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 BUTLER. 289 confined in the town, a considerable sum of money.He was shortly after exchanged for the Duke of Berwick, who was taken prisoner by Brigadier Churchill. In 1694, Charles Butler, Esq. his grace's brother, was created a baron of England, and Earl of Arran in Ireland. On the Srd of April, 1695, he embarked at Gravesend with the king; and was at the taking of Namure, where he commanded the second troop of guards, and providentially escaped unwounded, he being often exposed to the de- structive fire of the besieged, and many being killed around him. In 1695 his majesty, in his progress, designing to make a visit to the university of Oxford, his grace sat out to receive and compliment him as chancellor, and, after the usual ceremonies had been gone through of presenting his majesty with a large English Bible, a Common Prayer Book, the plates of the university, and a pair of gold fringed gloves, a sumptuous entertainment, and a choice concert of music was provided to regale his majesty, as they expected he would do the university the honour to dine with them. But Boyer relates, that the Duke of Ormonde having communicated to his majesty, an anonymous letter, addressed to his grace, and dropped in the street the day before, wherein information was given of a pretended design to poison the king at an entertainment, his majesty, without reflecting on the groundlessness of a report which was undoubtedly raised by his enemies, resolved neither to eat nor drink; and immediately took his departure for Windsor, declaring, as a reason for his short stay, and his not going to see the colleges, that "this was a visit of kindness, not of curio- sity, having before seen the university. King William died on the 8th of March, 1702; and was succeeded by Queen Anne, who, shortly after her acces- sion, declared the Duke of Ormonde commander-in-chief of all the land forces to be employed on board the fleet. It is necessary, however, to state, that, prior to King William's death, a scheme had been concerted to besiege VOL. I