ey joined the pretender, attacked two companies
of new raised soldiers, who, with their officer, were disarmed after an
obstinate dispute; another captain of the king's forces, falling into
their hands, was courteously dismissed with one of the pretender's
manifestoes, and a passport for his personal safety. The administration
was now effectually alarmed. The lords of the regency issued a
proclamation offering a reward of thirty thousand pounds to any person
who should apprehend the prince-adventurer. The same price was set upon
the head of the elector of Hanover, in a proclamation published by the
pretender. A courier was despatched to Holland to hasten the return of
his majesty, who arrived in England about the latter end of August. A
requisition was made of the six thousand Dutch auxiliaries; and several
British regiments were recalled from the Netherlands. A loyal address
was presented to the king by the city of London; and the merchants of
this metropolis resolved to raise two regiments at their own expense.
Orders were issued to keep the trained bands in readiness; to array the
militia of Westminster; and instructions to the same effect were sent
to all the lords-lieutenants of the counties throughout the kingdom.
The principal noblemen of the nation made a tender of their services to
their sovereign; and some of them received commissions to levy regiments
towards the suppression of the rebellion. Bodies of volunteers were
incorporated in London and many other places; associations were
formed, large contributions raised in different towns, counties, and
communities; and a great number of eminent merchants in London agreed to
support the public credit, by receiving, as usual, bank-notes in payment
for the purposes of traffic. The protestant clergy of all denominations
exerted themselves with extraordinary ardour, in preaching against the
religion of Rome and the pretender; and the friends of the government
were encouraged, animated, and confirmed in their principles, by several
spiritual productions published for the occasion.

In a word, the bulk of the nation seemed unanimously bent upon opposing
the enterprise of the pretender, who, nevertheless, had already made
surprising progress. His arrival in Scotland was no sooner confirmed,
than sir John Cope, who commanded the troops in that kingdom, assembled
what force he could bring together, and advanced against the rebels.
Understanding, however, that they had taken