But just before the acquittal an event took place which changed
everything and brought on the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688,--for such
was the title which was solemnly given to it after William and Mary
had come to the throne (SS491, 494).
Up to this time the succession to the throne after James rested with
his two daughters,--Mary, who had married William, Prince of Orange
(S477), President of the Dutch republic, and resided in Holland; and
her younger sister Anne, who had married George, Prince of Denmark,
and was then living in London. Both of the daughters were zealous
Protestants, and the expectation that one of them would receive the
English crown on the King's death had kept the people quiet while
James was endeavoring to restore Catholicism.
But while the seven bishops were in prison awaiting trial (S489) the
alrming intelligence was spread that a son had been born to the King
(1688). If true, he would now be the next heir to the crown, and
would in all probability be educated and come to power a Catholic.
This prospect brought matters to a crisis.
Many people, especially the Whigs (S479), believed the whole matter an
imposition, and it was reported that the young Prince was not the true
son of the King and Queen, but a child that had been smuggled into the
palace to deceive the nation. For this report there was absolutely no
foundation in fact.
On the very day that the bishops were set at liberty (S489) seven of
the leading nobility and gentry, representing both the Whigs and the
Tories (S479),[1] seconded by the city of London, secretly sent a
formal invitation to William, Prince of Orange, "the champion of
Protestantism on the Continent and the deadly foe of James's ally, the
King of France." Admiral Herbert, disguised as a common sailor, set
out on the perilous errand to the Prince. The invitation he carried
implored William to come over with an army to defend his wife Mary's
claim to the English throne, and to ensure "the restoration of English
liberties and the protection of the Protestant religion."
William decided to accept the invitation, which was probably not
unexpected on his part. He was confirmed in his decision not only by
the cordial approval of the leading Catholic princes of Europe,
except, of course, Louis XIV of France, but also by the Pope himself,
who had more than once expressed his emphatic disgust at the foolish
rashness of King James.[2]
[1] The seven gentlemen who signed in cipher the secret letter to
William, Prince of Orange, were Henry Sidney, brother of Algernon
Sidney (S480); Edward Russell, a kinsman of Lord Russell, beheaded by
Charles II (S480); the Earl of Devonshire, chief of the Whig party;
Lord Shrewsbury; Danby, the old Tory minister of Charles II; Compton,
Bishop of London, whom James II had tyrannically suspended; and Lord
Lumley. See the letter in J. Dalrymple's "Memoirs of Great Britain,"
II, Appendix, p. 228.
[2] Bright's, Guizot's, Lingard's, and Von Ranke's Histories of
England.