The bells were evidently ringing for the 5th of November, and I find that the bells of the parish church of Brixham are still rung on that day, but I apprehend that the custom has been continued in commemoration of the landing of the Prince.
All who know Brixham, even in its present populous condition, can corroborate the accuracy of Whittle’s description of the coast, and recognize his felicitous expression of the people on shore being “on the brow of the mountain.”
Whittle proceeds as follows:—
The Prince of Orange being come into the middle of the Bay, called Torbay, attended with three or four Men of War only, that is to say, one or two sailing before his Vessel, and one on each side the Ship in which he was; and all the Merchant Ships, Pinks and Fly-boats coming round him, as near as they durst for safety, the rest of the Men of War being out in the Rear to secure all the little Pinks and Fly-boats, and withal to prevent the English Fleet from disturbing us in our Landing.
At the upper end of Torbay there is a fair House, belonging to one Mr. Carey, a very rigid Papist, who entertained a Priest in his House. This Priest going to recreate himself on the Leads, on the top thereof, it being a most delightsome day, as he was walking there he happened to cast his Eyes towards the Sea, and espying the Fleet at a distance, withal being purblind in his Eyes, as well as blinded by Satan in his mind, he presently concludes that ’twas the French Navy (because he saw divers White Flags) come to land the Sons of Belial, which should cut off the Children of God, or as they call us, the Hereticks. And being transported with joy, he hastened to inform his own Disciples of the House, and forthwith they sung Te Deum. This was a second grand Mistake, the third time will fall to our Lot to sing Te Deum for our safe Landing (as the Prince had it done at Exeter Cathedral in the Quire): And because false Reports were spread abroad, that the People of this House had shot several of the Prince of Orange’s Souldiers, and thereupon they had burnt down the House. I must inform the candid Reader that there was nothing at all in it, for our People did not give them one reviling word, nor they us; some lodged there while we were at Torbay.
He then proceeds with the following account of the landing:—
The major part of the fleet being come into the Bay, Boats were ordered to carry the Prince on Shore, with his Guards; and passing towards the Land, with sundry Lords, the Admiral of Rotterdam gave divers Guns at his Landing; the Boat was held length-ways until he was on shore: So after he had set his Fleet on Land, then came all the Lords and Guards, some going before his Sacred Person, and some coming after. There are sundry little Houses which belong unto Fishermen, between the two Hills, at Torbay where we landed. The People of these Houses came running out at their Doors to see this happy Sight. So the Prince, with Mareschal Schomberg, and divers Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, marched up the Hill, which all the Fleet could see over the Houses, the Colours flying and flourishing before his Highness, the Trumpets sounding, the Hoit-boys played, the Drums beat, and the Lords, Knights, Gentlemen, and Guards shouted; and sundry Huzzas did now echo in the Fleet, from off the Hill, insomuch that our very hearts below in the water were even ravished for joy thereof. On this Hill you could see all the Fleet most perfectly, and the Men of War sailing up and down the Seas, to clear them of all enemies; the Ships in the Rear making all the sail and speed they could.
The Navy was like a little City, the masts appearing like so many Spires. The People were like Bees swarming all over the Bay; and now all the Schievelingers are set to work to carry the Men and Horses unto Shore with speed, for as yet they had done nothing. The Officers and Souldiers crowded the Boats extreamly, many being ready to sink under the Weight; happy was that Man which would get to Land soonest: And such was the eagerness of both Officers and Souldiers, that divers jeoparded their Lives for haste. Sundry Oars were broken in rowing, because too many laid hands on them, some jump’d up to their Knees in Water, and one or two were over Head and Ears. Extraordinary pains was now taken by all sorts of Men to get their necessary things to shore, every one minding his own concern. The Night was now as the Day for Labour, and all this was done, lest the Enemy should come before we were all in readiness to receive them. The Country Harmony was, ringing of Bells for our arrival.
The Officers and Souldiers were continually marching up the Hill after the manner of the Guards, with their Colours flying and flourishing, Hoit-boyes playing, Drums beating, and all shouting and echoing forth Huzzas.
Whittle does not give many particulars of the landing of the Prince himself. Probably they did not land at the same time. It is interesting as to this to refer to the details given by Blewitt in the Panorama. His account is as follows:—