ondon; on the 23rd, James sailed for France; and in the February
following the English convention declared he had _abdicated_.

These dates are, as Plowden remarks, important; for though James's
flight, on the 23rd of December, was the legal pretence for
insurrection in the summer of 1689, yet negotiations had been going on
with Holland through 1687 and 1688,[15] and the Northern Irish formed
themselves into military corps, and attacked the soldiers of the crown
before Enniskillen, on the _first week_ in December; and on the 7th
December the gates of Derry were shut in the face of the king's
troops,[16] facts which should be remembered in judging the loyalty of
the two parties.

---------------------------------------------------------------
[5] King's "State of the Protestants." Harris's "Life of King
William," folio, Dublin, 1749, book 8. Leland's "History of
Ireland," vol. 3, book 6, chaps. 5 and 6. Lesley's "Answer to
King's State of the Protestants," London, 1692. Curry's "Review of
the Civil Wars of Ireland." Plowden's "Historical Review of
Ireland; also History of Ireland," vol. i., c. 9. Jones's "Reply to
an anonymous writer from Belfast, signed Portia," Dublin, 1792.

[6] Thorpe's MSS.

[7] London, 2 vols. 4to, edited by Rev. J. Clarke.

[8] Paris, 1825, 3 vols. 8vo.

[9] Spenser's "View"; Fynes Moryson's "Itinerary"; Captain Lee's
"Memoir"; Harris's "Letters"; and Carte's "Ormonde."

[10] See the proofs of this collected in Carey's "Vindiciae
Hibernicae."

[11] Milton's "Eikonoclastes"; Warner's "History of the Rebellion";
Carey's "Vindiciae"; and Pamphlets, Libraries of Trinity College and
the Dublin Society.

[12] Sir W. Petty's "Political Anatomy of Ireland"; Lawrence's
"Interest of Ireland"; "Curry's Review"; "Carte's Life and Letters
of Ormonde," &c.

[13] Hallam's "Constitutional History," v. 3, p. 588, 3rd edition.

[14] Speke's "Memoirs."

[15] See the Declaration of Union, dated 21st March, 1688, in the
Appendix to Walker's "Account of the Siege of Derry."

[16] These acts were done in good faith by the people, instigated
by the devices of the nobles. A letter, now admitted to have been
forged, was dispersed by Lord Mount Alexander, announcing the
design of the Roman Catholics to murder the Protestants.

CHAPTER II.

ORIGIN AND CHARACTER OF THE PARLIAMENT.--THE H