--His Military
and Naval Preparations--He receives numerous Assurances of Support
from England--Sunderland--Anxiety of William--Warnings conveyed to
James--Exertions of Lewis to save James--James frustrates them--The
French Armies invade Germany--William obtains the Sanction of the
States General to his Expedition--Schomberg--British Adventurers at the
Hague--William's Declaration--James roused to a Sense of his Danger;
his Naval Means--His Military Means--He attempts to conciliate his
Subjects--He gives Audience to the Bishops--His Concessions ill
received--Proofs of the Birth of the Prince of Wales submitted to
the--Privy Council--Disgrace of Sunderland--William takes leave of
the States of Holland--He embarks and sails; he is driven back by
a Storm--His Declaration arrives in England; James questions the
Lords--William sets sail the second Time--He passes the Straits--He
lands at Torbay--He enters Exeter--Conversation of the King with the
Bishops--Disturbances in London--Men of Rank begin to repair to the
Prince--Lovelace--Colchester; Abingdon--Desertion of Cornbury--Petition
of the Lords for a Parliament--The King goes to Salisbury--Seymour;
Court of William at Exeter--Northern Insurrection--Skirmish at
Wincanton--Desertion of Churchill and Grafton--Retreat of the Royal Army
from Salisbury--Desertion of Prince George and Ormond--Flight of the
Princess Anne--Council of Lords held by James--He appoints Commissioners
to treat with William--The Negotiation a Feint--Dartmouth refuses
to send the Prince of Wales into France--Agitation of London--Forged
Proclamation--Risings in various Parts of the Country--Clarendon joins
the Prince at Salisbury; Dissension in the Prince's Camp--The Prince
reaches Hungerford; Skirmish at Reading; the King's Commissioners arrive
at Hungerford--Negotiation--The Queen and the Prince of Wales sent to
France; Lauzun--The King's Preparations for Flight--His Flight

THE acquittal of the Bishops was not the only event which makes the
thirtieth of June 1688 a great epoch in history. On that day, while the
bells of a hundred churches were ringing, while multitudes were busied,
from Hyde Park to Mile End, in piling faggots and dressing Popes for
the rejoicings of the night, was despatched from London to the Hague an
instrument scarcely less important to the liberties of England than the
Great Charter.

The prosecution of the Bishops, and the birth of the Prince of Wales,