CHAPTER I. INTERREGNUM. A.D. 1688.-The work of the Revolution was not completed by the flight of James; the crown was in a state of abeyance for nearly two months, or from the 23rd of December, 1688, to the 13th of February, 1689, during which time the Whigs were brought to the enunciation or admission of principles which were equally new to the people, bold, and wise. Up to a certain point all parties seemed to agree (the papists were too inconsiderable to merit the name of a party); but the Tories and high churchmen soon hung back, and left the danger and the -honour of settling the problem to the Whigs, who proceeded, not by the stated rules of the English government and laws, but by the general rights of mankind.* The Prince of Orange, who had taken up his residence, not at Whitehall, but at St. James's, seemed to leave the nation to settle the business in their own way, most scrupulously avoiding any assumption of right and any symptom of eagerness. On the 25th of December the lords spiritual and temporal to the number of about ninety, who had taken their places in the House of Lords, requested William to take upon him the administration of affairs and the disposal of the public revenue, and to issue writs for a "Convention" to meet on the 22nd of January; and on the following day an assembly of such persons as had sat in parliament in the reign of Charles II., to the number of about a hundred and fifty, together with the aldermen of London and fifty of the common council, having met at St. James's pursuant to the desire of the prince, immediately proceeded to the Commons' House, * Hallam, Const. Hist. and there agreed upon an address similar to that of the Lords. The prince despatched circular letters, accordingly, to the several counties, universities, cities, and boroughs; and in the mean time the country, the fleet, and all that remained of James's army, submitted quietly to his authority. In Ireland it was very different; but in Scotland men were as prompt in their obedience as in England. A.D. 1689.-On the appointed day-the 22nd of January-the English convention, or parliament, as it was afterwards declared to be, assembled in the Houses of Parliament, and proceeded vigorously to their important business. The Marquess of Halifax was elected to the presidency in the Lords, and Mr. Poole, one of the patriots of Charles II.'s parliaments who had taken bribes from France, was chosen Speaker in the Commons. A letter from William was read in both Houses. His highness told them that he had endeavoured to the utmost of his power to perform what had been desired of him, in order to the maintenance of the public peace and safety; that it now rested with themselves to lay the foundation of a firm security for their religion, their laws, and their liberties.* In the Commons, Poole, the Speaker, embraced all the prince's views with a most ardent zeal. His speech threw the house into a sort of transport; the old walls rang with warlike shouts, and everything was agreed to that William or his party desired. Nor was the Upper House either cold or critical. In a very full meeting, from which scarcely any were absent even among the bishops, except Sancroft, the primate, they appointed a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God for having made his highness the glorious instrument of the great deliverance of the kingdom from popery and arbitrary power; and they joined the Commons in an address of thanks to the prince, to whom, "next under God," this happy deliverance was owing. The Lords and Commons in a united body presented the address. They said, * Ralph.-Roger Coke.-Narcissus Luttrell, Diary CHAPTER I. INTERREGNUM. A.D. 1688.-The work of the Revolution was not completed by the flight of James; the crown was in a state of abeyance for nearly two months, or from the 23rd of December, 1688, to the 13th of February, 1689, during which time the Whigs were brought to the enunciation or admission of principles which were equally new to the people, bold, and wise. Up to a certain point all parties seemed to agree (the papists were too inconsiderable to merit the name of a party); but the Tories and high churchmen soon hung back, and left the danger and the honour of settling the problem to the Whigs, who proceeded, not by the stated rules of the English government and laws, but by the general rights of mankind.* The Prince of Orange, who had taken up his residence, not at Whitehall, but at St. James's, seemed to leave the nation to settle the business in their own way, most scrupulously avoiding any assumption of right and any symptom of eagerness. On the 25th of December the lords spiritual and temporal to the number of about ninety, who had taken their places in the House of Lords, requested William to take upon him the administration of affairs and the disposal of the public revenue, and to issue writs for a "Convention" to meet on the 22nd of January; and on the following day an assembly of such persons as had sat in parliament in the reign of Charles II., to the number of about a hundred and fifty, together with the aldermen of London and fifty of the common council, having met at St. James's pursuant to the desire of the prince, immediately proceeded to the Commons' House, * Hallam, Const. Hist. and there agreed upon an address similar to that of the Lords. The prince despatched circular letters, accordingly, to the several counties, universities, cities, and boroughs; and in the mean time the country, the fleet, and all that remained of James's army, submitted quietly to his authority. In Ireland it was very different; but in Scotland men were as prompt in their obedience as in England. A.D. 1689.-On the appointed day-the 22nd of January-the English convention, or parliament, as it was afterwards declared to be, assembled in the Houses of Parliament, and proceeded vigorously to their important business. The Marquess of Halifax was elected to the presidency in the Lords, and Mr. Poole, one of the patriots of Charles II.'s parliaments who had taken bribes from France, was chosen Speaker in the Commons. A letter from William was read in both Houses. His highness told them that he had endeavoured to the utmost of his power to perform what had been desired of him, in order to the maintenance of the public peace and safety; that it now rested with themselves to lay the foundation of a firm security for their religion, their laws, and their liberties.* In the Commons, Poole, the Speaker, embraced all the prince's views with a most ardent zeal. His speech threw the house into a sort of transport; the old walls rang with warlike shouts, and everything was agreed to that William or his party desired. Nor was the Upper House either cold or critical. In a very full meeting, from which scarcely any were absent even among the bishops, except Sancroft, the primate, they appointed a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God for having made his highness the glorious instrument of the great deliverance of the kingdom from popery and arbitrary power; and they joined the Commons in an address of thanks to the prince, to whom, "next under God," this happy deliverance was owing. The Lords and Commons in a united body presented the address. They said,— * Ralph.-Roger Coke.-Narcissus Luttrell, Diary |