use bleeding
of the nose, to which he, like his brother Charles, was subject
when unduly excited. Sir Edward Hales, in the meantime, was lodged
in the old Court Hall (since partially rebuilt), whence he was
removed to Maidstone gaol, and to the Tower.

Bishop Burnet was at Windsor with the Prince of Orange when two
gentlemen arrived there from Faversham with the news of the King's
capture. "They told me," he says, "of the accident at Faversham,
and desired to know the Prince's pleasure upon it. I was affected
with this dismal reverse of the fortunes of a great prince, more
than I think fit to express. I went immediately to Bentinck and
wakened him, and got him to go in to the Prince, and let him
know what had happened, that some order might be presently given
for the security of the King's person, and for taking him out
of the hands of a rude multitude who said they would obey no
orders but such as came from the Prince."

Upon receiving the news, William at once directed that his
father-in-law should have his liberty, and that assistance should
be sent down to him immediately; but by this time the story had
reached the metropolis, and a hurried meeting of the Council
directed the Earl of Feversham to go to the rescue with a company
of Life Guards. The faithful Earl of Ailesbury also hastened to
the King's assistance. In five hours he accomplished the journey
from London to Faversham. So rapidly had the reports been circulated
of supposed ravages of the Irish Papists, that when the Earl
reached Rochester, the entire town was in a state of panic, and
the alarmed inhabitants were busily engaged in demolishing the
bridge to prevent the dreaded incursion.

But to return to James at Faversham. The mariners who had handled
him so roughly now took his part--in addition to his property--and
insisted upon sleeping in the adjoining room to that in which
he was incarcerated, to protect him from further harm. Early
on Saturday morning the Earl of Feversham made his appearance;
and after some little hesitation on the King's side, he was at
length persuaded to return to London. So he set out on horseback,
breaking the journey at Rochester, where he slept on the Saturday
night at Sir Richard Head's house. On the Sunday he rode on to
Dartford, where he took coach to Southwark and Whitehall. A temporary
reaction had now set in, and the cordial reception which greeted
his reappearance revived his hopes and spirits. This reaction,
ho