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mer Collections: To fupply therefore that Defect, thefe Volumes are offer'd to the Publick; in the perufing whereof, the Reader will find the fame Method has been follow'd, as in the compiling of the former Regifters, and the fame Impartiality likewife obferv'd in the Narrative Part thereof, by barely relating Matters of Fact, without making any Defcant thereon, either of Commendation or Reprehenfion. The Actions are related, the Actors only mention'd, and the Reader left to judge, whether worthy of Blame or Praise.

To convince the Publick of this Truth, it will fuffice to inform them, that these Volumes have been collected and compiled by the fame Perfon as the thirty-three Regifters already publish'd; and it would be unreafonable to fufpect him of

fwerving

fwerving from a Method, which a Nine Years Experience had taught him was acceptable to the Publick.

That the Reader may not be furpriz'd, at not finding in this Work fome of the moft memorable Events of the Year 1715, particularly, that there is little or no Mention made of the Rebellions that then broke out in England and Scotland, nor of the Death of Lewis XIV. King of France, or the Confequences attending it in that Kingdom, and fome other Affairs of lefs Moment; it will be neceffary to apprize him beforehand, that he will find those Matters related in the Firft, and in fome of the following Regifters: For Part of thofe Tranfactions falling within the Time we then undertook to write of, we confider'd that our Relations would have been imperfect, had we not gone fome

what

what back, and taken Notice of the Rife of thofe Affairs, whofe Progrefs and Conclufion it was of neceffity for us to mention. But tho' they are omitted in thefe Volumes, the Reader will, in their proper Places, find them referr'd to in the former Regifters, of which thefe Volumes are to be deem'd a Part.

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THE

INTRODUCTION.

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Ntending to write the Hiftory of the Reign of his prefent Maj.fty King George, from the Time of his Acceffion to the Throne, to the Beginning of the Year 1716, at which Time the Hiftori cal Regifter No I. begins that Hiftory, it will be requifite, for the more perfect Understanding of feveral Tranfactions we fhall have. Occafion to mention, to premife, not only fome Occurrences that happen'd during the later End of the preceding Reign, but alfo to take Matters fome what higher, and thew how the Succeffion to the Imperial Crown of thefe Kingdoms came to be fettled in the illuftrious Houfe of Hanover: Which Tranf actions, not being properly Part of the Reign we are going to write, yet abfolutely neceffary to be known for the Reafón above mention'd, fhall, together with fome others of the like Nature, be the Subject of this Introduction.

First then, it will be neceffary to fhew, how the Crown of thefe Realms came to devolve on his prefent Majesty King George. In the Year 1700, upon the Death of William Duke of Gloucester, the only furviving Iffue of the Body of the late Queen, then Princefs Anne of Denmark, King William III, hav ing, in a Speech to both Houfes of Parliament, recommended to them to fettle the Succeffion to the Crown in the Proteftant Line, in Cafe of his own Death, and after the Deceafe of the Princess

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Anne of Denmark without Issue of her Body, the Parliament did thereupon in the fame Seffion draw up a Bill, entitled, An Act for the farther Limitation of the Crown, and better fecuring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject, which receiv'd the Royal Affent June 12, 1701; whereby it is declar'd and enacted,

"T

HAT the most excellent Princess Sophia,

Electress,and Dutchefs Dowager of Hanover, Daughter to the most excellent Princess Elizabeth, late Queen of Bohemia, eldest Daughter of King James 1. of happy Memory, be, and is hereby declar'd, to be the next in Succeffion in the Proteftant Line to the Crown of England, France and Ireland, after his Majefty, and the Princefs Anne of Denmark, and that for Default of Iffue of the faid Prince's Anne, and of his Majefty respectively, the faid Crown and Regal Government, c. fhall remain to the faid Princess Sophia, and the Heirs of her Body, being Proteftants.

II. Provided, that all Perfons who may inherit the faid Crown by Virtue of this Limitation, and are, or fhall be reconcil'd to, or hold Communion with the Church of Rome, or profefs the Popish Religion, or marry a Papift, fhall be fubject to the Incapaci ties of the Act, Anno 1 W. & M. Sess. 2. cap. 2. entitled, An Act for declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and for fettling the Succeffion of the Crown: And that every King and Queen of the Realm, who shall come to the Crown by Virtue of this Act, fhall take the Coronation-Oath, made 1 W. & M. Sefs. 1. cap. 6. and make, fubfcribe, and repeat the Declaration in the before-mention'd Act, 1 W. & M. Sefs 2. cap. 2.

III. And for farther fecuring our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, from and after the Death of his Ma-. jefty, and the Princefs Anne of Denmark, and in Default of Iffue of the faid Princefs and his Majefty refpectively, it is enacted,

I. That

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