m no sooner understood that the place
was invested, than he ordered prince Waldeck to assemble the army,
determined to march against the enemy in person. Fifty thousand men were
soon collected at Halle, near Brussels: but when he went thither,
he found the Spaniards had neglected to provide carriages, and other
necessaries for the expedition. Meanwhile, the burghers of Mons, seeing
their town in danger of being utterly destroyed by the bombs and cannon
of the enemy, pressed the governor to capitulate, and even threatened to
introduce the besiegers: so that he was forced to comply, and obtained
very honourable conditions. William, being apprized of this event,
returned to the Hague, embarked for England, and arrived at Whitehall on
the thirteenth day of April.*

* A few days before his arrival, great part of the palace of
Whitehall was consumed by fire, through the negligence of
a female servant.

CHAPTER III.

_Conspiracy against the Government by Lord Preston and
others..... The King fills up the vacant Bishoprics.....
Affairs of Scotland..... Campaign in Flanneitt..... Progress
of the Trench in Piedmont..... Election of a New Pope....The
Emperor's Success against the Turks..... Affairs of
Ireland..... General Ginckel reduces Athlone..... Defeats
the Irish at Aghrim..... Undertakes the Siege of
Limerick..... The French and Irish obtain an honourable
Capitulation..... Twelve Thousand Irish Catholics are
transported to France..... Meeting of the English
Parliament..... Discontent of the Nation..... Transactions
in Parliament..... Disputes concerning the Bill for
regulating Trials in Cases of High Treason..... The English
and Dutch Fleets baffled by the French..... The King
disobliges the Presbyterians of Scotland..... The Earl of
Breadalbane undertakes for the Submission of the
Highlanders..... Massacre of Glencoe..... Preparations for a
Descent upon England..... Declaration of King James.....
Efforts of his Friends in England..... Precautions taken by
the Queen for the Defence of the Nation..... Admiral Russel
puts to Sea..... He obtains a complete Victory over the
French Fleet off La Bogue..... Troops embarked at St.
Helen's for a Descent upon France..... The Design laid
aside..... The Troops landed at Ostend..... The French King
takes Namur in sight of King William..