perfonal Merit, who, for his many excellent Qualities, will be efteem'd and courted by all Europe, as well as lov'd and refpected by his own Subjects: And as he is known to be a Prince, who is a religious Obferver of his Word, your High Mightineffes may be affur'd, that in gaining his Friendship, you fecure to yourselves a folid and lafting Support.

Your High Mightineffes Anfwer, and quick Refolution to fecond the Measures taken in Great Britain, for maintaining the Proteftant Succeflion, were no lefs agreeable to the Lords Juftices, and the whole Kingdom, fince by this Union of our Counfels, that happy Peace and Tranquillity we now enjoy, will be preferv'd in Spite of all those who would attempt to trouble it.

The Lords Juftices defire in particular, that I would fignify to your High Mightineffes, in this Memorial, their great Satisfaction in obferving thofe Marks of Affection and Regard to the King and the Proteftant Succeffion, which you have fhewn in your Letter to his Majefty, which was communicated to them by Baron Bothmar.

As to my own Particular, the Inclination and Zeal I always had for the Proteftant Succeffion, on Account of the Good of my Country, is now become perfonal för

the