ing of February the duke of Berwick repaired privately to England,
where he conferred with the conspirators, assured them that king James
was ready to make a descent with a considerable number of French forces,
distributed commissions, and gave directions for providing men, arms,
and horses, to join him at his arrival. When he returned to France, he
found every thing prepared for the expedition. The troops were drawn
down to the sea-side; a great number of transports were assembled at
Dunkirk; monsieur Gabaret had advanced as far as Calais with a squadron
of ships, which, when joined by that of Du Bart at Dunkirk, was judged
a sufficient convoy; and James had come as far as Calais in his way to
embark. Meanwhile the Jacobites in England were assiduously employed
in making preparations for a revolt. Sir John Friend had very near
completed a regiment of horse; considerable progress was made in levying
another by sir William Perkins; sir John Fenwick had enlisted four
troops; colonel Tempest had undertaken for one regiment of dragoons;
colonel Parker was preferred to the command of another; Mr. Curzon was
commissioned for a third; and the malcontents intended to raise a fourth
in Suffolk, where their interest chiefly prevailed.

CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE LIFE OF WILLIAM.

While one part of the Jacobites proceeded against William in the
usual way of exciting an insurrection, another, consisting of the most
desperate conspirators, had formed a scheme of assassination. Sir George
Barclay, a native of Scotland, who had served as an officer in the army
of James, a man of undaunted courage, a furious bigot in the religion
of Rome, yet close, circumspect, and determined, was landed with other
officers in Romneymarsh, by one captain Gill, about the beginning
of January, and is said to have undertaken the task of seizing or
assassinating king William. He imparted his design to Harrison, _alias_
Johnston, a priest, Char-nock, Porter, and sir William Perkins, by whom
it was approved; and he pretended to have a particular commission for
this service. After various consultations, they resolved to attack the
king on his return from Richmond, where he commonly hunted on Saturdays;
and the scene of their intended ambuscade was a lane between Brentford
and Turnham-Green. As it would be necessary to charge and disperse the
guards that attended the coach, they agreed that their number should be
increased to forty horsemen, and each conspi