h the professed
intention of accepting a command in the Dutch fleet then about to sail
for the West Indies, When he arrived in Holland, however, he presented
himself immediately to the Prince of Orange, and first among the British
nobility boldly proposed to William an immediate invasion of England.
He pushed his arguments with fiery zeal, urged the disaffection of all
classes, the hatred of the Commons, the defection of the Lords, the
alarm of the Church, and the wavering loyalty of the army.

William, however, was already informed of these facts, and was not to be
hurried. Mordaunt remained with him till, on the 20th of October, 1688,
he sailed for England. The first commission that King William signed in
England was the appointment of Lord Mordaunt as lieutenant colonel of
horse, and raising a regiment he rendered good service at Exeter. As
soon as the revolution was completed, and William and Mary ascended the
throne, Mordaunt was made a privy councilor and one of the lords of the
bedchamber, and in April, 1689, he was made first commissioner of the
treasury, and advanced to the dignity of Earl of Monmouth. In addition
to the other offices to which he was appointed he was given the
colonelcy of the regiment of horse guards.

His conduct in office showed in brilliant contrast to that of the men
with whom he was placed. He alone was free from the slightest suspicion
of corruption and venality, and he speedily made enemies among his
colleagues by the open contempt which he manifested for their gross
corruption.

Although he had taken so prominent a part in bringing King William to
England, Monmouth soon became mixed up in all sorts of intrigues and
plots. He was already tired of the reign of the Dutch king, and longed
for a commonwealth. He was constantly quarreling with his colleagues,
and whenever there was a debate in the House of Lords Monmouth took a
prominent part on the side of the minority. In 1692 he went out with his
regiment of horse guards to Holland, and fought bravely at the battle
of Steenkirk. The campaign was a failure, and in October he returned to
England with the king.

For two years after this he lived quietly, devoting his principal
attention to his garden and the society of wits and men of letters. Then
he again appeared in parliament, and took a leading part in the movement
in opposition to the crown, and inveighed in bitter terms against the
bribery of persons in power by the East India Com