Change in the Opinion of the Tories concerning the Lawfulness of Resistance--Russell proposes to the Prince of Orange a Descent on England--Henry Sidney--Devonshire; Shrewsbury; Halifax--Danby--Bishop Compton--Nottingham; Lumley--Invitation to William despatched--Conduct of Mary--Difficulties of William's Enterprise--Conduct of James after the Trial of the Bishops--Dismissions and Promotions--Proceedings of the High Commission; Sprat resigns his Seat--Discontent of the Clergy; Transactions at Oxford--Discontent of the Gentry--Discontent of the Army--Irish Troops brought over; Public Indignation--Lillibullero--Politics of the United Provinces; Errors of the French King--His Quarrel with the Pope concerning Franchises--The Archbishopric of Cologne--Skilful Management of William--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, had produced a great revolution in the feelings of many Tories.

At the very moment at which their Church was suffering the last excess of injury and insult, they were compelled to renounce the hope of peaceful deliverance.

Hitherto they had flattered themselves that the trial to which their loyalty was subjected would, though severe, be temporary, and that their wrongs would shortly be redressed without any violation of the ordinary rule of succession.

A very different prospect was now before them.