280 

 Local Documents. By James Hardy. 



I. BERWICK. 



James Fitz- James, Duke of Berwick, and the Town of Berwick, 

 1687, 1688. 



James, Fitz- James, Duke of Berwick (born Aug. 21, 1670), the natural son 

 of James VII., by Arabella Churchill, sister to the great Duke of Marl- 

 borough, was designed by his father, for general of the standing forces of the 

 realm ; and to qualify him with more experience, and to establish his reputa- 

 tion, he was sent into Hungary to pass a campaign in the Imperial army. 

 (Kennett) . He was present at the seige of Buda when captured by the Duke 

 of Lorraine from the Turks (1686), and at the battle of Mohatz (1687) when 

 the Turks were signally defeated by the Austrians. On his return his father 

 conferred upon him the title of Baron Bosworth, Earl of Tinmouth, and Duke 

 of Berwick, with the order of the Garter. In the latter year he commanded 

 the Princess Anne of Denmark's regiment, then in garrison at Berwick. — 

 " March 17, 1687. At Privy Council, there is a letter from the King, ap- 

 pointing that the garrison of Berwick, and Fitz- James his son, now Duke of 

 Berwick, may come over to the Scots border, and suppress any field con- 

 venticles, or risings there ; the King's Scots forces not lying near that place. 

 And least this should be repute an inlet to foreigners, the Scots forces are 

 allowed to go to the English borders on the same occasions." (Fountainb all's 

 Decisions, vol. i., p-452). Historians do not scruple to infer that this inter- 

 change of forces was meant to subserve the final subjugation of both king- 

 doms. Following close on this appointment, the Mayor and Common Council 

 of Berwick transmit their congratulations to the newly-titled youth of 18, 

 and adopt him as their patron in furthering the town's interests. Mr Scott 

 has favoured me with the following extracts, being all that is contained in the 

 Town Records, illustrative of this epoch in the life of a distinguished general 

 and upright man. During the seige of Philipsburgh, the Duke of Berwick 

 was killed by a cannon shot, June 12th, 1734, at the age of 63, when in com- 

 mand of the French, then at war with Germany. His death was regarded by 

 the French as a public calamity. 



(Extracts from Records of the Town of Berwick-on-Tweed.) 



A coppy of the letter to his Grace the Duke of Berwick congratulating him 

 on his assumption of the Title. 

 May it please your Grace, 



The High honour you have vouchsafed to this ancient corporation in taking 

 it into your patronage ; hath laid a perpetuall obligacion vpon vs to observe 

 your Graces commands vpon all occasions. 



This Towne is capable of great improvements for his Maties service, it is 

 more considerable being a Cheif e Barrier between the two great Kingdomes 

 of England and Scotland, but your Grace hath rendered it most considerable 

 with the Influence of this title of Protection of a Prince who hath so lately 

 signalized and distinguished himself in martiall Atcheivements against the 

 common Enemy of Christendome. 



