on. The Scottish
troops clamoured for Dundee to lead them back to their country. He
marched them to Watford, and while there, it is said, received a letter
from William, who had now advanced to Hungerford, bidding him stay where
he was and none should harm him.[75] According to Balcarres, Dundee made
at once for London on the news of the King's flight, and was still there
on his return. But the fact is that few of these contemporary writers
descend to dates, and it is almost impossible therefore to track any one
man's movements through those troubled days. It is, however, certain
that a meeting of the Scottish Council was summoned in London by
Hamilton at some period between James's first flight and his return, and
that Dundee attended it. That Hamilton meditated declaring for William
is certain, and that he would have taken all his colleagues with him,
except Dundee and Balcarres, is probable; but the King's sudden return
to Whitehall postponed matters for a time.

James reached London from Rochester on the afternoon of Sunday, December
16th. William was then at Windsor, and James expressed a wish to meet
him in London, offering St. James's Palace for his quarters. William
sent an answer that he could not come to London while there were any
troops there not under his command. On the 17th a council was held at
Windsor, with Halifax in the chair, to determine what should be done
with James. William himself would not be present. It was decided that
James must, at any rate, leave London, and the decision was brought to
him that night as he lay asleep in bed. No resistance was possible, had
any been intended. The Dutch had occupied Chelsea and Kensington early
in the afternoon; and when Halifax, Shrewsbury, and Delamere arrived
with their message from Windsor, three battalions of foot, with some
troops of horse, were bivouacked in St. James's Park, and Dutch
sentinels were posted at Whitehall.

Early on the morning of the 17th Dundee and Balcarres had waited on the
King. None were with him but some gentlemen of his bedchamber. Balcarres
told him that he had orders from his colleagues to promise that, if the
King would give the word, an army of twenty thousand men should be ready
within four-and-twenty hours. "My lord," replied James, "I know you to
be my friend, sincere and honourable: the men who sent you are not so,
and I expect nothing from them." It was a fine morning, and he said he
should like a walk. Balcarres and D