of zeal and submission, remonstrated, that they could not read his declaration consistent with their consciences, or the respec. which they owed the protestant religion.

The king in a fury summoned the bishops before the council, and there questioned them whether they would acknowledge their petition. They for some time declined giving an answer; but being urged by the chancellor, they at last owned it. On their refusal to give bail, an order was immediately drawn for their commitment to the Tower, and the crownlawyers received directions to prosecute them for a seditious libel.

The twenty-ninth day of June was fixed for their trial: and their return was more splendidly attended than their imprisonment. The cause was looked upon as involving the fate of he nation; and future freedom, or future slavery, awaited the decision. The dispute was learnedly managed by the lawyers on both sides. James struck out Holloway and Powel, two of the judges, who had declared themselves in favour of the bishops. The jury withdrew into a chamber, where they passed the whole night; but next morning they returned into court, and pronounced the bishops, Not guilty. Westminster-hall instantly rang with loud acclamations, which were communicated to the whole extent of the city. They even reached the camp at Hounslow, where the king was at dinner, in lord Feversham's tent. His majesty demanding the cause of those rejoicings, and being informed that it was nothing but the soldiers shouting at the delivery of the bishops, "Call you that nothing?" cried he; "but so much the worse for them!"

It was in this posture of affairs that all people turned their eyes upon William, prince of Orange, who had married Mary, the eldest daughter of king James II.

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 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, hoping to gain the kingdom for himself in the sequel.

The time when the prince entered upon his enterprise, was just when the people were in a flame from this 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 alsc levied, and sums of money, raised for other purposes, were converted to the advancement of this expedition.

So well concerted were his measures, that, in three days, above four hundred transports were hired, the army fell down the rivers and canals from Nimeguen, with all necessary stores; and the prince set sail from Helvoetsluys, with a fleet of nearly five hundred vessels, and an army of above fourteen thousand

men.

It was given out that this invasion was intended for the coast of France; and many of the English, who saw the fleet pass along their coasts, little expected to see it land on their own shores. Thus, after a voyage of two days, the prince landed his army at the village of Buxholme, in Torbay, on the fifth of November, which was the anniversary of the gun-powder

treason.

But though the invitation from the English was very general, the prince for some time had the mortification to find himself joined by very few. He marched first to Exeter, where the country people had been so lately terrified with the executions which had ensued on Monmouth's rebellion, that they continued to observe a strict neutrality. He remained for ten days in expectation of being joined by the malecontents, and at last began to despair of success. But just when he began to deliberate about re-embarking his forces, he was joined by several persons of consequence, and the whole country soon after came flocking to his standard. The nobility, clergy, officers, and even the king's own servants and creatures, were unanimous in deserting James. Lord Churchill had been raised from the rank of a page, and had been invested with a high command in the army; had been created a peer, and owed his whole fortune to the king's bounty; even he deserted among the rest, and carried with him the duke of Grafton, natural son to the late king, colonel Berkeley, and some others.

The prince of Denmark, and Anne, his favourite daughter, perceiving the desperation of his circumstances, resolved to leave him, and take part with the prevailing side. When he was told that the prince and princess had followed the rest of his favourites, he was stung with the most bitter anguish. "God help me," cried he, in the extremity of his agony, 36 my own children have forsaken me."

The king, alarmed every day more and more with the prospect of a general disaffection, was resolved to hearken to those

who advised his quitting the kingdom. To prepare for this departure, he first sent away the queen, who arrived safely at Calais, under the conduct of count Lauzun, an old favourite of the French king. He himself soon after disappeared in the night time, attended only by Sir Edward Hales, a new convert; but was discovered and brought back by the mob.

But shortly after being confined at Rochester, and observing that he was entirely neglected by his own subjects, he resolved to seek safety from the king of France, the only friend he had still remaining. He accordingly fled to the sea-side, attended by his natural son the duke of Berwick, where he embarked for the continent, on 23d December 1688, and arrived in safety at Ambleteuse in Ficardy, whence he hastened to the court of France, where he still enjoyed the empty title of a king, and the appellation of a saint, which flattered him

more.

The king having thus abdicated the throne, the next consideration was the appointing a successor. Some declared for a regent; others, that the princess of Orange should be invested with regal power, and the young prince considered as supposititious. After a long debate in both houses, a new sovereign was preferred to a regent, by a majority of two voices. It was agreed, that the prince and princess of Orange should reign jointly as king and queen of Britain, while the administration of government should be placed in the hands of the prince only.

EXERCISES.

In what year did James, Duke of York, ascend, and abdicate the throne of Britain? In what religious opinions was he instructed by his mother? Why did he send an agent to Rome? Why did the Duke of Monmouth form a conspiracy against James I.? Who seconded his views in Scotland? What was the fate of Argyll? Why did the people throng to Monmouth on his landing in England? Where was he proclaimed king? What did he lose whilst receiving these empty honours? What effort did the king make to check the progress of the rebels? Where did the armies come to an engagement? By whose misconduct did Monmouth lose the victory? By what means did he attempt to elude his pursuers? Were they successful? Why did the king give Monmouth an audience? Did Monmouth fulfil the king's expectation? Relate his conduct and sufferings at the place of execution. In what year and at what age was Monmouth be headed? How did Feversham treat the prisoners taken at Sedgemore? Who surpassed in cruelty the barbarity of the military commanders? What inflamed the natural brutality of this judge's temper? Why did James II. order the Bishop of London to suspend Dr. Sharpe? Did the Bishop com

ply with the king's order? How did James punish both? What was his next step? Whom did he send ambassador to Rome, and for what purpose? How was the embassy received? What order of priests was permitted to erect colleges in different parts of the kingdom? In what did the university of Cambridge show their resolution and sense of duty? Did the Magdalene college admit the president recommended by the king? Did the clergy favour the measures of the king? Who were the first champions against the encroachment of the crown? What was the nature of their petition to the king? What directions did James II. give on their acknowledging their petition and refusing to give bail? Why did the king strike the names of two of the judges out of the list? Were the Bishops found guilty? Where was the king when he received notice of their acquittal ? On what prince did the nation now turn their eyes? Whom had the Prince of Orange married? What had sharpened his talents and given him a propensity to intrigue? What means did he adopt to gain the kingdom for himself? With what force did he land in England? Did the English at first crowd to his standard? Who first joined him? To whom was Anne the favourite daughter of James II. married? With whom did they take part? What was the expression of James on hearing they had deserted him? Why did he resolve to quit the kingdom? Whom did he send first away to Calais, and under whose conduct? Was he successful in his first attempt to escape? Who attended him when he embarked for the continent? What title did he retain at the court of France? What were the different opinions respecting a successor to James II.? By how many votes was it carried in favour of a king in preference to a regent? Who were sp pointed joint sovereigns of Britain ?

Proclaimed king in the year 1689, and died in 1701.

WILLIAM was no sooner elected to the throne, than he

began to experience the difficulty of governing a people who were more ready to examine the commands of their superiors than to obey them.

His reign commenced with an attempt similar to that which had been the principal cause of all the disturbances in the preceding reign, and which had excluded the monarch from the throne. William was a Calvinist, and consequently averse to persecution; he therefore began by attempting to repeal those laws that enjoined uniformity of worship; and though he could not entirely succeed in his design, a toleration was granted to such dissenters as should take the oaths of allegiance, and hold no private conventicles.

In the mean time, James II., whose authority was still acknowledged in Ireland, embarked at Brest for that kingdom; and on May 22d 1690, arrived at Kinsale. He soon after made his public entry into Dublin, amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. He found the appearances of things in that country equal to his most sanguine expectations. Tyrconnel, the lord lieutenant, was devoted to his interests; his old army was