I Have received yours , and had long e're this given you an Account of the state of Affairs with us , had there not been apparent hazard both to you and my self by doing it , both Parties examining Letters ; and if any thing I had written had been mis-interpreted , it might have been very prejudicial to one or other of us . I shall now give you the Truest and most Exact Information that can possible be given of so great an undertaking ; which take as follows .

The Prince of Orange arrived at Torbay on Monday Novemb . 5. about twelve of the Clock ; by three in the Afternoon we had the News thereof brought to this City , by several Expresses to the Earl of B. they landed all their Horse first , and after that their Foot , the Army being all on shore by three of the Clock in the Afternoon , all the Baggage , Provision and Ammunition being sent about from Topsham , whence they were brought by Water to this City : abundance there were that landed with the Prince at Torbay for present Service , in cafe there were need . The Wednesday , being the seventh Instant , one . Captain Hicks came to Town , Son to Mr. Hicks late of Portsmouth ; and as soon as he came , the people in very great numbers flock●d to him to List themselves in the Service of the Prince of Orange ; which the Mayor hearing of , sent for him , and demanded of him whether he had a Commission for what he did , but he would produce none , nor give any account of the said Design , whereupon he was committed to Prison : The concourse of the people was so great about the Guildhast , that they would not suffer him to be carried away ; so he remained there till the next day , in the custody of two Constables , and was very nobly provided for by the Mayor .

On Thursday the Lord Mordant , with three or four Troops of Horse came to Town , and Dr. Burnet with him ; when they came to the Gate of this City , it was shut against them , upon which the Lord Mordant commanded the Porter to open the Gate on pain of death , which was presently set open , and being open , required him on the same penalty not to shut it again . As soon as they were entred , the Lord Mordant went immediately to the Hall , and set Captain Hicks at Liberty , and enquired of his usage , who gave the Lord Mordant a very large account of the Mayors respect and civility to him ; upon which there was a Guiney given to them that waited on him . That Afternoon the Lord Mordant and Dr. Burnet waited on the Mayor to know if he would meet the Prince of Orange at the Gate , and govern the City under him , which he excused , and told them he was under the obligation of an Oath to His Majesty , and therefore desired he would lay no command on him that should be prejudicial to his Conscience ; and after some debate of the matter 't was determined .

Thursday they continued coming into Town ; on Friday the Prince came with his Guard ; they were marching into , and some thro' the City to places adjacent about three hours without ceasing , and more or less they came in still until night . Men better Horst I never saw in all my life Saturday , most part of the day , Sabbath-day , Monday and Tuesday the main Body of the Army came , and most of them , only some few Regiments of Foot marched to Tiverton , Collumpton , Honiton , &c. and to the Neighbouring Parishes , and the Foot to Clift Heath where they Encampt and pitched their Tents . The Bishop fled , and is come for London , and we Hear is made Archbishop of York . The Dean likewise withdrew , whose House the Prince took for his Lodgings . The Lord's Day Dr. Burnet Preacht at the Cathedral on the last v. of Psalm 107. Whoso is wise , and will observe these things ; even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord . Wherein he observes the wonderful Providence of God towards them in the whole Conduct of Affairs in this undertaking , and how they intended to have Landed the 4th of November if it had been possible , it being the Prince's Birth-day , and the Day of his Marriage to the Princess , but they could not possibly make to the Land , and so could not get Ashore till the 5th , that our Deliverance might be begun on the same Day it formerly was designed for Ruin and Destruction . Monday all the Cannons that were in the Town were summoned to appear in the Quire . And likewise the Singing men ; where after they had Sung Te Deum , Dr. Burnet read the Prince's Declaration , and after the Declaration , a short Prayer for the success of the Prince , and so departed , there was not one of the Cannons appeared , and when the Declaration was reading , the Singing men went away , they being commanded in their Service to forbear praying for the Prince of Wales .

Monday Captain Burrington , who lives by Creditton came to the Prince , and offered him his Service , who was very kindly received by him ; after that every day the Gentry from all parts of Devon and Somerset , &c. flocked to him in great numbers , it would take up too much time to name them , few absenting themselves , and those that did there is great notice taken of them . They have entred into an Association to stand and fall with the Prince . Several Lords came to him while here , as the Lord Colchester , Shrewsbury , — Cornbury . There were seven Scotch Lords , one Irish , and eighteen English Lords that came over with him . It is incredible to tell you what they have brought with them , unless you saw it , there being 200 of their Ships come into the River of Topsham . Plymouth Fort is surrendred to the Prince by the Earl of Bath , and the Popish Officers that were there , with Father Turner are seized and secured , and the Popish Souldiers discharg'd , and coming hither and owning themselves such , are committed by Mr.

Seymour , who is made our Governor , and one Major Gibbons Deputy Governor . Here are several Thousand Souldiers that have Listed themselves , and many Thousands more would have done the same , but the Marischal de Schomberg told the Prince there was no need of them ; so they were dismist again . They have a vast Treasure with them , I am certainly inform'd of Fifty Waggon load of Money . They have Landed about 120 Field-pieces , several of which remain here , and the others are gone with the Prince . They have also brought three Ships laden with Fire-works , and as many Arms as will serve 60000 Men , besides Aparrel . They have one Company that are all six Foot and a half high . The last News we had was that the Prince was at the E. of Bristol's near Sherbourn , where we are inform'd that Prince George , the Duke of Grafton , the Lord Churchill , and Collonel Trelawny met him , and that the Prince saluted them in the words of David to the men of Judah and Benjamin in the 1 Chron . 12.17 . And David went out to meet them , and answered and said unto them : If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me , mine heart shall be knit unto you : but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies , seeing there is no wrong in mine hands : the God of our Fathers look thereon , and rebuke it . And they replyed in the words of Amasai in the 18th verse . Then the Spirit came upon Amasai , who was chief of the Captains , and he said , Thine are we , David , and on thy side , thou Son of Jesse : Peace , peace be unto thee , and peace be to thy helpers , for thy God helpeth thee . Then David received them , and made them Captains of the Band . The Prince at his going from hence gave the Mayor this Character , That he was worthy to be trusted , for being faithful to his Trust . There are very many other things of lesser moment , which I have not time to treat , neither shall I trouble you with them .