If the bishops testified the readiness of martyrs in support of their religion, James shewed no less ardour in his attempts towards the establishment ́ of his own. Grown odious to every class of his subjects, he still resolved to persist; for it was a part of his character, that those measures he once embraced he always persevered in pursuing. He struck out two of the judges, Powel and Halloway who had appeared to favour the bishops. He issued orders to prosecute all those clergymen who had not read his declaration, and all had refused it, except two hundred He sent a mandate to the new fellows, whom he had obtruded on Magdalen College, to elect for president, in the room of Parker lately deceased, one Gifford, a doctor of the Sorbonne, and titular bishop of Madura.

As he found the clergy every where averse to the harshness of his proceedings, he was willing to try next what he could do with the army. He thought if one regiment should promise implicit obedience, their example would soon induce others to comply. He therefore ordered one of the regiments to be drawn up in his presence, and -desired that such as were against his late declaration of liberty of conscience should lay down their arms. He was surprised to see the whole battalion ground their arms, except two officers, and a few Roman catholic soldiers.

Opposition only served to enflame this infatuated monarch's zeal. He was continually stimulated by the queen, and the priests about him, to go forward without receding. A fortunate circumstance happened in his family. A few days before the acquittal of the bishops,the queen was brought to bed of a son, who was baptized by the name of James. This would, if any thing could at that tine, have served to establish him on the throne; but so great was the animosity against him, that a

story

story was propagated that the child was suppositious, and brought to ths queen's apartments in a warming-pan. But so great was this monarch's pride, that he scorned to take any precautions to refute the calumny. Indeed all his measures were marked with the characters of pride, cruelty, bigotry; and weakness. In these he was chiefly supported by Father Peters, his confessor, an ambitious, ignorant, and intriguing priest, whom some scruple not to call a concealed creature belonging to the prince of Orange. By that prince's secret directions, it is asserted, though upon no very good authority, that James was hurried on, under the guidance of Peters, from one precipice to another, until he was obliged to give up the reins of that government which he went near to overthrow.

CHAP. XXXVIII.

JAMES II. (Continued.)

WILLIAM, prince of Orange, had married Mary, the eldest daughter of king James. This princess had been bred a protestant; and as she was for a long time heir apparent to the throne,the people tamely bore the encroachments of the king, in hopes that his protestant successor would rectify those measures he had taken towards the establishment of popery, and the extension of the prerogative of the crown. For this reason, the prince gave the king not only advice but assistance in all emergencies, and had actually supplied him with six thousand troops upon Monmouth's invasion. But now, when a young prince was born, that entirely excluded his hopes by succession, he lent more attention to the complaints of the

nation;

nation; and began to foment those discontents, which before he had endeavoured to suppress.

William was a prince who had, from his earliest entrance into business, been immersed in dangers, calamities and politics. The ambition of France, and the jealousies of Holland, had served to sharpen his talents and to give him a propensity to intrigue. This great politician and soldier concealed beneath a phlegmatic appearance, a most violent and boundless ambition; all his actions were levelled at power, while his discourse never betrayed the wishes of his heart. His temper was cold and severe; his genius active and piercing; he was valiant without ostentation, and politic without address. Disdaining the elegance and pleasures of life, yet eager after the phantom of pre-eminence,through his whole life he was indefatigable; and though an unsuccessful general in the field, yet he was still a formidable negociator in the cabinet. By his intrigues he saved his own country from ruin; he restored the liberties of England, and preserved the independence of Europe. Thus, though neither his abilities nor his virtues were of the highest kind, yet there are few persons in history whose actions and conduct have contributed more eminently to the general interests of society, and of mankind.

A. D.

1688.

This politic prince now plainly saw that James had incurred the most violent hatred of his subjects. He was minutely informed of their discontents; and, by seeming to discourage, still farther increased them. He therefore began by giving one Dykeveit, his envoy, instructions to apply in his name to every sect and denomination in the kingdom. To the church party he sent assurances of favour and regard; and protested that his education in Holland had no way prejudiced him against episcopacy.

To

To the non-conformists he sent exhortations not to be deceived by the insidious caresses of their known enemy; but to wait for a real and sincere protector. Dykeveit executed his commission with such dexterity, that all orders of men cast their eyes towards Holland, and expected from thence a deliverance from those dangers with which they were threatened at home.

The prince soon found that every rank was ripe for defection, and received invitations from some of the most considerable persons in the kingdom. Admiral Herbert, and Admiral Russel, assured him in person of their own and the national attachment. Henry Sidney, brother to Algernon, and uncle to the Earl of Sunderland, came over to him with assurances of an universal combination against the king. Lord Dumblaine, son to the earl of Danby,being master of a frigate, made several voyages to Holland,and carried from many of the nobility tenders of duty,and even considerable sums of money to the prince of Orange. Soon after the bishops of London, the earls of Danby, Nottingham, Devonshire, Dorset, with several other lords, gentlemen, and principal citizens, united in their addresses to him, and entreated his speedy descent.

The people of England, though long divided between Whig and Tory, were unanimous in their measures against the king. The Whigs hated him upon principles of liberty, the Tories upon principles of religion The former had ever shewn themselves tenacious of their political rights; the latter were equally obstinate in defence of their religious tenets. James had invaded both; so that for a time all factions were laid asleep,except that general one of driving the tyrant from a throne, which, upon every account, he was so ill qualified to fill. William, therefore, determined to accept of the invitations of the kingdom, and still more

readily

readily embarked in the cause, as he saw that the malcontents had conducted their measures with prudence and secresy.

The time when the prince entered upon his enterprize was just when the people were in a flame from the recent insult offered to their bishops. He had before this made considerable augmentations to the Dutch fleet, and the ships were then lying ready in the harbour. Some additional troops were also levied, and sums of money raised for other purposes were converted to the advancement of this expedition. The Dutch had always reposed an entire confidence in him; and many of the neighbouring princes regarded him as their guardian and protector. He was sure of their protection of his native government, while he should be employed in England; and the troops. of some of the German powers were actually marched down to Holland for that purpose. Every place was in motion: all Europe saw and expected the descent, except the unfortunate James himself, who, secure in the piety of his intentions,thought nothing could iujure his schemes. calculated to promote the cause of heaven.

The king of France was the first who apprised him of his danger, and offered to assist him in repelling it. He was willing to join a squadron of French ships to the English fleet, and to send over any number of troops which James should judge requisite for his security. James, however, could not be convinced that his son-in-law intended an invasion; fully satisfied himself of the sacredness of his authority, he imagined a like belief had possessed his subjects. He therefore rejected the French king's proposal, unwilling perhaps to call in foreign aid, when he had an army sufficient at home. When this profer was rejected, Lewis again offered to march down his numerous army

VOL. IV.

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